PhoneGap Essentials is a book that introduces mobile web developers to the concepts, tools and API's provided by the open source, cross-platform PhoneGap framework (also known as Apache Callback and more recently Apache Cordova). Using PhoneGap, mobile developers can write cross-platform mobile apps using standard HTML 5, JavaScript, and CSS - and then deploy those apps to every leading mobile platform with little or no recoding. The open source PhoneGap platform has attracted immense interest amongst mobile developers, but its official documentation is sparse and incomplete.

Now, for the first time, there's a concise, practical, developer's guide to succeeding with PhoneGap in real-world mobile development. Long-time mobile developer John M. Wargo (author of BlackBerry Development Fundamentals) thoroughly introduces the PhoneGap platform: what it is, what it does, and how it works. Next, the book guides developers through configuring their PhoneGap development environments, creating a complete mobile app, and then configuring and building it for leading mobile platforms Google Android, Samsung bada, RIM BlackBerry, Apple iOS, Symbian and Windows Phone. Example applications highlight PhoneGap's APIs, demonstrating how to use mobile platform capabilities ranging from GPS and accelerometers to file systems and built-in applications. Readers also learn how to make the most of PhoneGap Build, PhoneGap's cloud-based packaging utility.

This book is for developers who are just getting started with PhoneGap development and need to know what PhoneGap is all about, what tools are provided and how to use them plus detailed information about how to leverage the PhoneGap API's in their applications. The book is chock full of sample applications that highlight the capabilities of each PhoneGap API.

At the Printer

The book's completely done - I'll not see it again before it's in print. I finished reviewing the layout and did a last read of the manuscript. It's at the printer (or at least should be by now) and I'll hopefully hold the book in my hands soon. Stay tuned - I expect it to be in stores by June 1st (or soon thereafter).

Available on Safari Books Online

I just learned that a Rough-Cut of PhoneGap was just released on Safari Books Online. As you wait for the final layout and review to be completed, you can start reading an unedited version of the manuscript. You can find the book here: http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/-/9780132928373.

Editing Complete

The editing process for the manuscript has completed. It's currently in the layout process and that should be completed by April 4th. At that point I'll start reviewing the actual book chapters. This is about the last step before the book goes to press.

Writing Completed

The book's content is all written, and the book is in the middle of the technical review process. I hope that tecnical review will be completed by the first of the year (January 2012) so we can begin the full editing process. Stay tuned for more updates.