5 PhoneGap Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

When John M. Wargo first discovered the potential of PhoneGap to unify mobile app development, he saw an opportunity to bridge a crucial gap: practical, accessible guidance for developers navigating this cross-platform framework. Drawing from his extensive experience in mobile development, Wargo meticulously walks you through creating apps that work seamlessly across Android, iOS, BlackBerry, and other platforms using familiar web technologies like HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS. The book offers detailed explanations of PhoneGap's core APIs—from GPS to camera integration—and demonstrates how to leverage PhoneGap Build for streamlined deployment. If you're aiming to master multi-platform mobile app development without rewriting code for each system, this book provides a grounded, example-driven path forward.

When Kerri Shotts reconsidered how enterprise mobile apps should be built, she emphasized security and practical architecture in PhoneGap development. You learn to create cross-platform applications that prioritize secure communication channels, including SSL, authorization, and encrypted local storage, crucial for enterprise needs. Shotts walks you through real-world constructs such as middle-tier services with Node.js and handling network state changes, making the concepts tangible and relevant. This book suits developers with a solid grasp of PhoneGap and web technologies who want to deepen their expertise in secure enterprise app design and deployment.

This personalized PhoneGap mastery blueprint provides a detailed exploration of foundational to advanced PhoneGap development techniques, tailored to your specific programming background and goals. It delivers a personalized framework that focuses on practical implementation strategies, including efficient use of Cordova plugins, performance optimization, and cross-platform integration challenges. The book cuts through irrelevant advice by concentrating on your unique development context, such as targeting specific devices or integrating enterprise-grade security features. It addresses the full PhoneGap development lifecycle, from initial setup and UI design to debugging, testing, and deployment, ensuring a tailored approach that fits your project's complexity and your skill level.

When Kerri Shotts first realized how much complexity PhoneGap projects could entail, she developed this book to help developers manage and scale their mobile applications more effectively. You’ll learn to create streamlined build workflows, leverage third-party plugins like IndexedDB and SQLite for data persistence, and even build your own custom plugins tailored to unique needs. The book also guides you through publishing apps to major stores, covering everything from icons to in-app purchases. If you already know the basics of PhoneGap and want to elevate your skills to handle larger, data-driven projects, this book offers practical insights without overcomplication.

When Tom Igoe, Don Coleman, and Brian Jepson developed this guide, they tackled the challenge of making NFC technology accessible across multiple platforms including Android, Arduino, and PhoneGap. You’ll gain hands-on experience building NFC applications with practical code samples and projects that cover everything from reading passive NFC tags to peer-to-peer messaging between devices. The book’s detailed walkthroughs, such as creating an Android app to control home devices or an Arduino-based hotel check-in system, offer concrete skills in NFC data exchange and event handling. If you’re comfortable with HTML and JavaScript and want to expand into NFC programming, this book provides a focused, cross-platform approach without unnecessary complexity.

When Purusothaman Ramanujam first discovered the potential of hybrid app development, he crafted this guide to help web developers transition into mobile development using PhoneGap. You’ll learn how to create, debug, and deploy mobile apps by leveraging your existing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills, with detailed walkthroughs on integrating native device features like contacts, camera, and geolocation through PhoneGap plugins. The book carefully introduces mobile-specific frameworks such as iOS and Android, making it approachable even if you’re new to mobile platforms. If you want a practical, hands-on introduction that bridges web and mobile development without assuming deep prior knowledge, this book fits well—though experienced native developers might find it basic.

This personalized book offers a structured, day-by-day plan for building and releasing PhoneGap apps within 30 days, focusing on practical, actionable steps tailored to your experience level and project goals. It provides a tailored approach to managing the entire app lifecycle—from environment setup and coding to testing and deployment—cutting through generic advice to fit your specific development context. By emphasizing incremental progress and integrating best practices for PhoneGap, it addresses challenges common to cross-platform mobile development, including plugin management and platform-specific considerations. This book would suit developers seeking a personalized roadmap that balances technical detail with focused implementation strategies.