Cross-platform mobile applications have emerged as a reliable solution for those who have always been baffled by the choice between native platforms like Android and iOS. There are questions regarding the platform that should be chosen first for the business and the development costs for two different applications. The best way out is to adopt a cross-platform route by creating a single source code for an app and reusing it across multiple platforms.
The benefits of cross-platform mobile app development are extensive. Since it requires the developers to write the code only once, the process is faster and cost-effective. These apps excel in performance too, which is comparable with that of native apps. However, the use of the right technology is important to avail the best benefits of cross-platform apps. Here are the 5 most prominent technologies recommended for creating such applications:
Xamarin
Xamarin bundles up a set of tools that enable mobile app developers to write codes based on C# language and .NET framework. The software then compiles the code for the native ARM executable format for the appropriate UI, namely Android, iOS, or Windows. Furthermore, this technology allows building, testing, and monitoring of the app in the cloud too.
PhoneGap (Apache Cordova)
PhoneGap is another popular technology used for creating cross-platform applications leveraging on existing web technologies. It is a free tool that enables developers to translate codes from HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. This is a developer-friendly technology as it maintains software development kits for every platform they create. Another benefit of PhoneGap app development is that it offers a variety of plugins for the developers to utilize their development skills.
Titanium Appcelerator
Appcelerator’s Titanium allows the creation of mobile apps in Java script and then compiles it into native iOS and Android apps. Despite being developed with JavaScript, these apps do not use CSS3 and HTML5. A majority of the code is reused by Titanium’s SDK to create native apps, which saves a great deal of time and money. In addition to being an excellent tool for developing cross-platform apps, Titanium offers value add-ons such as a dashboard to monitor the app’s performance, view analytics, and track crash reports.
React Native
Another popular technology, React Native is a java script framework used for developing natively rendering Android and iOS mobile applications. The technology is based on React, Facebook’s JavaScript library that is used to build user interfaces; however, it targets the mobile rather than the web. The technology has the ability to handle multiple platforms and enables app developers to create apps that have the look and the feel of native apps.
Ionic
The Ionic framework applies the web technologies like HTML, CSS, and Java script and can be used for building mobile applications for different platforms simultaneously. This technology too promises apps that deliver a native-like experience for the users. Cross-platform applications developed with Ionic can be enhanced with advanced features such as push notifications, gestures, popups etc.
Each of these development technologies has its own benefits and shortcomings. The choice of one for cross-platform app development depends upon the specific requirements and features of the application. Mobibiz is a renowned app development company that uses the latest tools and technologies for creating high-quality mobile applications of all kinds. Our seasoned professionals have expertise in the various technologies that have been briefed above.
