Laravel is PHP, and is a backend language. I think you could better look into Javascript frameworks, and perhaps use Laravel as a backend API to connect to (if you need web data).

I was thinking something along those lines.

In so far as "the easy route to take" goes, PHPDesktop suits the project best. However, I do like TideSDK best, and so I think I'll create an Angular app within that, which would then interface with the web-driven API.

My whole objective is to make the app feel like an app. I also need it to be as closed-source as possible, which rules out PHPDesktop.

I just wish there was a way for Tide/Titanium to bundle everything up nicely.

I think you might be confusing the server-client architecture. As @barryvdh said, Laravel and PHP will be completely standalone from your app. It will be your 'web-driven API' as you put it, that communicates via SOAP/XML :( or REST/JSON :). Therefor there is no need for your cross platform app to integrate with laravel in anyway except that it knows how to handle a SOAP or RESTful api. If you are looking for a nice framework to run on the client side on multiple platforms the easiest choice is javascript because most platforms support a webview. Client side php is basically a no go.

@damienadermann: I fully understand the separation of client and server in this instance. I have decided to use a REST API, which will only be made available to the client.

What did I say that made it look like I was confusing the architectures? All I was saying, is that it would have been nice for everything to be bundled together in a single app, as it is not network-dependent. As it's been pointed out, however, that is not possible...

mike-anthony said:

What did I say that made it look like I was confusing the architectures? All I was saying, is that it would have been nice for everything to be bundled together in a single app, as it is not network-dependent. As it's been pointed out, however, that is not possible...

Just the mention of PHPDesktop as a possible solution. I misinterpreted where you were coming from.

Just the mention of PHPDesktop as a possible solution. I misinterpreted where you were coming from.

I see. Well, I think I have a solution now. And it is actually for the better in terms of scaling. The original idea was for one PC, but it turns out that everything scales, eventually. Better be ready for it before it happens.