Doubts on Phonegap.js, Phonegap Build and Intel XDK
I am very new to mobile application development. Now I am into a mobile application project which should work on IOS, Android, BB and WP.
After googling to learn what can I do on this, I felt Phonegap fulfils my requirement. I have downloaded and installed phonegap on eclipse to start develop for Android.
I have downloaded, SDK, AVD, eclipse etc to get started with Phonegap for Android.I followed the procedures in the Getting Started Guide.
For User Interface, I took Intel App Framework as my tool of choice.
Everything goes fine with me, other than my doubts in Cross Platform mobile application development.
1) I have read about PhoneGap build, it just requires html,css and js file to wrap up an application for different platforms. So downloading and linking phonegap.js in an the application is not required unless I need to access the device's native function ?
And just create a responsive HTML5 application and build with PhoneGap Build is all I have to do ?
2) If I can just do like above, then why I should install eclipse and android SDK to create for android when I can just make HTML5 application and build with phonegap build and put it on google play.
3) I have came across Intel XDK and they have similar service like phonegap, if I use Intel XDK then I don't have to use any assets of phonegap ?
Please answer these question as these things are confusing me a lot.
Answer
As per my knowledge these are the answers,
1) I have read about PhoneGap build, it just requires html,css and js file to wrap up an application for different platforms. So downloading and linking phonegap.js in an the application is not required unless I need to access the device's native function ?
Yes, until your application need to access devices's native function or any inbuilt or custom plugins, no need of phonegap.js.
And just create a responsive HTML5 application and build with PhoneGap Build is all I have to do ?
2) If I can just do like above, then why I should install eclipse and android SDK to create for android when I can just make HTML5 application and build with phonegap build and put it on google play.
Phonegap applications need to be developed as native applications using web technologies, ex: IOS apps need to developed on MAC (using IOS SDK) etc.
3) I have came across Intel XDK and they have similar service like phonegap, if I use Intel XDK then I don't have to use any assets of phonegap ?
Intel XDK using cloud based development where your html,css etc are uploaded into the Intel server and the application will build their and give your the final build. In this case you no need of MAC for IOS application development.