What is the difference between Intel XDK, AppMobi, and Crosswalk?
In the realm of hybrid app development, Intel XDK, AppMobi, and Crosswalk are prominent names that offer tools and frameworks for building cross-platform applications. While they share the goal of enabling developers to reach a wider audience with a single codebase, each platform boasts unique features and approaches. This article aims to shed light on the key distinctions between Intel XDK, AppMobi, and Crosswalk.
Intel XDK
Overview
Intel XDK (formerly known as Intel App Dev Kit) was a comprehensive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed for building HTML5-based mobile applications. It provided a suite of tools for coding, debugging, testing, and packaging applications for multiple platforms.
Key Features
- Built-in editor with code completion and syntax highlighting
- Integrated emulator for testing on different devices
- Cross-platform compatibility for iOS, Android, Windows, and more
- Access to Intel’s hardware acceleration libraries for improved performance
- App packaging and distribution services
Status
Intel XDK is no longer actively maintained or updated. It is considered deprecated and has been replaced by other frameworks and tools.
AppMobi
Overview
AppMobi was a platform that offered a range of tools and services for building and deploying hybrid mobile applications. Its primary focus was on providing a comprehensive solution for creating and monetizing applications.
Key Features
Status
AppMobi was acquired by Adobe in 2013 and is no longer available as a standalone platform. Its functionalities were integrated into Adobe PhoneGap and later Apache Cordova.
Crosswalk
Overview
Crosswalk is an open-source project that provides a standalone runtime environment for executing HTML5-based web applications on mobile devices. It essentially packages the Chromium web browser engine, making it possible to run web apps on platforms where a native browser might not be present or optimized.
Key Features
Status
Crosswalk is still actively maintained and is widely used for hybrid app development. It offers an alternative to relying on the built-in web browsers on different mobile devices.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Intel XDK | AppMobi | Crosswalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | IDE and framework | Platform and tools | Runtime environment |
| Status | Deprecated | Acquired by Adobe | Active |
| Target Platforms | iOS, Android, Windows, etc. | iOS, Android, Windows Phone | Any platform with a Crosswalk runtime |
| Features | Coding, debugging, testing, packaging | Hybrid framework, monetization, distribution | Standalone Chromium engine, performance |
Code Example
Let’s consider a simple example of using Crosswalk in an HTML5 application:
<html>
<head>
<title>Crosswalk Example</title>
<script src="crosswalk.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to Crosswalk</h1>
<script>
console.log("Running in Crosswalk");
</script>
</body>
</html>
In this code, the crosswalk.js file represents the Crosswalk runtime library. It’s important to include this library to ensure the application runs within the Crosswalk environment. The console log message indicates that the code is successfully executed within the Crosswalk runtime.
Conclusion
Intel XDK and AppMobi, though once significant players in hybrid app development, have evolved into different forms or are no longer actively supported. Crosswalk, on the other hand, remains a viable and popular solution for enhancing the performance and compatibility of HTML5 applications on mobile devices. By leveraging the power of the Chromium engine, Crosswalk provides a robust and consistent runtime environment for delivering high-quality hybrid apps.