Intel® XDK Overview
The current version of the Intel XDK, as of December 18, 2014, is 1621 (the version number is located in the upper right corner of the Intel XDK). You can always download the latest release at xdk.intel.com. A new release is generally available every six to eight weeks. New releases may include new features and always include bug fixes.
The Intel® XDK provides a comprehensive cross-platform development environment for building hybrid HTML5 apps for mobile phone and tablet devices. HTML5 apps are not limited to smart web pages viewed in a browser, you can also package your HTML5 code and deploy it directly on a mobile device as a locally installed hybrid mobile app. This enables the use of the same distribution and monetization channels as for native mobile apps, in addition to the same app installation and launch experience.
If you are just getting started with the Intel XDK and hybrid HTML5 mobile web apps, please continue reading this article for a quick overview.
Be sure to download and install the latest version of the Intel XDK for your Linux*, Microsoft Windows* or Apple OS X* development system. You will need to create a personal account for use with the Intel XDK cloud services (necessary for wireless testing and build services) as part of the installation. There is no charge to download or use the Intel XDK.
Using the Intel XDK
When you start the Intel XDK you are presented with a series of tabs. These tabs provide access to a set of tools that help you develop, debug, test and deploy your HTML5 apps. After choosing a project, you can jump between the tabs as required:
A quick summary of each tab follows. If you are new to developing hybrid HTML5 mobile web apps, you should start by reading this introduction to using the Intel XDK and this article about building cross-platform apps with HTML5. There is also a short tutorial available to walk you through a typical end-to-end workflow with the Intel XDK.
IMPORTANT: the Intel XDK is a tool for creating Apache* Cordova* (aka PhoneGap*) hybrid HTML5 mobile web apps. Apps you build with the Intel XDK run in a webview (embedded browser) and you can only do what the webview + plugins provide. Webviews typically have less capability than a browser, except for the very useful feature where they can be extended via native-code Cordova plugins. Therefore, you can interpret the existence of a Cordova (and/or PhoneGap) plugin as an indication that the embedded webview does not provide the needed function and a plugin is required for that function. Sometimes there is a pure JavaScript solution, in which case, an equivalent function provided as a plugin is either expanding beyond the pure JS solution or is attempting to provide an alternative solution.
Projects Tab
Use this tab to change the active project, import an existing project or create a new project. The Projects tab lists all projects created or imported by the Intel XDK. The currently active project is highlighted and is the project upon which all other tabs perform operations. For details see the Projects tab topic.
NOTE: The main entry point of your HTML5 app must be an index.html file.
Develop Tab
This tab supports multiple views. You can always edit files directly with the built-in Brackets* code editor or with your favorite code editor. If you created your app with App Designer, you will also have access to a GUI layout editor from this tab. Use App Designer to quickly build a responsive UI for your app. It uses a media query-driven grid system and your choice of one of several popular UI framework libraries. The media query grid system gives your app the ability to resize and adapt to portrait and landscape views on phones, tablets and even UltrabookTM devices. To get started, see the Editor guide and App Designer videos.
This tab now supports HTML5 game app developers with a Game Asset Manager tool. Game developers can also use the other features provided by the Intel XDK.
Note that the features of the Services tab have been moved to the Develop tab. You will find them in the lower-left corner of the Develop tab under the section named "Web Services." The instructions provided in the documentation links below still apply to this relocated element.
The "Web Services" section of the Develop tab provides easy access to a collection of third-party web (cloud) service APIs. To get started, see the Web Services Overview.
The list of services provided by the Intel XDK does not constitute an endorsement of these services by Intel, they are simply being provided as a convenience to you, the developer. You are under no obligation to use the services provided by this feature; you may use any web services that are appropriate for your app. Please contact your third-party web services provider(s) for information regarding service costs and licensing and for technical and programming help.
Emulate Tab
Check the functionality and layout of your hybrid app on a collection of virtual mobile devices by using a mobile device simulator based on the Apache Ripple* emulator. Click the Debug button (the "bug" icon) to open a built-in version of the Google Chrome* Developer Tools (CDT) debugger and directly debug your app's JavaScript* code, CSS rules and DOM elements.
This tab provides emulation support for the Apache Cordova* and Intel XDK APIs. To get started, see the Device Emulator tutorial.
Test Tab
You can push your app to real physical hardware – over the network – without performing a full build or attaching a USB cable. In addition to evaluating how your app behaves on a real device, you can remotely debug your app while it runs on a real device by using the weinre* debug console. To get started, see the Test on Device topic. To facilitate this feature, first download and install an application called Intel App Preview onto your test device. App Preview is available as a free download in the respective Android*, Apple iOS* and Microsoft Windows* 8 stores.
Debug Tab
The Debug tab (a developer preview) is like the Test tab – it provides on-device debugging without requiring a build and install step. One significant advantage of this tab over the Test tab is that it uses the Google Chrome Developer Tools (CDT) debugger for remote debugging, which includes full JavaScript debugging with breakpoints (something that is not possible with the weinre* debug console). Unlike the Test tab, this tab functions only with Android 4.x and Apple iOS 6.1 (or greater) devices connected to your development system with a USB cable. See Using the Debug Tab for more details.
Profile Tab
Profiling your application and identifying hotspots in your JavaScript code is the purpose of this tab (this is a developer preview). From here you can download your HTML5 code onto a USB-connected 4.x Android device, run it and collect statistics about where your code is using the most CPU cycles or memory. A special application called App Preview Crosswalk is automatically pushed to your Android device to enable profiling (as well as the remote debugging described in the previous tab). See Using the Profile Tab for more details.
Build Tab
Before you can deploy your application, you must build it. The build process packages your app so it can be submitted to the appropriate mobile app store and, ultimately, downloaded and installed onto your customers' mobile devices. The Intel XDK build service supports most popular mobile platforms, including the Android, Android Crosswalk, Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows 8, Chrome*, Firefox*, Amazon*, Nook*, and Tizen* platforms. Builds are performed in the cloud, so you do not need to install and configure the SDK for each target platform. To learn more, see the Build tab topic.
NOTE: The Intel XDK does not provide store submission services for your application. You must submit your app to each app store on your own. Each store has unique rules regarding developer keys and the conditions required to submit an app.