NativeScript
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{{Short description|Open-source framework to develop native mobile apps}}
{{Infobox software
| logo = NativeScript Logo.png
| logo_size = 64px
| name = NativeScript
| author = Telerik by Progress Software.
| developer = Community
| released = {{Start date|2014}}
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|P348}}
| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P577}}}}
| programming language = JavaScript, TypeScript
| platform = Cross-platform
| license = Apache License 2.0
| website = {{URL|https://nativescript.org}}
}}
NativeScript provides platform APIs directly to the JavaScript runtime (with strong types) for a rich TypeScript development experience. As an open-source framework to develop apps for iOS, visionOS and Android platforms combining a best of all worlds approach marrying familiar Web approaches like CSS and view templating with common platform languages (Swift, Kotlin, Objective-C, Java) it delivers a liberating toolset for developers. It was originally conceived and developed by Bulgarian company Telerik, later acquired by Progress Software.{{Cite web|url=https://www.infoq.com/news/2015/03/nativescript/|title=Creating Mobile Native Apps in JavaScript with NativeScript|website=InfoQ|access-date=2022-07-12|archive-date=2022-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619183512/https://www.infoq.com/news/2015/03/nativescript/|url-status=live}} At the end of 2019{{cite web |last1=Saripella |first1=Surya |title=The Next Chapter for NativeScript: nStudio |url=https://nativescript.org/blog/the-next-chapter-for-nativescript-nstudio/ |publisher=NativeScript |access-date=2022-07-12 |archive-date=2021-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116145010/https://nativescript.org/blog/the-next-chapter-for-nativescript-nstudio/ |url-status=live }} responsibility for the NativeScript project was taken over by long-time Progress partner, [https://nstudio.io nStudio]. In December 2020, [https://nstudio.io nStudio] also oversaw the induction of NativeScript into [https://openjsf.org/ OpenJS Foundation] as an Incubating Project.{{cite web |last1=Romoff |first1=Rachel |title=NativeScript joins OpenJS Foundation as Incubating Project |url=https://openjsf.org/blog/2020/12/07/nativescript-joins-openjs-foundation-as-incubating-project/ |website=The Linux Foundation Projects |date=7 December 2020 |publisher=OpenJS Foundation |access-date=4 March 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125120950/https://openjsf.org/blog/2020/12/07/nativescript-joins-openjs-foundation-as-incubating-project/ |url-status=live }} NativeScript apps are built using JavaScript, or by using any programming language that transpiles to JavaScript, such as TypeScript. NativeScript supports the Angular{{Cite web|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2893706/javascript-native-ios-android-and-windows-phone-apps.html|title=JavaScript goes native for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone apps|first=Paul|last=Krill|date=March 10, 2015|website=InfoWorld|access-date=July 12, 2022|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103083812/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2893706/javascript-native-ios-android-and-windows-phone-apps.html|url-status=live}} and Vue JavaScript frameworks.{{Cite web|url=https://nativescript-vue.org/#/|title=NativeScript-Vue|website=nativescript-vue.org|access-date=2017-10-31}} Mobile applications built with NativeScript result in fully native apps, which use the same APIs as if they were developed in Xcode or Android Studio.{{Cite web|title=NativeScript framework eases cross-platform app development woes|url=https://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/podcast/NativeScript-framework-eases-cross-platform-app-development-woes|access-date=2021-08-06|website=searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com|archive-date=2021-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806104010/https://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/podcast/NativeScript-framework-eases-cross-platform-app-development-woes|url-status=live}} Additionally, software developers can re-purpose third-party libraries from CocoaPods, Maven, and npm.js in their mobile applications without the need for wrappers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3066900/nativescript-warms-up-to-angularjs-for-mobile-dev.html|title=NativeScript warms up to AngularJS for mobile dev|first=Paul|last=Krill|date=May 6, 2016|website=InfoWorld|access-date=July 12, 2022|archive-date=June 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612180823/https://www.infoworld.com/article/3066900/nativescript-warms-up-to-angularjs-for-mobile-dev.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://sdtimes.com/alphago/sd-times-github-project-of-the-week-nativescript/|title=SD Times GitHub Project of the Week: NativeScript|date=March 18, 2016|access-date=July 12, 2022|archive-date=March 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327145317/https://sdtimes.com/alphago/sd-times-github-project-of-the-week-nativescript/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2015/03/09/telerik-nativescript-beta-mobile.aspx|title=Telerik's NativeScript Aims To Centralize Cross-Platform Mobile Development -|website=Visual Studio Magazine|access-date=2016-11-21|archive-date=2017-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003801/https://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2015/03/09/telerik-nativescript-beta-mobile.aspx|url-status=live}}
Development
NativeScript was publicly released first in March 2015. Version 1.0.0 followed two months later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.i-programmer.info/news/167-javascript/8561-nativescript-100-released.html|title=NativeScript 1.0.0 Released|website=www.i-programmer.info|access-date=2022-07-12|archive-date=2022-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611085454/https://www.i-programmer.info/news/167-javascript/8561-nativescript-100-released.html|url-status=live}} The framework quickly gained popularity reaching 3000 github-stars and over 1500 followers on Twitter soon after the public release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nativescript.org/blog/nativescript-1.0.0-is-now-available|title=NativeScript 1.0.0 is now available|website=NativeScript.org|access-date=2016-11-04|archive-date=2016-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005103930/https://www.nativescript.org/blog/nativescript-1.0.0-is-now-available|url-status=live}} In the meantime, over 700 plugins are available, which are either officially supported by Progress or stem from the open source community.{{Cite web|url=https://market.nativescript.org/|title=NativeScript Marketplace|website=market.nativescript.org|access-date=2018-03-14|archive-date=2018-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315133334/https://market.nativescript.org/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.npmjs.com/search?q=nativescript|title=nativescript - npm search|website=www.npmjs.com|access-date=2016-11-21|archive-date=2017-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155805/https://www.npmjs.com/search?q=nativescript|url-status=live}} The use of Angular is an optional development approach allowing for application source code to be shared between the web platform and mobile platform.{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/getting-to-know-angular-2.html|title=Getting to Know Angular 2|website=mobile.htmlgoodies.com|date=15 November 2016|access-date=12 July 2022|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927013701/https://mobile.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/javascript/getting-to-know-angular-2.html|url-status=live}}
Structure
NativeScript and all the required plugins are installed using the package manager npm. Projects are created, configured, and compiled via the command line or a GUI tool called NativeScript Sidekick.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nativescript.org/nativescript-sidekick|title=NativeScript Sidekick - your faithful companion for app development|website=NativeScript.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-31|archive-date=2017-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107004639/https://www.nativescript.org/nativescript-sidekick|url-status=live}}
Platform-independent user interfaces are defined using XML files. NativeScript then uses the abstractions described in the XML files to call native UI elements of each platform. Application logic developed in Angular and TypeScript can be developed independent of the target platform as well. A NativeScript mobile application is built using the node.js runtime and tooling.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/developer/artikel/Mit-JavaScript-wie-hausgemacht-NativeScript-3282619.html|title=Mit JavaScript wie hausgemacht: NativeScript|first=Tam|last=Hanna|website=Developer|date=9 August 2016 |access-date=2022-07-12|archive-date=2021-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725085644/https://www.heise.de/developer/artikel/Mit-JavaScript-wie-hausgemacht-NativeScript-3282619.html|url-status=live}} Progress aims for a ratio of 90% common code between the iOS and Android platforms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nativescript.org/|title=Frequently asked questions about NativeScript|website=NativeScript.org|access-date=2016-03-20|archive-date=2016-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318132229/https://www.nativescript.org/|url-status=live}}
Direct access to native platform APIs and controls
Platform-independent user interfaces are defined using XML files.{{Cite web|url=https://docs.nativescript.org/ui/basics|title=The Basics - NativeScript Docs|website=docs.nativescript.org|access-date=2016-11-21|archive-date=2016-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121191907/http://docs.nativescript.org/ui/basics|url-status=live}} NativeScript uses the XML data structures representing the cross platform abstraction to trigger platform-specific code that directly interacts with the native elements of the target operating system. This means a call to the NativeScript Button API provides a UI abstraction for Button, which directly calls UIButton on iOS{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/NativeScript/NativeScript/blob/master/packages/core/ui/button/index.ios.ts|title=NativeScript/NativeScript|website=github.com|access-date=2022-06-20|archive-date=2022-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620103533/https://github.com/NativeScript/NativeScript/blob/master/packages/core/ui/button/index.ios.ts|url-status=live}} or com.android.widget.Button on Android.{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/NativeScript/NativeScript/blob/master/packages/core/ui/button/index.android.ts|title=NativeScript/NativeScript|website=github.com|access-date=2022-06-20|archive-date=2022-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620105953/https://github.com/NativeScript/NativeScript/blob/master/packages/core/ui/button/index.android.ts|url-status=live}}
While application source code is written in JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular, or Vue.js, the source code is not compiled or otherwise mutated. The source code as-is runs directly on the device. This architectural choice eliminates the need for cross-compiling or transpiling. Additionally, while the application source code is written in languages commonly encountered in a browser (or in a WebView-contained mobile application) NativeScript applications run directly on the native device. There is no DOM manipulation or any mandatory browser interaction.
Notable features
= Native API reflection =
Another notable feature is the use of reflection to handle native API endpoints. Rather than requiring separate binding layers between NativeScript and each mobile platform API, NativeScript uses reflection to gain information and metadata about the native platform APIs. New features added to any native platform API are available immediately.
Another way the reflection feature is used is in working with third party libraries. As JavaScript (or TypeScript/Angular) can talk directly to native code, there is no need to write binding layers in Objective-C, Swift, Java or Kotlin.{{Cite web|url=https://docs.nativescript.org/core-concepts/accessing-native-apis-with-javascript|title=Accessing Native APIs through JavaScript - NativeScript Docs|website=docs.nativescript.org|access-date=2016-11-21|archive-date=2016-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124062717/http://docs.nativescript.org/core-concepts/accessing-native-apis-with-javascript|url-status=live}}
= Angular integration =
With the launch of NativeScript 2.0, it is possible to use Angular to build cross-platform mobile applications.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nativescript.org/blog/nativescript-2.0---the-best-way-to-build-cross-platform-native-mobile-apps|title=NativeScript 2.0 - the best way to build cross-platform native mobile apps|website=NativeScript.org|access-date=2016-11-21|archive-date=2016-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220190523/https://www.nativescript.org/blog/nativescript-2.0---the-best-way-to-build-cross-platform-native-mobile-apps|url-status=live}} Additionally, when using Angular with NativeScript you have the ability to share large chunks of code between your web and mobile apps.{{Cite web|last=Witalec|first=Sebastian|date=2018-08-24|title=Apps That Work Natively on the Web and Mobile|url=https://blog.angular.io/apps-that-work-natively-on-the-web-and-mobile-9b26852495e7|access-date=2021-08-06|website=Medium|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103100654/https://blog.angular.io/apps-that-work-natively-on-the-web-and-mobile-9b26852495e7|url-status=live}}
= Vue.js integration =
The Vue.js framework is supported in NativeScript via the nativescript-vue plugin.
Supporting tools and services
- NativeScript Sidekick is a graphical user interface that builds off of the capabilities provided by the NativeScript CLI. With Sidekick a developer can leverage app templates, cloud-based builds for iOS and Android, and publish apps to the public app stores.
- NativeScript Playground allows developers to experiment with NativeScript in a web-based environment, and preview apps on physical devices.
- NativeScript Marketplace is a curated source of NativeScript plugins, pre-built app templates, and runnable sample apps.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Rich web applications}}
{{Application frameworks}}
{{ECMAScript}}
Category:Rich web application frameworks