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Traditionally the apps for different mobile platforms like Android and iOS were built separately. However, with the introduction of modern cross-platform mobile app development technologies like React Native, Flutter, and Kotlin, developers can now build apps that can run on multiple platforms with little modification.
Though cross-platform apps are the best solution for most businesses that demand cost-effective and faster app development, building one has its own challenges.
Let's understand in detail what cross-platform mobile app development is, why it is so important, the technologies used, native vs cross-platform development, the implementation challenges, and how DhiWise Android, iOS, and Flutter Builder can help you build cross-platform apps faster with ease.
Cross-platform mobile apps are built to function on multiple mobile platforms, unlike native applications that only run on a single platform. Cross-platform apps are compatible with more than one operating system such as Android and iOS.
That means the company can release quality apps faster to the market that run on multiple mobile devices and reach a broader audience.
The number of mobile app users has been constantly growing over the last few years, almost covering nearly half of the world’s population, and it will continue to rise in the near future.
The mobile app market is experiencing steady growth. In 2022, total revenue reached an estimated US$420.80 billion . Looking ahead, the market is projected to maintain a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.83% between 2022 and 2027. This translates to an expected market volume of US$673.80 billion by 2027, reflecting continued consumer demand and investment in mobile apps.
The above figures show a significant rise in the demand for mobile apps but, why should one choose cross platform mobile app development?
So here is your answer:
Rapid development, cost efficiency, and the broader market make it more suitable for businesses who want to launch their app faster to the market and within a lower budget. So, it's no wonder why the focus is gradually shifting from native to cross-platform app development.
Choosing the right approach for your mobile app development project hinges on understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both native and cross-platform development. Here's a detailed breakdown to help you decide:
| Feature | Native App Development | Cross-Platform App Development |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Leverages device's specific hardware and OS for optimal speed and responsiveness. | Performance may not always match native apps, especially for complex features. |
| User Experience (UX) | Adheres to platform-specific design guidelines for a natural look and feel. | UX might not be as platform-specific and intuitive as native apps in some cases. |
| Access to Features | Full access to all device features and functionalities (GPS, camera, fingerprint sensors). | May have limited access to some device-specific features compared to native apps. |
| Security | Often offers better security due to built-in security features of the specific OS. | Security may vary depending on the chosen cross-platform framework. |
| Development Cost | More expensive due to separate codebases for Android and iOS. | Cost-effective as a single codebase caters to both platforms. |
| Development Time | Longer development time due to building two separate codebases. | Faster development time due to code reuse. |
| Maintenance | Maintaining separate codebases can be complex and time-consuming. | Easier and less time-consuming to maintain a single codebase. |
| Market Reach | Reaches users on a specific platform (Android or iOS). | Broader market reach by targeting both Android and iOS users with a single app. |
Here are some of the implementation challenges you might face while building cross-platform mobile apps:
Debugging Challenges: Debugging issues in a cross-platform app can be more complex compared to native development. The underlying code might be abstracted by the framework, making it harder to pinpoint the root cause of problems.
Framework Knowledge: Developers need to learn and stay updated on the specific cross-platform framework they're using (React Native, Flutter, Kotlin). This can add an extra layer of complexity compared to native development with familiar languages like Java or Swift.
Compatibility Issues: Cross-platform apps need to adapt to frequent updates and changes in both Android and iOS operating systems. The framework needs to be compatible with these updates, which can introduce delays or require additional development effort.
Among the available cross-platform app development technologies React Native, Flutter, and Kotlin seem to be the winners.
React Native is the native mobile app development library that is used to build mobile apps with reusable components. It is an open-source JavaScript-based framework developed by Facebook, allowing developers to build cross-platform mobile apps using a single codebase.
It leverages APIs to render UI components that can be used for both Android and iOS apps. React Native uses Java APIs to render the Android components, native Application Program Interface (API), and Objective-C language to write the iOS components while rendering UI components.
Flutter is an open-source UI software Kit created by Google. It is a popular tool among cross-platform application developers and it is currently used by more than 2 million developers globally. It is used to develop cross-platform mobile applications for Android, iOS, macOS, Desktop, web, and embedded systems from a single codebase.
Flutter is based on the Dart programming language with C and C++ as its core, and it enables developers to access platform-specific SDKs for Android and iOS. In this way, it gives a native look and feel to your cross-platform app.
Kotlin is a modern programming language developed by JetBrains and open-source contributors. Since May 2019, Google has officially supported Kotlin for Android application development. Its multiplatform programming abilities help developers build applications that can run on different platforms while retaining the flexibility of native programming.
Kotlin has a huge ecosystem of multiplatform libraries that include libraries like Ktor, SQLDelight, Apollo, and Koin.
DhiWise is the next-generation app development platform that empowers developers to build web and mobile apps at lightning speed. The platform supports multiple technologies and provides state-of-the-art features to make app development a highly efficient and effortless task without affecting the code quality.
In fact, DhiWise supports clean code architecture so the generated code is highly scalable and easy to maintain and test.
If you are building a cross-platform mobile application, DhiWise supports Kotlin, Swift, and Flutter. It provides advanced mobile app development features .
To build a mobile app you can use:
Here, we will discuss the front-end mobile app development technologies supported by DhiWise.
The Android App builder lets developers build cross-platform mobile applications using Kotlin. The platform eliminates the repetitive tasks in app development through automation and visual programming language. To make the process easier it provides an intuitive graphical user interface.
Top features of DhiWise Android App Builder:
DhiWise iOS builder empowers developers to build iOS applications using Swift. With the platform, you can convert your app design to code, customize UI, integrate APIs, and generate application code in a few steps with an intuitive GUI.
Top features of DhiWise iOS Builder:
For Flutter lovers, DhiWise provides Flutter Builder- A versatile platform to build both iOS and Android applications in a whiff.
Top features of DhiWise Flutter App Builder:
In the article, we have learned about the importance of cross-platform application development, the popular technologies used, and how DhiWise App builders can help developers build cross-platform mobile apps faster.
DhiWise supports multiple front-end technologies including Flutter, Swift, and Kotlin so that developers can efficiently build production-ready, cross-platform mobile apps all using a single platform.
Explore more about this amazing platform and sign up for free to build your next cross-platform mobile application.
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