PhoneGap

What is PhoneGap?

PhoneGap is a software development framework by Adobe System that is used to develop mobile applications.

PhoneGap

PhoneGap is the solution to a lot of mobile app developers’ problems, as it offers a streamlined way to develop an app from scratch. Simply put, PhoneGap is an open-source framework designed specifically for mobile application development. This framework gives developers the opportunity to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create whole apps, which will be considered first-class applications once they are published for download on a phone.

PhoneGap Makes the Difference

Some of the key elements that make PhoneGap stand out from the crowd as such an innovative tool is the fact that this framework provides the ability for developers to have a common codebase for the entire application. Before the invention of PhoneGap, mobile development engineers would have to participate in a work-intensive process that involves multiple languages and codes – especially for hybrid apps. But now, it is easy to create a PhoeGap app, which takes simple coding language and makes it the only code source for the entire development process.

The PhoneGap Mobile Development Process

PhoneGap utilizes JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create a wide array of applications. While the framework cannot create every kind of application, it is useful for making mobile apps with full access to the following features:

  • Network
  • Notification
  • Geolocation
  • Compass
  • Storage
  • Media
  • Contacts
  • Camera
  • Accelerometer

PhoneGap can also assess different operating systems’ needs. The framework works behind the scenes to apply your HTML, CSS, or JavaScript-based application across multiple platforms at once. You can even build apps in a premade cloud, known as PhoneGap Build. This is a great way to make an app with PhoneGap and store the information on a secure server that keeps you from worrying about losing your files.

Plus, the mobile app development code can always be opened, modified, and re-applied across the platforms. There are plugins available that can help the developer assess specific platform needs, such as if an update needs to be applied to iOS only. There are also ways to turn on and off specific features of an application, depending on the overall purpose and capabilities of the application.

Things to Consider

Before applying a simple programming language to your application with PhoneGap, consider the key elements of understanding when it comes to a framework like this. There are many advantages and disadvantages when it comes to PhoneGap, and a wide range of understanding can help you decide if this framework will best suit your needs for a hybrid mobile app development.

  • PhoneGap is free – this is an open-source framework that gives you free access to these features that can streamline the application development process.
  • Many developers are considering PhoneGapdue to the fact that it gives them a common codebase and allows them to apply their entire application code within a single framework.
  • PhoneGap may provide some limitations when it comes to a specific Web browser or a JavaScript engine that runs on an individual’s device. While these platforms are always being updated, PhoneGap may not be able to give access to them right away.

PhoneGap allows mobile app developers to meet the growing demands for hybrid apps, offering an easy way to combine basic coding into a language that will run the entire application. While there are some limits to PhoneGap, there are already thousands of apps that function wholly and were created from this free framework.