The world of mobile development is fragmented, with many platforms, frameworks, and technologies. Ionic is intended to fill that gap, with its open source HTML5 mobile app framework that lets developers build native-feeling apps using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and AngularJS. Ionic makes it easy for frontend developers to become app developers. The framework provides superior performance with deep Cordova integration and a comprehensive set of tools for prototyping, backend support, and deployment.
This book will take you through the process of developing a cross-platform mobile app using just HTML5 and Javascript based on Ionic 2, which is the latest version of Ionic using the Angular 2 framework. You will start by getting familiar with the CLI and learning how to build and run an app. You will touch on common features of real-world mobile applications, such as authenticating a user, getting data, and saving data using either Firebase or local storage. Next, the book will explain how Ionic integrates with Cordova to support native device features using ngCordova and take advantage of the existing modules around its ecosystem. You will also explore advanced topics of extending Ionic to create new components. Finally, the book will show you how to customize the Ionic theme and build an app for all platforms.
Chapter 1, Creating Our First App with Ionic 2, introduces the Ionic 2 framework with instructions on how to set up the development environment and quickly create and run your first app.
Chapter 2, Adding Ionic 2 Components, walks you through some examples of how to manage pages, states, and the overall navigation within the app.
Chapter 3, Extending Ionic 2 with Angular 2 Building Blocks, takes a deep dive into the AngularJS components, directives, and the customization of pipes. You will learn how to leverage the Ionic 2 module architecture to create shared services.
Chapter 4, Validating Forms and Making HTTP Requests, explains how to create a complex form with input validation, retrieve data via REST API calls, and integrate with Stripe for online payment.
Chapter 5, Adding Animation, provides instructions on how to embed a video as background, create a physics-based CSS animation, and bind gestures to the animation state.
Chapter 6, User Authentication and Push Notification Using Ionic Cloud, takes a deep dive into registering and authenticating users using Ionic Cloud and sending and receiving push notifications.
Chapter 7, Supporting Device Functionalities Using Ionic Native, explains how to use Ionic Native to access native device functionalities, such as camera, social sharing, InAppBrowser, and map.
Chapter 8, Theming the App, provides instructions on how to customize the app for different platforms using Sass variables.
Chapter 9, Publishing the App for Different Platforms, looks into the process of performing the final steps of getting the app published.