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Install Apache Cordova’s command-line interface (CLI) with npm, then create a project, add a platform, check its native toolchain, and build or run the app. You’ll need Node.js for the CLI; Android and iOS builds also require platform-specific tools.

1. Install the Cordova CLI

Install Node.js first, then install Cordova from npm. The current Cordova installation guide lists these minimum Node.js versions by CLI branch:

Cordova CLI branch Minimum Node.js version
13.x 20.17.0
12.x 16.13.0
11.x 12.0.0

These requirements apply to the listed CLI branches; platform releases have their own compatibility requirements. Check the Cordova CLI documentation and the guide for your chosen platform before selecting versions.

npm install -g cordova
cordova -v

The second command prints the installed CLI version. If the command is not found after installation, check that npm’s global executable directory is on your shell’s PATH, then open a new terminal and try again.

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2. Create a Cordova app

Run the create command from the directory where you want the project folder to be made. The example uses com.example.hello as the app identifier and HelloWorld as its display name.

cordova create hello com.example.hello HelloWorld
cd hello

Cordova creates a starter web app. Its landing page is www/index.html; you can build the app’s interface there and in the project’s other web source files.

3. Choose a target and install its native tools

A Cordova project starts with web code. To produce a native app for a particular operating system, add that platform from inside the project directory. Building then depends on that platform’s SDK and development tools. Requirements can change between platform releases, so use the documentation for the version selected by your project.

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Android

Install Android Studio and configure the Android SDK and relevant environment variables as described in the Cordova Android guide. JDK requirements depend on the cordova-android release: cordova-android 13 or later requires JDK 17; versions 10 through 12 use JDK 11. Verify the requirement for the exact release you add.

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iOS

Apple’s development toolchain runs only on macOS. Cordova’s iOS guide lists version-specific requirements such as Xcode, Node.js, CocoaPods, and deployment tools. A simulator is useful for evaluating many features, but test device-specific behavior on an actual device. App Store submission requires a build made with the most recent Apple tools.

4. Add the platform and check requirements

For example, to target Android, run these commands from the project directory:

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cordova platform add android
cordova platform ls
cordova requirements android

platform add adds the target, platform ls lists the project’s installed platforms, and requirements checks whether the tools needed for the target are available. If the check reports a missing requirement, install or configure that tool before building. The CLI reference documents additional options and version pinning: Cordova CLI commands.

5. Build and run the app

After the platform requirements are met, build the project and deploy it to an available device or emulator:

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cordova build android
cordova run android

build prepares the project and compiles it. run builds and deploys to a device or emulator; the target must be available and configured in the native tooling. Android builds can use macOS, Linux, or Windows with the required Android tools, while iOS builds require macOS.

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To serve the app locally for web testing, use cordova serve. A browser preview does not replace testing native features on a simulator or device.

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6. Add plugins when you need native features

Web technologies cover the app interface, but JavaScript needs a Cordova plugin to call many native device capabilities. Add the plugin from the project directory using its package identifier:

cordova plugin add <plugin-id>
cordova plugin ls

The first command installs a plugin; the second lists the project’s installed plugins. Consult the plugin’s documentation for its supported platforms and any additional setup requirements.

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7. Keep changes in the project, not generated platform files

Cordova normally records platform and plugin additions, including package versions and plugin configuration, in package.json. Passing --nosave to an add command disables saving that addition. Check the project configuration when you need to understand or reproduce its dependencies.

Keep authored app code and configuration in the project’s source and configuration areas. Cordova may regenerate files under platforms/ during preparation or plugin reinstallation, so direct edits there can be overwritten. Use the project’s configuration or a plugin to make changes that must persist.

Useful commands at a glance

  • cordova -v — show the installed CLI version.
  • cordova platform ls — list installed platforms.
  • cordova plugin ls — list installed plugins.
  • cordova requirements — check platform toolchain requirements.
  • cordova build <platform> — prepare and compile for a platform.
  • cordova run <platform> — build and deploy to a device or emulator.
  • cordova serve — serve the app locally.

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