Open Mobile Hub: Modules for Non-GMS Devices and Beyond

Aug 7, 2024· 48 min· 560 views·Watch on YouTube

#Mobile Development #Cloud Infrastructure #Open Source

Speakers

Kuba ŁatkiBusiness analyst at Callstack

Diego Zul Laga, Technical Solutions Director at Open Mobile Hub within Futurewei, and Callstack’s Kuba Łatki discuss OMH’s Android and React Native modules on the React Native Show podcast with host Łukasz Kinski.

Why Android apps use AOSP without GMS

The discussion distinguishes Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which provides the base operating system, from Google Mobile Services (GMS), a separate layer of proprietary services. AOSP can suit single-purpose devices, such as screens in taxis, while other devices may need services for authentication, maps, or notifications. Device makers can also add their own services.

OMH aims to reduce provider lock-in

Open Mobile Hub offers a common interface for Android and cross-platform apps to use services from different providers. The goal is to reduce the work of switching SDKs and help apps serve regions where GMS or particular services are unavailable. The initiative is hosted by the Linux Foundation Europe to support open collaboration and neutral governance.

Three modules and their providers

The modules discussed are Maps, Authentication, and Storage. Maps supports Android, React Native, and iOS, with Mapbox, OpenStreetMap, Azure Maps, and Google Maps; Authentication supports OAuth 2.0 providers including Dropbox, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. Storage connects to services including Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, using authentication to access a user’s account.

A shared API with provider-specific access

OMH has a native Android SDK layer and a React Native layer built on the native SDKs. Developers add modules through Gradle dependencies and use clients with provider plugins behind them. The shared interface covers common needs, while an escape hatch lets developers access provider-specific capabilities.

Open source, contributions, and next steps

The OMH website links to setup guides, samples, documentation, API references, and GitHub repositories. The team welcomes developers and service providers to contribute plugins, report bugs, and share feedback to inform the roadmap. The episode describes some components as ready to use and others as early access.

Takeaways

A common service interface can lower the effort of evaluating or changing mobile service providers.
Check which services an app actually needs before choosing a GMS or AOSP deployment.
Authentication can be a dependency for storage integrations and may also support personalized services.
A shared API can cover common use cases while retaining access to provider-specific features.
Provider coverage and module maturity vary, so confirm support for the target platforms and services.

Search inside this talk

What was claimed 20

feature
Kack: Software engineering consultancy
“this podcast is brought to you by Kack, the total software engineering consultancy.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
feature
Open Mobile Hub: Provides developer tooling and SDKs to address fragmentation and interoperability in Android native and cross-platform apps
“I enable developers by providing developer tooling and SDKs that address fragmentation and interoperability issues in Android native and cross-platform apps.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
role at
Diego Zul Laga is Technical Solutions Director at Open Mobile Hub
“I’m the Technical Solutions Director at Open Mobile Hub, or OMH, within Futurewei.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
previously at
Diego Zul Laga previously at Google
Developer Relations Engineer and software developer
“In the past, I worked at Google as a Developer Relations Engineer and software developer.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
role at
Kuba Łatki is Business analyst at Callstack
“I'm Kuba. I'm a BA working with Callstack.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
integrates with
Open Mobile Hub integrates with Google Mobile Services
“OMH provides services for native developers, more specifically for Android, both GMS and non-GMS.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
feature
Open Mobile Hub: Common provider interface and provider switching to reduce vendor lock-in
“Why not have a common, unified interface for these service providers that wraps them and provides the same affordances?”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
uses
Open Mobile Hub uses Linux Foundation Europe
“We needed to be part of an organization ... We couldn’t think of a better foundation for this than the Linux Foundation Europe.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
feature
Open Mobile Hub: Open-source initiative with extensible plugins implementing shared service interfaces
“We want to make the framework more extensible based on what we call plugins, which are implementations of the interfaces that surface multiple services.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
metric
Open Mobile Hub: Three current modules: Maps, Authentication, and Storage
“The three packages right now ... include Maps, Authentication, and Storage.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
feature
Google Maps: Mapping and navigation capabilities
“Maps ... provides mapping and navigation capabilities.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
integrates with
Authentication integrates with Google
“integrates with multiple providers, like Dropbox, Google accounts, Microsoft accounts, and Facebook.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
integrates with
Authentication integrates with Dropbox
“integrates with multiple providers, like Dropbox, Google accounts, Microsoft accounts, and Facebook.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
feature
Authentication: Identity management SDK with OAuth 2.0 authentication methods
“it’s an authentication SDK for identity management, and it’s completely available to use. It supports various authentication methods based on OAuth 2.0”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
integrates with
Storage integrates with Dropbox
“use that authenticated user to access Dropbox through the Storage module.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
integrates with
Authentication integrates with Storage
“first authenticate the user, then use that authenticated user to access Dropbox through the Storage module.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
integrates with
Storage integrates with OneDrive
“The Storage module provides access to cloud storage solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
integrates with
Storage integrates with Google Drive
“The Storage module provides access to cloud storage solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
feature
Open Mobile Hub: Supports a two-layer architecture with native Android SDKs and a React Native layer
“OMH supports a two-layer architecture. On the Android native side, we provide a SDK ... Layer two is cross-platform. We’re talking about React Native”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk
feature
Open Mobile Hub: Maps, Authentication, and Storage modules are available; some other parts are in early access
“Some parts are completed and available for apps to incorporate. Other parts are in an early access program.”
YouTube
Unverified1 source· Talk

Related talks