PhoneGap is an incredible cross-platform framework that allows developers to create applications that function smoothly on numerous mobile platforms, including iOS, Android, and Windows.
One repeated question often asked is, who developed PhoneGap and what is its new name? In this piece, we’ll answer this vital question and talk about other things you need to know about this framework.
What is PhoneGap?
PhoneGap is a new open-source mobile application development platform designed for cross-platform compatibility. PhoneGap is also called Apache Cordova.
Applications built using Phonegap development services provide smooth performance across all mobile operating systems, including Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone.
Who Developed Phonegap?
PhoneGap is a popular solution for cross-platform mobile app development. This open-source mobile application development framework was created by Nitobi Software (now Adobe). It lets developers create applications with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
It is a leading mobile app development language that was previously known as “Apache Cordova” and was introduced by Nitobi. Adobe acquired Nitobi and renamed Apache Cordova to “PhoneGap.”
Who Developed Phonegap? The History
Initially, Nitobi Software owned PhoneGap. Earlier versions were offered as project templates that could be used in Xcode or Eclipse to construct hybrid programs.
Cross-platform apps were more challenging to develop than single-platform apps. Nonetheless, numerous production apps were produced and housed in app stores, while many more were created and distributed internally within businesses.
In 2011, Adobe acquired Nitobi Software. As part of the acquisition, the PhoneGap code was submitted to Apache and made available as open source. The project was ultimately dubbed Apache Cordova.
Adobe retained the PhoneGap moniker and began supporting a fork of Apache Cordova’s code. As a result, the version was changed to 2.x. Overall, the two were nearly identical (with very minor differences).
Because project templates from the previous 1.x era were frequently problematic, project creation was moved to a command-line interface (CLI). Cross-platform development is now slightly easier, though not ideal.
Apache Cordova 3.x was released in July 2013. It included a new command-line interface that significantly facilitated cross-platform development while also making plugin installation easier and less troublesome than previously.
It also detached several core functions and made them available as core plugins. This enabled developers to choose which plugins they required rather than having to remove them later, (which was often difficult).
This implies that programs developed in 3.X only need to ask for rights they use, whereas apps written in 2.X frequently ask for permissions they don’t need.
Why use PhoneGap?
Developers need to understand why they should choose PhoneGap over competing frameworks. Let’s look at some of these reasons.
1. Cross-platform compatibility.
Mobile app development is a time-consuming process; thus, developers must carefully select a solid platform. PhoneGap is a solid cross-platform development tool that works with iOS, Blackberry, Android, WebOS, Symbian, Tizen, and Bada.
The app development team simply needs to write one code, eliminating the effort required to write many apps for different platforms.
2. Cost-effective.
If you have a limited budget and want to maximize your returns with minimal investment, PhoneGap is the option for you. You can build a single program for an application and run it on several platforms, thereby saving yourself a lot of time and money.
3. Better access to native APIs.
PhoneGap gives your mobile app developers access to Native APIs, allowing their apps to leverage the camera, geolocation, accelerometer, contacts, and other native features.
It allows users to gain experience utilizing native apps, which are considerably superior to web applications.
4. The Path into the Large Community Base
If you’re doing something new, you need to have enough support. The Cordova development community is one of the largest and is continually expanding.
The members in this group are nice, and you will find solutions to the majority of your difficulties. There are several instances and many experienced members who will provide you with valuable assistance.
5. Flexibility with web technologies
Cordova apps are constructed with simple languages such as CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. There is no need to learn new languages if you want to start designing a mobile app with PhoneGap. You can easily use current languages to develop applications.
There are numerous libraries to help you because PhoneGap has been around for a long time. As a result, you can take advantage of a variety of programming alternatives.
PhoneGap’s powerful backend support accelerates development and reduces developer work. They also provide a beginner’s tutorial to help new developers learn the complete project quickly.
6. Flexibility in Development
The developers have a lot of flexibility and freedom because the entire app creation process is straightforward. There is no need to make major efforts to complete the development process. Basic knowledge of the aforementioned languages is sufficient to create an app.
7. UI libraries improve the user interface.
Most mobile users find it difficult to browse online pages that are only compatible with PCs and tablets with huge screens. Scrolling down to the page and verifying it, as well as other chores, will require a significant amount of effort, and the pages will not be easily accessible.
However, using the UI frameworks included in PhoneGap, the user interfaces of apps and web pages are much improved. This helps to provide a better watching experience for certain targeted visitors.
When to Use PhoneGap
PhoneGap is a fantastic alternative for creating a simple mobile web application that feels like a native app. PhoneGap may access native APIs; however, it is not the best option for developing a strong native application.
If you want a simple web application with native apps, it will be quite handy. Finally, everything depends on the criteria.
If you have experience developing apps, PhoneGap can help you create a more responsive application than web applications. The reaction is admirable, and you’ll be able to employ frameworks like JQuery and Shensha to make your program unique.
Pros and Cons of PhoneGap
Pros
Some of the advantages of phonegap include:
- PhoneGap allows for easier app deployment and maintains consistency across platforms.
- It eliminates the need for expert developers.
- PhoneGap apps behave similarly to native apps.
- It is open-source and supported by powerful sources.
- Plugins are simple to use.
Cons
Some of its disadvantages include:
- PhoneGap does not support plugins with hooks.
- Not suitable for gaming apps.
Conclusion
This piece answers the question of who developed Phonegap and all of its features. The framework enables mobile app developers to fulfill the growing demand for hybrid apps by providing an easy approach to combining basic code with a language that runs the complete application.
While PhoneGap may have significant limitations, there are already thousands of fully functional apps built using this free framework.