How to Download Cordova for Windows 10
If you are a web developer who wants to create cross-platform mobile apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you might have heard of . Cordova is an open-source framework that allows you to use web technologies to access native device features, such as camera, contacts, geolocation, and more. With Cordova, you can write one codebase and deploy it to multiple platforms, such as Android, iOS, Windows, and others.
download cordova for windows 10
However, before you can start developing with Cordova, you need to install it on your computer. In this article, we will show you how to download and install Cordova on Windows 10. We will also show you how to create and run a sample Cordova app on your Windows 10 machine.
Prerequisites for Installing Cordova on Windows 10
Before you can install Cordova on Windows 10, you need to make sure that you have the following requirements:
Node.js and NPM: Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a browser. NPM is a package manager that comes with Node.js and lets you install and manage modules for your Node.js projects. You need Node.js and NPM to install the Cordova command-line interface (CLI), which is the main tool for creating and managing Cordova projects.
Git for Windows: Git is a version control system that allows you to track changes and collaborate on your code. Git for Windows is a terminal application that lets you use Git commands on your Windows machine. You need Git for Windows to download plugins and platforms for your Cordova projects.
Installing Cordova on Windows 10
Installing Node.js and NPM
To install Node.js and NPM on your Windows 10 machine, you can either download them from the . We recommend using the latest LTS (long-term support) version of Node.js, which is currently 14.18.1.
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If you download Node.js from the official website, you will get a ZIP file that contains the Node.js executable and other files. You need to extract the ZIP file to a folder of your choice and add that folder to your system PATH variable. To do that, follow these steps:
Right-click on This PC Select Properties
Click on Advanced system settings
Click on Environment Variables
Under System variables, find and select the PATH variable
Click on Edit
Click on New and paste the path to the folder where you extracted Node.js
Click on OK to save the changes
If you use the Windows installer, you will get an executable file that will guide you through the installation process. You just need to follow the instructions and accept the default settings. The installer will automatically add Node.js and NPM to your system PATH variable.
To verify that Node.js and NPM are installed correctly, you can open a command prompt and run the following commands:
node -v npm -v
You should see the version numbers of Node.js and NPM printed on the screen. For example:
v14.18.1 6.14.15
Installing Git for Windows
To install Git for Windows on your Windows 10 machine, you can either download it from the . We recommend using the latest version of Git for Windows, which is currently 2.33.1.
If you download Git for Windows from the official website, you will get an executable file that will guide you through the installation process. You just need to follow the instructions and accept the default settings. The installer will automatically add Git to your system PATH variable and create a shortcut for Git Bash on your desktop.
If you use the Git Bash terminal, you will get a command-line application that lets you use Git commands on your Windows machine. You need to run the application as an administrator and enter the following command:
git --version
The application will download and install Git for Windows for you. You should see the version number of Git printed on the screen. For example:
git version 2.33.1.windows.1
Installing and Configuring the Android SDK
To install and configure the Android SDK on your Windows 10 machine, you can either download it from the . We recommend using the latest version of Android SDK, which is currently 31.
If you download Android SDK from the official website, you will get a ZIP file that contains the Android SDK tools and other files. You need to extract the ZIP file to a folder of your choice and add that folder to your system PATH variable. To do that, follow the same steps as for Node.js, but use the path to the folder where you extracted Android SDK instead.
If you use Android Studio IDE, you will get an integrated development environment that lets you create and run Android apps on your Windows machine. You need to download and run the executable file from the official website and follow the instructions to install Android Studio IDE. The installer will automatically download and install Android SDK for you.
To configure Android SDK, you need to open Android Studio IDE and go to Tools > SDK Manager. There, you can select and install the platforms and tools that you need for your Cordova projects. For example, you can select Android 11 (API level 30) as your target platform and install its SDK Platform, Google APIs Intel x86 Atom System Image, and Google Play Intel x86 Atom System Image.
You also need to install some additional tools, such as Gradle, which is a build automation tool that Cordova uses to build Android apps. To do that, go to Tools > SDK Manager > SDK Tools and select and install Gradle.
Installing the Cordova CLI
To install the Cordova CLI on your Windows 10 machine, you need to use NPM, which is a package manager that comes with Node.js. You need to open a command prompt and run the following command:
npm install -g cordova
This command will install Cordova CLI globally on your machine, which means that you can access it from any directory. To verify that Cordova CLI is installed correctly, you can run the following command:
cordova -v
You should see the version number of Cordova CLI printed on the screen. For example:
10.0.0 Creating and Running a Sample Cordova App on Windows 10
Now that you have installed Cordova on your Windows 10 machine, you can create and run a sample Cordova app to test your setup. To do that, follow these steps:
Creating a Sample Cordova App
To create a sample Cordova app, you need to use the Cordova CLI, which is a command-line tool that lets you create and manage Cordova projects. You need to open a command prompt and run the following command:
cordova create hello com.example.hello HelloWorld
This command will create a new Cordova project called hello in the current directory. The project will have the package name com.example.hello and the app name HelloWorld. You can change these values to suit your needs.
The command will also create a www folder inside the hello folder, which contains the web files for your app, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You can edit these files to customize your app's appearance and functionality.
Running the Sample Cordova App on the Android Emulator
To run the sample Cordova app on the Android emulator, you need to add the Android platform to your project and build it. To do that, run the following commands:
cd hello cordova platform add android cordova build android
These commands will change the directory to the hello folder, add the Android platform to your project, and build your app for Android. The build process will use Gradle and the Android SDK tools to compile your app and generate an APK file, which is the executable file for Android apps.
To run your app on the Android emulator, you need to have an emulator device configured on your machine. You can use Android Studio IDE to create and manage emulator devices. To launch your app on the emulator, run the following command:
cordova emulate android
This command will launch the default emulator device and install and run your app on it. You should see your app's splash screen and a message saying "Hello World". You can interact with your app using the emulator controls.
Running the Sample Cordova App on Your Device
To run the sample Cordova app on your device, you need to connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. You also need to enable USB debugging on your device, which allows you to communicate with your computer. To enable USB debugging, follow these steps:
Go to Settings > About phone
Tap on Build number seven times to activate Developer options
Go back to Settings > Developer options
Turn on USB debugging
To run your app on your device, you need to use the same commands as for the emulator, but replace emulate with run. For example:
cordova run android
This command will install and run your app on your device. You should see your app's splash screen and a message saying "Hello World". You can interact with your app using your device's touch screen.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install Cordova on Windows 10. We have also shown you how to create and run a sample Cordova app on your Windows 10 machine. With Cordova, you can use web technologies to create cross-platform mobile apps that can access native device features. We hope that this article has helped you get started with Cordova development on Windows 10.
If you want to learn more about Cordova, you can check out the following resources:
: The official documentation for Cordova, which covers topics such as CLI usage, plugin development, platform guides, and more.
: A comprehensive tutorial that teaches you how to create a Cordova app from scratch, using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery Mobile, and PhoneGap Build.
: The official blog for Cordova, which features news, updates, tips, and tutorials for Cordova developers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cordova and PhoneGap?
Cordova and PhoneGap are both frameworks that allow you to create cross-platform mobile apps using web technologies. However, PhoneGap is a distribution of Cordova that adds some additional features and services, such as PhoneGap Build, which is a cloud-based service that lets you build your apps without installing any software on your computer.
Cordova is the core framework that provides the basic functionality and plugins for accessing native device features. PhoneGap is a branded version of Cordova that offers some additional features and services. You can use either Cordova or PhoneGap to create your apps, but you need to be aware of the differences and compatibility issues between them.
How can I add more plugins to my Cordova project?
Plugins are modules that extend the functionality of your Cordova project by providing access to native device features, such as camera, contacts, geolocation, and more. You can add plugins to your Cordova project using the Cordova CLI command:
cordova plugin add plugin_name
You can find a list of available plugins on the .
How can I debug my Cordova app on Windows 10?
Debugging your Cordova app on Windows 10 can be done using various tools and methods, depending on the platform and device that you are targeting. For example, you can use the following tools and methods:
Chrome DevTools: If you are running your app on the Android emulator or device, you can use Chrome DevTools to inspect and debug your app's web views. To do that, you need to enable USB debugging on your device, connect it to your computer, and open Chrome on your computer. Then, go to chrome://inspect and select your device and app from the list. You will see a window with the Chrome DevTools interface, where you can use various tools, such as Console, Elements, Sources, Network, and more.
Visual Studio Code: If you are using Visual Studio Code as your code editor, you can use its built-in debugger to debug your app's JavaScript code. To do that, you need to install the for Visual Studio Code and configure a launch.json file for your project. Then, you can use the Debug panel to start a debugging session and set breakpoints, watch variables, evaluate expressions, and more.
Android Studio: If you are using Android Studio as your IDE, you can use its built-in debugger to debug your app's native code. To do that, you need to import your project into Android Studio and run it on the emulator or device. Then, you can use the Debug tool window to start a debugging session and use various tools, such as Logcat, Variables, Breakpoints, and more.
How can I update Cordova on Windows 10?
To update Cordova on Windows 10, you need to use NPM, which is a package manager that comes with Node.js. You need to open a command prompt and run the following command:
npm update -g cordova
This command will update Cordova CLI globally on your machine to the latest version. To verify that Cordova CLI is updated correctly, you can run the following command:
cordova -v
You should see the latest version number of Cordova CLI printed on the screen.
How can I uninstall Cordova from Windows 10?
To uninstall Cordova from Windows 10, you need to use NPM, which is a package manager that comes with Node.js. You need to open a command prompt and run the following command:
npm uninstall -g cordova
This command will uninstall Cordova CLI globally from your machine. To verify that Cordova CLI is uninstalled correctly, you can run the following command:
cordova -v
You should see an error message saying that cordova is not recognized as an internal or external command.
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