Visual generation of mobile applications based on data models

Systems, methods and computer program products for mobile device application design are described herein. The method accesses a data model corresponding to a selected mobile platform. The data model is used by a device application designer to generate, model, and debug a mobile application. The data model is used to take into consideration characteristics of the selected platform and a selected mobile device as the application is designed. The application is structured and generated for a selected platform that is independent of the data model, but is cognizant of the selected platform. A simulator models the application user interface (UI) as it will appear on the selected platform. The method performs platform-specific validation and allows for correction of various aspects of a generated application including platform-specific features. The tool generates a graphical image that can guide a developer to either generated code or help files corresponding to framework libraries.