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NativeScript

Build truly native apps with JavaScript.

NativeScript

NativeScript Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether NativeScript is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • NativeScript Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

Features & Specs

  1. Cross-Platform Development

    NativeScript allows developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, including iOS and Android, which saves time and resources.

  2. Native Performance

    Since NativeScript directly uses native components, it delivers high performance comparable to native applications, unlike some other cross-platform solutions.

  3. Rich Ecosystem

    NativeScript offers a rich ecosystem of plugins and modules, making it easy to extend functionalities and integrate with various services.

  4. Single Codebase

    Maintaining a single codebase for both iOS and Android reduces development and debugging efforts.

  5. Open Source

    Being open source, NativeScript has strong community support and continuous improvements driven by developers around the world.

  6. Access to Native APIs

    NativeScript allows direct access to native APIs, giving developers more flexibility and control over platform-specific features.

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Videos

NativeScript VS React Native 2019 | performance | community | plugins

Which one is best for you? Flutter, React Native, Ionic or NativeScript?

7 Things to Know When Learning NativeScript

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about NativeScript and what they use it for.
  • What are JavaScript Engines?
    NativeScript is a good example of a runtime built specifically for cross-platform native mobile application development built using JavaScript. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Gio UI – Cross-Platform GUI for Go
    A long time ago, nativescript[1] seemed to be a strong alternative to reactnative. Is that still the case? [1] https://nativescript.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Flutter or React Native?
    I'm curious about this topic as well. I would also add NativeScript[1] in the comparison. [1] https://nativescript.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Svelte Native: The Svelte Mobile Development Experience
    This is not so much the Svelte equivalent of React Native as it is just NativeScript (https://nativescript.org). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Mobile App Development for both iOS and Andriod
    There is also https://nativescript.org/ which would allow you to use Vue (or several other frameworks) to build a mobile app. Used it myself a while back for an iPad app using Vue 2 and it was pretty straightforward. It seems like there have been quite a few improvements since then so might be worth a look. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Updating Expo and React Native sucks
    Anyone who thinks this sucks should try NativeScript with hassle-free update experience, quick build time, HMR, direct access to native apis, use React Native plugins and more. Pick any style you like - vanilla, Angular, Vue, React, Svelte - and easily add some SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose views if you want a and connect it to your JS. Docs are a bit behind at the moment but a major update is in progress.... Source: over 2 years ago
  • The right way to build multi platform apps in 2023 using web tech. ?
    There are layers that offer access to native APIs like capacitor, cordova and nativescript. Apparently sometimes multiple of them should be used, but I didn't understand what are the differences even after reading the announcement. These seem to be frontend agnostic technologies and Capacitor is apparently the more modern choice at the moment. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Websites vs Mobile App
    PWA? You can then, with moderate difficulty use something like https://nativescript.org/ make native versions. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Nativescript & Formily: A match made in heaven.
    Using the amazing Preview environment that the Nativescript team together with Stackblitz have done, it was time to start hacking at it. (More information can be found here at https://preview.nativescript.org/). - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Mobile development with Angular?
    There is something called NativeScript. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Svelte Native vs. React Native: A comparison guide
    Svelte Native leverages NativeScript, which allows you to develop native apps with JavaScript and gives the JavaScript code access to the device native code directly. It has no wrapper, meaning you can access all supported device APIs. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • Is it viable to launch a game in Steam marketplace that has a low resolution like 640x480?
    Maybe https://nativescript.org/ is something for you? 😅. Source: over 3 years ago
  • JavaScript: A Wonderful Language for a Beginner
    Writing JavaScript for the server-side is possible, also writing JavaScript for mobile applications and desktop applications is also possible. Apache Cordova is a free mobile application development framework that allows you to develop an application in HTML/JavaScript and then it wraps it into a native container that can access the device functions of several platforms and hence enables the web app to work on... - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • NativeScript vs. React Native
    NativeScript's vision is to “Liberate your development by using platform APIs directly without leaving your [love] of JavaScript.” Think of NativeScript as the go-to tool when building cross-platform mobile apps with JavaScript in a framework-agnostic team. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • What are some modern languages I should learn for mobile dev?
    JavaScript ─> NativeScript Is what feels the most appealing to me. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • My Dev Journey: Week 12
    As mentioned before the NativeScript Playground has been great to get to grips with so far. Their docs have also been a great resource too. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • Coinbase’s successful transition to React Native
    None of those! The real answer is Nativescript -- https://nativescript.org It doesn't get the buzz, and the ecosystem is somewhat old (it's surprisingly common to run into a repo that hasn't been touched in a year) but it's the superior platform to React Native and you get none of the capriciousness of the React ecosystem (if anything the Nativescript community might need a jolt). Nativescript is incredibly... - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago
  • Web vs native - make the right choice in 2021
    React Native / NativeScript - for building native mobile apps with web technologies (deeper native bindings, without the use of WebView). - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
  • How to use service workers in javascript
    You should not mistake PWAs with desktop or native applications built with Electron.js or Nativescript though - they do only run on the browser's context and have no access to device specific APIs. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
  • Developer Roadmaps
    There are multiple ways to develop applications for the android; you can go down the path of hybrid application development where flutter, react-native, or NativeScript are the most common contenders. Flutter uses Dart, whereas React Native and Native Script rely on JavaScript. Answering the question of hybrid vs native is out of the scope of this roadmap. This roadmap is focused on the native Android apps... - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of NativeScript

NativeScript, a prominent player in the cross-platform app development landscape, has garnered attention for its capabilities and unique approach. Built to leverage JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular, and Vue.js, NativeScript is seen as a powerful tool that empowers developers to create truly native mobile applications across iOS and Android platforms from a single codebase. The overarching narrative within the tech community highlights both praise and room for growth, situating NativeScript as a compelling alternative to other cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Ionic, and Xamarin.

Strengths of NativeScript

Native Performance and APIs: A central theme in recent discussions is the emphasis on NativeScript's ability to provide a truly native experience. By directly accessing native APIs and controls, it bridges the gap between hybrid and native development. Its capacity to deliver high-performance apps by leveraging native APIs makes it suitable for building sophisticated applications without the overhead typical of some hybrid frameworks like Apache Cordova or PhoneGap.

JavaScript and TypeScript Compatibility: The compatibility with popular web technologies such as JavaScript and TypeScript is frequently mentioned as a significant boon for developers familiar with these languages. Additionally, for those already comfortable with Angular or Vue.js, NativeScript presents a familiar environment, further easing the transition to mobile app development.

Single Codebase: The ability to maintain a single codebase for multiple platforms is highly valued. This feature is highlighted across various articles as it significantly reduces development time and the lines of code needed, making it more efficient for resource-limited teams or startups.

Framework Agnosticism: NativeScript's support for a wide range of frameworks—including Angular, Vue, React, and even Svelte—offers flexibility that appeals to a diverse array of developers. Its flexibility is cited as a major draw compared to more opinionated ecosystems like Flutter or React Native.

Challenges and Considerations

Ecosystem and Documentation: While NativeScript is praised for its technical prowess, there are concerns about its ecosystem, particularly regarding the pace of updates and the availability of current documentation. These aspects can pose challenges for developers looking for cutting-edge community support and resources.

Market Presence and Adoption: NativeScript sometimes suffers from a lower market profile compared to React Native and Flutter. Although regarded highly by some of its users, it doesn't consistently command the same level of buzz or mainstream adoption, possibly impacting its long-term viability in larger enterprise settings.

Integration with Modern Tools: Some updates and integrations are noted to be in progress, suggesting an evolving product attempting to keep pace with developer needs. This dynamism can be a double-edged sword—offering potential for growth but also requiring developers to stay vigilant with changes.

Community Perspectives

Despite some ecosystem drawbacks, community members often laud NativeScript’s focus on native app development without being bogged down by the complexities encountered with other frameworks. The general consensus among tech discussions is that while NativeScript may not yet have the extensive adoption of its competitors, it offers a streamlined and robust platform for developers seeking to exploit native capabilities using web technologies.

In summary, NativeScript maintains a niche, though respected, position in the cross-platform development arena, appreciated for its native performance and flexibility. It is a formidable choice for developers committed to leveraging JavaScript alongside native APIs, while those considering it must weigh the trade-offs between ecosystem maturity and technical benefits.

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Is NativeScript good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss NativeScript here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.