How to Install Apache Cordova on Ubuntu

For mobile and web developers, creating hybrid applications that run across multiple platforms can be challenging. Apache Cordova, a popular open-source framework, makes this process easier. By leveraging Cordova, developers can build hybrid mobile applications using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This allows them to create applications that can run on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows, without native code.

Apache Cordova setup Ubuntu provides tools and libraries to access native device functionality, such as camera, GPS, and file system, from web applications. This enables developers to create mobile applications that are indistinguishable from native applications but with the benefit of running on multiple platforms. 

By installing Apache Cordova on Ubuntu, developers can tap into its robust features, including plugins and a command-line interface, to create hybrid applications that reach a wider audience. This article will guide you through the installation process on Ubuntu.

Installing Apache Cordova on Ubuntu

Apache Cordova is a popular open-source framework for building hybrid mobile applications. To get started with Cordova on Ubuntu, you need to install the Cordova command-line tool (CLI) using npm (Node Package Manager). Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install Apache Cordova Ubuntu.

Step 1: Install Node.js and NPM

Before installing Cordova, you need to install Node.js on Ubuntu system. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript on the server-side. Node.js is built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine and provides an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it efficient and scalable.

On the other hand, NPM (Node Package Manager) is the package manager for Node.js. It’s used to install, update, and manage packages (libraries and modules) for Node.js applications. NPM provides a vast registry of packages that can be easily installed and managed using the NPM command-line interface.

To install Node.js and NPM on Ubuntu, first open a terminal on your Ubuntu system and then update the package index by running the command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Next, you need to install the curl package, which is required for downloading the Node.js installation script.

sudo apt-get install -y curl

Now download the Node.js installation script from the official Node.js website. The script is saved as nodesource_setup.sh.

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x -o nodesource_setup.sh

After that run the Node.js installation script, which sets up the Node.js repository on your system. The -E flag preserves the environment variables, which is necessary for the installation script to work correctly.

sudo -E bash nodesource_setup.sh

After running the installation script, you can install Node.js using the apt-get command. This install Cordova command line Ubuntu the latest version of Node.js from the repository set up by the installation script:

sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Finally, verify that Node.js is installed correctly by running the node -v command. This command displays the version of Node.js installed on your system. You should see the latest version of Node.js, which is compatible with Cordova:

node -v

Step 2: Install Cordova using npm

Now that you have Node.js, npm, and Git installed, you can install Cordova using npm. To install Cordova, run the command:

sudo npm install -g cordova

Note: The `-g` flag is used to install Cordova globally, making it available system-wide.

While using sudo with npm is not recommended, it’s sometimes necessary to install packages in restricted directories like `/usr/local/share`. However, if you’re using a version manager like nvm (Node Version Manager) or nave, you may be able to omit the `sudo` prefix.

Instead of using `sudo` with npm, consider using a version manager like nvm or nave to manage Node.js and npm installations. This approach typically avoids the need for `sudo` when installing packages and prevents potential issues with permissions and package installations.

Once the Cordova Ubuntu installation is complete, verify that Cordova is installed correctly by running the command:

cordova -v

With these steps, you should now have Apache Cordova installed on your Ubuntu system, ready to start building hybrid mobile applications.

Benefits of Using Apache Cordova

Apache Cordova is a popular choice among developers for building hybrid mobile applications, and for good reason. Here are some of the benefits of using Apache Cordova:

1. Cross-platform compatibility: Cordova allows developers to build applications that can run on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows, using a single codebase.
2. Easy to learn: Cordova uses web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are familiar to most web developers.
3. Large community: Cordova has a large and active community of developers, which means there are many resources available for learning and troubleshooting.
4. Extensive plugin library: Cordova has a vast library of plugins that provide access to native device functionality, such as camera, GPS, and file system.
5. Open-source: Cordova is open-source, which means it’s free to use and distribute.
6. Flexible: Cordova allows developers to use their preferred development tools and frameworks.
7. Fast development: Cordova’s use of web technologies and its extensive plugin library make it ideal for rapid application development.

By using Apache Cordova, developers can build hybrid mobile applications quickly and efficiently, without the need for native code.

Real-World Use Cases of Using Apache Cordova

Apache Cordova is used by many companies and organizations to build hybrid mobile applications. Here are a few examples of real-world use cases:

1. Hybrid mobile applications: Cordova is often used to build hybrid mobile applications that run on multiple platforms. For example, a company might use Cordova to build a mobile application for Android and iOS that allows users to access their website or online service.
2. Progressive web apps: Cordova can also be used to build progressive web apps, which are web applications that provide a native app-like experience to users. For example, a company might use Cordova to build a progressive web app that allows users to access their website offline.
3. Enterprise applications: Cordova is also used by enterprises to build custom mobile applications for their employees or customers. For example, a company might use Cordova to build a mobile application for their sales team that allows them to access customer information and place orders.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve walked through the process of installing Apache Cordova on Ubuntu. We’ve covered the necessary steps, from installing Node.js and npm to installing Cordova using npm.

By following these steps, you should now have Apache Cordova installed on your Ubuntu system, ready to start building hybrid mobile applications. With Cordova’s extensive plugin library and cross-platform compatibility, you’ll be able to create applications that can run on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows.

Remember to take advantage of Cordova’s features and benefits, such as its use of web technologies, large community, and open-source nature. With Cordova, you’ll be able to build hybrid mobile applications quickly and efficiently, without the need for native code.

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