PhoneGap - Build Cross Platform Mobile Apps using PhoneGap

PhoneGap is an open source software for mobile app development. It is also a rich composition of technologies such as HTML, JavaScript and CSS. And if you are still at sea, then jump right into this definitive guide for PhoneGap training. PhoneGap application has all the ingredients for a perfect blend of HTML, CSS and JavaScript files which are located within the device. PhoneGap app allows users to pull interface from the internet. However, such online interfaces are not common. So, how does PhoneGap bridge the divide within training for developers, software professionals and app creators? Consider it to be the most purpose built app creation solution.

Mobile application development has become a race between Apple and Android. PhoneGap version 0.8 apps can be used by iOS apps and can meet all the other requirements as well. Of course, since Google offers less restrictive requirements. As PhoneGap apps are not able to use the system provided icon, its icon is similar to Apple.

App Source Code: The ABC of PhoneGap Training

PhoneGap’s app source code has 4 main directories namely www, platforms, plugins and merges. The code code goes into www and plugins are for PhoneGap. Source code contains CSS, HTML and JavaScript. PhoneGap will launch the index html file of the app and can ensure the creation of this HTML file through any configuration. The platform folder is where the www code goes after creation for the platform that is being supported. There is finally the merges folder where all platform specific files are stored. If you want your PhoneGap app to look more iOS or Google Android, you can create different CSS files within each platform saying the same name. In merges/ios, the iOS version of styles.css and merges android, the Android version of styles.css is placed. When PhoneGap creates the app, it copies platform specific avatars of style.css to the platform directory. App can attain a look suited to either device without the need for inline detection.

Build Command: The 123 of PhoneGap Training

PhoneGap works in the way that an installed development environment for each platform that has to be supported must be installed.

Prerequisites for PhoneGap apps

For iOS development, one needs a Mac with the X code and SDK installed. For the Windows Phone, users need a PC and Visual Studio as well as WP-8 SDK. Android SDK must be installed.

Command line build code is executed to create necessary platform specific source code file. The build process can be completed using the development tools of the platform with the exception of Android. The latter alone has the run command to be used after the build command and it will compile the code and deploy it to either Android emulator or attached devices.

PhoneGap training permits the creation of cross platform mobile applications using web technologies. This is not a tool for conversion of websites into applications however. It does not offer quick turnaround or turnkey solutions for building mobile apps. However, it beats using native tools.

PhoneGap framework is a set of JavaScript libraries used for each mobile OS such as iOS, Android, Blackberry and Microsoft. It uses the same API for app developers to secure entry to native code while writing in JavaScript for a view that is web oriented. However, they can communicate with the native code view the web view linked to the OS which can be ignored by the app developer.

Another advantage of PhoneGap training is that the protocol provides means for interface between web views and native codes. It then receives requests from JavaScript and sends responses. There is also a protocol for native code plugins to be added to the code so native code functionality can be provided. Existing functionality is also replaced by other developers. A single set of JS code can access native functionality and the same functionality when Android App is running with the deployment of the code alongside.

History: Bridging the Gap

PhoneGap starts as an open source solution from a firm called Nitobi. Adobe acquired this company in 2011 and the code was changed to Apache Cordova. Though free from Adobe, it is contributed to and distributed by the same. Adobe distributes the code of Cordova under PhoneGap. It provides services such as PhoneGap Build. As a result, Cordova and PhoneGap are closely linked.

For creating the PhoneGap app for development, Cordova sample code has to be downloaded for the concerned OS. The sample contains all the requirements for building a basic app that commences as a full screen Web View and runs on easy HTML codes which show PhoneGap to be working. The downloadable code can be edited with a development environment that is used to create native applications for the OS. The sample HTML can be replaced with one’s own or there is also a Web View through HTML loading from web uniform resource locator. The app can then be built and deployed in the required manner. This is a perfect process for apps whose functionality is taken care of through PhoneGap. Those with a need for more comprehensive native code to deal with various conditions natively or add additional screens and controls using native code also have ann option. They can use the sample code for addition of the Cordova code to an already working project. Adobe PhoneGap Build system permits app developers to write using protocols for accessing event codes and native hardwares using the three- HTML, CSS as well as JavaScript. HTML development tools are used for bundling files along with supporting files such as images and data files and submit this with the app data required for creating the application package like home screen icons to the web site or service of PhoneGap Build. The consequence is an app package which can be installed on the mobile device of an associated kind. If there is a requirement of additional native code however, there are glaring inadequacies in PhoneGap.

PhoneGap Ecosystem: Under Constant Improvement

PhoneGap environment is under constant improvement. Functionality required by the applications can be had through plugins including native UI components for content display and notification as well as life cycle events moving from the main operations. PhoneGap has created an advanced application solution provider because it combines the benefits of the following:

• Hypertext Markup Language
• Cascading Style Sheet
• JavaScript
• Write Once, Use Multiple Times

This application solutions only needs to be used once to run anywhere.

Who Should Receive PhoneGap Training? The Benefits

Whether you are the owner of a small sized firm or a massive enterprise and are concerned about how numerous apps can appear and be entered using different smart devices, PhoneGap training is perfect for connecting the dots. With iOS and Android being the most popular platforms in the mobile world, it is interesting to note that developers are also interested in open source solutions like PhoneGap. But this is not surprising considering the value of this application. Before coming up with any business website, cross platform mobile development is a must. This is where PhoneGap steps in. It is an app development framework for mobiles based on Apache Cordova project. Through the utilization of PhoneGap, native mobile apps can be developed for any mobile devices through the three- JS, HTML and CSS. This can be done without losing native app feature.

PhoneGap Build also offers services which are cloud based and constructed on top of the framework for mobile app development solutions. User Interface or UI layer of the PhoneGap app is a web browser view. It acquires complete degree of the device’s height and specific device’s height. It is a chrome less web browser that offers hypertext markup language content without the usual decorations of the web browser. This app can be built while advantage of using this space is used. Content that interacts and can be navigated is the result. The content element can be integrated to UI of CSS and HTML. PhoneGap uses the same web view as Native OS. For iPhone apps, output is an IPA file whereas it is a XAP for Windows Phone and APK for Android apps. The usual app packaging formats used by native applications can easily be distributed through the concerned ecosystems.

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