There is no stopping to the explosion of mobile apps. The spurt in apps can be credited to the evolution of the smartphones. From a simple alarm app to the complex navigational app, our smartphones are brimming with a number of apps.
The apps are available on multiple platforms like iOS and Android. So, to tap the opportunity on each of such platforms, many mobile app development company in USA have taken to cross-platform development, which gives them the freedom to use the same codebase across multiple OSs. It implies that just by crafting a single app, you can cater to every device by making minimal adjustments.
Are You New To Cross-Platform Mobile App Development?
Before jumping into it, you need to know about it in length and breadths. What actually is cross-platform mobile development? Where is it used? What all platforms it cater to?
So to start with, let's focus on the most significant part, i:e, credibility. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages that come with the cross-platform mobile development. Following are some:
Pros of Cross-Platform Mobile App Development:
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Quick app development with reduced cost
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Smarter plugins
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Reliable development framework
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Easy integration
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Fewer efforts
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Undemanding maintenance, and more.
Cons of Cross-Platform Mobile App Development:
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Firmware update may not include all supporting features
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Restrictive tools
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Inefficient code
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Performance lag
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Unimpressive UX
Languages Used In Cross-Platform Development
Though there is only one code for various platforms, but the programming languages through which the cross-platform development can be accomplished are multiple. Following are the programming languages supported for cross-platform app development.
1. Java
It’s the core language for Android. Java is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specially designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.
2. C++
It is a general-purpose programming language and is not as advanced as Java. C++ possess imperative, object-oriented, and generic programming features that suits the cross-platform development project.
3. JavaScript and HTML5
It is a high-level, interpreted programming language, used for HTML5, the markup language designed to make mobile apps compatible with desktops. If clubbed together, these languages make for an impressive choice for cross-platform development.
4. C#
It is a multi-paradigm programming language equivalent to the Objective-C. The programming language is imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented, and component-oriented programming disciplines that have lately become a popular choice for cross-platform developers.
5. Ruby
The language was designed and developed in the mid-1990s in Japan. Ruby is a mobile-specific programming language with elements like reflective, object-oriented, general-purpose, and interpreted.
Tools Used In Cross-Platform Development
Thanks to the steadiness in the tech domain, there are a number of tools available that can come in handy in the cross-platform app development. Every tool has its own characteristics. Following are the tools for developers:
1. Xamarin
Xamarin is a Microsoft-owned cross-platform development framework. Apps built using Xamarin contain standard, native user interface controls. Apps not only look the way the end user expects, but they behave that way too. It further has access to the full spectrum of functionality exposed by the underlying platform and device, including platform-specific capabilities like ARKit and Android Multi-Window mode. Xamarin also breaks downs the cross-platform operations like that of the creation of dynamic layouts for iOS.
2. NativeScript
It is an open source framework for building truly native mobile apps with Angular, Vue.js, TypeScript, or JavaScript. With it, the developer can easily create apps on the Apple iOS and Android platforms using their native UIs and libraries. The best part of this framework is that it lets the developers use most JavaScript libraries that don’t rely on the internet.
3. Appcelerator
It is an open-source framework that allows the creation of native mobile apps on platforms from a single JavaScript codebase. Appcelerator engages the common JavaScript language for creating native and cloud-connected mobile apps.
The platform offers a lot of features that helps the developers to develop the apps easily and furthermore; it provides an optional virtual private cloud option for companies that handle sensitive and private data.
4. Kony AppPlatform
It is a low-code development framework that involves minimal development hassle. Kony’s visual design canvas and tools enable faster design and development. Designers and developers can integrate 100 percent of the native OS or any available open-source and third-party framework or choose a pre-built template – for a stunning user experience without sacrificing speed.
5. Apache Cordova:
Cordova command-line runs on Node.js and is available on NPM. The popular cross-platform development framework offers features like reusable code across platforms, support for offline scenarios, access to native device APIs, and more. Apache Cordova uses JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5 for app development.
The Conclusion
This was all that one needs to know before jumping into cross-platform mobile app development. I have given my best to apprise you of the best languages, mobile app development frameworks, tools, and platforms that will help you in trying your hands in this landscape.
Also, all the tools mentioned over here have their own strengths and limitations. So it becomes very crucial that the tools should be picked according to the project needs.
I hope, this article helps you in making better a decision about the cross-platform development. Just in case, if I did miss something, please notify me by commenting below, and I will make sure that I add the left out information asap.
Content Source: https://www.mobileappdaily.com/cross-platform-app-development-guide
