The QNX SDK for HTML5 (called the HTML5 SDK in this document) provides a framework for developing and executing web-compatible applications, specifically using technologies such as HTML5, CSS3, and JNext.
You install the QNX SDK for HTML5 package to develop HTML5 apps. The HTML5 SDK is based on Apache Cordova 3.6.0. Apache Cordova is a framework used to develop apps for mobile devices. The HTML5 SDK exposes the aspects of Cordova most useful for building the user interface and for building plugins to access native functionality for the QNX SDK for Apps and Media. The HTML5 SDK is necessary for you to develop apps that run on target images running QNX SDK for Apps and Media. You don't need to install the QNX SDK for Apps and Media unless you want to build a target image, or develop your own native service and expose it to HTML5.
Before you use this guide, you should be familiar with developing Cordova apps, in particular, the Platform-centered workflows. For more information about developing Cordova apps, see the Cordova documentation.
You can write your HTML5 apps and plugins using Cordova APIs for Apps and Media. Cordova JavaScript Plugins and Webplatform APIs are provided as part of the HTML5 SDK to help you with development.
The following diagram maps the various APIs that are available to you. Use it as a roadmap to choose what to use when you develop your HTML5 app.
Typically, HTML5 and JavaScript with the provided Cordova JavaScript Plugins are sufficient for most development requirements. In some situations, however, you may find it useful to write your own custom plugin to access native functionality that the HTML5 SDK doesn't expose. If you determine that you require custom plugins to access native functionality on the platform, you have the option to use the Webplatform APIs. The Webplatform APIs are useful to access the WebView and simplify working with Persistent Publish/Subscribe (PPS) objects on the platform. In rare situations, you may also find the WebLauncher APIs useful for accessing functionality that you require.
There are several components available as part of the HTML5 SDK. You can use some or all the components for development, according to your requirements:
Apache Cordova is a framework for application development that allows you to use web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript and CSS to create apps for mobile devices. You can develop HTML5 apps, and with the tools provided in the HTML5 SDK, you can:
HTML5 is useful for building responsive interfaces because it allows you to modify CSS files to easily customize the look and feel of your apps. You can use various tools, such as Compass and Sass to modify your CSS. For information about Compass and Sass, see "Install CSS development tools".
HTML5 apps can use JavaScript plugins to interact with underlying services. JavaScript APIs provide interfaces to various feature components. The Netscape Plugin Application Program Interface (NPAPI) provides extensions to the HTML5 engine through a dynamically linked library. PPS, SQL, and the UI core APIs are implemented through a NPAPI interface. These APIs provide access to native DLLs that give apps access to services such as the composition manager and the launcher. If more such services are required, you can add additional plugins to extend your apps.