Top Things You Should Know About Cross Platform

The world of technology never remains static, inventing a new miracle everyday. Initially started for accurate mathematical solutions, technology evolved to become the most integral part of our ecosystem. Mobile app development is one such golden trend, dominating the market of eCommerce for ages. Pick any possible market and you shall find yourself among countless mobile applications. Undoubtedly, these applications are most convenient and competent mode of communication, bringing every minuscule task to just a few inches. 

In the language of tech, native and hybrid are two names most associated with mobile development. In simplest words, native apps are developed specific to one operating system, compactible with a finite list of versions and devices. Incredibly fast in speed, they are capable of special access to device features, being most in number on the internet. Hybrid applications, as the name suggests, targets multiple platforms simultaneously, encouraging reusability of code and rapid development. Cross platform development, a slightly different version of hybrid, is the undefeated ruler of mobile application.

Let’s take a look at its most striking features and helping tools

Cross Platform Development

As a noun, cross platform development translates to designing an application compactible with multiple OS and versions, instead of developing specifically. Cross platform applications are founded on a single codebase whereas native applications demand one each for one OS. As predicted, these applications are far more accessible and any change will need to be reflected at only one place. Furthermore, a developer will be required to code in one language rather than using a different tech tool everytime. One single team looks over administration and designing, saving time and cost at both sides. Instead of fussing with developers again and again, one product achieves the goal. 

How to develop cross platform applications?

Now that a basic understanding of cross platform apps has been established, let’s look at some of the popular platforms used for developing one. React Native and Flutter are industry favourites, at top of list. Following them are Xamarin and Kotlin, gaining immense popularity in recent years.  React Native originated from Facebook and Flutter from google, backedup by the most creative developers of the world. Feature enrich, supported by a large community and most efficient for robust frameworks are key features of mentioned.  In the upcoming section, we will looking towards a detailed analysis of two. 

React vs Flutter : Which to choose

React Native was founded by Facebook and has Java at its core whereas Flutter originated from Google and uses Dart as main language. Both have ruled the industry for a fair amount of time, heling creating numerous successful applications. In parameter of UI, React Native works with native features while Flutter has built in wedges to provide. React Native is reputed to have a chaotic documentation and a tiring installation when compared to alternative. Flutter on the another hand has a good word in market for creating fast and competitive applications, giving a tough luck to even native applications.  Undoubtedly, the two come with their own set of advantages and limitations. 

To choose one, analyse you project demand, main features, performance expectations and future versions. Both have skilled developers around the globe, eager to build for you.

Are You Looking For Maximum Exposure To Your Target Audience? 

Cross-platform mobile app development, also known as hybrid mobile app development, is a strategy that allows developers to design mobile solutions compatible with multiple operating systems and platforms simultaneously (Android, iOS, and Windows). Developers and businesses develop a cross-platform app or outsource it to save the cost and time of mobile app development.

As with any other platform, software and tool, there are certain situations where one is preferred over the other. Unfortunately, in the case of Native vs. Cross-platform can be a hard line to draw. For this reason, it is best if you go to a period when it is not recommended to use cross-platform:

• When you still need to get all the requirements lined up, this style of cross-platform development framework is best used after the UI and UI are complete.
• Your team needs to gain experience using cross-platform technologies.
• The app in question must use a low-level mobile API.
• You do not need to integrate the application with an external device—for example, IoT.
• You prioritize performance and quality over speed and efficiency.
• Your competitors are using a native app.

This list may be shorter or longer for some, but the overall idea remains the same. There are many points to consider when you switch to native app development and vice versa. The leading technologies for cross-platform mobile app development are Flutter and React Native.  Technologies from Google (Flutter) and Facebook (React Native) are appreciated for the many benefits they bring. However, sometimes our clients need clarification and know which framework will be better for their mobile app project. Unfortunately, the answer could be more apparent and usually depends on the requirements and expertise of the team.

Wrapping Up

Whether you go native or jump on the cross-platform app development bandwagon, a good app lies in how it's written. A single codebase with a cross-platform development strategy may seem like an obvious choice, but if you need to implement any complex element, it can cause problems. On the other hand, native app development requires a programmer to program and reprogram the same app repeatedly, possibly in different languages, depending on the operating system you plan to run it on.

The key to developing cross-platform apps is to have someone who knows the language and is familiar with the technology of choice. Then, creating a good, working, and functional application is possible regardless of your choice.