Category: Hybrid

Why Choose Flutter for Hybrid Mobile App Development?

Posted on by Anurag Pattnaik

Flutter is an open-source UI framework developed by Google. It empowers developers to build native mobile, web and desktop applications from a single codebase.

It is one of the most fast evolving tools for creating cross-platform applications. Flutter developers use it to build stunning cross-platform apps which can render native code on each of the devices such as iOS and Android.

Moreover, Flutter is compatible with Android, iOS, Linux, MacOS and Windows. In 2023, It will be the best platform for hybrid mobile app development. 

In this article, we will discuss top 10 reasons that make Flutter the best hybrid mobile app development technology

What is Flutter?

Flutter, at its core, is a UI toolkit that enables app developers to create apps that natively compile in their respective OS platforms such as mobile, web and desktop from a single codebase.

Flutter app development uses the Dart programming language, offering a rich set of pre-designed widgets that make the development process faster and more efficient.

Reasons to Choose Flutter for Hybrid Mobile App Development

  • Cross-Platform Development

Flutter is the hottest mobile app development technology for its ability to create apps for multiple platforms from a single codebase.

Write the code once and run the various apps natively such as iOS, Android, and web apps. 

This approach in flutter app development saves time, effort, and resources by eliminating the need to build separate apps for different platforms.

  • Fast Development and Hot Reload

Flutter’s “hot reload” feature is a game-changer for developers. Flutter developers have the advantage of making real-time code changes without restarting the application thereby making development faster and more efficient.

This feature significantly accelerates the development cycle and reduces debugging time.

  • Stunning User Interfaces

Flutter app development provides a rich set of pre-designed widgets and offers complete freedom to create custom widgets.

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This suggests that developers can craft stunning, pixel-perfect apps with awesome user interfaces that run natively on both iOS and Android platforms. 

  • High Performance

Its performance is exceptional, thanks to its core engine, Dart. Apps developed on Flutter compile like native code thereby ensuring that apps run smoothly and web apps provide a responsive user experience.

This performance boost is especially important for graphics-intensive applications.

  • Strong Community and Ecosystem

There has been a rapidly growing community of flutter app developers, which means access to a wealth of resources, plugins, and packages.

Because it is backed by such a strong community developers find solutions to common problems rather easily which also makes sharing of knowledge more effective.  

  • Cost-Effective Development

With a single codebase, you reduce development and maintenance costs. This makes Flutter a cost-effective solution, especially for startups and businesses on a budget.

  • Expressive UI

Full stack flutter app developers create expressive and innovative user interfaces. This enables the development of unique, visually appealing apps that stand out in the crowded app market.

  • Compatibility with Existing Code

You don’t have to start from scratch when choosing UI software. It is a highly flexible platform which can be integrated to your existing codebase.

So if you need to transition your codebase from your existing technology to this framework, you can do it rather easily. 

  • Comprehensive Documentation

Flutter’s documentation is thorough and continuously updated, which empowers developers to easily learn and implement the latest features in the framework effectively. 

  • App Store Success

Many successful apps have been built using Flutter, including Alibaba, Google Ads, and more. This demonstrates that Flutter can produce top-tier, high-performing applications.

Top Things To Consider When Choosing Flutter App Developer

  • Experience with This UI Software

The first and most crucial factor is to evaluate the developer’s experience with This open source UI software. Look for developers who have a proven track record of working with the framework and have successfully delivered Flutter apps. Check their portfolio for relevant projects.

  • Cross-Platform Expertise

Flutter is known for its cross-platform capabilities. When hiring a Flutter development team you should ensure that the developers you hire have the expertise in building apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase. Experience with other cross-platform tools is an added advantage. 

  • Proficiency in Dart

Dart is the programming language used in Flutter. Developers should be proficient in Dart to effectively utilize Flutter’s capabilities. Dart’s syntax and structure are unique, so look for developers with experience in this language.

  • UI/UX Design Skills

A key advantage of Flutter is its ability to create visually appealing and responsive user interfaces. Check if the developers have strong UI/UX design skills to ensure your app looks and feels native on both platforms.

  • Hot Reload Experience

Flutter’s “hot reload” feature is a game-changer for app development. It allows real-time code changes without restarting the application.

Businesses should seek developers who are familiar with this feature as it significantly speeds up the development and debugging process. 

  • Performance Optimization

Flutter apps are known for their performance, but it’s essential to choose developers who understand how to optimize the app for speed and responsiveness, especially in graphics-intensive applications.

  • Plugin Integration

Developers should be capable of integrating various plugins and packages available in the Flutter ecosystem. This is crucial for adding additional functionalities to your app efficiently.

  • Compatibility with Native Code

If you plan to integrate your Flutter app with existing native code, ensure that the developers have experience with such integrations.

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This is common in cases where you already have a native app and wish to expand it with Flutter.

  • Cost Considerations

Consider your budget and the rates of the developers. Focus on the overall value and expertise offered by the developers.

  • Project Timeline

Discuss the expected project timeline with the developers. Ask your Futtler development team for an estimate of project delivery i.e. how long it will take to develop and launch your app. This is important for planning and aligning your app with market demands.

  • Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication and collaboration are vital for a successful development process. Ensure that the developers are accessible, transparent, and willing to work closely with you throughout the project.

  • Client Testimonials and References

Ask for client testimonials or references from the developers. Hearing about their past clients’ experiences can provide valuable insights into their professionalism and the quality of their work.

  • Ongoing Support and Maintenance

Inquire about the developers’ willingness to provide ongoing support and maintenance for your app after the initial development. Your development team must provide post-launch maintenance which is crucial for keeping your app up-to-date and bug-free.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Flutter opens up a world of possibilities for hybrid mobile app development. Its flexibility and performance make it the most opted cross-platform development technology for developers who want to create stunning apps across various platforms. 

By mastering Flutter’s fundamentals, exploring advanced features, and staying updated with the community, you can embark on a successful app development journey.

FAQs

Is Flutter suitable for beginners in app development?

Absolutely! Flutter’s intuitive interface and hot reload feature make it beginner-friendly, allowing developers to see changes instantly and learn through hands-on experience.

Can Flutter apps access device hardware like cameras and sensors?

Yes, UI apps can access device hardware using plugins. There are numerous plugins available that enable Flutter apps to utilize device features like cameras, sensors, and GPS.

Is it possible to create complex animations with Flutter?

Yes! Flutter provides a ton of frameworks to create detailed animation and animation transitions that enhances the overall user experience of the app. 

Does Flutter support integration with backend technologies and databases?

Yes, this UI software supports integration with various backend technologies and databases. Developers can make API calls, handle responses, and interact with databases to fetch and store data in Flutter apps.

What kind of support does Flutter offer for internationalization and localization?

It has excellent support for internationalization and localization. Developers can easily translate their app’s content into multiple languages, ensuring a global audience can use the app effectively.

Top Popular Hybrid Mobile App Development Platforms

Posted on by Jay

Businesses and developers alike are constantly seeking ways to create high-quality mobile applications that are not only efficient but also cost-effective. This quest for efficiency has led to the rise of hybrid mobile app development platforms.

These platforms combine the best of both native and web app development approaches. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top hybrid mobile app development platforms to watch in 2023.

The Evolution of Hybrid Mobile App Development

Before diving into the platforms, let’s take a moment to understand what hybrid app development is and why it has gained so much attention in recent years.

Hybrid mobile apps are applications that combine elements of both native and web apps.

Native apps are developed for a specific platform (e.g., iOS or Android) using platform-specific languages (Swift, Kotlin, Java),

Hybrid apps are built using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These apps can run on multiple platforms, making them highly versatile.

The key advantage of hybrid apps is their ability to share a single codebase across different platforms, reducing development time and costs.

This approach also simplifies maintenance since updates and bug fixes can be applied universally.

Top Hybrid Mobile App Development Platforms

As hybrid app development gains more traction, several platforms have emerged to facilitate the creation of powerful cross-platform apps. Here are some of the top hybrid mobile app development platforms to consider in 2023:

1. React Native

React Native, developed by Facebook, remains one of the most popular choices for hybrid app development. It enables developers to build mobile apps using JavaScript and React, a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces.

Key Features:

  • React native development has strong community support and a vast ecosystem of libraries and plugins.
  • Near-native performance, thanks to its ability to compile to native code.
  • A “write once, run anywhere” philosophy, allowing developers to target multiple platforms with a single codebase.

2. Flutter

Flutter, backed by Google, is a relative newcomer that has gained rapid adoption in the development community. It uses Dart, a language developed by Google, and offers a unique approach to building user interfaces through its “widget” system.

Key Features:

3. Ionic

Ionic has been a popular choice for building hybrid apps for several years. It combines HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript to create visually appealing and performance apps.

Ionic development also provides a library of pre-designed UI components and a development framework known as Capacitor for native functionality integration.

Key Features:

  • A wide range of pre-built UI components for faster development.
  • Cross-platform compatibility with a single codebase.
  • Integration with popular frontend frameworks like Angular and React.

4. Vue Native

Vue Native development is an adaptation of the popular Vue.js framework for building hybrid mobile apps. It allows developers to leverage their existing Vue.js skills to create cross-platform applications.

Key Features:

  • Familiar Vue.js syntax and concepts for Vue developers.
  • A smaller learning curve for those already proficient in Vue.js.
  • A lightweight framework that focuses on simplicity and performance.

5. Xamarin

It is a Microsoft-owned platform, allows developers to build hybrid apps using C#. Xamarin development provides tools for sharing code across multiple platforms while offering deep integration with native APIs.

Key Features:

  • A robust development environment within Visual Studio.
  • Access to a wide range of libraries and components through NuGet.
  • Excellent support for Windows app development in addition to iOS and Android.

Considerations When Choosing a Hybrid Mobile App Development Platform

While these platforms offer unique features and advantages, choosing the right one for your project requires careful consideration of several factors:

  1. Project Requirements:
    Evaluate the specific needs of your project, including performance, scalability, and the need for native device features.
  2. Development Team Expertise:
    Consider the expertise of your development team. Some platforms may be a better fit based on their existing skills.
  3. Community and Support:
    A strong developer community and good documentation can significantly ease the development process.
  4. UI/UX Requirements:
    Different platforms may excel in different aspects of UI/UX design, so choose one that aligns with your app’s design goals.
  5. Cost and Licensing:
    Review the cost structure and licensing agreements associated with each platform to ensure they align with your budget.

Top Things to Consider When Choosing a Hybrid Mobile App Development Company

Selecting the right hybrid mobile app development company is a critical step in turning your app idea into a reality. Here are the key factors to consider when evaluating potential development partners:

  1. Portfolio and Expertise

  • Previous Projects:
    Review the company’s portfolio to assess the quality and diversity of their previous work. Look for projects similar in scope and complexity to yours.
  • Industry Experience:
    Consider whether the company has experience in your industry or domain. Familiarity with your industry can be a significant advantage.
  • Technical Expertise:
    Evaluate the company’s proficiency with hybrid app development frameworks and technologies like React Native, Flutter, or others.

  1. Client References and Reviews

  • Client Testimonials:
    Request references or testimonials from past clients. Reach out to these clients to get insights into their experiences working with the company.
  • Online Reviews:
    Check online review platforms, such as Clutch or Upwork, for client feedback and ratings. This can provide additional perspective on the company’s reputation.

  1. Development Process and Methodology

  • Project Management:
    Inquire about the company’s project management methodology. Are they agile, waterfall, or follow a customized approach? Ensure it aligns with your project’s needs.
  • Communication:
    Assess how the company communicates and collaborates with clients. Clear and transparent communication is crucial for project success.
  • Timeline and Milestones:
    Discuss project timelines, milestones, and delivery schedules. Make sure they can meet your project’s deadlines.

  1. Development Team

  • Team Composition:
    Learn about the expertise and composition of the development team. Are there skilled developers, UI/UX designers, and quality assurance specialists on board?
  • In-House vs. Outsourcing:
    Ask whether the company relies on in-house talent or outsourced development. In-house teams often provide better control and quality.
  • Scalability:
    Ensure the company has the capacity to scale the team as your project grows or requires additional resources.

  1. Cost and Budget

  • Cost Structure:
    Understand the company’s pricing model. Is it fixed-price, hourly rates, or based on project milestones? Ensure it aligns with your budget constraints.
  • Hidden Costs:
    Clarify any potential hidden costs, such as licensing fees or ongoing maintenance charges, to avoid surprises later.

  1. Security and Data Protection

  • Data Handling:
    Discuss how the company handles data security and privacy. Ensure they follow industry best practices and compliance standards.
  • Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA):
    Consider signing an NDA to protect your app idea and sensitive information during the development process.

  1. Support and Maintenance

  • Post-launch Support:
    Inquire about the company’s post-launch support and maintenance services. Timely updates and bug fixes are essential for app longevity.
  • Service Level Agreements (SLAs):
    Define clear SLAs to ensure you receive the level of support you need after the app goes live.

  1. Legal and Contractual Aspects

  • Contract Terms:
    Carefully review the contract terms, including intellectual property rights, ownership of the source code, and termination clauses.
  • Payment Schedule:
    Agree on a payment schedule that aligns with project milestones and deliverables.

  1. Location and Time Zone

  • Geographical Proximity:
    Consider whether you prefer working with a local development company or if you are open to collaborating with a remote team.
  • Time Zone Compatibility:
    Ensure that the time zone of the development team aligns with your preferred communication and collaboration hours.

  1. Long-term Partnership

  • Scalability:
    Think about whether the company can support your app’s growth and future enhancements.
  • Innovation:
    Assess their willingness and capability to adopt new technologies and trends to keep your app competitive.

Choosing the right hybrid mobile app development company is a pivotal decision that can significantly impact the success of your project.

Take the time to thoroughly evaluate potential partners, ask the right questions, and consider these key factors to make an informed choice.

A strong development partner can help bring your app vision to life and contribute to its long-term success.

Conclusion

As we enter 2023, hybrid mobile app development continues to be an attractive option for businesses and developers looking to create cross-platform applications efficiently.

The platforms mentioned in this blog post are just a few of the top contenders in the hybrid app development space.

Each has its strengths and unique features, making them suitable for different types of projects and development teams.

When choosing a hybrid mobile app development platform for your next project, carefully assess your requirements, consider the platform’s strengths and weaknesses, and leverage the strengths of your development team.

With the right choice, you can create high-quality hybrid apps that deliver a seamless user experience across multiple platforms, all while streamlining development efforts and reducing costs.

10 Popular Cross Platform Framework For App Development In 2022

Posted on by Jay

Digital presence has become an important step to growing your business. It doesn’t matter in what sector or what scale your business belongs to, the thing that only matters is your online presence. With the Cross-Platform Frameworks, it has become a lot easier to grow your online presence and reach out to a target audience.

According to a report, 6 out of 10 small businesses are serving online. 47% of customers look for the online presence of the businesses from where they are planning to buy to check the reviews and recommendations.

In such a scenario the business can’t afford to lose its online presence on platforms like Apple App Store and Google Play Store. In a report by TrendForce, the global market share of mobile is valued at 1.39 billion in 2022, which will be a 3.8% yearly growth.

Business wants to penetrate deeper into the markets by developing highly intuitive and engaging mobile applications and increased revenue.

In today’s rapidly advancing technology, you need a strong Cross-Platform framework to develop a secure and user-friendly application.

Our many international clients demand cross-platform application development, as this helps them to get larger benefits in their business and helps them to save a large amount.

It is estimated that in 2023, the total number of application downloads will be 299 billion, up from the approx 247 billion global application downloads in 2020.

Mobile App Downloads(Source: Statista)

What is Cross-Platform Application Development?

A Cross-Platform Application development aims to create a single application that runs identically on various platforms. It uses platform-agnostic technology like HTML and CSS that helps businesses to cover many end devices at a very minimal price.

Cross Platform Mobile App

It is one of the popular methods used for application development. Many top mobile application development companies unlike Andolasoft use this framework.

Difference between Native and Cross-Platform App Development

As there are two app-building approaches to develop mobile solutions, i.e. – Native and Hybrid/ Cross-Platform.

Both have their benefits and challenges that will be suitable for your project depending on your needs and scenario.

The Native development relies on the programming languages and tools that are designed particularly for one platform. These are designed for a particular device and operating system.

Cross Platform Frameworks(Source: Appinventiv)

Whereas the Cross-Platform development aims to develop a single application that will run identically on various platforms. It ensures hassle-free implementation, affordable production, and robust functionality.

Why Choose Andolasoft Cross-Platform Application Development?

Mobile applications have become an important element in growing your business. It is because of the growing number in the digital customer base. With mobile applications, businesses can grow rapidly by developing an instant connection with the target customers.

We at Andolasoft are experts in developing cross-platform applications in platforms like Flutter, Xamarin, PhoneGap, and more.

We have worked with many customers in various domains such as retail, hospitality, education, Fintech, and more. Our experienced mobile app developers convert your ideas into reality by using the latest tech stacks.

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In this blog, I have listed the top 10 cross-platform app development frameworks that you can use in your business mobile application development.

Here you go,

1. Ionic:

Ionic is one of the best hybrid application frameworks because it bridges the properties that are in demand. It allows the developers to use a combination of languages, such as HTML5, CSS, Cordova, and JavaScript to access the native platform controllers.

Features:

  • It is an Open Source front-end framework. It allows alterations of the code structure that is suitable for each developer and saves lots of time.
  • It is based on AngularJS, which makes it easier to offer extensions to HTML’s Syntax, with core functionalities to imbibe the most useful yet attractive features and components in your applications.
  • The ionic framework uses Cordova plugins that enable access to devices with inbuilt features that include GPS, Camera, and Audio Recorder. It is one of the major benefits of Cross-platform development tools.
  • Ionic (mobile app framework) gives a native-like feel to the application which makes it the favorites among developers. With this framework, the developers can perform perfectly on various platforms.

Ionic (Source: Ukad group)

Benefits:

  • In the Ionic framework, you can get access to many ready-to-use UI components.
  • The developers should know Angular, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript to develop applications using Ionic.
  • The Ionic framework is mostly designed for mobile OS because it is based on the SAAS UI framework.
  • As it is an Open- Source- front-end framework, it enables the developers to change the code according to their requirements.

Challenges:

  • It consists of several unstable native plugins
  • Applications that have lots of graphics and animations are not suitable to develop using the Ionic framework.
  • With the Ionic framework, debugging becomes quite difficult

Developers Tool:

  • Firebase
  • Visual Studio Code
  • Ionic app flow

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2. React Native:

When you talk about a Cross-platform framework, it is difficult to not include React Native language. It is a framework, built on JavaScript. It is used to write neat code and gives a Native -like feel to your mobile application, which works easily on both iOS and Android.

React Native(Source: Fortunesoft)

Features:

  • React Native is an Open- Source cross Platform app framework, the same as ionic, for which it has a large community of support that helps in supporting and fixing the bugs, improving and introducing more advanced features.
  • It requires one-time coding to develop applications for diverse platforms like iOS and Android.
  • React Native framework is highly compatible with third-party plugins like Google Maps.
  • It focuses on UI to a greater extent rendering a highly responsive interface. The React Native language eliminates the time taken for loading and delivers a smooth interface for the applications.

Benefits:

  • React Native focuses on the UI, which enables the developers to create a highly responsive UI interface.
  • It is a leading cross-platform mobile application development framework, the developers need to code only once in React native. With the one-time coding, the application can run on diverse mobile OS platforms like iOS and Android.
  • It has a large developer community that helps the developers to get adequate support in times of distress during application development projects.
  • It is compatible with all the leading third-party plugins like Google Maps.
  • You can develop mobile applications for different iOS and Android platforms like macOS, tvOS and Android TV, etc. Also, React Native can be instrumental to develop immaculate applications for Windows and UWP.

Challenges:

  • Lots of performance issues were observed during the React Native Development.
  • With the abstraction layer present in this framework, if any bug occurs then it can cause an unexpected bug in the whole application

Developers Tool:

  • JS Editor
  • Emulator, Android Studio, SDK
  • Xcode

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3. Flutter:

Flutter framework has created a different image in the present-day market. As it is an Open-Source- cross- Platform app framework that was first released in May 2017 by Google.

Features:

  • Flutter programming Language promotes portable GPU that renders UI power which allows it to work on the latest interfaces.
  • It does not require updating the UI contents manually, because it holds a reactive framework. The Flutter App Developers only need to update the variables and the UI changes get visible after that.
  • With the Flutter framework, the developers can automatically remake a widget tree and comprehend its cost adjustments.
  • The Flutter mobile application development language has an inbuilt graphic engine. This makes it easy for the developers as they wouldn’t have to make any separate interfaces for iOS and Android.

Benefits:

  • As flutter has an inbuilt graphic engine, the developers don’t have to create separate interfaces for iOS and Android.
  • Using Dart, the developers get to write more structured programming codes. This makes it easier to maintain synchronized hierarchical structures even when writing complex applications.
  • The Flutter Cross-Platform app framework uses GPUs that enable UI power. This makes it easier for the developers to work on the latest interfaces.

Challenges:

  • Not stable
  • Lacks several advanced features
  • Comparatively new dart
  • The dart has few features and the existing ones are not properly refined.

Developer’s tool:

  • VS Code
  • Emacs
  • Android Studio

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4. Xamarin:

Xamarin was developed as an independent platform, which was developed in the year 2011, before being acquired by Microsoft. As it is an Open- Source Cross-Platform applications framework that has characteristics that make it unique from other applications.

Features:

  • The application developed on the Xamarin Framework are developed using c# which is a modern class platform application development language with the leverage to Objective-C and Java.
  • It supports a direct inclusion of Objective-C, C++ libraries, and Java. It allows the developers to reuse third-party codebases that are encrypted in Java, C++, and Java.
  • It reduces the cost and time of mobile app development, for it supports the WORA (write once, Run anywhere) and has various class libraries.
  • It offers robust compile-time checking. With this facility, the developers witness fewer run-time errors and get well-functioning applications.

Benefits:

  • It uses C# along with with.NET framework for mobile application development for any platform.
  • It provides continuously improved performance to match the native development standards.
  • With the Xamarin framework, you can get lots of learning resources
  • It offers an optimal user experience because of its UI-specific elements.

Challenges:

  • It faces many compatibility issues, using third-party tools and libraries.
  • There is a need for basic knowledge of native languages to use this framework.
  • It offers limited access to Open Source libraries.

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5. NodeJS:

NodeJS framework is one of the incredible cross-platform frameworks used for developing cross-platform applications. However, the NodeJS framework is a JavaScript runtime framework developed on the Chrome V8 JavaScript engine.

NodeJS

It is an open-source environment that supports the development of server-side and scalable networking applications.

Features:

  • The entire NodeJS API is asynchronous, it signifies that these are non-blocking in nature, which defines the servers are based on the NodeJS and it doesn’t essentially wait for the data from APIs.

It automatically moves on to another API after calling it, which works as a notification mechanism for NodeJS. It allows the server to get a response from the previous API.

  • JS library is very much speedy in its code execution process, as it is built on Chrome’s V8 engine.
  • It does not buffer, however, it outputs the data in chunks.
  • It delivers smooth and perfectly functioning applications. NodeJS uses a single-threaded model with the event looping functionality. This mechanism enables the server to reply in a non-blocking format, making them more scalable.

 Benefits:

  • JS framework has a large developers community
  • It reduces the response time for slow requests and every developer can execute the database queries simultaneously.
  • V8 engine present in NodeJS is the fastest dynamic language interpreter, which is constantly pushing the boundaries.
  • NodeJS offers a smooth and even application because it uses a single-threaded model.

Challenges:

  • Excessive memory usage
  • Unresponsive applications, such as hanging or looping
  • Bad performance
  • Various functional issue

Developer’s Tool:

  • io
  • PM2
  • Babel
  • JS
  • Meteor

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6. PhoneGap:

PhoneGap (Cordova) is an impeccable cross-platform framework used for mobile application development. It uses HTML5, CSS and JavaScript. It offers cloud solutions to developers by providing them the choice for sharing the application in the development process to get feedback from many other developers.

PhoneGap(Source: PhoneGap)

Features:

  • It enables the developers to develop cross-platform applications by using the existing web technologies like CSS3, HTML5, and JavaScript.
  • It supports the use of a single code base to develop applications for various platforms like iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone.
  • As it uses an architecture that is plugin-able. This makes it possible to access all the native device APIs and it can be extended in a modular way.

Benefits:

  • It allows the users to use embedded payment systems like App Store and Google Play Store through the PhoneGap Cross-Platform App framework.
  • It provides the luxury to use JavaScript and other libraries like Sencha Touch, MooTools, etc. to manage all the interactions in the applications.
  • The applications that are developed with PhoneGap run very consistently on every leading OS platform that shows very minimal differences.

Challenges:

  • It is not suitable for an app that has several graphic elements
  • PhoneGap framework lacks descriptive documentation which is crucial for application development
  • It lacks support for plugins that have hooks.
  • PhoneGap language cannot be used for gaming applications.

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7. Appcelerator Titanium:

Appcelerator Titanium is an Open-Source Cross-Platform application native app development framework. It was developed in 2008. Its core features are, it includes API to access native UI, many device functionalities, and MVC framework functionality.

Titanium(Source: third rock techno)

Features:

  • It offers various tools that are used for rapid application development. It indicates that a prototype can be developed within very little time and effort that evaluates the users to interact with UI.
  • It processes pre-built connectors that are available for MS azure, Salesforce, MS SQL, the list is however very long.
  • It consists of ArrowDB- a scheme-less data store that allows developers to deploy several data models without putting any extra effort into setup.

Benefits:

  • It has a pre-built connector for Box, MSSQL, MS Azure, and Salesforce
  • It has various tools that make the development process faster.

Challenges:

  • Application Complexity increases
  • It limits the flexibility, as strange bugs and limitations increase.

Developer’s Tool:

  • Appcelerator CLI
  • Amplify

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8. Sencha Touch:

The Sencha Touch helps to accelerate the hardware techniques. If you are looking for inbuilt Cordova integrations, then the Sencha touch cross-platform application works best.

Sencha(Source: i95Dev)

Features:

  • It is famous to develop built-in native-looking themes for many, major platforms like Blackberry, iOS, Android, windows phone, etc.
  • It supports Cordova integration for the Native API access including the packaging.
  • It provides code compatibility between old and new ones.
  • It comes with 50+ built-in UI widgets. It also has several collections of rich UI like Forms, Menus, carousels, and toolbars, etc., that are specifically developed for mobile platforms.

Benefits:

  • It consists of more than 50 in-built and customized UI designs along with a rich UI collection.
  • It supports Cordova integrations, which makes it a lot easier to access the native APIs including the packaging.
  • It provides an impressive backend data package

Challenges:

  • The API designed with Sencha Touch does not give access to the contact, camera, and accelerometer of the device
  • It doesn’t allow push notification

Developer’s tools:

  • App Inspector for Sencha

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9. Corona SDK:

If you want to develop immaculate two-dimensional mobile applications for various leading platforms, then Corona SDK is the right choice. It is an open-source- cross-platform application framework that renders 10X faster mobile games and better application development services.

Corona SDK(Source: Arpatech)

Features:

  • It is a multi-faceted and lightweight programming language LUA.
  • It is used to develop gaming applications for various platforms like desktop, connected TV, iPad, etc.

Benefits:

  • It offers several plugins for media, analytics, in-app advertising, and several other things.
  • The developers can see the code changes in real-time as the cross-platform app framework responds to instant changes.
  • As it is based on the programming language LUA, it makes the framework more powerful and fast.

Challenges:

  • As it uses the Programming language LUA, which is a scripting language, for which you won’t be writing the native language
  • You won’t get the facility to use advanced and luxury technology

Developer’s Tool:

  • Xcode
  • Android Studio Project

Native Script:

Native Script is an amazing free Cross- platform Framework, which is based on JavaScript. It will not be wrong to say that NativeScript is a preferable choice for many developers who want a WORA functionality.

Features:

  • NativeScript offers accessible, beautiful, and platform-native UI, and without the web views. Developers are required to define once and this let’s the NativeScript runs everywhere
  • The NativeScript developers get complete web resources which come with loaded Plugins for every kind of solution.

Benefits:

  • NativeScript developers can write the platform based APIs in JavaScript only.
  • It supports components like AndroidArsenal, Cocoapods and calls these native methods from libraries.
  • It comes with all types of Plugins that eliminates the use of any third-party Plugins
  • It is a beautiful platform Native UI that can be accessed without the web views.

Challenges:

  • The NativeScript apps are larger than native apps
  • It has some buggy open source Plugins

Developer’s Tools:

  • CLI NativeScript

FAQ:

1. What frameworks are used for cross-platform development?
There are several frameworks used for cross-platform web development. Some of the popular cross platform frameworks are :

  • React Native
  • Flutter
  • Xamarin
  • Ionic
  • PhoneGap

2. How does a cross platform framework work?
A cross-platform framework helps to develop apps that are more compatible with major OS: iOS, android, windows, MacOS and windows. It is an alternative to many native app developments.  It uses one app code for different platforms.

3. How does a business benefit through cross- platform app development?
A business can benefits through cross platform app development in any ways such as:

  • Save lots of time and money
  • It provides high security and authentication
  • Cross platform allows automatic update

4. What the challenges are of cross platform application development?
The major challenge faced by developing a multi-platform application development framework is “how to manage the codebase”. As each platform needs a unique code, which means separate development and extra time required for each platform.

I’ve worked with the team at Andolasoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

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Conclusion:

The above-mentioned list defines the top cross-platform application frameworks, which play a vital role in redefining your app development process.

I think now it will lot easier for you to choose the right platform for your application development after knowing the top ten cross-platform frameworks features.

You can seek the help of an expert mobile application development company, like Andolasoft. We hold 13 years of experience in application development. Our dedicated developers work effortlessly to provide a better cross-platform application that will fulfill all your requirements. If you are planning to develop a cross-platform mobile application for your business or you have ideas, then feel free to discuss them with us. We are here to help you with your quires.

Share your comments below if you have more information on cross-platform application frameworks.

How To Choose Between Native Vs. Web Vs. Hybrid Apps?

Posted on by Jay

Companies eager to build their own mobile apps. However they have to figure out app development frameworks taking into account device integrations and access methods when choosing the type of Mobile App to develop and deliver. As the Internet of things is evolving in the connected world at an enormous pace. IoT has completely revolutionized the industrial sectors and is gaining momentum in the consumer appliances market. It has led to a speculation of how IoT will become an important part in our daily lives in the future. It has led to growth in the mobile web app.

One has to be very thorough when deciding on what kind of apps organisations plan to deliver: native, web or hybrid in a specific mobile device that can leverage the rich feature advantages.

native, web or hybrid(Source: AppyPie.com)

Native App Development

Building a native application always results in the best user experience. Mobile OS makers want to make sure that the apps developers write in the native languages can take advantage of all the latest OS features and perform at their best.

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Native mobile apps  are built for a particular platform and are written in the languages that are accepted by several platforms.

Native web apps are built using a specific integrated development environment for a selected operating system.

Both Apple and Google provide app developers with their own development  tools, interface elements and SDK. Most companies invest in the native mobile app development as it provides numerous benefits in comparison to other types of application.

Companies that have no prior experience with mobile development may be hesitant to have their developers learn separate languages to write apps for both Apple iOS and Google Android, however, because of the extra effort required to support multiple OSes.

Browser-Based Apps

Developers can write Web apps with more familiar Web technologies, such as HTML5, CSS and JavaScript . One version of a Web app can run on multiple mobile OSes. But Web apps can’t take advantage of all the latest OS features — some of the most unique and important traits that make mobile apps so valuable.

A browser offers more information than a web app can display. Hence the web apps provide website content that helps to improve functionality. A web app loads browsers such as safari, Chrome, and FireFox, and doesn’t have to be downloaded from app stores like native mobile apps. The browser based apps don’t take storage of the user’s device.

Furthermore, Web apps are just less convenient than native apps. Users have to remember how to navigate them but still require different management processes than other apps. For all these reasons, mobile browser-based Web apps have limited use cases in the enterprise.

Hybrid Apps

Hybrid apps are Web apps that run inside of a native app shell. Conceptually, this approach brings the best of both worlds. Developers can write the core logic of the app in a Web-based language that’s portable across multiple mobile platforms, and the shell can use native code to interact with the device’s unique features. As a result, IT can manage and deploy a hybrid app just like any other native app.

Hybrid Apps works for multiple platforms. A Hybrid mobile application is the combination of native app and web app. When this type of application is installed in a device like native app, it is technically a web app. This type of application is developed using CSS, javaScript, HTML and run in the web-view.

The hybrid app concept is popular but can have drawbacks as well. Using one code base for multiple OSes means that developers have to make some compromises. For example, iOS doesn’t have full near-field communications support, and Android and iOS apps have different navigation conventions.

I’ve worked with the team at Andolasoft on multiple websites. They are professional, responsive, & easy to work with. I’ve had great experiences & would recommend their services to anyone.

Ruthie Miller, Sr. Mktg. Specialist

Salesforce, Houston, Texas

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In some cases, with all the extra effort needed to make the “write once, deploy anywhere” concept actually work on multiple platforms, it can be easier to just invest in native app development after all.

Other Considerations

To some developers, hybrid and web apps are good enough for enterprise apps. But, user experience is more important these days, and apps should take advantage of the native features a mobile OS offers. But different apps and situations call for different development approaches and considerations.

Conclusion:

Selecting the right mobile platform is key for enterprises looking to deliver rich mobile experiences to employees and customers.

Native may be the way to go for organisations with plans for high performing apps that require low-latency access to hardware.

Hybrid is the way to go for enterprises that wish to deliver an app across many devices but also take advantage of features that a purely web app cannot give them.

Things are bound to go more mobile in the near future and with the rise of the Internet of Things, we will have to re-imagine life and technology, as we know it.

In that sense, cross-platform mobile development is a reality that developers need to accept and the choice of the right mobile application framework can help you.

Are you planning to develop your application, then you can connect to us. At Andolasoft, our dedicated developers are expertise in developing applications using various programming languages.

6 Reasons: Does Your Business Need A Mobile App

Posted on by Jay

Business demands high dedication and improvisation. To stay afloat new trendy decisions and means are adopted. Mobile apps can prove to be a powerful marketing channel for every business. So; find out why your brand needs a mobile app?

1. More Than 55% of Your Customers Are Opening Your Email on Mobile

When your target or loyal audience are leaning more on mobile devices, it’s time to retain them and build good traffic by making an app.
gmail_inbox

With a mobile app it is much easier to target your mobile users in order to send the right message to the right user at the right time, thus increasing your open rates even further.

Surveys show almost 50% to 60% of email respondents will open your email on their mobile.

In addition, mobile messages are device compatible and provide a better user experience.

2. You have Less Than 35% Returning Visitors To Your Website

Need an engaged audience, to reach out and flash your fresh content, product updates, services or make them your loyal brand customers – mobile apps are your best friend.

returning_visitors (1)

Once mobile app is downloaded to their mobile, just a right push message at the right time will get them back, no need to spend more money on ads or investment on social media or anywhere.

3. Your Competitors Have Apps

When your competitors already have apps, it means that they’ve educated your target audience that communication in your industry is done via mobile apps.

It’s time to analyse their app and see “what works for them and what doesn’t “and create a useful app that your audience would love to download and be in sync with your business values.

Competitors

They are probably already expecting you to launch. Make sure your app is providing users with real value and a smooth user experience.

Make it quick, not to be left behind. Consult with our mobile experts.

4. Your Target Audience is Young

90% of the Millennial – those 16 to 34 young adults, are spending a large portion of their time on mobile.

young

Furthermore, 9 out of 10 of those who go online on a smartphone or tablet use apps on these devices, and it was found that they prefer accessing content through apps rather than browsers for several types of content.

5. Your Brand is eCommerce Based

If your brand is an eCommerce brand, relying on purchases made by visitors to your website for revenue, a mobile app should be central to your business’ profitability.

ecommerce

With mobile apps, it’s much easier to engage active users and bring back dormant ones.

Use cases for e-commerce include: announcing special sales, allowing users to track their purchases as they are delivered to them, sending a reminder for items left in the shopping cart and more.

In the second quarter of 2015 ‘m-commerce’ saw an astonishing growth of 46%, compared with only 25% growth in ‘e-commerce’.

6. You Have a Brick and Mortar Store

E-commerce brands are not the only benefactors from the growth in mobile commerce. A study revealed that 78% of mobile searches for local businesses ended up with a purchase.

brick

With mobile apps, brick and mortar shops – including restaurants, bars and entertainment venues can target users by geographic location.

This allows them to offer Guidance, updates and discounts to any of their customers reaching a certain distance of their store.

They can also increase in store purchases and send messages to dormant users based on their last activity or other relevant information.

The options are unlimited, and with users downloading your app you are now able to launch creative campaigns targeted to individual users.

Refer to the Forbes Business article.

Rediscover yourself with Mobile app – opportunity unleashed.

Our expert Andolasoft team follow agile methodology to deliver smart solutions for your business that standout in the market.

From E-commerce to native mobile apps, we have done it all. Check out our iOS Mobile Applications and Services.

Andolasoft titled as the best Mobile App Development Company by Mashable in June 2014. Post your needs and comments at info@andolasoft.com

All the images in this article are taken from: www.pixabay.com