Mobile app development has come a long way since it’s inception with the first iPhone, and later the flood of Android devices. Originally the only way to make an app for either of these frameworks was to design “native” apps that used the software that Apple or Google released to build them with. Today, however, there are a plethora of other third-party platforms with which to develop apps on. PhoneGap is one of these platforms, and is gaining popularity, especially amongst those with prior experience in web development.
PhoneGap is a platform that allows users to write applications in languages that are used in web-development, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It allows web developers to design an app using existing web technologies and “jump the gap” from web to mobile app on a mobile platform. The people that will have the greatest advantage on this platform are, of course, are those with any sort of previous experience in web development. Newcomers will likely have an easier time learning to develop on this platform than trying to build a native Android or iOS app, too, since HTML and CSS are relatively simple to learn. Building apps with PhoneGap will also require less overall knowledge of Java than would be required to design a native Android app. Oh, and did I mention that this service makes apps available on all major mobile platforms?
So what are some of the best places to go to learn to develop on the PhoneGap Platform?
The PhoneGap website is, of course, a good place to start. Phone Gap has a professional blog that is constantly updated with tips and tricks about using PhoneGap. They also have a very useful getting started tutorial that introduces newbies to the platform, as well as detailing everything it takes to get started developing with PhoneGap.
Another great resource to get started with PhoneGap is on Christophe Coenraets personal blog. Christophe Coenraets is an experienced web-developer, and actually worked with Adobe and the PhoneGap team to teach others on how to design and implement their own PhoneGap apps. His tutorial on developing PhoneGap applications is insightful, technical, and extremely detailed, with plenty of pictures to illustrate the code as the program is built.
One of the greatest resources aspiring newcomers to app development can have is an extensive community of others to help encourage and teach them about their platform. Raywenderlich is such a community. They have a massive library of over six-hundred free tutorials on all sorts of development, including app development with PhoneGap. Here is a good tutorial to get started with PhoneGap. This starts by teaching you how to set up PhoneGap on your computer to creating a fun and simple app, perfect for your first PhoneGap project.
PhoneGap is a tremendous resource for those looking for a hassle free way to develop applications across all mobile platforms – including Android and iOS. The learning curve is less steep than with native apps, especially for those with previous web-development experience.