What is IONIC? Why do we use IONIC for app development?
A complete open source SDK, IONIC is for hybrid mobile app development was created by Max Lynch, Ben Sperry, and Adam Bradley of Drifty Co. in 2013. Its original version was released in 2013, seven years ago and the latest version was launched in March, 2020 as Magnesium, re-built as a set of Web Components, allowing the user to choose any user interface framework, such as Angular, React or Vue.js.
Ionic uses Cordova and, more recently, Capacitor plugins to gain access to host operating systems features such as Camera, GPS, Flashlight, etc. Users can build their apps, and they can then be customized for Android, iOS, Windows, Desktop (with Electron), or modern browsers. Ionic includes mobile components, typography, interactive paradigms, and an extensible base theme.
Using Web Components, Ionic provides custom components and methods for interacting with them. One such component, virtual scroll, allows users to scroll through a list of thousands of items without any performance hits. Another component, tabs, creates a tabbed interface with support for native-style navigation and history state management. Besides the SDK, Ionic also provides services that developers can use to enable features, such as code deploys, automated builds.
Latest Updates in IONIC:
IONIC 5, Magnesium is a really thrilling for the IONIC fans. It includes iOS 13 design updates, new API for creating your own custom animations, updated Ionic colors, new starter designs, improvements to component customization, and more! There have been a lot many changes and updates seen. Let us look at few of the IONIC 5 updates:
- Easy Upgrade
They have committed in publishing a major release when any known incompatible API changes were introduced. So in this case, the major version just indicates that public API has been updated. And because Web Components are used, API changes are handled separately between UI components and the JavaScript framework.
- iOS design
There was a massive design upgrade in the UI components and that was a large change in this update. Some of the changes were made to the native iOS.
- Menu Overlay Type
In prior versions of iOS, the side menu used a “reveal” type menu. This pushed the main content over to reveal the menu. The new iOS design features a menu that will overlay the content with an updated animation. If you are not suitable with this menu type you can shift back to “reveal”
- Ionic Animations
Ionic 5 introduces some brand new open source animations utility, Ionic Animations, those provides the tools developers need to build highly performance animations regardless of the framework they are using. This is giving us ideas that how the IONIC animations are different from animation library.
- Ionicons
It has a new and free open source library of extensive icons, IONICONS 5
- Ionic Colors
So all new colors by default has been updates and you will automatically get new colors in your app. If your app was created using an Angular or React starter, the colors are defined in the theme/variables.scss file and will need to be updated manually. Also you get recommendations for the colors most suitable with the Dark Mode theme.
- Redisgned Starters
With all of the changes to as the design of components were changed, to be competent, update to the design of existing starters were needed and add a new one was created.
- Easier Customization
Components were not easy to customize due to less available CSS Variables and IONIC styles taking priority over customization styles. But now more CSS variables have been added which will enable easier ad simple customization.
Why do we use IONIC for app development?
Ionic apps run with a mixture of native code and web code, providing full access to native functionality if necessary, with the bulk of the UI of the app built with standard web technology.
Let us look at top five reasons that suits the best to give IONIC a try!
1. Open Source
Open source is the best way for a cost cut off. It’s absolutely free. You might think the open source software are easy to break. But you might need to change the opinion after you see IONIC.
2. One Code for All
With Ionic, comes the flexibility of building cross platform apps without any problem. With IONIC it is easier to build high-end user interface with added functionalities.
3. User Interface
It is a friendly user interface. It has easy customization options that a hybrid app is often criticized. It also supports different languages. Moreover, Ionic also supports the depth, motion, and vibrant colors of the material design for a beautiful looking UI.
4. Cordova Plugins
These are the small things that perform various activities of native app. This plugin do the wonder giving access to different features of the operating system such as battery, pro-location, camera, access to logs and more. These plugins enhance the overall performance of apps and this only involves adding a few simple codes to your development.
5. Big and Helpful Community
More contacts help you more! , for all your questions, there’s always an existing blog post about it or members eager to help on forums. You can even try posting your app questions on social media and if you are lucky, you never know, you might get your answers from the founders of Ionic framework.
Though decide for the best app development by seeing the various options available out in the market.
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