Download Cordova CLI: A Guide for Beginners
If you want to create cross-platform mobile applications using web technologies, you might have heard of Cordova. Cordova is an open-source framework that allows you to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build native mobile apps for various platforms, such as Android, iOS, Windows, and more. But how do you get started with Cordova? How do you create, build, and run your Cordova projects? The answer is Cordova CLI.
What is Cordova CLI?
Cordova CLI stands for Cordova Command-Line Interface. It is a tool that helps you manage your Cordova projects from the terminal or command prompt. You can use it to create new projects, add platforms and plugins, build and run your apps on different devices or emulators, and test and debug your code. The CLI is the main tool to use for the cross-platform workflow described in the .
download cordova cli
Benefits of using Cordova CLI
Using Cordova CLI has many advantages, such as:
It simplifies the process of creating and managing your Cordova projects.
It allows you to use one command to build and run your app on multiple platforms.
It supports various plugins that extend the functionality of your app.
It integrates with other tools, such as , that help you develop Cordova apps.
It is easy to install and update.
Requirements for installing Cordova CLI
Before you can install and use Cordova CLI, you need to have some prerequisites on your machine. These are:
: Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a browser. npm is a package manager that comes with Node.js and lets you install and manage modules. You need these tools to install Cordova CLI and its dependencies.
: git is a version control system that helps you track changes in your code. You need git to download some assets when creating a new project with Cordova CLI.
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How to download and install Cordova CLI
Once you have the prerequisites installed, you can download and install Cordova CLI using npm. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Install Node.js and npm
If you don't have Node.js and npm installed on your machine, you can download them from the . Follow the instructions for your operating system to install them. After installation, you should be able to invoke node and npm on your terminal or command prompt.
Step 2: Install git
If you don't have git installed on your machine, you can download it from the . Follow the instructions for your operating system to install it. After installation, you should be able to invoke git on your terminal or command prompt.
Step 3: Install Cordova CLI using npm
To install Cordova CLI globally on your machine, run the following command:
npm install -g cordova
This will download and install the latest version of Cordova CLI and its dependencies. You may need to use sudo (for Mac/Linux) or run your command prompt as Administrator (for Windows) to install Cordova CLI globally.
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Step 4: Verify the installation
To verify that Cordova CLI is installed correctly, run the following command:
cordova --version
This should display the version number of Cordova CLI. If you see an error message, you may need to check your installation or troubleshoot the issue.
How to use Cordova CLI
Now that you have Cordova CLI installed, you can use it to create and manage your Cordova projects. Here are some basic commands and tasks you can perform with Cordova CLI:
Create a new project
To create a new project with Cordova CLI, run the following command:
cordova create <path> <id> <name>
This will create a new directory with the specified path and name, and initialize a Cordova project inside it. The id parameter is the reverse domain-style identifier of your app, such as com.example.hello. The name parameter is the display name of your app, such as Hello World.
For example, to create a project called Hello World with the id com.example.hello in the current directory, run:
cordova create hello com.example.hello "Hello World"
This will create a directory called hello with the following structure:
hello/
config.xmlThe main configuration file for your app.
hooks/A directory for custom scripts that run at specific points of the build process.
platforms/A directory for the platform-specific code and assets of your app.
plugins/A directory for the plugins that add functionality to your app.
www/A directory for the web assets of your app, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.
Add platforms and plugins
To add a platform to your project, run the following command:
cordova platform add <platform>
This will download and install the platform-specific code and assets for your app, and add them to the platforms directory. The platform parameter can be one of the supported platforms, such as android, ios, windows, etc. You can also specify a version number or a source URL for the platform.
For example, to add the Android platform to your project, run:
cordova platform add android
This will add the Android platform files to the platforms/android directory.
To add a plugin to your project, run the following command:
cordova plugin add <plugin>
This will download and install the plugin code and assets for your app, and add them to the plugins directory. The plugin parameter can be one of the core plugins, such as cordova-plugin-camera, cordova-plugin-geolocation, etc. You can also specify a version number, a source URL, or a local path for the plugin.
For example, to add the camera plugin to your project, run:
cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-camera
This will add the camera plugin files to the plugins/cordova-plugin-camera directory.
Build and run the project
To build your project for a specific platform, run the following command:
cordova build <platform>
This will compile your app code and assets for the target platform, and generate an executable file in the platforms/<platform>/build directory. The platform parameter can be one of the platforms you have added to your project.
For example, to build your project for Android, run:
cordova build android
This will generate an APK file in the platforms/android/build/outputs/apk directory.
To run your project on a device or an emulator, run the following command:
cordova run <platform>
This will build your project for the target platform, and deploy it to a connected device or an available emulator. The platform parameter can be one of the platforms you have added to your project.
For example, to run your project on an Android device or emulator, run:
cordova run android
This will launch your app on the device or emulator. Test and debug the project
To test and debug your project, you can use various tools and methods, such as:
The : This allows you to run your app in a browser and use the browser's developer tools to inspect and debug your code.
The : This is a VS Code extension that simulates your app in a browser and provides a UI to control and monitor various device features, such as geolocation, camera, network, etc.
The : This is a command that runs a local web server and serves your app files to a browser or a device. You can use this to test your app on different devices without building it for each platform.
The : This is a feature that allows you to connect your device to your computer and use the browser's developer tools to debug your app running on the device.
The : This is a feature that automatically reloads your app on the device or emulator when you make changes to your code. You can use this to speed up your development and testing process.
Conclusion
In this article, we have learned what Cordova CLI is, how to download and install it, and how to use it to create and manage Cordova projects. We have also learned some basic commands and tasks that we can perform with Cordova CLI, such as creating a new project, adding platforms and plugins, building and running the project, and testing and debugging the project. We hope that this article has helped you get started with Cordova CLI and develop cross-platform mobile apps using web technologies.
FAQs
What is the difference between Cordova and PhoneGap?
Cordova and PhoneGap are both frameworks that allow you to create cross-platform mobile apps using web technologies. However, Cordova is the open-source core of PhoneGap, which is a distribution of Cordova with additional features and services. PhoneGap is owned by Adobe, while Cordova is maintained by Apache.
How do I update Cordova CLI?
To update Cordova CLI to the latest version, run the following command:
npm update -g cordova
This will download and install the latest version of Cordova CLI and its dependencies.
How do I remove a platform or a plugin from my project?
To remove a platform from your project, run the following command:
cordova platform remove <platform>
This will remove the platform-specific code and assets from your project, and delete them from the platforms directory. The platform parameter can be one of the platforms you have added to your project.
To remove a plugin from your project, run the following command:
cordova plugin remove <plugin>
This will remove the plugin code and assets from your project, and delete them from the plugins directory. The plugin parameter can be one of the plugins you have added to your project.
How do I list the platforms and plugins in my project?
To list the platforms in your project, run the following command:
cordova platform list
This will display the platforms you have added to your project, as well as the available platforms you can add.
To list the plugins in your project, run the following command:
cordova plugin list
This will display the plugins you have added to your project, along with their versions.
Where can I find more information and resources on Cordova CLI?
You can find more information and resources on Cordova CLI on the following websites:
: This provides a comprehensive guide on how to use Cordova CLI and its commands.
: This provides updates and news on Cordova CLI and other related topics.
: This provides the source code and issues tracker for Cordova CLI.
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