Setting up your development environment is a crucial step in starting with Apache Cordova. This module will guide you through the process of installing the necessary tools and configuring your system to create and run Cordova applications.

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

• A computer with an internet connection.
• Basic knowledge of command-line interfaces.
• Node.js and npm installed on your system.

Apache Cordova requires Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager). Follow these steps to install them:

1. Download Node.js:

   • Visit the Node.js website.
   • Download the LTS (Long Term Support) version for your operating system.

2. Install Node.js:

   • Run the downloaded installer and follow the instructions.
   • Verify the installation by opening a terminal/command prompt and typing:

     node -v
     npm -v
     

   • You should see the version numbers of Node.js and npm.

The Cordova Command Line Interface (CLI) is used to create, build, and run Cordova applications. Install it globally using npm:

Verify the installation by typing:

You should see the version number of Cordova.

Depending on the platforms you want to target (Android, iOS, etc.), you need to install additional tools.

Android

1. Install Java Development Kit (JDK):

   • Download the JDK from the Oracle website.
   • Install it and set the JAVA_HOME environment variable.

2. Install Android Studio:

   • Download Android Studio from the official website.
   • Install it and follow the setup wizard to install the necessary SDK components.

3. Set Environment Variables:

   • Add the following paths to your system's environment variables:
     • ANDROID_HOME pointing to the Android SDK location.
     • Add the platform-tools and tools directories to your PATH.

iOS (macOS only)

1. Install Xcode:

   • Download Xcode from the Mac App Store.
   • Install it and open it to complete the setup.

2. Install CocoaPods:

   • CocoaPods is a dependency manager for Swift and Objective-C projects.
   • Install it using the following command:

     sudo gem install cocoapods
     

To ensure everything is set up correctly, create a new Cordova project and build it for a specific platform.

1. Create a New Project:

   cordova create MyApp
   cd MyApp
   

2. Add a Platform:

   • For Android:

     cordova platform add android
     

   • For iOS:

     cordova platform add ios
     

3. Build the Project:

   • For Android:

     cordova build android
     

   • For iOS:

     cordova build ios
     

If the build is successful, your environment is correctly set up.

• Solution: Ensure that Node.js, npm, and Cordova are installed correctly and that their paths are added to your system's PATH environment variable.

• Solution: Verify that the ANDROID_HOME environment variable is set correctly and that the platform-tools and tools directories are in your PATH.

• Solution: Open Xcode and go to Preferences > Locations to install the command line tools.

By following these steps, you have successfully set up your development environment for Apache Cordova. You are now ready to create and build Cordova applications. In the next module, we will guide you through creating your first Cordova project.