Pros of Briefcase

• Supports multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web)
• Provides a unified build system for cross-platform development
• Integrates well with other BeeWare tools for a complete ecosystem

Cons of Briefcase

• Steeper learning curve for developers new to cross-platform development
• May have limitations in accessing certain platform-specific features
• Smaller community compared to some platform-specific tools

Code Comparison

Briefcase (packaging a Python app):

briefcase new
briefcase create
briefcase run

Chaquopy (integrating Python in Android):

Python.start(new AndroidPlatform(this));
Python py = Python.getInstance();
PyObject module = py.getModule("mymodule");

Key Differences

• Briefcase focuses on cross-platform deployment, while Chaquopy specializes in Android-Python integration
• Briefcase uses pure Python for development, whereas Chaquopy allows mixing Java/Kotlin with Python
• Briefcase provides a complete app packaging solution, while Chaquopy is more focused on embedding Python in existing Android projects

Use Cases

• Choose Briefcase for developing cross-platform apps with a single Python codebase
• Opt for Chaquopy when integrating Python functionality into existing Android applications or leveraging Android-specific features

Pros of Toga

• Cross-platform support for desktop and mobile applications
• Native UI components for a more authentic look and feel
• Active community and ongoing development

Cons of Toga

• Steeper learning curve for beginners
• Limited documentation compared to Chaquopy
• Smaller ecosystem of third-party packages

Code Comparison

Toga example:

import toga

def button_handler(widget):
    print("Hello, World!")

def build(app):
    box = toga.Box()
    button = toga.Button('Hello World', on_press=button_handler)
    box.add(button)
    return box

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app = toga.App('First App', 'org.example.first', startup=build)
    app.main_loop()

Chaquopy example:

from android.widget import Button
from android.view import View

class MainActivity(PythonActivity):
    def onCreate(self):
        super().onCreate()
        button = Button(self)
        button.setText("Hello World")
        button.setOnClickListener(View.OnClickListener({
            "onClick": lambda v: print("Hello, World!")
        }))
        self.setContentView(button)

Both Toga and Chaquopy offer solutions for developing Python applications on mobile platforms, but they differ in their approach and target platforms. Toga focuses on cross-platform development with native UI components, while Chaquopy specializes in integrating Python into Android applications. The choice between them depends on the specific requirements of your project and target platforms.