UNIT-III -HYBRID APP:

M.GNANAVEL
Hybrid App:

A hybrid app is a versatile solution in mobile

applications.
Bridging the gap between native and web-based
approaches.
Developed using a combination of web technologies like
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, hybrid apps are then
encapsulated within a native container.
This approach allows developers to write a single
codebase that can be deployed across different
platforms, such as iOS and Android.
Reducing development time and costs.
Benefits of hybrid app

Hybrid apps offer several benefits due to their unique

combination of web and native technologies.
Cross-Platform Development: One of the major benefits of
hybrid apps is their ability to run on multiple platforms with
a single codebase.
 Reduces development time and costs compared to building
separate native apps for each platform.
Faster Development: Hybrid apps leverage web technologies
like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are widely known and
used by developers.
Speeds up the development process as developers don't need
to learn platform-specific languages.
Advantages
Code Reusability: With a single codebase for multiple
platforms, developers can reuse a significant portion of
their code, maintaining consistency and reducing the
risk of bugs across different versions of the app.
Easy Updates: Unlike native apps that require users to
download updates, hybrid apps can update content
and features dynamically without requiring users to
install new versions.
Contd..
Wider Reach: By targeting both iOS and Android
platforms, hybrid apps have the potential to reach a
larger audience, making them ideal for startups or
businesses looking to expand quickly.

Cost-Effectiveness: Developing and maintaining a
single codebase is more cost- effective than managing
separate codebases for native apps.
Smaller businesses with limited resources.
Contd..
Web Technology Knowledge: Developers with web
development experience can transition their skills to
create hybrid apps, eliminating the need to learn
platform- specific languages and tools.
Access to Device Features:Hybrid apps can access
common device features like GPS, camera, and local
storage, offering a balance between functionality and
development speed.
CONTD..
Offline Support: Hybrid apps can store data locally,
allowing users to access certain features and content
even when they are offline.
Third-Party Libraries: Hybrid apps can leverage
various third-party libraries and frameworks, speeding
up development and enhancing functionality.
Uniform User Experience: Hybrid apps can maintain a
consistent user experience across different platforms.
Esuring that users have a similar look and feel regardless
of their device.
Criteria for creating hybrid app

Creating a hybrid app involves combining elements of

both native and web applications.
The decision to create a hybrid app depends on several
criteria:
Target Platforms: Hybrid apps use web technologies
like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, making it easier to
target multiple platforms (iOS, Android, web) with a
single codebase.
CONTD..
Development Speed: Hybrid apps often have faster
development cycles since developers can reuse code
across platforms.
Cost Efficiency: Building a single app for multiple
platforms can be more cost- effective than creating
separate native apps.
Access to Device Features: Hybrid apps can access
native device features through plugins or libraries, but
certain complex features might require more effort to
integrate.
CONTD..
UI/UX Complexity: For apps with simple UI and basic
user interactions, a hybrid approach may work well.
Complex animations and intricate UI might perform
better in native apps.
Performance: Native apps generally offer better
performance, especially for graphics- intensive
applications, games, or apps requiring real-time
updates.

CONTD..
Offline Functionality: Hybrid apps can be designed to
work offline, leveraging technologies like Service
Workers and local storage.
Maintenance: Hybrid apps often require less
maintenance since changes are applied to a single
codebase.
App Store Approval: Both Apple App Store and Google
Play Store have specific guidelines for app approval.
Hybrid apps might face challenges meeting these
guidelines.
CONTD..
 Development Team Skills: If your development team is more
experienced in web technologies, creating a hybrid app might
align well with their skill set.
 User Experience: Users have come to expect certain native
experiences.
 Hybrid apps may struggle to match these experiences seamlessly.
 Security: Depending on the security requirements of your app,
native development might offer better control and security
measures.
 Long-Term Vision: Consider your app's long-term growth and
scalability.
 Native apps might be better suited for scaling and handling future
complexities
Tools for creating hybrid app
 Tools commonly used for creating hybrid apps:
1. Frameworks:
Ionic: A popular open-source framework based on
Angular and Apache Cordova.
 It provides a rich set of UI components, themes, and

plugins, making it suitable for building visually

appealing apps.
React Native: React Native allows developers to build
hybrid apps using React, a JavaScript library.
Flutter: Flutter offers the ability to build web and
desktop apps, making it a versatile choice. It uses Dart
programming language and provides a single codebase
for multiple platforms.
CONTD..
2.Integrated Development Environments (IDEs):
 Visual Studio Code: A lightweight and highly
customizable code editor that supports various
extensions for hybrid app development with
frameworks like Ionic and React Native.
 Android Studio: If you're building hybrid apps that
will primarily target Android, Android Studio with
plugins can be used to integrate Cordova and React
Native projects.
CONTD..
Build Tools:
 Apache Cordova: An open-source platform for
building hybrid mobile apps using web technologies.
It provides a command-line interface (CLI) to package
and deploy apps to different platforms.
Expo: Built on top of React Native, Expo is a
development platform that simplifies the React Native
workflow.
 It offers a range of tools to handle building, testing, and
deploying your hybrid app.
CONTD..
Testing Tools:
Appium: An open-source mobile application testing
tool that supports hybrid apps. I
It allows you to automate testing across different
platforms and devices.
Jest: A widely used JavaScript testing framework that
works well with React Native and other hybrid app
frameworks.
CONTD..
 Version Control:
 Git: Essential for version control and collaboration among developers.
Platforms like GitHub and GitLab provide repositories for hosting and
managing hybrid app projects.
 Package Managers:
 npm (Node Package Manager): Used to manage and install packages
(libraries, plugins, modules) for your hybrid app's development.
 UI Libraries:
 Material-UI (React): Provides a set of components following Google's
Material Design principles, which can be used to create consistent UI
across hybrid apps.
 Ionic UI Components: For Ionic-based apps, the framework includes a
comprehensive set of pre-designed UI components for creating visually
appealing interfaces.
CONTD..
Debugging Tools:
Chrome DevTools: Useful for debugging hybrid apps as they are
often web- based. You can inspect elements, monitor network
activity, and debug JavaScript code.
 React Native Debugger: Specifically designed for debugging React
Native apps, offering advanced debugging features.
Plugins and Libraries:
 Cordova Plugins: Extend the capabilities of your hybrid app by
integrating native device functionalities like camera, geolocation,
and more.
 React Native Libraries: A vast collection of open-source libraries
available via NPM enhancing your app's functionality and UI.
 Some of the common cons or drawbacks associated
with hybrid mobile apps:
 Performance: Hybrid apps tend to have slower
Cons of hybrid app

performance compared to native apps, as they rely on

web technologies and often require a bridge to
communicate with native components.
User Experience: The user experience might not be as
seamless as native apps, as hybrid apps might not fully
integrate with the device's native features, resulting in a
less intuitive feel.
Limited Native Functionality: Some advanced native
functionalities might not be accessible in hybrid apps,
leading to limitations in utilizing certain device features
and hardware capabilities.
Contd..
UI/UX Limitations: Achieving a consistent and native-like
user interface across various platforms can be challenging,
as the app needs to work on both iOS and Android
platforms.
Dependency on Third-Party Tools: Hybrid apps often rely on
third-party frameworks like Cordova or React Native, which
can introduce compatibility issues and bugs that are outside
your control.
Updates and Maintenance: Maintaining a hybrid app can be
more complex due to the need to update both the web view
and the native code. This can result in slower updates and
potential compatibility problems.
Contd..
Limited Offline Access: While native apps can often
function offline, hybrid apps might have limitations in
providing a robust offline experience due to their
reliance on web technologies.
Security Concerns: Security can be a concern in hybrid
apps due to the potential vulnerabilities that come from
integrating web content within a native app shell.
 App Store Approval Process: Some app stores might
have stricter review processes for hybrid apps,
particularly if they don't adhere to platform-specific
design guidelines.
Contd.
Customization Challenges: Implementing highly
customized UI components or animations might be
more difficult in hybrid apps compared to native
development.
Debugging Complexities: Debugging hybrid apps can
be more challenging due to the interaction between
web and native components, making it harder to
pinpoint issues.
 Hybrid
Popular hybrid
appapp development frameworks:
development frameworks have transformed the way
developers create mobile applications by enabling them to build
apps that work across multiple platforms using a single codebase.
These frameworks leverage web technologies like HTML, CSS, and
JavaScript to create apps that run on both iOS and Android
devices. some of the popular hybrid app development frameworks,
delving into their features, benefits, and limitations.
React Native: React Native, developed by Facebook, has gained
immense popularity for its ability to create high-quality mobile
applications with a focus on native-like performance and user
experience.
It utilizes JavaScript and the React library to build user interfaces.
React Native employs a bridge that communicates with native
modules, allowing developers to incorporate platform-specific
functionalities seamlessly.
Feature of React Native
 Near-Native Performance: React Native achieves near-native
performance by converting components into native widgets, ensuring a
smoother user experience compared to traditional web-based
approaches.
 Hot Reloading: Developers can see the results of code changes in real-
time without restarting the app, speeding up development and testing.
 Cross-Platform Reusability: A significant portion of the code can be
shared between iOS and Android platforms, saving time and effort in
development.
 Rich Ecosystem: The extensive library of third-party packages and
modules offers solutions for various functionalities, contributing to
faster development cycles.
 Strong Community: React Native has a thriving community that
actively contributes to its growth, provides solutions to challenges, and
shares best practices.
Limitations
 Complex Native Integrations: While many features
are available through third-party libraries,
implementing advanced native functionalities might
require writing custom native modules.
Animation Performance: Complex animations might
suffer from performance issues, as they rely on native
animations or complex workarounds.
2.Flutter
Flutter: Developed by Google, Flutter has garnered
attention for its unique approach to hybrid app
development, emphasizing a consistent and visually
appealing user interface across platforms.
Flutter uses the Dart programming language and
offers a comprehensive collection of widgets that
contribute to its expressive UI framework.
Features
 Single Codebase for Both Platforms: Flutter's single codebase approach
allows developers to create apps that run on iOS and Android platforms,
reducing development time and cost.
 Widget-Based Architecture: Flutter's widgets are more than just UI
components; they encompass entire parts of the UI and contribute to the
overall app structure.
 Hot Reload: Similar to React Native, Flutter's hot reload feature allows
developers to see changes in real-time, fostering faster development cycles.
 Consistent UI: Flutter ensures a consistent UI across platforms, as the
same set of widgets is used on both iOS and Android, resulting in a native-
like appearance.
 Rich Ecosystem: Flutter provides a growing ecosystem of packages,
plugins, and widgets that contribute to building complex and feature-rich
apps.
Limitations
 Learning Curve: Developers familiar with other
programming languages may need time to adapt to
Dart, Flutter's programming language.
Smaller Community: While the community is
growing rapidly, it might be smaller compared to more
established frameworks like React Native.
3. IONIC
Ionic is a powerful hybrid app development
framework that allows developers to create cross-
platform mobile applications using web
technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
It provides tools, components, and libraries that
facilitate the process of building apps that work
effortlessly on both iOS and Android devices.
Ionic influences the capabilities of Apache Cordova
(formerly known as PhoneGap) to bridge the gap
between web technologies and native device
features.
FEATURES
UI Components and Themes: Ionic provides a
comprehensive library of pre-designed UI components
that follow the design guidelines of both iOS and Android
platforms.
These components are customizable and allow developers
to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: One of Ionic's core
strengths is its ability to create apps that run on multiple
platforms with a single codebase.
This eliminates the need to develop separate apps for iOS
and Android, saving time and effort.
CONTD..
Cordova Plugins Integration: Ionic seamlessly integrates
with Cordova plugins, enabling access to native device
features like camera, geolocation, storage, and more.
These plugins bridge the gap between web technologies and
native functionalities, allowing developers to create feature-
rich apps.
Ionic CLI (Command Line Interface): The Ionic CLI offers
a set of commands that simplify various development tasks,
such as generating components, building, and deploying the
app.
 It accelerates the development process and provides a
consistent workflow.
CONTD..
 Ionic Native: Ionic Native is a set of wrappers for Cordova
plugins that simplifies their integration into Ionic apps.
 It provides a standardized way to access native features,
improving the development experience.
 CSS Utility Classes: Ionic's CSS utility classes enable
developers to apply common styling directly to HTML elements
without writing custom CSS. This speeds up styling tasks and
maintains consistency throughout the app.
 Routing and Navigation: Ionic's built-in routing and
navigation system simplifies the creation of multi-page apps.
 Developers can define routes and navigate between different
pages with ease.
How Ionic Works:
 Step1: Installation: To start using Ionic, you need to install Node.js and npm (Node
Package Manager) on your machine.
 After installing these fundamentals, you can install the Ionic CLI using the command:

 bash

 npm install -g @ionic/cli

 Step2:Creating an Ionic App: Once the Ionic CLI is installed, you can create a new Ionic
app using a template. For example, to create a blank Ionic app, you can run:

 sql

 ionic start MyApp blank

 This command creates a new Ionic app named "MyApp" using the "blank" template.
CONTD..
3.Structure and Pages: Ionic apps are organized into
pages, each representing a separate component of the
app.
You can generate a new page using the Ionic CLI:
ionic generate page MyPage

This command generates the necessary files for a new

page named "MyPage."
Contd..
4.Building UI: Ionic provides a wide range of UI
components that you can use to build your app's interface.
 These components are styled to look native on both
iOS and Android platforms.
 You can customize these components and apply your
app's branding.
5.Adding Logic: You can add business logic and
functionality to your app using TypeScript, a superset of
JavaScript that adds static typing.
Each page's logic is defined in a TypeScript file
associated with that page.
Contd..
6.Styling: Ionic allows you to style your app using
CSS. You can use CSS utility classes to apply common
styles without writing extensive custom CSS.
Additionally, you can create a consistent look and feel
using Ionic's predefined themes.
7.Navigation: Ionic apps often have multiple pages
that users navigate between. Ionic's built-in navigation
system allows you to define routes and implement
navigation between pages using Angular's router.
Contd..
8.Running and Testing: During development, you can use
the ionic serve command to run your app in a web browser.
This allows you to see changes in real-time without needing
to deploy to a device. You can also use emulators or physical
devices to test the app's behavior on iOS and Android
platforms.
9.Deploying: Once your app is ready, you can deploy it to
app stores or distribute it through other channels.
Ionic provides tools to package your app for iOS and
Android platforms and guides you through the submission
process.
APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT USING IONIC
Let's create a basic Ionic app that displays a list of items.
We'll create a simple "To-Do List" app where users can add
items to their list.
1.Setting Up the Environment:

Before you start, make sure you have Node.js and npm (Node
Package Manager) installed. You'll also need the Ionic CLI. If
you haven't installed it, you can do so by running:
bash

npm install -g @ionic/cli
CONTD..
2.Create a New Ionic App:
 Open your command-line interface and run the
following commands:
 Sql
 ionic start TodoApp blank
 This will create a new Ionic app named "TodoApp"
using the "blank" template.
CONTD..
3.Navigate to the App Directory:

Bash

cd TodoApp

4.Adding a Page:

In Ionic, the app is organized into pages. Let's create a page
where users can view and add items to their to-do list.
ionic generate page todo-list
 5. Adding UI Elements:

 Open src/app/todo-list/todo-list.page.html and replace the content with the following code:

 Html

 <ion-header>

 <ion-toolbar>

 <ion-title>To-Do List</ion-title>

 </ion-toolbar>

 </ion-header>

 <ion-content>

 <ion-list>

 <ion-item *ngFor="let item of items">{{ item }}</ion-item>

 </ion-list>

 </ion-content>

 6.Adding Logic:
 Open src/app/todo-list/todo-list.page.ts and replace the content with the
following code:

 Typescript
 import { Component } from '@angular/core';

 @Component({
 selector: 'app-todo-list', templateUrl: './todo-list.page.html',
styleUrls: ['./todo-list.page.scss'],
 })
 export class TodoListPage {
 items: string[] = ['Buy groceries', 'Finish homework', 'Go for a run'];

 addItem(item: string) { this.items.push(item);
}
}
CONTD..
7.Adding Styles:
Open src/app/todo-list/todo-list.page.scss and add
some basic styling: CSS
ion-list { padding: 20px;
}
 8. Using the Page:
 Now, open src/app/app-routing.module.ts and add the route for the
TodoListPage:

 TypeScript
 import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
 import { RouterModule, Routes } from '@angular/router';

import { TodoListPage } from './todo-list/todo-list.page';

 const routes: Routes = [
 { path: 'todo-list', component: TodoListPage },
 { path: '', redirectTo: 'todo-list', pathMatch: 'full' },
 ];

 @NgModule({
 imports: [RouterModule.forRoot(routes)], exports: [RouterModule],
 })
 export class AppRoutingModule {}
CONTD..
9. Running the App:

Run the app using the following command:

ionic serve
Limitations:

Performance: While significant improvements have

been made, Ionic apps might still experience
performance disparities compared to fully native apps.

Limited Native Experience: Achieving a fully native-

like experience can be challenging, as Ionic apps use
web technologies at their core.
APACHE CORDOVA
Apache Cordova - Development framework that
allows developers to build cross-platform mobile
applications using web technologies such as HTML,
CSS, and JavaScript.
 Cordova bridges the gap between web applications
and native mobile device functionalities, enabling
developers to create apps that can run on various
platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and
more.
CORE CONCEPTS OF CORDOVA
 Hybrid Apps: Cordova enables the creation of hybrid
apps, which are a combination of web technologies and
native device capabilities.
 Unlike native apps that are developed for a specific platform,
hybrid apps leverage web views to render the user interface
while accessing native device features through Cordova
plugins.
 Web Technologies: Cordova apps are built using standard
web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This
means that developers familiar with web development can
leverage their skills to create mobile applications
CONTD..
 Native Functionality: Cordova provides a mechanism for
accessing native device features such as the camera,
geolocation, contacts, file system, and more.
 These features are exposed through plugins, allowing
developers to use JavaScript APIs to interact with native code.
 Web Views: Cordova uses native web views to display the
user interface.
 These web views are essentially embedded browsers that
render HTML and CSS.
 The interaction between the web view and native code is
facilitated by a bridge.
FEATURES OF CORDOVA
 Cordova Plugins: Cordova's extensibility is a key
feature. Plugins allow developers to access native device
capabilities that are not available through standard web
technologies. Plugins are a collection of JavaScript,
native code, and configuration files that provide a
consistent API for interacting with device features.
Platform Independence: Cordova apps are designed to
be cross-platform. The same codebase can be used to
create apps for multiple platforms. Cordova takes care of
adapting the app's appearance and behavior to match
the target platform.
CONTD..
Uniform Development Process: Cordova offers a unified
development process, enabling developers to write code once and
deploy it across different platforms. This approach simplifies
maintenance and updates.
Access to Device APIs: Through Cordova plugins, developers can
access various device APIs, including camera, geolocation,
accelerometer, contacts, file system, and more. This integration
enables apps to provide richer functionality and improved user
experiences.
Offline Capabilities: Cordova apps can influence the device's
local storage capabilities, enabling them to work offline and store
data locally. This is particularly useful for scenarios where network
connectivity is limited or unreliable.
Benefits
Faster Development: Cordova allows developers to
use their web development skills to create mobile
apps, accelerating the development process.
 Cross-Platform Compatibility: Cordova apps can
be developed for multiple platforms with minimal
changes to the codebase.
Access to Device Capabilities: Cordova's plugin
ecosystem enables developers to create feature-rich
apps by accessing native device features.

CONTD..
Cost Efficiency: Developing a single codebase for
multiple platforms reduces development costs
compared to building separate native apps.
Rapid Prototyping: Cordova is suitable for rapid
prototyping and MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
development.
Apps with Simple Requirements: Cordova is well-
suited for apps that don't require heavy processing or
performance-critical tasks.
Limitations:

 Performance: Cordova apps might not achieve the same

level of performance as fully native apps, especially for
graphics-intensive tasks.
User Experience: Achieving a seamless and native-like user
experience might require additional effort, especially in areas
like animations.
Platform Constraints: Platform-specific constraints and
differences might still require platform-specific code
adjustments.
Plugin Quality: The quality of Cordova plugins can vary,
and compatibility issues might arise when using third-party
plugins.
APACHE CORDOVA
Step 1: Installation and Setup:
 Make sure you have Node.js and npm (Node Package
Manager) installed on your machine. If not, you can
download and install them from the official Node.js
website.
Install the Cordova CLI globally using the following
command in your terminal:
 Copy code
 npm install -g cordova
CONTD..
Step 2: Create a Cordova Project:
 Open your terminal and navigate to the directory
where you want to create the project. Then, run the
following command to create a new Cordova project:
luaCopy code
 cordova create ToDoApp com.example.todoapp
ToDoApp
 This command will create a new Cordova project
named "ToDoApp" with the package name
"com.example.todoapp."
CONTD..
Step 3: Add Platforms:

Navigate to the project directory using cd ToDoApp
and add the platforms you want to target (e.g.,
Android, iOS):
csharpCopy code

cordova platform add android cordova platform add
ios
CONTD.
 Step 4: Create the User Interface:

 In this step, we'll create a basic HTML file for our "To-Do List" app.

 Navigate to the "www" directory within your project folder: cd www.

 Create an HTML file named index.html and open it in a code editor.

 Add the following code to create a simple user interface: htmlCopy code
 <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title>To-Do List App</title> <link
rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/style.css"> </head> <body> <h1>To-
Do List</h1> <input type="text" id="taskInput" placeholder="Enter a task">
<button id="addButton">Add Task</button> <ul id="taskList"></ul> <script
src="js/app.js"></script> </body> </html>
CONTD..
 Step 5: Add Basic Functionality:

 Create a JavaScript file named app.js within the "js" directory.

 Add the following code to handle adding tasks to the list: javascriptCopy code
 document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false); function
onDeviceReady() { const addButton =
document.getElementById("addButton"); const taskInput =
document.getElementById("taskInput"); const taskList =
document.getElementById("taskList"); addButton.addEventListener("click",
function()
 { const taskText = taskInput.value.trim(); if (taskText !== "") { const listItem =
document.createElement("li"); listItem.textContent = taskText;
taskList.appendChild(listItem); taskInput.value = ""; } }); }
CONTD..
 Step 6: Styling:

 Create a CSS file named style.css within the "css" directory.


Add some basic styling to make the app visually appealing:
cssCopy code
 body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; margin: 0;
padding: 0; } h1 { margin- top: 20px; } input[type="text"] { width:
70%; padding: 10px; margin: 10px 0; } button
 { padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #007bff; color: white;
border: none; cursor: pointer; } ul { list-style: none; padding: 0; }
CONTD..
Step 7: Testing and Building:

Save your changes in the code editor.

Build and run the app on your preferred platform(s):
arduinoCopy code
cordova build android cordova run android

Replace "android" with "ios" if you're testing on an iOS
simulator.
CONTD..
Step 8: Test the App:
 The app should launch on your simulator or device.
Enter tasks in the input field and click the "Add Task"
button to see them added to the list.
Congratulations! You've created a simple "To-Do List"
mobile application using Apache Cordova.