Doubts on Phonegap.js, Phonegap Build and Intel XDK

Question 1

As per my knowledge these are the answers,

1) I have read about PhoneGap build, it just requires html,css and js file to wrap up an application for different platforms. So downloading and linking phonegap.js in an the application is not required unless I need to access the device's native function ?

Yes, until your application need to access devices's native function or any inbuilt or custom plugins, no need of phonegap.js.

And just create a responsive HTML5 application and build with PhoneGap Build is all I have to do ?

2) If I can just do like above, then why I should install eclipse and android SDK to create for android when I can just make HTML5 application and build with phonegap build and put it on google play.

Phonegap applications need to be developed as native applications using web technologies, ex: IOS apps need to developed on MAC (using IOS SDK) etc.

3) I have came across Intel XDK and they have similar service like phonegap, if I use Intel XDK then I don't have to use any assets of phonegap ?

Intel XDK using cloud based development where your html,css etc are uploaded into the Intel server and the application will build their and give your the final build. In this case you no need of MAC for IOS application development.

Question 2

In my experience developing with Phonegap and its Build service I generally use a plain web IDE which is based on eclipse called Aptana. It's primary use is for just HTML web development. I never install iOS or Android SDK's since the whole reason you use Phonegap's online build service is so you can be free from having to set up multiple development environments.

All my project specifications are configured in the config.xml. I don't include a copy of Phonegap's libraries since they are bundled at the time of compilation in via Phonegap's online build service.

For general testing and debugging I use either the Chrome debug inspector or Chrome and the Ripple emulator. When I've finished testing and need to compile the binaries I send my code up to Phonegap's build service using maven and Chris Price's Phonegap build maven plugin.

This allows me to :

Unlock the signing keys (maven-ant-plugin and an http get call)
Upload my project for compilation to Phonegap's Build service
Sign my project with a specified signing key
Download a compiled binary for a specified platform

All from one single command. When I develop on my Mac Mini I installed a ruby script which will deploy the downloaded binary straight to my iOS device as final step.

I came up with this solution with the idea that I wanted to be able to checkout my code and be able to compile it online using only maven on any machine. This achieves that.

Question 3

To answer #2. For phonegap you only need to download eclipse and android SDK or Xcode(iOS) if you are NOT using phone gap build. If you use Phonegap Build (included with Photoshop subscription) you can build with their servers and download the app straight to the device through the phonegap site. Its real simple for Android, a bit harder for iOS.

Question 4

My understanding is that you have to subscribe to iOS Developer Program (US$99pa) to generate an iOS-installable app (even just for testing it), and publishing/distribution is also a bit more complicated than e.g. Android as well. That is completely regardless of what tool you use to build it, you need an Apple key code to install it. Of course, you can always just build and publish it as a a web application that be viewed in any browser. Then you don't need the iOS developer sub.