Dev platform appMobi has always pitched itself as something of a bastion for HTML5 development – a stance not likely to change with the free release of its PhoneGap Mobile App XDK.

The XDK – or X-platform development kit for the acronym shy – is specifically being targeted at Facebook development, following the addition of mobile apps to the social network's iOS apps.

Bridging the gap

What's more, as its name suggests, the kit fully supports the open source PhoneGap HTML5 project – reportedly labelled by the social network as the "preferred way to create mobile apps for the Facebook Platform".

The idea is, studios looking to target all facets of mobile development via PhoneGap - including HTML5 - can take advantage of appMobi's XDK.

"PhoneGap has developed into a wonderful set of APIs, but a matching integrated development environment has really been missing," said appMobi CTO, Sam Abadir.

"We've brought the PhoneGap community a free development suite that unleashes the capabilities of the PhoneGap APIs so that developers can create amazing apps."

X marks the spot

The XDK includes a full suite of desktop tools, including app debugging, mobile device emulation, including GPS, camera, contracts and accelerometer controls.

"With the PhoneGap XDK, PhoneGap developers can create cross platform mobile apps without the need to own and set up complex native tool chains such as XCode for iOS or the Android SDK," added Abadir.

"This tool dramatically reduces the code-debug cycle time for PhoneGap programmers."

Developers can download the XDK from appMobi's website.