Ionic Framework 4 - Full Tutorial - iOS / Android App Development

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of building a mobile app using Ionic Framework 4 and Angular from scratch. Ionic is a powerful toolkit for developing high-quality cross-platform apps for iOS, Android, and the web using a single JavaScript codebase. This guide is designed for beginners and will cover everything from project setup to debugging.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Environment

1. Install Node.js: Ensure you have the latest version of Node.js installed on your machine. This is crucial for using Ionic CLI and other dependencies.
2. Install Ionic CLI: Open your terminal and run the following command:

   npm install -g @ionic/cli
   

3. Create a New Ionic Project: Use the Ionic CLI to create a new project. Replace myApp with your desired project name.

   ionic start myApp blank --type=angular
   

Step 2: Understanding the Project Structure

• src Directory: Contains the main application files, including components, pages, and services.
• app Module: This is where the main application module is defined, including routing configuration.
• assets Directory: Place your images and other static resources here.

Step 3: Emulating Your App

1. Install Platform Dependencies: Depending on your target platforms (iOS or Android), you may need to set up specific environment tools:
   • For iOS, you need Xcode.
   • For Android, install Android Studio and set up the Android SDK.
2. Add Platform: Add the desired platform to your project:

   ionic cordova platform add ios
   ionic cordova platform add android
   

3. Run the Emulator: Launch the app in the emulator:

   ionic cordova emulate ios
   ionic cordova emulate android
   

Step 4: Implementing Routing and Lazy Loading

• Set Up Routing: Define routes in your app module to navigate between different pages.
• Lazy Loading: Use lazy loading for efficiency by loading modules only when needed. Modify your routing configuration accordingly.

Step 5: Adding Components

• Use Ionic Components: Incorporate built-in Ionic components such as buttons, cards, and lists. For example, to add a button:

  <ion-button (click)="doSomething()">Click Me</ion-button>
  

• Action Sheets: Implement action sheets for user interactions:

  async presentActionSheet() {
      const actionSheet = await this.actionSheetController.create({
          header: 'Select an Option',
          buttons: [{ text: 'Option 1', handler: () => { /* Your handler */ } }]
      });
      await actionSheet.present();
  }
  

Step 6: Utilizing Ionic Native Plugins

• Install Plugins: Use Ionic Native plugins for accessing native device features. For example, to use the camera:

  ionic cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-camera
  npm install @ionic-native/camera
  

• Implement Plugin: Inject and use the plugin in your component:

  constructor(private camera: Camera) {}
  

Step 7: Debugging Your App

• Debug in Emulator: Use Safari Developer tools for iOS or Chrome Developer tools for Android to debug your app.
• Debugging in Webstorm: Set breakpoints and inspect variables to troubleshoot issues effectively.

Conclusion

You have now learned the fundamentals of building a mobile app using Ionic Framework 4 and Angular. You covered project setup, component integration, routing, and debugging techniques. As your next steps, consider exploring more complex components, integrating APIs, or deploying your app to the app stores. Happy coding!