How to Download Cordova and Set Up Your Development Environment
How to Download and Use Cordova
Introduction
What is Cordova?
Cordova is an open source project that enables you to build mobile apps using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It works by wrapping your web app in a native container that can access the device functions of various platforms. These functions are exposed via a unified JavaScript API, allowing you to easily write one set of code that can run on Android, iOS, Windows, Electron, and more.
download cordova
Why use Cordova?
Some of the benefits and use cases of Cordova are:
It allows you to reuse your existing web skills and code base.
It saves you time and money by reducing the need for separate development teams for each platform.
It gives you access to native device features such as camera, geolocation, file system, etc.
It supports offline scenarios and progressive web apps.
It has a large community and ecosystem of plugins and tools.
What are the prerequisites?
To use Cordova, you need to have:
A basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
A computer with Windows, Mac OS, or Linux operating system.
A text editor or an IDE of your choice.
A web browser for testing your app.
An Android or iOS device or emulator for running your app.
A Node.js and npm installation for managing Cordova and its dependencies.
Installing Cordova
How to install Node.js and npm?
Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a browser. npm is a package manager that comes with Node.js and lets you install and manage modules and dependencies for your projects. To install Node.js and npm, follow these steps:
Go to the and download the installer for your operating system.
Run the installer and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Open a terminal or a command prompt and type node -v and npm -v to verify that Node.js and npm are installed correctly. You should see the version numbers of both tools.
How to install Cordova CLI?
Cordova CLI (command-line interface) is a tool that allows you to create, build, run, and manage Cordova projects from the terminal or the command prompt. To install Cordova CLI, follow these steps:
Open a terminal or a command prompt and type npm install -g cordova to install Cordova CLI globally on your system. This may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.
Type cordova -v to verify that Cordova CLI is installed correctly. You should see the version number of the tool.
Creating a project
How to create a blank Cordova project?
A Cordova project is a directory that contains all the files and folders of your app, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, icons, splash screens, plugins, platforms, etc. To create a blank Cordova project, follow these steps:
Navigate to the folder where you want to create your project using the terminal or the command prompt.
Type cordova create hello com.example.hello HelloWorld to generate a project with the name hello, the ID com.example.hello, and the display name HelloWorld. You can change these values according to your preference.
Type cd hello to enter the project directory.
Type ls or dir to see the files and folders of your project. You should see something like this:
. config.xml hooks node_modules package.json platforms plugins www css index.css img logo.png index.html js index.js cordova.js
The most important files and folders are:
config.xml: This is the configuration file of your app, where you can specify information such as app name, ID, version, description, author, icons, splash screens, preferences, plugins, etc.
hooks: This is a folder where you can place scripts that will be executed at different stages of your app lifecycle, such as before or after building, running, or preparing your app.
node_modules: This is a folder where npm installs the modules and dependencies of your project.
package.json: This is the package file of your project, where you can specify information such as name, version, description, author, dependencies, scripts, etc.
platforms: This is a folder where Cordova adds the platform-specific files and folders of your app, such as Android or iOS.
plugins: This is a folder where Cordova adds the plugins that you install for your app.
www: This is a folder where you place your web app files, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, etc. This is where you write your app logic and UI.
You can edit the files in the www folder to customize your app. For example, you can open the index.html file and change the title, the logo, the text, or the style of your app. You can also add more HTML, CSS, or JavaScript files to your app as you wish.
How to add platforms to your project?
A platform is a target device or operating system where you want to run your app, such as Android or iOS. To add platforms to your project, follow these steps:
How to download and install Apache Cordova
Download Cordova for iOS and Android platforms
Cordova app development tutorial for beginners
Cordova create command reference documentation
Cordova project directory structure and templates
Cordova platform support and compatibility table
Cordova platform add and remove commands
Cordova run and build commands for different platforms
Cordova plugins installation and usage guide
Cordova config.xml and package.json files explanation
Cordova hooks and events overview and examples
Cordova command-line interface (CLI) options and flags
Cordova platform pinning and version management
Cordova webview settings and preferences
Cordova splash screen and icon customization
Cordova debugging and testing tools and tips
Cordova security best practices and recommendations
Cordova offline scenarios and network information
Cordova native device APIs access and integration
Cordova cross-platform code reuse and optimization
Cordova vs PhoneGap vs Ionic comparison and review
Cordova app performance improvement and enhancement
Cordova app distribution and deployment methods
Cordova app monetization and advertising strategies
Cordova app analytics and user feedback collection
Download Node.js for installing Cordova CLI
Download git client for downloading assets in Cordova
Download Android Studio for developing Android apps with Cordova
Download Xcode for developing iOS apps with Cordova
Download Visual Studio Code for editing Cordova code
Download Chrome DevTools for debugging Cordova apps on browser
Download Safari Web Inspector for debugging Cordova apps on iOS devices
Download Android Device Monitor for debugging Cordova apps on Android devices
Download Apache Ripple Emulator for simulating Cordova apps on browser
Download PhoneGap Desktop App for creating and running PhoneGap projects with Cordova CLI
Download Ionic Framework for building hybrid mobile apps with Cordova plugins
Download Framework7 for creating iOS and Android apps with native look and feel using Cordova
Download Onsen UI for developing cross-platform HTML5 hybrid apps with Cordova integration
Download jQuery Mobile for creating responsive web apps with touch optimization using Cordova
Download Bootstrap for designing mobile-first web pages with CSS, JS, and icons using Cordova
Download AngularJS for creating dynamic web applications with MVC architecture using Cordova
Download React Native for building native mobile apps with JavaScript and React using Cordova
Download Vue.js for creating user interfaces with progressive framework using Cordova
Download Meteor for developing full-stack web and mobile applications with JavaScript using Cordova
Download Firebase for adding backend services and cloud functions to your Cordova app
Download Pushwoosh for implementing push notifications in your Cordova app
Download AdMob Pro for displaying Google ads in your Cordova app
Download InAppBrowser for opening external links in your Cordova app
Download Camera for capturing photos and videos in your Cordova app
Make sure you have the platform-specific requirements and tools installed on your system. For example, for Android, you need to have Java Development Kit (JDK), Android Studio, Android SDK, and Gradle. For iOS, you need to have Xcode, iOS SDK, and a Mac computer.
Type cordova platform add android to add the Android platform to your project. You should see a message that says Adding android project... and some output that shows the progress of the installation.
Type cordova platform add ios to add the iOS platform to your project. You should see a similar message and output as before.
Type cordova platform ls to list the platforms that you have added to your project. You should see something like this:
Installed platforms: android 9.0.0 ios 6.1.0 Available platforms: