# NativeScript — Build Truly Native iOS and Android Apps with JavaScript or TypeScript

> NativeScript lets you build iOS and Android apps with one JavaScript/TypeScript codebase that renders to native UI widgets (not WebView). Direct access to every iOS and Android API from JS.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# NativeScript — Native Mobile Apps with JS/TS

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install CLI
npm install -g @nativescript/cli
ns doctor          # verify setup (Xcode, Android SDK, Node, etc.)

# Create a new app (blank + TypeScript + Angular/Vue/Svelte/React available)
ns create hello --template @nativescript/template-blank-ts
cd hello
ns run ios      # iOS simulator
ns run android  # Android emulator
```

## Introduction
NativeScript takes a different path from React Native: instead of a bridge between JS and native UI thread, it gives JavaScript direct access to every iOS and Android API. UI is declared (XML, or via Angular/Vue/Svelte/React) and maps to real UIView / UIViewController on iOS and real Android View / Activity on Android.

With over 25,000 GitHub stars, NativeScript is used by enterprises that need deep native access without writing Swift/Kotlin, as well as JavaScript developers who want to reuse npm packages in mobile apps. It supports ES2023+, TypeScript, and your framework of choice.

## What NativeScript Does
NativeScript runs JavaScriptCore (iOS) or V8 (Android) embedded in a native app. Runtime bindings expose ALL platform APIs to JS (UIAlertController, AVAudioPlayer, android.widget.TextView, etc.). UI frameworks (Angular, Vue, Svelte, React) on top of a shared UI abstraction give you declarative templates. Output is a real native binary you ship through the App Store.

## Architecture Overview
```
Your JS/TS code
      |
[Framework layer — optional]
   Angular / Vue / Svelte / React / vanilla
      |
[NativeScript UI abstraction]
   declares <Label>, <StackLayout>, <ListView>, etc.
      |
[Platform bridge]
   JSC (iOS) / V8 (Android) with direct bindings
   to every native API — no IPC, no bridge queue
      |
[Native platform]
   iOS: UIKit, AVFoundation, Core Data, etc.
   Android: android.view, android.app, etc.
      |
[App store: ipa / apk / aab]
```

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
```typescript
// app/app.ts (vanilla NativeScript)
import { Application, Frame } from "@nativescript/core";

Application.run({ moduleName: "main-page" });
```

```xml
<!-- main-page.xml -->
<Page>
  <StackLayout padding="20">
    <Label text="Hello NativeScript" fontSize="24" />
    <Button text="Press me" tap="{{ onTap }}" />
    <TextField hint="Type here" text="{{ message }}" />
  </StackLayout>
</Page>
```

```typescript
// main-page.ts — direct access to iOS/Android APIs
import { Observable } from "@nativescript/core";
import { isIOS } from "@nativescript/core";

export function onNavigatingTo(args) {
  const vm = new Observable();
  vm.set("message", "");
  vm.set("onTap", () => {
    if (isIOS) {
      // Call any UIKit API directly from TS
      const alert = UIAlertController.alertControllerWithTitleMessagePreferredStyle(
        "Hi", vm.get("message"), UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert);
      alert.addAction(UIAlertAction.actionWithTitleStyleHandler("OK", UIAlertActionStyle.Default, null));
      // Get current VC and present
      Frame.topmost().ios.controller.presentViewControllerAnimatedCompletion(alert, true, null);
    }
  });
  args.object.bindingContext = vm;
}
```

```bash
# Common commands
ns run ios --emulator
ns run android --device
ns build ios --release --copy-to ./builds/
ns plugin add @nativescript/camera
ns update      # update NativeScript runtime
ns preview     # QR-code live preview on your phone
```

## Key Features
- **True native UI** — renders UIView / Android View, not WebView
- **Direct platform access** — every iOS/Android API callable from JS/TS
- **Framework choice** — Angular, Vue, Svelte, React, or vanilla
- **Code-sharing with web** — reuse most business logic with your web app
- **Live preview** — scan QR, see changes instantly on device
- **npm compatible** — most pure-JS packages work
- **Plugin ecosystem** — camera, geolocation, biometrics, payments
- **Enterprise-friendly** — MDM, code-signing, enterprise distribution

## Comparison with Similar Tools
| Feature | NativeScript | React Native | Flutter | Capacitor | Expo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language | JS/TS | JS/TS | Dart | JS/TS | JS/TS |
| UI layer | Native views | Native views (via bridge) | Skia engine | WebView | Native (RN) |
| Direct platform API | Yes (automatic bindings) | Via native modules | Via platform channels | Via plugins | Via SDK packages |
| Performance | Close to native | Close to native | Near-native | Web-ish | Near-native |
| Ecosystem size | Moderate | Very large | Large + growing | Moderate | Large |
| Best For | Deep native access + JS | JS devs, largest community | Custom UI + performance | Web-app-to-native | RN + tooling-heavy |

## FAQ
**Q: NativeScript vs React Native?**
A: Similar output (native views), different access model. NativeScript gives direct native API access from JS — no native module boilerplate. React Native has a much larger community and ecosystem. For deep native work, NativeScript; for ecosystem + jobs, RN.

**Q: Is NativeScript still active?**
A: Yes — version 8.x ships regularly. OpenJS Foundation hosts the project; development continues with a smaller but committed team.

**Q: What about performance?**
A: UI is genuinely native, so perceived performance is excellent. JS-native boundary calls are direct (no bridge queue like older RN), making some workloads faster than RN.

**Q: Can I ship to Play Store / App Store?**
A: Yes — output is a real .ipa / .aab, same as any native app. You go through normal Apple/Google review.

## Sources
- GitHub: https://github.com/NativeScript/NativeScript
- Website: https://nativescript.org
- Foundation: OpenJS
- License: Apache-2.0

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/a87b8fe7-3862-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: AI Open Source