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3 minute(s) read

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Published on: Feb 14, 2024

Updated on: Feb 14, 2024

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As you transition from web development to mobile app creation, you'll discover that Apache Cordova offers a seamless path to deploy your skills in iOS and Android application development. With Cordova, you can harness the power of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build engaging mobile apps for a wide range of platforms.

Introducing Apache Cordova

Apache Cordova is an open-source mobile engineering framework that empowers developers to create cross-platform mobile applications using web-based technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. By leveraging Cordova's capabilities, you can effortlessly deploy your mobile app to the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or other markets.

Key Benefits of Swift App Development with Cordova

  • Write Once, Deploy Everywhere: With Cordova, you can write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms using web languages.
  • Access Native Device Features: Cordova's plugin ecosystem allows you to access native device features like the camera, accelerometer, or geolocation via JavaScript.
  • Active Community: Cordova boasts an active community of developers who contribute to its robust plugin ecosystem, ensuring a constant stream of innovative solutions.

Essential Aspects of Apache Cordova

Single Code Base

One of the most significant advantages of Cordova is its ability to enable you to build apps for various mobile OS platforms like iOS, Android, and Windows phones using a single codebase. This allows for substantial code reuse and maintainability benefits.

App Templates

To get started quickly, Cordova offers pre-built app templates that provide working boilerplate code with a default project structure. These templates simplify the development process and help you create apps more efficiently.

Variety of Development Tools

Cordova is not limited to a single IDE; instead, it allows developers to choose their preferred toolset, whether it's Visual Studio Code, Atom, Sublime Text, WebStorm, Xcode, or Android Studio. This flexibility enables you to use the development tools you're most comfortable with.

Getting Started with Cordova

To begin developing with Cordova, you'll need:

  • Basic web development knowledge (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
  • Node.js installed (to install Cordova command-line tools)
  • For each target platform: iOS (Xcode), Android (Android Studio), Windows (Visual Studio), etc.

Installing Cordova CLI

To get started, follow these steps:

  • npm install -g cordova
  • cordova create hello com.example.hello HelloWorld
  • Add platforms like iOS and Android using the following commands:

- cordova platform add ios

- cordova platform add android

Building and Running Your App

Modify your web code in the www directory (index.html, .js files, etc.) and then:

  • cordova build
  • cordova run ios
  • cordova run android

Adding Cordova Plugins

Cordova plugins provide access to core native device capabilities. To add a plugin, use the following command:

  • cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-camera

You can now call navigator.camera.getPicture() in JavaScript.

Popular plugins include camera, geolocation, barcode scanner, SQLite, contacts, calendar, and more.

Distributing Your App

Use the SDK platform tools like Xcode or Android Studio to create final binaries for submission to the app stores. During this process, add required icons and splash screens.

The Cordova workflow enables you to build production-ready native mobile apps powered by web technology!

Click here to start creating your own mobile app