How to Implement SailsJS + Phonegap / Cordova application

Already reviewed: How to make a phonegap mobile app from SailsJS and SailsJS to Phonegap?, but did not find the real answer. I would like to implement a project where the backend is SailsJS and the frontends are: 1) Web client; 2) PhoneGap client;

I looked at https://github.com/coderaven/sails-docs/blob/master/What-Is-Sails.md where the usage from PhoneGap / Cordova had been mentioned but, again - not a real example provided.

So I would appreciate if somebody could share a boilerplate example including Sails and PhoneGap/Cordova or at least to share some sample code.

After spending couple of days for research and trials / fails, let me share the solution that works for me. I will split my answer in two parts:

1. SailsJS

   • For already developed SailsJS project, just execute sails www from your sails project folder - it will produce what is already explained here https://github.com/coderaven/sails-docs/blob/master/What-Is-Sails.md#phonegap-chrome-extensions-and-spa-friendliness
   • Please note, to rename your assets/js/app.js file if you have one, otherwise it will rewrite the identical app.js file in your PhoneGap www/js folder later.
   • Make sure you know the URL, where your project has been lifted - by default it is http://localhost:1337

2. PhoneGap / Cordova

   • Create you PhoneGap project. It will produce www folder inside you PhoneGap project folder.
   • Find you www folder in your current sails project (see point 1) and just copy its content inside your PhoneGap www folder.

   • Open www/index.html file and add the code below before closing body tag:

       (function onLoad() {
         var io;
     
         Object.defineProperty(window, 'io', {
             get: function get() {
                 return io;
             },
             set: function set(value) {
                 var sails;
     
                 io = value;
                 // Immediately start connecting
                 var socket = io.connect(backendURL);
     
                 console.log('Connecting Socket.io to Sails.js...');
     
                 // Attach a listener which fires when a connection is established:
                 socket.on('connect', function socketConnected() {
     
                     console.log('Socket is now connected and globally accessible as `socket`.\n');
     
     
                     // set additional socket listeners here
                 });
     
     
                 Object.defineProperty(io, 'sails', {
                     get: function get() {
                         return sails;
                     },
                     set: function set(value) {
                         sails = value;
     
                         sails.url = 'backendUrl';
                     }
                 });
             }
         });
       })();
     

of course, do not forget to enclose it in <script> tag and set proper value for backendUrl - this is your SailsJS URL.

• Compile your PhoneGap project and enjoy