Cordova / PhoneGap

ChroniC · 4 Jun 2020 at 09:58

Hi. I have been requested by my boss to start leaning how to make simple apps, with some of our websites.
I have decent understanding of Javascript / Jquery so it's not a huge leap. However I am wondering if anyone who is been using it in while knows of good add-ons/plugins to use during the process.

I have watched a few tutorials where one of them was using Jquery mobile as a dynamic data-attribute based css system.

Any helps will be appreciated to smooth out and speed up my workflow.

GravyMonster · 4 Jun 2020 at 16:01

I haven't any specific experience of Cordova or PhoneGap as my company build all our apps natively, so can't offer any advice in that regard. However I'd advise against using jQuery mobile. It's not had a meaningful update in 4 years, and is basically dead.

ChroniC · 4 Jun 2020 at 17:43

Spunkey said:
I haven't any specific experience of Cordova or PhoneGap as my company build all our apps natively, so can't offer any advice in that regard. However I'd advise against using jQuery mobile. It's not had a meaningful update in 4 years, and is basically dead.

Are there any alternative frameworks that are mobile driven? I don't want to use bootstrap or similar. Seems wrong to start with something that is not designed to be in an app.

FredFlint · 5 Jun 2020 at 18:37

Not used Cordova / PhoneGap but have used Xamarin forms, you could give that a try. I did a basic app from work that was a simple form with a webview on it that loaded a web page. Could easily pass params to the server so the page is rendered for mobile.

philldutton · 5 Jun 2020 at 19:32

We used https://framework7.io/ for a webbased app, was fairly simple to get going with.

Harnser · 5 Jun 2020 at 21:51

So Cordova is more of the underlying software framework and Phonegap one system that makes use of it to build cross-platform apps. They work, but you can make life easier for yourself by using something more high level.

I recommend https://ionicframework.com/, which has some good get-going guides. Their website is a bit confusing as the keep pushing their commercial offerings, but some are worthwhile if you end up having multiple apps and/or wanting to update apps fast.

Framework7 is new to me but looks similar, so another to try.

Jin · 15 Jun 2020 at 15:02

Depending on system, you might be able to with little effort convert it to be web like with Progressive Web App (PWA).

This is fun project with React/Redux like app but with Clojurescript, Reagent, Re-frame. I added PWA to it with relatively little effort. This will be installable on Phone (go to the webpage), Chrome Browser on Desktop.

https://pomo.kanxdoro.com/

ChroniC · 15 Jun 2020 at 18:41

I've been working on Framework7, the learn curve is fair steady for me because its based on Jquery which I am more familiar with than than plain JS, from being a front end Dev and picking it all up from plugins etc.

I have a Adobe account so can use PhoneGap build to do all the hard work of finalising the app. I've managed so far to do some page transitions, menu transitions, and get it linked to my WordPress API. Have a few hitches and have tried to on the Framework 7 forums to get some help but it's pretty inactive so no luck.

Think I need to do a few more video tutorials but with this being fairly new software there are tons of them on Youtube.