Developing apps with Apache Cordova
App Factory
© Lead Image © venimo, 123RF.com
Roll out an app elegantly and quickly for up to eight operating systems using the Cordova framework. According to the Apache Foundation, the only requirements are knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
In early 2009, the small company Nitobi introduced a software tool named PhoneGap. Web developers could use this tool to develop complete apps in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that simultaneously ran on iPhones, Androids, and BlackBerrys. Only two-and-a-half years later, Adobe took over Nitobi, and PhoneGap along with it. Adobe passed the source code on to the Apache Foundation, which is developing the framework under the name Cordova [1] (see the "Oh, You Beautiful Cordovas" box).
The takeover did not change the basic way the framework functions. As a developer, you can program a complete app in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in Cordova, which then runs on iOS, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows, Firefox OS, WebOS, Ubuntu Touch, and even as a normal web application in the browser. Cordova also supports Amazon's FireOS, although this option is considered deprecated.
Practical Testing
The source code is subject to Apache License 2.0. Cordova has already helped launch numerous apps, including fitness app Sworkit [2] and the baby monitoring software Clever Baby [3]. Many other developer tools harness the Cordova framework and development environment, such as Ionic [4] and PhoneGap by Adobe [5]. The company continues to use the original name of the project.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Red Hat Releases RHEL 10 Early
Red Hat quietly rolled out the official release of RHEL 10.0 a bit early.
-
openSUSE Joins End of 10
openSUSE has decided to not only join the End of 10 movement but it also will no longer support the Deepin Desktop Environment.
-
New Version of Flatpak Released
Flatpak 1.16.1 is now available as the latest, stable version with various improvements.
-
IBM Announces Powerhouse Linux Server
IBM has unleashed a seriously powerful Linux server with the LinuxONE Emperor 5.
-
Plasma Ends LTS Releases
The KDE Plasma development team is doing away with the LTS releases for a good reason.
-
Arch Linux Available for Windows Subsystem for Linux
If you've ever wanted to use a rolling release distribution with WSL, now's your chance.
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.