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Project
enClose
Build rich iOS and MacOS apps with familiar web technologies.
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About this project
enClose is a hybrid application development framework for iOS and MacOS that allows developers to utilize JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create applications with native performance. By removing the limitations of traditional frameworks, enClose empowers developers to easily invoke native functionalities and seamlessly integrate web technologies, facilitating innovative app creation.
enClose is an innovative framework designed for hybrid application development on iOS and MacOS. It empowers developers to utilize widely-accepted web technologies—JavaScript, HTML, and CSS—enabling the creation of rich applications that mimic the performance and experience of native apps.
Key Features
- Seamless Integration: enClose facilitates effortless communication between native Swift functions and JavaScript. Developers can easily invoke native functions from JavaScript and vice versa, allowing for a fluid development experience.
- Unrestricted Development: Unlike traditional hybrid frameworks that impose predefined APIs or limited plugins, enClose provides the freedom to create any application without constraints. This flexibility fosters creativity and enables developers to realize their unique vision.
Proven Effectiveness
With a proven history since its inception in 2016, enClose has successfully been deployed in various enterprise environments and consumer applications. It has been employed in:
- Comprehensive warehouse management systems
- Enterprise-level sales and CRM platforms
- Point-of-sale solutions in retail settings
- Complete restaurant management systems for large-scale kitchens
These examples underscore enClose's reliability, versatility, and adaptability as a development framework.
Commercial Success
The framework has showcased its robustness by powering multiple applications in the App Store, standing up to Apple's stringent quality requirements while delivering superior user experiences. This success is a testament to enClose's maturity and readiness for a variety of application needs.
Real-World Showcase
Explore an example of what enClose can achieve: the TV Chess - Basic project is a hybrid chess game that exemplifies the integration of web technologies with native iOS features. This application demonstrates the potential for delivering a seamless user experience while harnessing familiar web development skills. Access the project here.
For comprehensive documentation, sample code, and more insights, visit the official enClose website.
Support the ongoing development of enClose and help in fostering innovative solutions in iOS hybrid app development by becoming a sponsor on Patreon.
enClose stands out as a flexible and powerful tool for developers seeking to combine web and native technologies to create sophisticated applications.
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4[Part 3/3] To me, enClose is special because of how it helped our team grow and succeed, but it might not be the right tool for everyone. I always tell people to choose the tool that helps them get the job done in the best way for their situation.
Hope that helps clarify things.
[Part 2/2] The idea was to let them stay in their comfort zone while still contributing to native apps. At the time, jQuery was popular, but we later moved to plain JavaScript or Vue, depending on the project.
As we worked together, the developers naturally became more curious about the native side. Over time, many of them picked up Swift and Objective-C, and several went on to become senior engineers and tech leads.
Is enClose better than something like Expo.dev or Cordova? Not really. It’s not even cross-platform since it doesn’t support Android. What it offers is flexibility. If you can write a class or function in Swift, you can hook it into your JavaScript without much effort. That made it a great teaching tool and helped us ship real products quickly.
So far, I’ve used enClose to launch 13 iOS apps on the App Store, usually with Framework7 handling the UI.
[PART 1/2 due to comment limit] Hey there,
Let me answer your question by sharing how enClose came to life and the problem it was meant to solve.
Back in 2018, I was leading a team of front-end engineers. Most of them were junior web developers with promising talent. As our company grew, our needs expanded beyond websites. We needed iOS apps for internal tools like our Warehouse Management System, Point of Sale iPads, event admission scanners, and more. We used Apple’s Enterprise Program to deploy these apps internally.
While I was comfortable working with Objective-C and later Swift, my team didn’t have much experience with native development. So I built enClose to handle the native side of things. I wrote the code that interacted with Bluetooth accessories, barcode scanner sleeves, and card readers, and then exposed those functions and events to JavaScript. This allowed the junior web developers to build the UI using tools they were already familiar with.
Why is it better than https://expo.dev/ ?