In mobile app is huge competition in market for mobile applications. We can find list of apps providing same kind of features. The end users have ton of options while installing apps. With the competition, there also exist high demand due to increasing number of users and high potential from business perspective. All the business providing there services through web are changing to mobile apps. As a developer if we do not want to run out of the jobs we need to know about rising development platforms for mobile applications development.
Mobile apps can be designed and developed using native platform and cross-platform. Since we can build apps using both it become a challenge on choosing the platform while developing the application. We need to analyze both platform and choose on the basis of project requirements.
Native App Development
Native App Development platform is platform used to develop either Android or IOS device apps. The development of apps depends on the OS of devices and OS based programming languages. For the IOS platform we use SWIFT or Objective C programming language with applications like XCode, AppCode. For Android platform, JAVA or Kotlin language can be used with android studio application.
Native apps provides the list of benefits to users and companies.
Better User Experience: Since, native app development use device specific language it uses system’s based components and explore its capabilities. It makes the app much faster than cross-platform. More user friendly and appealing design can be achieved.
Security: With the use of system built in security features, we can provide high security to the apps and its data.
Offline Access: user can access most of the app features without any stable internet connections.
Easy update: If there is any updates in system, Google and Apple also updates the languages for easy addition of new features to app.
Less Bugs: New system updates make new SDKs easily available to developers so it helps in quick improvement in apps and easy fix of bugs.
With the benefits its also bring some drawbacks. Some are listed below :
Code Reusability: the code used to develop IOS app cannot be used for Android app.
Cost: We need different teams for developing app for IOS and Android which makes the cost higher.
Development Time: Developing app for two separate platform by separate team require more time and efforts.
Cross-Platform App Development
Unlike Native App Development, we can create different platform based app from same set of codes. Creation of single project can fulfill demand of multiple platforms. We have React Native, Flutter and Xamarin as the Framework for the cross platform apps. JavaScript, Dart and C# are the programming language used in these frameworks. For the app deployment we need Android SDK in windows, Mac or Linux OS. For IOS, we must have IOS SDK, XCode and Mac device.
Most of the drawbacks of the native apps are fixed in cross platforms. Some of them are :
Low Cost: With one team, we can easily develop apps for IOS and Android. Developer only require knowledge of specific framework.
Code Reusability: Single code are used for both IOS and Android platforms.
Fast Development: With reuse of code, the app can be released to stores much earlier than native apps.
With the benefits its also bring some drawbacks. Some are listed below :
Performance: The use of apps in different platforms and device versions, it might bring compatibility issue and bugs. During development process more testing of app is required.
App Features: Since app runs on both platforms the features we can provide to users might be lesser than native apps. Platform specific feature may be unavailable.
Hardware Specific Integration: Integration of the platform specific features like GPU need native app development skills and knowledge.
Conclusion
To choose between native and cross platform for app development is harder if we do not have proper understanding on these platform. The determination of platform for app development depends on the project size, main targeted audiences ,performance, time bound, project budget and app security. If we are to build app for IOS or Android only, the native app will be the right choice. Similarly, if we are targeting every devices or larger market than cross platform is suitable. We need to consider its pros and cons while choosing the platforms.
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