NativeScript is a runtime technology for building and running native iOS, Android, and Windows Universal apps with a single JavaScript code base. It combines CSS, XML and JavaScript, and allows you to create an app suitable for use on any device. The main strength of this technology is that it will convert the code you write to the appropriate native code for each one of these platforms.
In order to clarify what NativeScript is, let’s highlight the main differences between this technology and other common ones of a similar nature. Unlike PhoneGap, for instance, NativeScript uses truly native UI components; you’re not building DOM elements, but rather using native UI controls. In comparison with Ximerin and Titanium, on the other hand (which offer cross-compiling solutions), NativeScript is one step ahead; it runs the JavaScript code directly on your device at run-time. As for ReactNative, although it has the most similar architecture to NativeScript, only the latter provides you direct access to native APIs in JavaScript. Ultimately, NativeScript works as a bridge between the JavaScript code you write and native platforms (iOS, Android, and Windows). What is more, NativeScript is cross-platform, so the code you write will work in all of them.
How Does NativeScript work?
Everything in NativeScript builds upon the core concept of being able to build and access the native API’s platforms. NativeScript runs JavaScript on a JavaScript Virtual Machine, which is a piece of code that runs JavaScript in any browser, whether desktop-, laptop- or handheld-based. (iOS and Windows use JavaScript Core and Android uses V8.) To gather native APIs, NativeScript uses reflection to build a list of available APIs for each platform. For optimal performance, this metadata is pre-generated and injected into the package at build time. The key is that by using NativeScript modules, you can access these APIs to include any functionalities you need.
So How Can I Use NativeScript Technology to Make an App?
There are two ways to use NativeScript. On the one hand, you can use it as part of the Telerik Platform, which provides an important array of services and features. Alternatively, you can also use NativeScript as part of the NativeScript CLI. Moreover, it is completely free and open-source, though it does come with some requirements. For instance, to develop Android apps, you need to have JDK, Apache Ant, and Android SDK installed on your computer, whereas to develop iOS apps you need to have Xcode, Xcode CLI, and iOS SDK. Regardless of these two different ways to use NativeScript, it offers the same full functionality; these are just two ways of interacting with the same framework.
Finally, it is worth stressing that when you develop an app using NativeScript, there will be a bunch of template code already created. However, you will be able to start from scratch too if you feel more comfortable. For some people, for example, it is much more productive to work with Typescript than with JavaScript. Fortunately, though, with NativeScript, the choice is up to the user so that they can always get the best results in all cases.
In conclusion, NativeScript is a simple, clean, modern way to build cross-platform native mobile applications with the best possible user experience provided by the native OS, with the full flexibility and efficiency to let you choose how best to develop your ideas.
