Helios is an open-source framework that provides essential backend services for iOS apps, from data synchronization and user accounts to push notifications, in-app purchases, and passbook integration. It allows developers to get a client-server app up-and-running in just a few minutes, and seamlessly incorporate functionality as necessary.
Helios is designed for "mobile first" development. Build out great features on the device, and implement the server-side components as necessary. Pour all of your energy into crafting a great user experience, rather than getting mired down with the backend.
One great example of this philosophy in Helios is Core Data Synchronization. This allows you to use your existing Core Data model definition to automatically generate a REST webservice, which can be used to shuttle data between the server and client. No iCloud, no problem.
Helios also comes with a Web UI. Browse and search through all of your database records, push notification registrations, in-app purchases, and passbook passes. You can even send targeted push notifications right from the browser.
Requirements
- Ruby 1.9
- PostgreSQL 9.1 (Postgres.app is the easiest way to get a Postgres server running on your Mac)
Getting Started on OS X
-
Verify Ruby Installation:
$ ruby -v
If you do not see
ruby 1.9.x
printed, we suggest installing RVM to manage Ruby versions. -
Install the postgres gem at the command prompt:
$ gem install pg
-
Create a postgres database at the command prompt:
$ createdb myapp_db
-
Install Helios at the command prompt:
$ gem install helios
-
Create a new Helios application:
$ helios new myapp
-
Change directory to
myapp
$ cd myapp
-
Create a
.env
file and specify the database to use. Replace$USER
with your username.$ echo 'DATABASE_URL=postgres://$USER@localhost/myapp_db' >> .env
If you don't know your username, simply type
whoami
into your command prompt -
Start the web server:
$ helios server
-
Go to http://localhost:5000/admin and you’ll see your app's Web UI
Read on for instructions on the following:
- Linking a Core Data model
- Integrating Helios into your mobile client
Usage
Built on the Rack webserver interface, Helios can be easily added into any existing Rails or Sinatra application as middleware. Or, if you're starting with a Helios application, you can build a new Rails or Sinatra application on top of it.
This means that you can develop your application using the tools and frameworks you love, and maintain flexibility with your architecture as your needs evolve.
Sinatra / Rack
Gemfile
gem 'helios'
config.ru
require 'bundler'
Bundler.require
run Helios::Application.new do
service :data, model: 'path/to/DataModel.xcdatamodel'
service :push_notification
service :in_app_purchase
service :passbook
end
Rails
To create a Rails app that uses Postgres as its database, pass the -d postgresql
argument to the rails new
command:
$ rails new APP_PATH -d postgresql
If you're adding Helios to an existing Rails project, be sure to specify a PostgreSQL database in config/database.yml
and check that the pg
gem is included in your Gemfile
:
Gemfile
gem 'helios'
gem 'pg'
Helios can be run as Rails middleware by adding this to the configuration block in config/application.rb
config/application.rb
config.middleware.use Helios::Application do
service :data, model: 'path/to/DataModel.xcdatamodel'
service :push_notification
service :in_app_purchase
service :passbook
end
Available Services
Each service in Helios can be enabled and configured separately:
data
: Generates a REST webservice from a schema definition. Currently supports Core Data (.xcdatamodel
) files.
Parameters
model
: Path to the data model file
Associated Classes
Each entity in the specified data model will have a Sequel::Model
subclass created for it under the Rack::CoreData::Models
namespace.
GET /:resources | Get list of all of the specified resources |
POST /:resources | Create a new instance of the specified resource |
GET /:resources/:id | Get the specified resource instance |
PUT /:resources/:id | Update the specified resource instance |
DELETE /:resources/:id | Delete the specified resource instance |
push_notification
: Adds iOS push notification registration / unregistration endpoints.
Associated Classes
Rack::PushNotification::Device
PUT /devices/:token | Register or update existing device for push notifications |
DELETE /devices/:token | Unregister a device from receiving push notifications |
in_app_purchase
: Adds an endpoint for iOS in-app purchase receipt verification endpoints, as well one for returning product identifiers.
Associated Classes
Rack::InAppPurchase::Receipt
Rack::InAppPurchase::Product
POST /receipts/verify | Decode the associated Base64-encoded receipt-data, recording the receipt data and verifying the information with Apple |
GET /products/identifiers | Return an array of valid product identifiers |
passbook
: Adds endpoints for the web service protocol for communicating with Passbook
Associated Classes
Rack::Passbook::Pass
Rack::Passbook::Registration
GET /v1/passes/:passTypeIdentifier/:serialNumber | Get the Latest Version of a Pass |
GET /v1/devices/:deviceLibraryIdentifier/registrations/:passTypeIdentifier[?passesUpdatedSince=tag] | Get the Serial Numbers for Passes Associated with a Device |
POST /v1/devices/:deviceLibraryIdentifier/registrations/:passTypeIdentifier/:serialNumber | Register a Device to Receive Push Notifications for a Pass |
DELETE /v1/devices/:deviceLibraryIdentifier/registrations/:passTypeIdentifier/:serialNumber | Unregister a Device |
Command-Line Interface
Helios comes with a CLI to help create and manage your application. After you $ gem install helios
, you'll have the helios
binary available.
$ helios --help
helios
A command-line interface for building mobile infrastructures
Commands:
console Open IRB session with Helios environment
help Display global or [command] help documentation.
link Links a Core Data model
new Creates a new Helios project
server Start running Helios locally
Creating an Application
The first step to using Helios is to create a new application. This can be done with the $ helios new
command, which should be familiar if you've ever used Rails.
$ helios new --help
Usage: helios new path/to/app
The `helios new` command creates a new Helios application with a default
directory structure and configuration at the path you specify.
Options:
--skip-gemfile Don't create a Gemfile
-B, --skip-bundle Don't run bundle install
-G, --skip-git Don't create a git repository
--edge Setup the application with Gemfile pointing to Helios repository
-f, --force Overwrite files that already exist
-p, --pretend Run but do not make any changes
-s, --skip Skip files that already exist
Linking a Core Data Model
In order to keep your data model and REST webservices in sync, you can link it to your helios application:
$ helios link path/to/DataModel.xcdatamodel
This creates a hard link between the data model file in your Xcode and Helios projects—any changes made to either file will affect both. The next time you start the server, Helios will automatically migrate the database to create tables and insert columns to accomodate any new entities or attributes.
Starting the Application Locally
To run Helios in development mode on localhost
, run the server
command:
$ helios server
Running the Helios Console
You can start an IRB session with the runtime environment of the Helios application with the console
command:
$ helios console
This command activates the services as configured by your Helios application, including any generated Core Data models. The rack
module is automatically included on launch, allowing you to access everything more directly:
> Passbook::Passes.all # => [...]
Deploying to Heroku
Heroku is the easiest way to get your app up and running. For full instructions on how to get started, check out "Getting Started with Ruby on Heroku".
Once you've installed the Heroku Toolbelt, and have a Heroku account, enter the following commands from the project directory:
$ heroku create
$ git push heroku master
Integrating with an iOS Application
Core Data Synchronization
With AFIncrementalStore, you can integrate your Helios app directly into the Core Data stack. Whether it’s a fetch or save changes request, or fulfilling an attribute or relation fault, AFIncrementalStore handles all of the networking needed to read and write to and from the server.
See "Building an iOS App with AFIncrementalStore and the Core Data Buildpack" on the Heroku Dev Center for a comprehensive guide on how to use AFIncrementalStore with the Core Data buildpack. An article for Helios is forthcoming, but aside from deployment, the instructions are essentially unchanged.
Push Notification Registration
With Orbiter you can integrate Push Notifications into your app easily.
- (void)application:(UIApplication *)application
didRegisterForRemoteNotificationsWithDeviceToken:(NSData *)deviceToken
{
NSURL *serverURL = [NSURL URLWithString:@"http://raging-notification-3556.herokuapp.com/"];
Orbiter *orbiter = [[Orbiter alloc] initWithBaseURL:serverURL credential:nil];
[orbiter registerDeviceToken:deviceToken withAlias:nil success:^(id responseObject) {
NSLog(@"Registration Success: %@", responseObject);
} failure:^(NSError *error) {
NSLog(@"Registration Error: %@", error);
}];
}
Coming Attractions
There's still a lot to do to make Helios even better. Here are some ideas that are at the top of the list:
- Test coverage
- More documentation
- More example projects
- Better RubyMotion integration
- Support for multiple schema definitions (not just Core Data)
- Send push notifications from the UI
- Support for additional platforms (Android, WP7)
Contact
Mattt Thompson
License
Helios is released under the MIT license.