NativeScript
Build native iOS and Android apps by writing JavaScript or TypeScript that calls native APIs directly.
- Stars
- 25.7k
- Forks
- 1.7k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 4 days ago
- Type
- Framework
What it is
NativeScript lets you access native iOS and Android APIs directly from JavaScript, so you can build mobile apps that use the platform's own UI and features. The README says it supports iOS, Android, and visionOS runtimes and mentions use with frameworks such as Angular, React, Vue, Svelte, and Solid. It is mainly useful to developers who already work in JavaScript or TypeScript and want native mobile apps without writing separate Swift or Kotlin code for everything.
- Create a new mobile app with the ns create command from the CLI
- Run an app on an Android emulator or iOS device with ns run android or ns run ios
- Use TypeScript type packages such as @nativescript/types for editor support
- Add plugins for services like Firebase, ML Kit, or in-app payments from the NativeScript repos
Great for
- JavaScript or TypeScript developers who want to build native iOS or Android apps
- Teams that already use Angular, React, Vue, Svelte, or Solid and want to reuse those skills on mobile
- Developers who need direct access to platform APIs from JavaScript
- Projects that want the MIT-licensed, OpenJS Foundation-hosted ecosystem
Not ideal for
- Developers who only want web apps: the README is about native mobile and visionOS runtimes, not browsers
- Beginners with no JavaScript or mobile background, since setup involves Node.js tooling and platform SDKs
- Projects that need a feature the README does not list; check the plugin marketplace or docs first
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Node.js and npm
Install the NativeScript CLI globally
npm install -g nativescriptCreate a new project
ns create my-appNavigate into the project directory
cd my-appRun on an Android emulator or device
ns run android - 2
Run it
- Install the CLI with npm install -g nativescript
- Create a project with ns create my-app
- Change into the my-app folder
- Run ns run android or ns run ios on an emulator or device
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the starter templates linked in the README for Angular, React, Vue, Svelte, or Solid to begin with a framework you know
- Use @nativescript/types or @nativescript/types-minimal to get type hints in your editor
- Check the plugin marketplace and the Firebase, ML Kit, and Payments repos for ready-made integrations
- Read the official docs at docs.nativescript.org for setup and tutorials
Downloads
Strengths
- Gives JavaScript code direct access to native iOS and Android APIs
- Supports several front-end frameworks, as described in the README
- Has an active repository with a large star count and MIT license
Trade-offs
- The README does not spell out platform requirements or detailed setup, so you will need the official docs for those
- Depends on a mix of separate repos (runtimes, CLI, docs), so the project is spread across several codebases
- Native development still requires familiarity with iOS and Android concepts for debugging
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NativeScript (this) | 25.7k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | JavaScript or TypeScript developers who want to build native iOS or Android apps |
| react-native | 127k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Web developers who already know React and want to build mobile apps |
| capacitor | 17k | Dev tool | intermediate | 7 days ago | Web developers who already have a modern web app and want it in the app stores |
| quasar | 27.2k | Framework | intermediate | 18 days ago | Developers already familiar with Vue.js |
| react-native-elements | 25.9k | Library | intermediate | 6 months ago | React Native developers who want ready-made UI components |
| Valdi | 16.4k | Library | advanced | 6 days ago | Mobile teams who want one UI codebase for iOS and Android |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.