Android application development: java vs. jquery mobile

Question

I'd like to build an android application for a school project but I'm a bit confused, I saw that i can build an application using Java or using Jquery mobile.

Do they have the same capabilities?

If i build an application using Jquery , can i pack it and have it installed like a java application (as apk) or is it only used for building websites?

If so, what tool do i use to pack it?

Answer 1

jQuery Mobile needs an intermediary framework that communicates between JavaScript and Java. PhoneGap is a popular one of these frameworks.

PhoneGap is also actively maintained and they roll out new versions almost every month.

The main reason to use PhoneGap/jQuery Mobile is that it makes development easy if you already know HTML/JS/CSS. Another great reason to use PhoneGap is that you can use your existing website as the base for native applications, yeah, plural, not just Android but also iOS, Blackberry, etc. It also gives you a pre-built UI with some widgets so you don't have to roll your own.

The jQuery Mobile documentation talks about some of the caveats to creating a native application with PhoneGap and jQuery Mobile.