Isn't it Ionic?
Tags: ionic, angular, javascript
Published: 2023-05-01 01:46:48

##At a glance: 
After hearing from a friend that he uses Ionic regularly, I decided to look into it. Ionic is an open source mobile Software Development Kit for the web. You can use Ionic to create and build an app, or add to an existing app. Here is a quote from the site about what makes Ionic unique. _"Ionic is the only mobile app stack that enables web developers to build apps for all major app stores and the mobile web from a single codebase. And with Adaptive Styling, Ionic apps look and feel at home on every device."_ I totally buy this. I've checked the goods and thought to myself "well, isn't this nice." They have a great selection of components, styles, animations and are compatible with multiple frameworks. Enticing.

##Features:
Ionic is a versatile mobile app development framework that supports a range of popular JavaScript frameworks, including React, Angular, Vue, and vanillaJS. That being said, it seems to be most popular with Angular users. It also provides native device plugin integration, enabling apps to interact with Bluetooth and sensors seamlessly. With Ionic, developers can build and preview mobile apps directly in their web browser and choose to deploy them as native apps, PWAs, or both. Ionic's "plug & play" cross-platform mobile UI is similar to popular styling libraries like MUI or styled components. Plus, because Ionic Apps are built with web technologies, they perform equally well as both a Progressive Web App and a native app. Whether you're building a small prototype or a complex enterprise app, Ionic provides all the tools you need to create powerful, high-performance mobile apps that work seamlessly across platforms. See the below example of a Ionic component. Notice the ease at which you can toggle the device and OS.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8j3ety99o1ocliiu5ifx.PNG)
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/rzv805cmmg9sb08lhkxx.PNG)

##Reviews:
Ionic Framework has a lot of happy users out there. Many have praised it for its ease of use and compatibility with various frameworks. One comment mentioned that they were able to create their app in a fraction of the time it would have taken with other frameworks. Others have applauded its flexibility, stating that they were able to integrate native device features with ease. Overall, it seems that Ionic has a solid reputation in the development community. Who would've thought? It figures that if they like it, it's worth exploring.  

##Take that flight:

You oughta know how to get started if you  want to look into using Ionic. First make sure you have the latest version of Node.js and npm installed on your computer. Then, install the Ionic CLI by running the command "npm install -g ionic" in your terminal.
Once installed, create a new project by running "ionic start [project-name] [template]" where the template can be one of the many available options such as "blank", "tabs", or "sidemenu".

With your project set up, you can now start adding pages, components, and other features using the built-in Ionic UI library and JavaScript. Test your app (frequently) by running "ionic serve" in your terminal and previewing it in your browser or on a mobile device with the Ionic DevApp.

As far as publishing goes, use the "ionic build" command to create a production-ready version. And that's it! With Ionic Framework, you'll have all the tools you need to create a mobile app that's both functional and pretty. Something to note is that Ionic says that they make it especially easy to deploy both a web app version and native version of your app if you so choose. See the below examples from one of their YouTube videos. This is without and then with ionic, respectively. 
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/yeftkmg8nmci3yjai45c.PNG)
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/lcqv7m4vyfbz8mk7lif2.PNG)

##Conclusion:
Ionic Framework is definitely worth considering for your next mobile app project. Its compatibility with multiple frameworks, support for native device plugins, and ability to deploy as a native app or PWA make it a versatile option. Plus, its "plug & play" cross-platform mobile UI makes it easy to get started. Positive reviews from the development community and the ability to get your app to everyone relatively easily, regardless of device, makes Ionic is a solid choice, don't you think?



###Links:
https://ionicframework.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJsxhUnP0Qc

https://stackshare.io/stackups/angularjs-vs-ionic#:~:text=AngularJS%20belongs%20to%20%22Javascript%20MVC,Cross%2DPlatform%20Mobile%20Development%22.