Frappé: An Ultra Lightweight Mobile UI Framework for Rapid API-based Prototyping and Environmental Deployment

Abstract

QR codes have been used as an inexpensive means to connect users to digital platforms such as websites and mobile applications. However, despite their ubiquity, QR codes are limited in purpose and can only redirect users to the URL contained within it, thereby making their use heavily network dependent, which can be unsuitable for use in ephemeral scenarios and areas with limited connectivity. In this paper, we introduce Frapp & eacute;, a framework capable of deploying ultra lightweight UIs to mobile devices directly through QR codes, without requiring any network connectivity. This is achieved by decomposing the UI into metadata and storing it inside the QR code, while offloading the UI functionality to API calls. We also introduce enFrapp & eacute;, a WYSIWYG tool for building Frapp & eacute; UIs. We demonstrate the lightweight nature of our framework through a technical evaluation, whereas the usability of our UI builder tool is demonstrated through a user study.