hybrid mobile app - Phonegap/Cordova cross platform architecture and single code base -

hybrid mobile app - Phonegap/Cordova cross platform architecture and single code base -

i building product using web api backend , angularjs on client side, expecting launch in couple of months. logic separated client.

being sole developer (and marketing, sales, etc) keen on maximizing efficiency , hence looking @ cordova handle mobile app side of things. have never done ios/android development, quick @ picking new languages , environments not consider primary barrier entry, more concerned duplication of work effort.

my question thus; approaching small-ish application intent of having single code base of operations way of cordova right method? concerned having deal 3 types of styling handle ios/android menus , slight ui differences between web , mobile applications. litter code whole bunch of if(ios) menu=a, elseif(android) menu=b, else menu=c ?

or, trying maintain clients lean possible , writing native android/ios apps smarter approach? here real issue effort of maintaining 3 code bases clients.

i've done lot of reading around , while opinions seem pretty split, no 1 focuses on complexity of maintaining multiple code bases lean clients versus coding overhead of handling styling 1 code base of operations across multiple platforms.

thanks input,

this sentiment based, closed pretty soon.

few years ago worked software house had few strong applications in web , desktop versions. around 2011 became clear had addressed mobile market well. company quite little not afford native multi-channel development then. our primary competence in java, jsf , javascript (to create list short). moreover, few of js technologies used supported mobile pretty well.

we have evaluated number of approaches , decided go phonegap (name before cordova). used native capabilities gps, database, photographic camera (videos/photos), sound recording, compass etc.

we used js-based library create look-and-feel "more native".

to best of knowledge, never had like

if (context.iphone) { dothis(); } else { dothat(); }

and deep in code.

we wrote few of our own cordova plugins ios , android in parallel (i think unzipping). worked on same js api.

main problem had app, well, not native. have ui lags despite everything, not native look-and-feel. app still pretty good, comparing analogous apps bulti-million market leader, tell difference. however, our app quite heavy on graphics (gis/mapping client).

so extremely hard question may have heavy consequences, if create wrong choice. if app has "sexy", @ point of time may find banging against limits of boxed html5 app can do.

if app per definition not-so-sparkling (let's take corporate world of forms-to-fill-to-save-in-db), may never reach limits.

you inquire "is smart". impossible reply without knowing goal function you're trying smartoptimize. trying cut down costs? shorten time-to-market? cordova (or other hybrid tehchology) may selection short-term tactic decision. planning long-term? emphasize on quality? might want invest learning native development early.

from read in question, me personally, i'd give try. build small, few features usable, , see how works. you'll know technology (which not difficult) , able consider next steps having in hand. know cases when people did this, many outcomes - staying phonegap, switching tech raising more money , doing native apps ios , android.

good luck , best wishes.

cordova hybrid-mobile-app multi-device-hybrid-apps