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Hybrid Platform Setup: Cordova + Vue + WebPack

Alistair MacDonald
ITNEXT
Published in
8 min readFeb 1, 2018

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These steps outline the process of setting up a development platform on which you can build Hybrid Mobile apps.

This includes:

  • Cordova + Webpack + Vue.js
  • Unit Testing with Jest/Mocha-Karma
  • Functional Testing with Nightwatch
  • Preview your app in the Web Browser
  • Hot/Live Reload your app in the browser when you make changes
  • Build to Android/iOS mobile devices

What is a Hybrid Mobile App?

A “Hybrid Mobile App” is Website running inside of Native application. The Web View portion of the code (all the screens and the code that happens when you click the buttons), is interpreted at run-time. Where as the Native portion of the code (taking pictures with your camera, loading a file, getting a GPS co-ordinate), is compiled to machine code before the app is run.

Pre-Requisites

  • macOS — High Sierra 10.13.2
  • Node.js — v9.2.1
  • Apache Cordova — 8.0.0
  • Vue-CLI — 2.9.2 — npm install-g vue-cli

Starting a Cordova Vue-WebPack Project

Create the Cordova project.

cordova create hybrid-base com.f1lt3r.hybridbase
# Creating a new cordova project.

Create the Vue.js-Webpack project.

vue init webpack hybrid-base

You will be asked: ? Target directory exists. Continue? you should answer “Yes” to this as the directory was created in the previous Cordova step.

Set your repo up with your own names, and select the tests frameworks you want to use.

Merge The Cordova + Vue-WebPack Build Processes

Your Cordova ./www directory should now look like this:

www
├── css
│   └── index.css
├── img
│   └── logo.png
├── index.html
└── js
    └── index.js

Remove the contents of the Cordova ./www directory, as we will be building this content with WebPack instead.

We will need to leave the ./www directory as this is the code that Cordova will bundle onto your mobile device.

cd hybrid-base
sudo rm -r www/*
# Password: ************

Open the WebPack config file: ./config/index.js and update the the following paths:

  • Change the index and assestsRoot paths to point to Cordova’s ./www directory so that the code for your app is built to ./www/dist before being packaged into your mobile device.
  • Change the assetsPublicPath value to be an empty string ''. This will allow your phone to serve the view via the file:/// protocol. This is important because you will not be running a web server on your mobile device (usually).

Update your ./config/index.js file like so:

build: {
    // Template for index.html
    index: path.resolve(__dirname, '../www/dist/index.html'),    // Paths
    assetsRoot: path.resolve(__dirname, '../www/dist'),
    assetsSubDirectory: 'static',
    assetsPublicPath: '',
}

Open ./config.xml in your IDE and update Cordova’s WebView entry point.

<content src=”dist/index.html” />

Build your app’s distribution package.

npm run build# > hybrid-base@1.0.0 build /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base
# > node build/build.js
# 
# Hash: 0291f32a5e7a7d714987
# Version: webpack 3.10.0
# Time: 6652ms
#                                                   Asset       Size  Chunks             Chunk Names
#                static/js/vendor.5973cf24864eecc78c48.js     111 kB       0  [emitted]  vendor
#                   static/js/app.b22ce679862c47a75225.js    11.6 kB       1  [emitted]  app
#              static/js/manifest.48340d8e7958823ecf19.js    1.48 kB       2  [emitted]  manifest
#     static/css/app.30790115300ab27614ce176899523b62.css  432 bytes       1  [emitted]  app
# static/css/app.30790115300ab27614ce176899523b62.css.map  828 bytes          [emitted]
#            static/js/vendor.5973cf24864eecc78c48.js.map     548 kB       0  [emitted]  vendor
#               static/js/app.b22ce679862c47a75225.js.map    22.2 kB       1  [emitted]  app
#          static/js/manifest.48340d8e7958823ecf19.js.map    7.79 kB       2  [emitted]  manifest
#                                              index.html  509 bytes          [emitted]
# 
#   Build complete.
# 
#   Tip: built files are meant to be served over an HTTP server.
#   Opening index.html over file:// won't work.

Your ./www/dist directory should now look something like this:

www
└── dist
    ├── index.html
    └── static
        ├── css
        │   ├── app.30790115300ab27614ce176899523b62.css
        │   └── app.30790115300ab27614ce176899523b62.css.map
        └── js
            ├── app.b22ce679862c47a75225.js
            ├── app.b22ce679862c47a75225.js.map
            ├── manifest.48340d8e7958823ecf19.js
            ├── manifest.48340d8e7958823ecf19.js.map
            ├── vendor.5973cf24864eecc78c48.js
            └── vendor.5973cf24864eecc78c48.js.map

Open the ./www/dist/index.html file in your browser to check that everything works via the file:/// protocol.

open ./www/dist/index.html
Notice the file:/// protocol in the browser address bar.

Now open the Vue.js ./index.html file in your IDE and update your Content-Security-Policy meta tag to allow local web sockets. You can do this by adding: connect-src 'self' ws:;. This will allow WebPack to know when to rebuild and reload your code in the web browser preview. This should happen every time you make a change to your source code.

<meta http-equiv=”Content-Security-Policy” content=”default-src ‘self’ data: gap: https://ssl.gstatic.com ‘unsafe-eval’; style-src ‘self’ ‘unsafe-inline’; media-src *; img-src ‘self’ data: content:; connect-src ‘self’ ws:;”>

Now we can test that dev mode works correctly.

npm run dev# > hybrid-base@1.0.0 dev /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base
# > webpack-dev-server --inline --progress --config build/webpack.dev.conf.js
# 
#  95% emitting
# 
#  DONE  Compiled successfully in 3486ms                                                                                                 12:31:18
# 
#    Your application is running here: http://localhost:8080

Now the Vue-Webpack hot-reload server is live, visit http://localhost:8080 to see your app.

You should see the following screen:

Notice the web-sockets message in the console log below, and the host:port in the address bar.

Running on Android

We will now test that everything works on an Android mobile device. Make sure you have plugged one into your computer.

First we build.

cordova platform add android# Using cordova-fetch for cordova-android@~7.0.0
# Adding android project...
# Creating Cordova project for the Android platform:
#     Path: platforms/android
#     Package: com.f1lt3r.hybridbase
#     Name: HelloCordova
#     Activity: MainActivity
#     Android target: android-26
# Subproject Path: CordovaLib
# Subproject Path: app
# Android project created with cordova-android@7.0.0
# Android Studio project detected
# Android Studio project detected
# Discovered plugin "cordova-plugin-whitelist" in config.xml. Adding it to the project
# Installing "cordova-plugin-whitelist" for android
# 
#                This plugin is only applicable for versions of cordova-android greater than 4.0. If you have a previous platform version, you do *not* need this plugin since the whitelist will be built in.
# 
# Adding cordova-plugin-whitelist to package.json
# Saved plugin info for "cordova-plugin-whitelist" to config.xml
# --save flag or autosave detected
# Saving android@~7.0.0 into config.xml file ...
# Using cordova-fetch for cordova-ios@~4.5.4
# Adding ios project...
# Creating Cordova project for the iOS platform:
#     Path: platforms/ios
#     Package: com.f1lt3r.hybridbase
#     Name: HelloCordova
# iOS project created with cordova-ios@4.5.4
# Installing "cordova-plugin-whitelist" for ios
# --save flag or autosave detected
# Saving ios@~4.5.4 into config.xml file ...

Then we run.

cordova run android# Android Studio project detected
# ANDROID_HOME=/Users/al/Library/Android/sdk
# JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_77.jdk/Contents/Home
# studio
# Subproject Path: CordovaLib
# Subproject Path: app
# publishNonDefault is deprecated and has no effect anymore. All variants are now published.
# The Task.leftShift(Closure) method has been deprecated and is scheduled to be removed in Gradle 5.0. Please use Task.doLast(Action) instead.
#     at build_90p7k4l5ap2hh6f44vf6y6xe6.run(/Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/android/app/build.gradle:143)
# :CordovaLib:preBuild UP-TO-DATE
# ...
# :app:cdvBuildDebug UP-TO-DATE
# 
# BUILD SUCCESSFUL in 0s
# 47 actionable tasks: 1 executed, 46 up-to-date
# Built the following apk(s):
#     /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/android/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
# ANDROID_HOME=/Users/al/Library/Android/sdk
# JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_77.jdk/Contents/Home
# No target specified, deploying to device '711KPZK0695877'.
# none
# Skipping build...
# Built the following apk(s):
#     /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/android/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
# Using apk: /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/android/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
# Package name: com.f1lt3r.hybridbase
# LAUNCH SUCCESS

You should now see the app running on your Android device.

It lives.

Running on iOS

Time to check things on an iOS device. Make sure you plugged it in!

First, lets add the the iOS platform to the Cordova project.

cordova platform add ios# Using cordova-fetch for cordova-ios@~4.5.4
# Adding ios project...
# Creating Cordova project for the iOS platform:
#     Path: platforms/ios
#     Package: com.f1lt3r.hybridbase
#     Name: HelloCordova
# iOS project created with cordova-ios@4.5.4
# Installing "cordova-plugin-whitelist" for ios
# --save flag or autosave detected
# Saving ios@~4.5.4 into config.xml file ...

Open your app’s Xcode project.

open platforms/ios/HelloCordova.xcodeproj

Select your Team certificate in the Build Signing dropdown.

Build your iOS package.

cordova build ios# Building project: /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/HelloCordova.xcworkspace
#     Configuration: Debug
#     Platform: device
# User defaults from command line:
#     IDEArchivePathOverride = /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/HelloCordova.xcarchive
# 
# Build settings from command line:
#     CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR = /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/build/device
#     SHARED_PRECOMPS_DIR = /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/build/sharedpch
# 
# Build settings from configuration file '/Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/cordova/build-debug.xcconfig':
#     CLANG_ALLOW_NON_MODULAR_INCLUDES_IN_FRAMEWORK_MODULES = YES
#     CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS = $(PROJECT_DIR)/$(PROJECT_NAME)/Entitlements-$(CONFIGURATION).plist
#     CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY = iPhone Developer
#     ENABLE_BITCODE = NO
#     GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = DEBUG=1
#     HEADER_SEARCH_PATHS = "$(TARGET_BUILD_DIR)/usr/local/lib/include" "$(OBJROOT)/UninstalledProducts/include" "$(OBJROOT)/UninstalledProducts/$(PLATFORM_NAME)/include" "$(BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR)"
#     OTHER_LDFLAGS = -ObjC
#     SWIFT_OBJC_BRIDGING_HEADER = $(PROJECT_DIR)/$(PROJECT_NAME)/Bridging-Header.h
# 
# === BUILD TARGET CordovaLib OF PROJECT CordovaLib WITH CONFIGURATION Debug ===
# 
# Check dependencies
# 
# Write auxiliary files
# 
# ...
# 
# ** ARCHIVE SUCCEEDED **
# 
# Non-system Ruby in use. This may cause packaging to fail.
# If you use RVM, please run `rvm use system`.
# If you use chruby, please run `chruby system`.
# 2018-02-01 16:43:32.249 xcodebuild[82807:848721] [MT] IDEDistribution: -[IDEDistributionLogging _createLoggingBundleAtPath:]: Created bundle at path '/var/folders/kw/5t8w91_n6rb0z8b2z2grsj1r0000gn/T/HelloCordova_2018-02-01_16-43-32.247.xcdistributionlogs'.
# Exported HelloCordova.xcarchive to: /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/build/device
# ** EXPORT SUCCEEDED **

Run the iOS code on your device.

cordova run ios# Building project: /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/HelloCordova.xcworkspace
#     Configuration: Debug
#     Platform: device
# User defaults from command line:
#     IDEArchivePathOverride = /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/HelloCordova.xcarchive
# 
# Build settings from command line:
#     CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR = /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/build/device
#     SHARED_PRECOMPS_DIR = /Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/build/sharedpch
# 
# Build settings from configuration file '/Users/al/repos/hybrid-base/platforms/ios/cordova/build-debug.xcconfig':
#     CLANG_ALLOW_NON_MODULAR_INCLUDES_IN_FRAMEWORK_MODULES = YES
#     CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS = $(PROJECT_DIR)/$(PROJECT_NAME)/Entitlements-$(CONFIGURATION).plist
#     CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY = iPhone Developer
#     ENABLE_BITCODE = NO
#     GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = DEBUG=1
#     HEADER_SEARCH_PATHS = "$(TARGET_BUILD_DIR)/usr/local/lib/include" "$(OBJROOT)/UninstalledProducts/include" "$(OBJROOT)/UninstalledProducts/$(PLATFORM_NAME)/include" "$(BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR)"
#     OTHER_LDFLAGS = -ObjC
#     SWIFT_OBJC_BRIDGING_HEADER = $(PROJECT_DIR)/$(PROJECT_NAME)/Bridging-Header.h
# 
# === BUILD TARGET CordovaLib OF PROJECT CordovaLib WITH CONFIGURATION Debug ===
# 
# Check dependencies
# 
# Write auxiliary files
# 
# ...
# 
# (lldb)     connect
# (lldb)     run
# success
# (lldb)     safequit
# Process 1502 detached

You should now see the Vue.js app on your iOS device.

iOS reporting for duty, sir.

Testing — Jest and Nightwatch

Finally, we should confirm that theUnit and Functional testing commands work.

First test the Unit tests:

npm run unit
Unit tests passing, Ok.

Then test the Functional/End-to-End tests:

npm run e2e
Note: you must have run `npm run build` before e2e tests can pass.

Conclusion

You should now have a hybrid platform that will allow you to developer and distribute mobile apps with Vue.js and Cordova.

You can find a repo for this guide here: https://github.com/F1LT3R/hybrid-base-cordova-vue-webpack

That’s all, folks!

Vuejs 2
Webpack 2
IOS App Development
Android App Development
Cordova

--

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Alistair MacDonald
ITNEXT
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Written by Alistair MacDonald

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User Interface Engineer

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