I can't answer all those questions but a couple useful links:

WeaveUX just published a column on "Launching a Native App" for libraries
which is probably pertinent.
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/w/weave/12535642.0001.104?view=text;rgn=main

While you typically do have to use different SDKs and languages for each
major platform, there are projects which use HTML5 and native WebViews to
target multiple operating systems. Cordova being the underlying tool but
Ionic a more robust framework with UI widgets included.
http://ionicframework.com/ There are several of these frameworks, Ionic's
just the one I've heard of lately. There was a JavaScript Jabber podcast on
it recently.
http://javascriptjabber.com/126-jsj-the-ionic-framework-with-max-lynch-and-tyler-renelle/

Best,
Eric

On Tue, Oct 7, 2014 at 11:51 AM, Will Martin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> My boss has directed me to start looking into producing a phone app for
> the library, or better yet finding a way to integrate with the existing
> campus-wide app.  Could I pick the list's brains?
>
> 1) Is there some tolerably decent cross-platform app language, or am I
> going to be learning 3 different languages for iOS, Android, and Windows
> phone?  I've dabbled in all kinds of things, but my bread-and-butter work
> has been PHP on a LAMP stack.  Apps aren't written in that, so new language
> time.
>
> 2) The library's selection of mobile devices consists of 2 iPads and a
> Galaxy tablet.  We don't have phones for testing.  My personal phone is a
> 12-year-old flip phone which doesn't run apps.  Can I get by with
> emulators?  What are some good ones?  The budget for the project is zero,
> so I don't think dedicated testing devices are in the cards unless I
> upgrade my own phone, which I probably ought to anyway.
>
> 3) What are some best practices for library app design?  We were thinking
> the key functionality would be personal account management (what have I got
> checked out, renew my stuff, etc), hours, lab availability, search the
> catalog, and ask a librarian.  Anything missing?  Too much stuff?
>
> Will Martin
>
> Web Services Librarian
> Chester Fritz Library
>
> P.S.  I sent this a couple days ago and wondered why it hadn't shown up --
> only to realize I accidently sent it to [log in to unmask] rather than the
> actual list serv address.  Whoops, embarrassing!
>