7 Best-Selling Apache Cordova Books Millions Love

Discover best-selling Apache Cordova books authored by respected experts such as Raymond Camden and John M. Wargo, offering practical and proven approaches.

Updated on June 29, 2025
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There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, especially in the fast-evolving world of mobile app development. Apache Cordova remains a key technology for building hybrid mobile apps, allowing developers to leverage web skills to create apps that run smoothly across platforms. Its continued popularity is reflected in the sustained demand for authoritative books that guide developers through mastering this versatile framework.

These books, authored by experienced developers like Raymond Camden, John M. Wargo, and Hazem Saleh, provide practical, hands-on guidance rooted in real-world experience. Their insights cover everything from API usage and plugin development to integrating frameworks like Ionic and deploying apps to app stores. Such expertise has helped countless developers navigate the complexities of Cordova and build robust mobile applications.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Apache Cordova needs might consider creating a personalized Apache Cordova book that combines these validated approaches. This option allows you to focus on exactly the areas where you want to grow, blending expert methods with your unique goals.

Best for hybrid app beginners
Raymond Camden is a developer advocate for IBM who brings passion and extensive mobile development expertise to this guide. Having spoken worldwide on mobile topics, Camden wrote this book to help web developers transition smoothly into mobile app creation using Apache Cordova. His deep understanding of hybrid development and practical approach make this book a valuable resource for anyone looking to build and deploy apps across platforms efficiently.
Apache Cordova in Action book cover

by Raymond Camden··You?

2015·248 pages·Apache Cordova, Mobile Development, Software Development, Hybrid Apps, Mobile UI

Raymond Camden's decades of experience as a developer advocate for IBM shines through in this hands-on guide to hybrid mobile app development. You’ll learn how to leverage your existing web skills—HTML, CSS, and JavaScript—to build powerful mobile apps that tap into native device features like cameras and accelerometers. The book walks you through creating projects with Cordova’s CLI, using plugins, designing user-friendly interfaces, and deploying apps to major app stores. Whether you're new to mobile development or transitioning from web development, the examples and clear explanations equip you to build and launch functional, professional apps.

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Best for practical API mastery
John M. Wargo brings over two decades of experience designing enterprise applications and five years focused on mobile development to this book. As Product Manager at SAP for the SAP Mobile Platform and Kapsel SDK, his deep practical knowledge of Apache Cordova APIs shapes this resource. This book arose from his desire to provide developers with thorough, example-rich guidance for building robust cross-platform mobile applications using standard web technologies.
Apache Cordova API Cookbook (Mobile Programming) book cover

by John M. Wargo··You?

2014·320 pages·Apache Cordova, Mobile Development, Cross Platform, API Usage, Geolocation

John M. Wargo's extensive experience in enterprise application design and mobile development informs this detailed guide on Apache Cordova APIs. Instead of just presenting isolated code snippets, Wargo offers over thirty complete Cordova applications demonstrating practical use of APIs like accelerometer, geolocation, media capture, and file system access across Android, iOS, and Windows. You’ll gain a clear understanding of each API’s capabilities and platform limitations, including workarounds, helping you confidently build cross-platform mobile apps with familiar web technologies. This book suits developers with some mobile or web background looking to deepen their Cordova skills through real, functional examples rather than abstract theory.

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Best for personal mastery plans
This AI-created book on Apache Cordova development is tailored to your skill level and specific goals. By sharing your background and particular interests in hybrid app building, you receive a book that focuses precisely on what you want to learn. This personalized approach helps you avoid irrelevant topics and accelerates your progress by concentrating on the Cordova techniques that matter most to your development journey.
2025·50-300 pages·Apache Cordova, Mobile Development, Hybrid Apps, Plugin Development, API Integration

This tailored book explores in-depth strategies to master Apache Cordova hybrid app development, focusing on your interests and experience level. It examines essential topics such as plugin creation, API integration, debugging, and deployment, all personalized to match your background and goals. Through clear explanations and targeted content, it reveals how to harness Cordova’s capabilities for building robust, cross-platform mobile applications. By customizing the material, the book ensures you engage with the concepts most relevant to your development journey, enhancing your understanding and skillset efficiently. Whether you're refining existing knowledge or expanding into new areas, this personalized guide supports your unique path to Cordova proficiency.

Tailored Guide
Hybrid App Mastery
3,000+ Books Created
Best for advanced Cordova developers
John M. Wargo is a seasoned software developer and key contributor to the Apache Cordova Project, currently serving as Principal Analyst for Forrester Research in mobile development. His extensive background in enterprise mobility and open-source software grounds this book's practical insights. Wargo wrote this guide to help developers harness Cordova’s power efficiently, walking you through installation, plugin creation, and cross-platform deployment with clarity and precision.
Apache Cordova 4 Programming (Mobile Programming) book cover

by John M Wargo··You?

2015·560 pages·Mobile Development, Apache Cordova, Cross Platform, Plugin Development, App Debugging

When John M. Wargo first wrote this book, he aimed to demystify Apache Cordova by sharing his direct experience as a contributor to the project and an analyst at Forrester Research. You’ll learn how to set up and configure Cordova’s environment, create plugins, and leverage its APIs for cross-platform mobile app development, including Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. The book breaks down complex concepts like automation with Grunt and Gulp, and integrating third-party HTML frameworks such as Ionic and Bootstrap. If you're building hybrid apps and want a deep dive into Cordova's lifecycle and best practices, this guide offers clear, example-driven instruction that benefits intermediate to advanced developers.

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Best for JavaScript cross-platform builders
Hazem Saleh has several years of experience in software product development, architecting and developing successful software products in mobile and web worlds. He is an open source enthusiast and a public speaker in international conferences. This expertise underpins his detailed guidance on using Apache Cordova and jQuery Mobile to build neat cross-platform mobile applications, making this book a solid choice for developers ready to expand their mobile development skills.
2014·315 pages·Mobile Development, Apache Cordova, Cross Platform, JavaScript, jQuery Mobile

Hazem Saleh draws on his extensive background in software product development to guide you through building cross-platform mobile applications using Apache Cordova and jQuery Mobile. This book equips you with the skills to configure development environments for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone, and to harness Cordova’s APIs to access native device functions. You’ll also learn how to design user-friendly interfaces with jQuery Mobile and improve your app’s reliability by implementing unit tests with Jasmine. If you’re familiar with JavaScript, CSS, and HTML and want to efficiently deliver mobile apps across multiple platforms without diving into native languages, this resource offers clear, practical instruction.

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Best for Ionic and Cordova integration
Chris Griffith is the User Experience Lead at a home automation and security company and an instructor at the University of California, San Diego Extension, specializing in mobile application development. As an Adobe Community Professional and frequent speaker at Fluent, Adobe MAX, and ngConf, he brings deep expertise in PhoneGap/Cordova and experience design. His hands-on background developing mobile applications and code tools informs the practical approach in this book, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to master hybrid app development with Ionic and Apache Cordova.

While working as a User Experience Lead and instructor, Chris Griffith crafted this guide to help web developers transition into mobile app creation using Ionic, a framework built atop Apache Cordova and Angular. You’ll learn how to develop hybrid apps with HTML, CSS, and TypeScript, bypassing platform-specific hurdles. The book walks you through building three distinct apps, including a Firebase-enabled to-do list and a National Park explorer with Google Maps integration, making it suitable for beginners and experienced developers alike. If you want to understand hybrid app architecture and deploy cross-platform apps effectively, this book lays out the essential tools and techniques without unnecessary complexity.

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Best for rapid skill building
This AI-created book on Apache Cordova development is tailored to your skill level and specific goals. By sharing what you want to focus on, the book is crafted to help you accelerate your app development journey through targeted, relevant content. This personalized approach ensures you spend less time sifting through broad materials and more time mastering the exact Cordova skills you need.
2025·50-300 pages·Apache Cordova, Mobile Development, Hybrid Apps, Plugin Integration, App Deployment

This tailored book explores the step-by-step actions necessary for accelerating your Apache Cordova app development within a 30-day timeframe. It covers essential topics like environment setup, plugin integration, UI design, and deployment, all matched to your background and goals. By focusing on your interests and skill level, this personalized guide reveals practical pathways to build cross-platform apps rapidly, combining widely validated knowledge with your unique learning needs. The book examines the core concepts alongside targeted practice steps, helping you gain hands-on experience and confidence in using Cordova technologies effectively.

Tailored Guide
Accelerated Development
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for PhoneGap-based development
PhoneGap Essentials offers a focused guide to Adobe’s PhoneGap, the widely used distribution of Apache Cordova. This book addresses a critical gap by providing practical, detailed documentation for developers wanting to build native mobile applications using web technologies like HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS. It covers setting up development environments for major platforms and mastering essential APIs to access device features such as GPS, camera, and file systems. For developers aiming to efficiently deploy cross-platform mobile apps without rewriting code for each device, this book serves as a valuable technical resource.
2012·384 pages·PhoneGap, Apache Cordova, Mobile Development, Cross Platform, JavaScript

John M. Wargo draws from his extensive mobile development experience to demystify PhoneGap, Adobe's distribution of Apache Cordova. You learn not just the basics but how to build fully functional, cross-platform mobile apps using HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS, with concrete guidance on APIs for device hardware like GPS, camera, and accelerometer. The book walks through configuring environments for various platforms including Android, iOS, and Windows Phone, making it practical for developers aiming to leverage PhoneGap Build’s cloud packaging. If you want hands-on insight into creating apps that run seamlessly across devices without rewriting code, this book lays out detailed examples to get you there.

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Best for Android-focused Cordova creators
Building Android mobile apps can seem daunting, but "ANDROID MOBILE APP DESIGN WITH APACHE CORDOVA" simplifies the process by guiding you through creating hybrid apps using familiar web technologies. This book’s clear instructions on building, signing, and deploying apps to the Google Play Store have made it a popular choice among beginners eager to enter mobile development. It offers practical frameworks and visual aids, making it accessible for those without extensive coding backgrounds while addressing key challenges in the Apache Cordova ecosystem.
2022·31 pages·Mobile Design, Android, Apache Cordova, Software Development, Hybrid Apps

Unlike most software development books that dive deep into complex coding, Mc-adams Attah Olofu’s guide demystifies Android mobile app creation by leveraging Apache Cordova and familiar web technologies like HTML5 and JavaScript. You learn practical skills such as building hybrid apps, generating app signing keys, and preparing your apps for deployment on the Google Play Store, all without needing advanced programming expertise. The inclusion of pictorial diagrams and optional practice code files helps you follow along with real development tasks. If you're aiming to quickly prototype or launch apps using accessible tools, this book offers a straightforward pathway, though seasoned developers seeking in-depth coding may find it basic.

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Conclusion

Across these 7 books, a few clear themes emerge: practical, example-driven learning; leveraging web technologies for mobile apps; and deep dives into Cordova's APIs and plugin systems. These works have proven their value by helping developers build cross-platform apps efficiently and with confidence.

If you prefer proven methods grounded in expert experience, starting with "Apache Cordova in Action" and "Apache Cordova API Cookbook" offers solid foundations. For those seeking advanced techniques, "Apache Cordova 4 Programming" and "Mobile App Development with Ionic" provide extensive insights. Combining these books can give you a comprehensive understanding of the Cordova ecosystem.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Apache Cordova book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in the dynamic field of mobile app development with Apache Cordova.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Apache Cordova in Action" for a clear, beginner-friendly introduction. It covers essential concepts and practical examples that ease you into hybrid app development.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Apache Cordova?

Not at all. Titles like "Apache Cordova in Action" and "PhoneGap Essentials" are designed for beginners, while others like "Apache Cordova 4 Programming" suit more experienced developers.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with broad overviews such as "Apache Cordova in Action," then explore specialized topics like APIs in "Apache Cordova API Cookbook," and finally dive into advanced techniques with "Apache Cordova 4 Programming."

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your goals. For hands-on API work, choose "Apache Cordova API Cookbook." For cross-platform UI, "Mobile App Development with Ionic" is ideal. Each book offers distinct value.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast Apache Cordova changes?

While some books cover earlier versions, their core concepts and practical approaches remain useful. Checking publication dates helps, but foundational techniques still apply.

How can I get a book tailored specifically to my Apache Cordova learning goals?

You can create a personalized Apache Cordova book that combines popular expert methods with your unique needs. It complements these expert titles by focusing precisely on your interests. Learn more here.

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