The Cordova vs PhoneGap development can enable one now to build cross-platform phone applications for Ios and Android and other platforms. After this one can update the existing codebase once for all other platforms. No need will be necessary for maintaining separate repositories.
An iOS developer needs to understand the features of both Cordova and PhoneGap before thinking upon which one to use.
Cordova or PhoneGap?
Adobe owns the PhoneGap which now has additional build services. It may or may not offer in future additional services and may or may not charge additionally for them.
Cardova owns Apache. It will always be maintained as an open source project.
The APIs are almost similar i both. Cardova is better to use unless one requires additional PhoneGap build services.
Platforms/versions that one wants to support
Cordova can easily to support iOS6/7/8 and Android 4.4. Both Facebook and Twitter Ios apps do not support anything other than Ios6 and later. Since the first generation iPad has been blocked at version 5.11, therefore iPad users won’t be able to download the app from an app store unless one customaries the application in XCode. Moreover, if one is to support the iPhone and other such 64-bit Ios, the current version of Cordova is needed in that case.
One has to keep in touch with the Android Developer Dashboard for regular updates.
The offline mode
An iOS app developer needs to think of what the app is going to do when there is no internet. Sharing, linking, analytics, etc. might not work in the offline mode. Cordova Network/Connection plugin can be used to detect connection type.
Proper knowledge of XCode and Eclipse
Cordova XCode implementation has certain out-of-the box features. For example, the status bar will be hidden when one launches the app. One has to learn the basics of XCode development before releasing an application to the AppStore. Eclipse IDE isn’t that essential.
What form-factor one wants to support
Whether one wants to make app support only phone or tablet form-factors, etc. are important factors that can change designer, developer and resource requirements.
After everything is done, one needs to test the App before launching it. Though emulators and simulators can identify major issues, a real device is the best for testing. It is also good to know about any specific bugs/issues with the platform/version/device that one is testing.
Guest article written by: Merry Waran is a Marketing Manager at AIS Technolabs which is Web design and Development Company, helping global businesses to grow by Ios App Developer Services. I would love to share thoughts on Social Media Marketing Services and Game Design Development etc. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+.