Livecode: Touch Vs Mouse

Livecode mobile development supports touch syntax, but also allows for mouse syntax. Why?

Good question. I guessing mouse messages are supported for backward compatibility.

That begs the question then whats better? Touch or Mouse on Touch screen devices. Well there no question about it, touch syntax is better, faster and more efficient. The mouse messages are slow and do not allow for processing an array of items at the same time like touch messages do. Most of runrev own staff recommend using the touch syntax.

I decided to make an little demo showing why touch wins in mobile; with an touch vs mouse demo app and video demo.

First off made an test app in Livecode for iOS ipad. Added 4 buttons with

on mouseDown

lock screen

put the ticks into tticks

put the (ticks - tticks)/60 into tsecs

put "message sent" & CR & "Ticks:" && tsecs into fld "fld_4"

unlock screen

end mouseDown

Then added 4 fields to display text when the mouse messages are fired throughout the message path.

Next I did the same for touch messages

Added 4 buttons with:

on touchStart pId

lock screen

put the ticks into tticks

put the (ticks - tticks)/60 into tsecs

put "message sent" & CR & "Ticks:" && tsecs into fld "fld_touch1"

unlock screen

end touchStart

then added 4 fields to display text when the touch messages are fired throughout the message path.

This video shows why touch wins vs mouse in mobile touch screen devices and why mouse syntax should not even be used in the mobile space if efficiency is wanted.

Interpreted Keystrokes

programing cool stuff.

Livecode: Touch Vs Mouse