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I own a web application that make use of Twitter Bootstrap 3.
This eases the design of the mobile version since it brings some responsive features.
However, I would like a really native-mobile aspect for the mobile version, but not a native for the Desktop one.
I searched..and I found this really promising framework: Ionic

It seems that this framework is really only focused on Mobile application and doesn't fit with any other kind of framework like Bootstrap (not mentioned in the documentation).

Therefore, my questions are:
What should be the strategy to keep a desktop version (not using Ionic but bootstrap 3) and a mobile version using Ionic? Making two distinct UI applications? One that would use Bootstrap and the other Ionic? What about duplications??

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Well bootstrap 3's description is "Sleek, intuitive, and powerful mobile first front-end framework for faster and easier web development." When you say "native" do you mean mobile first web app or do you mean a mobile app? –  Rig Jan 7 at 16:28
    
@Rig AFAIK, Ionic transform web components into a real native app, using Cordova. Bootstrap just creates a mobile web app. –  Mik378 Jan 7 at 16:45
    
I looked into Ionic, you still have to use PhoneGap to convert it into a native mobile app. Then too, PhoneGap is just a 'wrapper', which basically means that it wraps your mobile webapp into native binaries, but it still runs like a webapp of sorts. Do you want a complete native experience? –  Joe Jan 7 at 17:28

1 Answer 1

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Have you considered creating your backend as an API?

This way you can focus on building any type of frontend (using Ionic or bootstrap or whatever requirements you have) without worrying what happens to the backend if changes are made.

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My backend is an API: A Separated Play 2.2 project, RESTFUL and returning JSON –  Mik378 Jan 7 at 16:06
    
Your frontend choices are therefore unlimited now. You could even build native apps themselves. –  Joe Jan 7 at 17:29
    
Yes, but even if I make a native app, I couldn't force user to use it instead of the standard mobile app. (admitting that I wouldn't spend time for responsive design of my desktop app, since I would write the native) –  Mik378 Jan 7 at 18:10
    
What do you mean "I couldn't force user" ? If the only place to get the mobile version is the app store, that is where they'll get it, unless they prefer the browser on their smartphone, which will give you 3 options then. –  Joe Jan 7 at 21:42
    
Indeed, the worst option would be the third: open a browser and typing the app's url, bypassing the app store. –  Mik378 Jan 7 at 22:20

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