Software

Cross Platform App Development :: Overview

With 6 billion smartphone users worldwide, the mobile app industry has reached its top. Most businesses must adjust their operations to mobile devices to reach a bigger audience. This trend has encouraged the growth of cross-platform app development. So average cross-platform mobile app development companies are now trying to create software that would be compatible with the major operating systems.

The best thing about cross-platform mobile apps is their ability to access different mobile platforms using the same codebase. Do they offer pure benefits? Let’s figure it out!

How Does It Work?

Cross-platform mobile apps are known as mobile software that provides access to different mobile platforms using a common code and a common language. Many of them have reached the same level of quality as native applications but at a lower price.

An average cross platform mobile app development company does its best to optimize or cut costs. Instead of creating two separate apps for iOS and Android, they create one app with two systems. This approach allows you to save up to 30% of the development cost.

When choosing the development approach, you should explore different sides of the available resources. Cross-platform app development has its positive and negative sides to be aware of.

The Advantages of Cross-Platform App Development:

Speedy app development – With one code base for different platforms, the development process takes less time.

Reusable code – A unique code can be used for different platforms. You need to create one code, which you can then use for all operating systems the mobile app is to be used on. Conveniently, the same code can be used for future projects as well.

Better market coverage – For business owners, it can be easier to reach a greater audience because the app becomes visible on various platforms. Your mobile app becomes available on Windows, iOS, and other operating systems.

Low development costs – The development of mobile software has never been cheap, which stopped businesses from getting their own apps. With cross-platform app development, the situation may get better since one code base is required.

Simplicity of use – The customization of cross-platform apps is much easier. All the necessary updates are made automatically across the platforms.

The Disadvantages of Cross-Platform App Development:

User experience – A flawless user experience between platforms can be a hard thing to achieve. Each platform has different features, which form different functional patterns.

Vendor lock-in – Many platforms enable support for many languages. However, some platforms may not have coverage for the same language during the cross-platform app development process. For example, JavascriptCore is an open-source engine for WebKit, involving iOS and macOS. Android features no JavaScript, which makes it important to connect a JavaScript engine to the app itself.

Set of features – Some app features may not be supported on all available platforms. For example, the frameworks like React Native are updated on a regular basis to stick to the platform’s functionalities. It’s not the case for all frameworks.

Code quality and performance – Due to the use of one code base, the UI/UX alternatives are required to compensate for possible inconsistencies. This increases the code base, which makes it more difficult to maintain.

Is Cross-Platform Development Suitable For Your Product?

Before you proceed with app development for your business project, make sure that it is good for you. The decision will be based on your business objectives.

  • If you need smooth performance, high responsiveness, and/or regular use of the mobile capabilities, user-friendly navigation, and advanced animation for your future app, then the native development will be a good option.
  • If you need a fast and responsive piece of software that will be compatible with all the computing capabilities of the device, then cross-platform development will make more sense.

Conclusion

Cross-platform app development has become popular, especially in the business sector. It eliminates the need to develop different apps for different platforms. A cross-platform app can be launched on different devices and platforms, which automatically saves time, money, and effort.

The use of cross-platform mobile apps depends on the type of business it is integrated into. For more information, feel free to contact a professional cross-platform mobile app development company.

If you have any questions, please ask below!