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Cross-Platform Mobile Development in 2020 – Digital Capsule

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Cross-platform app development frameworks allow developers to create mobile applications that are compatible with more than one operating system; in this case, iOS and Android. It provides them with the ability to write the code once and then run it anywhere for other platforms, thereby enabling them to release a product/software faster.

No matter whether you are a well-established enterprise or a startup, developing a Native Android or iOS App is always a costly deal for you. Therefore, today, when businesses think about the app developing — Cross-platform mobile app development solutions are first to click in their minds. Even Startups and SMEs also find cross-platform an outstanding technology as it allows them to develop an app that can run on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and Windows, with a single codebase set.

Should Cross-Platform mobile app development be your first choice?

It depends on various aspects of your product/software along with other business needs. Running a business in Egypt could be a real challenge considering the needed budget and as well as the experienced resources that you can trust. However, at some point we all make compromises to reach our goals, hence regardless the pros and cons of going Native or Cross-Platform development you might be still wondering if you made the right decision. Without further ado, let’s have a quick look on the main differences between going Native or Cross-Platform development, and finally you can decide which approach will meet your business and technical needs.

Pros of Native App Development

‍Broad Functionality

‍You’ll have access to every API and tool provided by the platform that you’re working on. Technically, there are no limits on how the programmers could work with the new app.

‍Better Store Support

‍A native app is easier to be published and usually ranked higher on the platform’s app store because it delivers better performance and speed.

‍Increased Scalability

‍Apps built for the native environment also tend to be more scalable, thanks to the flexibility in resources management and the array of tools available.‍

High Performance and Great UX

The direct interaction between the code and the underlying resources results in high performance. Also, native apps generally have a better UX that is synonymous with the platform.

Pros of Native App Development

Costly

Building native apps can be costly when you need to launch for both iOS and Android. It means you’ll need to deploy two teams working on different platforms.

Time Consuming

Native app development is time-consuming as the work done for a platform cannot be duplicated for another. Instead, a separate team is needed to work on the other version.

Pros Of Cross-Platform App Development

‍Less Costly

Instead of having two teams of developers, you’ll need only one to create a cross-platform app. Therefore, you’ll save on the development cost.

Faster Development

Only a single cycle of development is needed to create an app that runs on multiple platforms.

Single Code Base

As the app is created with a single cross-platform development tool, only one code base is created.

Cons of Cross-Platform App Development

Slower App

The need for an additional abstraction layer and rendering process makes the cross-platform app slower than its native counterpart.

Limited Functionality

Developers may have difficulty accessing smartphone functionalities like the microphone, camera, and geolocation in ways possible for a native app.

Limited UX ‍

Cross-platform apps are unable to take advantage of native UX components. Therefore, it can’t deliver the same UX experience that is accustomed to the platform.

Some people may argue that from the above comparison that we have an absolute winner “Native Development” and this could be correct if you’re thinking from a technical perspective. The business is all about time and money which are the 2 major cons with Native mobile app development and 2 main pros for Cross-Platform mobile app development. With that said, it worth giving yourself sometime to explore your options with Cross-Platform mobile app development.

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So what are the leading cross-platform frameworks that you should choose in 2020?

Well, choosing between any framework regardless the scope of operation could be a controversial topic. We are here to identify the options that you can have and finally the decision is up to you. At Flavorte our main goal is to provide the needed knowledge to you so that you can make up your mind. With that said, it’s worth mentioning that we’re not favouring a framework on another, it’s all based on the customer needs and business requirements.

First, let’s have a look over the top trending Cross-Platform mobile app development based on search term used for each framework in Egypt. The graph below is updated automatically from Google Trends.

As per the above graph, this article will mainly focus on the first top 3 competitors. Flutter, Ionic and React Native.

Core Differences: React Native vs Ionic vs Flutter

When we talk about differences, we generally consider below-mentioned factors in mind:

Programming language:

React Native uses React library and JavaScript to deliver a native experience on iOS and Android. While Ionic makes the best use of web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and requires a Cordova plugin to wrap the applications in native containers. Flutter is a bit different here as it uses Dart language which is developed by Google. Dart is a modern, multi-paradigm, and objected-oriented programming language used for building apps for web, mobile, and desktop apps.

Community:

React Native and Ionic are having strong community support compared to Flutter. Flutter is relatively new in the battle of mobile app development tools, making it less mature than Ionic and React Native. As Ionic is built on AngularJS, almost 6 years ago, resulting in very strong community support in provisions of the quick solution of errors and constant updates. However, Flutter has made its space and attracted developers to learn Dart which, in turn, help developers to build high-performing native apps with the support from Google community. All of these frameworks seem to be having a bright future as all three are backed by strongest tech communities from Google and Facebook.

Performance:

This is one of the deciding factors to choose the best framework. Although, performance depends on many factors including developers’ efficiency in writing code but, here we are considering it from the runtime perspective. React Native lets you build an application that provides native look-and-feel by invoking native APIs and components. Ionic is different than other frameworks as it uses web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create hybrid cross-platform apps. It needs plugins and third-party packages to wrap your application in native cover. React Native and Ionic both deliver superior performance but Flutter goes a step ahead because there is no native transition or some bridges to connect with the native environment. Flutter uses Dart which is still new and requires learning Dart to create an application. It is gradually improving and has many to-dos to accomplish. If we talk about user interface design or front-end environment of these frameworks, they offer high-quality, native-like experiences which are loved by the developer’s community.

Platforms and Popularity:

Going straightforward, React Native is more popular than the other two as many tech giants are using it in their production environment including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Skype, Tesla, Uber, Walmart, Salesforce, Vogue, and so on. On the other side, Ionic is very popular among web and mobile app developers due to its easy learning curve. It is used by MarketWatch, Pacifica, Sworkit, Nationwide, and many more. Flutter has just entered the market but grown in popularity in very less time. It is used by Alibaba, Hamilton Musical, Greentea, Google Ads, and so on. These frameworks are popular in their respective realms and having future plans of enhancement, too.

Architecture and execution of code:

React Native:

Learn once, write everywhere – this principle saves a lot of time and cost as there is no need to build a separate app for different platforms. Native UI components and features like Hot Reloading make it one of the best cross-platform app development tools available in the market. One of the architectural advantages of React Native app development is JavaScript. React Native offers native capabilities through React and JavaScript to build better apps, quickly.

Ionic:

One codebase, any platform, this gives developers a significant benefit of code reusability. Ionic’s powerful features and strong community support help developers to build highly-interactive apps in no time. You can also use Ionic with Angular, React, Vue, or JavaScript.

Flutter:

Flutter comparatively offers high performance as it uses Dart language which is advanced, compatible and comprehensive language. Flutter’s engine connects with platform-specific SDKs which gives developers a modern, reactive, and a rich set of features that can be leveraged to create beautiful mobile experiences.