Intel XDK VS Intel App Framework

[Chong_W_]

I recently doing research for create cross-platform mobile app (more know as "Hybrid App") . And i have found out a lot of frameworks that available such as jQuery Mobile, Kendo UI, Sencha Touch...And I'm found out Intel do have provide such tool as well, which is "Intel App Framework". When I'm trying to look more on that, I'm found out something call "Intel XDK" as well, so i have confuse both them and would like to know what is the different between them, it's both are different tool? Or they are work with each other? Could "Intel App Framework" work independently like jQuery Mobile?

[Brandon_K_Intel]

The Intel XDK is a platform for building cross platform applications. Intel App Framework is a mobile ui framework. App Framework can be used independently like JQuery Mobile. 

[Chong_W_]

Hi Brandon,

Thanks for your explanation, I have the idea for Intel XDK & Intel App Framework now.

Just for further clarification, The application that create by Intel XDK is a hybrid app or similar with Appcelerator Titanium, which is compile as native app?

when we should use Intel XDK / Intel App Framework? As you mentioned that Intel App Framework can work independently like jQuery Mobile, so mean can work with PhoneGap / Apache Cordova to package it as a hybrid app also?

And the syntax of Intel App Framework is same with jQuery Mobile which is using HTML markup language to create the UI? for example use <div> to create title, header / footer? As i know some of the framework like Secha Touch is use Javascript to create the interface, that is a alien language as show below:

Ext.application({
    name: 'Sencha',

    launch: function() {
        Ext.create("Ext.tab.Panel", {
            fullscreen: true,
            items: [
                {
                    title: 'Home',
                    iconCls: 'home',
                    html: 'Welcome'
                }
            ]
        });
    }
})

And last big question is.... It's Intel XDK / Intel App Framework can access native features like camera / Geolocation / Accelerometer / Barcode scanner...etc?

Thanks

Wayne

[Chong_W_]

Any can help?

I have no receive any reply after posted a question since last Tuesday.

Hope that this support forum can be fast response for the question that asked.

Thanks

Wayne Chong

[PaulF_IntelCorp · Accepted solution]

Just for further clarification, The application that create by Intel XDK is a hybrid app or similar with Appcelerator Titanium, which is compile as native app?

The Intel XDK creates hybrid Cordova (aka PhoneGap) apps.

when we should use Intel XDK / Intel App Framework? As you mentioned that Intel App Framework can work independently like jQuery Mobile, so mean can work with PhoneGap / Apache Cordova to package it as a hybrid app also?

See above answer, just as you would with a Cordova app.

And the syntax of Intel App Framework is same with jQuery Mobile which is using HTML markup language to create the UI? for example use <div> to create title, header / footer? As i know some of the framework like Secha Touch is use Javascript to create the interface, that is a alien language as show below:

App Framework uses standard HTML/CSS/JS. Please see the App Framework documentation for more information: https://github.com/01org/appframework/tree/master/documentation and http://app-framework-software.intel.com/

And last big question is.... It's Intel XDK / Intel App Framework can access native features like camera / Geolocation / Accelerometer / Barcode scanner...etc?

Yes, via standard Cordova APIs and Cordova plugins.

[Chong_W_]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the explanation. It's make me clear on Intel XDK & Intel App Framework now.

Anyway, when we should use Intel XDK / Intel App Framework? Intel XDK consider is a SDK or IDE?

Thanks

Wayne Chong

[PaulF_IntelCorp]

The Intel XDK is neither an IDE nor an SDK -- it is a collection of tools that help you to visualize, debug and package your HTML5 mobile app.

[Chong_W_]

Hi Paul,

Hope you're doing well...

Thanks for your explanation, I'm currently reading the documentation of Intel XDK. when we should use Intel XDK / Intel App Framework?

Thanks & Regards,

Wayne Chong

[PaulF_IntelCorp]

Hello Wayne,

I don't quite follow your question. Are you asking when is it appropriate to use App Framework? Or when is it appropriate to use the Intel XDK to create hybrid mobile HTML5 apps? I'll try to answer both questions below.

The Intel XDK is used to build hybrid mobile HTML5 apps. That means that you can write your app using HTML, CSS and JavaScript and then package that in a format that can be submitted to Android stores, the Apple store, etc. So the choice of whether or not you should use the XDK to build an HTML5 mobile app is really up to you. Do you have the experience and resources to write HTML5 apps? Is your experience better at writing mobile apps natively (Java for Android, Objective C for iOS, C# for Windows 8)? The ultimate choice is up to you and your resources.

App Framework is a good choice if you feel you need a UI framework in which to build your app. It is optimized for use with mobile webviews, where your app runs when you build with Cordova (what the XDK does is build with Cordova). If you prefer to create your UI layout using other tools, that is fine, too. We do not require that you use App Framework, the choice is yours. The choice you makes depends on the kind of app you are creating, your skills and resources.

Paul

[Chong_W_]

Hi Paul,

Again, thanks for your explanation. It's completely give me the concept and idea on how utilize Intel XDK & Intel App Framework. I'm started to use Intel XDK right now, it's still under learning stage, as I'm newbie at app development, just have experience to create website with HTML 5 & CSS3 rather than native knowledge...

Thanks & Regards,

Wayne Chong