Mobile application development - native or cross-platform?
When launching a large enterprise, SME, or Startup mobile application development project, the question often arises: do they need a native or cross-platform application to implement the project. In order to better understand the difference, it is worth first getting into the basics of the two methods.
When can we talk about native development?
Native development has many different and context-dependent definitions, in this post, we try to dissertation on the topic in an understandable way. When creating a mobile application, it is called native application development when we use an officially released development environment and programming language for a given mobile platform.
In the case of Android devices, the following are considered native enhancements:
- Published by Google's Android Developer Studio environment in addition to
- Java, or
- Application of Kotlin programming language.
Similarly, for iOS, we can talk about native application development if:
- the Xcode development environment released by Apple and
- Objective-C, or
- We use the Swift programming language.
What is cross-platform technology?
Cross-platform technology, we call it when we build our application on multiple platforms from a single code base with "one development". From cross-platform technologies, there are high-performance systems that can provide the same user experience as native apps, but there are also less usable frameworks. However, cross-platform applications generally have an advantage as they greatly reduce the cost and time required for the development. However, there may be significant differences between the individual cross-platform solutions in terms of the functions that can be implemented. Because the older ones are mainly based on web technology, not all features can be developed in the application. With more modern cross-platform technologies, there is already interoperability between cross-platform code and native code.
What are the most common cross-platform frameworks?
React Native
A React Native is one of the most common cross-platform frameworks that allow us to build mobile applications using React and JavaScript technologies. React Native components turn into their native equivalent, which is a huge performance advantage over other cross-platform frameworks. In addition, React Native provides the ability to use native code snippets, so if a problem cannot be solved purely with the framework, developers can add native code (Swift or Objective-C for iOS and Java or Kotlin for Android) to the cross-platform code. React Native is an open-source and use project supported by Facebook. However, in addition to Facebook, many other companies and startups are already using React Native for their mobile application.
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Skype
- Tesla
- Pinterest
- Uber
For large, reliable service development companies, cross-platform development is done with the support of native developers, so you can be sure to get the highest quality mobile application possible. If you would like to develop your mobile application with such a team, look for the Octal IT Solution’s team.
Ionic
The Ionic hybrid framework is also a popular choice for those who prefer the cross-platform process. Because Ionic is largely based on web technology, we can develop from a single code base for Android, iOS, and the web as well. In practice, this, unfortunately, has a number of disadvantages, with the use of web technologies performing slightly less well than native or native-to-native (e.g. React Native) cross-platform frameworks. He also spoke long against Ionic for not allowing the use of native code. Recently, with the introduction of the Ionic Native Library, the Ionic community responded to that need. Some applications created with Ionic:
- Pacifica
- MarketWatch
- Sworkit
- Nationwide
Flutter
The Flutter framework, a Google cross-platform solution similar to React Native, turns to native components, providing the same performance as native apps. The Flutter is a relatively young technology, the Alpha version in May 2017, it appeared in the stable release in December 2018. Accordingly, they are used in a few places for live applications, but they already make apps with technology like Google Ads or Alibaba. Flutter technology may be worth noting, you may compete with React Native-based technologies in the near future.
In summary
Cross-platform technologies can go a long way in shortening the development time and optimizing costs. However, each application is different, so before starting a larger mobile application development project, we ask for the help of an experienced development team to make a decision.
