JavaScript Cookbook, 2nd Edition

Chapter 18. JavaScript Hits the (Mobile) Road

JavaScript is more than client/server applications on traditional computers. Thanks to a plethora of Web APIs and new tools, JavaScript is now an integral part of mobile application development—whether as part of HTML5 applications in mobile browsers or standalone applications.

The types of mobile environments are increasing, too. Google’s Android joins with Apple’s iOS, Microsoft’s Windows 8, and even less popular environments such as the Firefox OS and Chromebook’s OS. Even online store king, Amazon, has introduced a variation of Android called Fire OS for its own devices.

In this chapter, I’m focusing primarily on variations of Android (including Fire OS) and HTML5 web apps, with a little exploration into Firefox OS and Chrome-flavored web apps.

Note

If you’re interested in exercising your JavaScript skills creating iOS apps, I suggest Apple’s own documentation, or Programming iOS 7 (O’Reilly). And if you’re interested in Windows 8 app development, Microsoft provides excellent documentation. Microsoft also provides a free e-book, Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Creating an Installable, Hosted Web App

Problem

You want to create a web app hosted on your server without having to target specific environments or devices. And you want the app to actually install, not sit there in a browser.

Solution

To create an installable web app, you only need to add some additional material to an already working web page application. ...