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A comment on PhoneGap 1.0 Launches Today.

Re:PhoneGap 1.0 Launches Today by kapso on Friday July 29, 2011 @03:54PM (#2823508)
I like PhoneGap, but I like Appcelerator better simply because it creates native apps vs most other cross-platform frameworks that do most of the UI rendering inside a browser component/container. They do this by compiling the framework code (i.e JavaScript) to Objective-C. And the apps created in Appcelerator can be as visually impressive as the ones written in native platform, this is because the framework gives you the ability to create native UI components. Checkout wunderlist, they have used the framework to build their iOS apps and Android app and its a really beautiful app.

They only support iOS and Android right now, that might not be a problem for some, but honestly iOS and Android are the only relevant platforms for now.

But for folks who think cross-platform does not work and creates low quality app should checkout Appcelerator. I think CNBC's latest app is also built using this framework.

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Re:PhoneGap 1.0 Launches Today by tannerburson on Friday July 29, 2011 @04:21PM (#2823633)
You're a bit off here. Appcelerator doesn't actually compile ANY javascript to native code. They expose a device specific API via a proxy/bridge system they call Kroll. They have a bunch of ObjC code that they then front with their Kroll Proxy. They also have a small shim between their JS interpreter, and Kroll on the other side.

So in effect any app you run on Appcelerator is still bound to the characteristics of their chosen JS interpreter, AND the characteristics of their proxy, AND lastly the performance of their native API.

It does provide a relatively simple path, to getting relatively simple apps up and running with native widgets but not inherently native performance.

Disclaimer: I've only ever dug into the iOS source, I can't swear this is 100% valid on other platforms.

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Re:PhoneGap 1.0 Launches Today by shareme on Friday July 29, 2011 @04:05PM (#2823567)
no ahem no..they are not compiling js to objective-C..they are exposing their objective-C via a javascript api..big difference! How big? Try debugging an app..
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