We need to acknowledge the simple fact that the world of consumer electronics has a new and trendy member, mobile devices, which is growing in popularity with each passing day. This puts mobile application development in a very critical position.
This blog is to introduce you to the world of mobile application development technologies.
Types of Mobile Applications: Native vs Web
There are three types of possible options of mobile applications available – Native, Web and hybrid. We shall be covering hybrid in detail in later blogs. Lets focus on the predominantly used Native and Web Applications.
Native App
Native application development is straightforward. We choose the platform, and we use the proper programming language. In case of iOS, we use Objective-C or Swift and in case of Android, we use Java.
Native mobile application, as the name suggest, is native to the platform and thus offers performance. Lets quickly look at its pros and cons.
Pros
· Works with no internet connection
· Total compatibility with device’s hardware and native features
· Uses standardized SDK, development tools and other user interface elements.
· Distributed via app stores (iTunes, Google Play, Windows Store, etc.)
· Performance is generally better.
· Expected to provide a more polished look and feel for specific platform.
Cons
· Every Mobile platform uses a different native language.
· More time required to develop an app for multiple platforms.
· Requires Users to download and install updates.
· More expensive to develop.
Web App
In this case, only one system need be developed. Then, it could run on multiple platforms (Android, iOS, Windows Mobile).
Google came up with the concept of progressive web apps. The primary intention behind this approach was to take the best of the web and the native apps. How does it work?
In the beginning, they work as web applications in a tab of your browser. After a while, as you use it repeatedly, your browser will offer you to add this app to your home screen. If you accept this offer, the shortcut will appear on the home screen or launcher of your OS. Now you can use it as you use any other mobile application. It starts from a web page and then evolves into a native app with no need of using application stores.
Progressive Web Apps rely on two core technologies. The first one is Service Workers, APIs that provide you with the possibility of using such features as offline access, web push notifications, etc. The second one is Application Shell Architecture, which can be described as a user interface made with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of web app development technology.
Pros
· Runs on multiple platforms (Android, iOS, Windows Mobile)
· Runs on any mobile device’s web browser.
· Can be updated instantly on the server side.
· Requires almost no storage space on a client’s device.
· Maintenance is much easier.
Cons
· Requires internet connection to work.
· No specific regulatory authority to control quality standards
· Can be slower than a native app.
After you decide which way to go, you should choose the proper programming language.
Selecting the Language for Mobile Application Development
We all are already familiar with Java and C++. Java is widely used object-oriented programming languages. Its performance is reached by compiling the code of the program to bytecode. It then can be used in a browser or run on Java Virtual Machine or JVM which works on every computer architecture. If you think of Android as of your primary target platform, this is almost certainly your option.
When it comes to Apple, Objective-C is the language that’is fully integrated into MacOS and iOS frameworks. To add to it, Swift was released in 2014. One of the intentions of developers was to create a modern replacement for Objective-C. Swift brought with it some advantages in terms of reduction in security vulnerabilities, Thus, Swift started getting more popular.
C# for the Microsoft is like Objective-C for Apple. This programming language implements unique features of the Microsoft’s programming environment.
These are the primary languages for mobile software development.
How To Choose the Best Mobile Application Development Platform
In the case of programming language your decision is largely determined by the chosen platform.
The platform selection is predominantly driven the target audience. If your app is for the mass market, your priorities are iOS and Android. Windows based mobile devices share a smaller part of the market.
There are other parameters as well in terms of security, scalability etc.
A Brief Step by Step Guide for Mobile Application Development
A summary of how a mobile application development process would look like:
Define goals and objectives.
Create a sketch or wireframe of the app's layout.
Conduct market research to understand user needs and preferences.
Develop a mock-up or prototype to visualize the app's functionality.
Design the back end infrastructure to support the app's features.
Determine the solution architecture and technical requirements.
Build and deploy the back end components.
Design the user interface and user experience (UI/UX).
Conduct thorough testing to ensure functionality and performance.
Release the application to the intended audience, monitoring feedback and making iterative improvements.
To know more about mobile application development, please visit page our Mobile Application Development page.
Please feel free to get in touch with us in case of any queries.
Thanks and Regards,
Regami Solutions.
