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Although unpopular on HN: Cordova-based apps with a good mobile look-alike framework can get you very far for a smallish app. Advantages: - truly one code bas
by WA 7y ago
Although unpopular on HN: Cordova-based apps with a good mobile look-alike framework can get you very far for a smallish app.
Advantages:
- truly one code base
- iOS, Android, and web apps
- JavaScript skills are useful
- experience is "good enough" for the average user
Downsides:
- almost no fine-grained control of input controls (like which keyboard to show)
- doesn’t respect users’ accessibility options of the OS
- small differences between the native widgets and the CSS/HTML lookalikes
- not anymore: performance. It’s really good enough on devices of the last 4-5 years
I use Ionic, or more specifically: Stencil with ionic web components.
- raihansaputra 7y agoI agree. With good frontend development practices (state management, caching, etc) it behaves a lot like a native app, it's quick to get up and running and easy to maintain. Not to mention you can deploy as PWA/mobile web if it suits the situation. What framework are you using? Angular or another framework? I'm interested to explore this approach using Svelte.
- WA 7y agoI use Stencil, made by the ionic team: https://stenciljs.com/ https://stenciljs.com/ It’s also a compiler for web components like Svelte and a lot like React. You can add the ionic code web components to get animations etc. Try it out, especially if you like TypeScript.
- raihansaputra 7y agoMight have to take a deeper look at it. Thanks!
- pjmlp 7y agoI used them a couple of times, for that kind of user experience I rather use a PWA.
- WA 7y agoYeah, but the average user doesn't know what a PWA is and they want to install an app through the app store. Furthermore, with Cordova, you can also use plugins such as In-App-Purchases or access to more persistent storage (SQLite) instead of what the browser offers.
- muzani 7y agoCordova can access native features on phones via plugins - database, camera, sensors, etc. As well as use different designs for Android/iOS with the same code via Ionic/F7.
- lucasverra 7y agoExcellent recap. Can you link to one app ported on the 3 platforms (Android,iOS,Web) so we can test performance from a UX point of view ?
- WA 7y agoWell, you could try the Ionic Conference App (just a demo app): https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-conference-app https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-conference-app
- lucasverra 7y agoany other real life example besides the provider template app ?
- gitgud 7y agoIf you want performance Cordova is not going to impress you ...