Tag: mobile app development

Top iOS App Development Trends to Look For in 2023

Posted on by Jay

iOS app development is the most rapidly evolving technology with new trends popping up every year. More and more companies are developing new and disruptive apps that are taking the market by storm.

The impact of artificial intelligence and machine learning has paved a new direction for iOS app development, the iOS app development has moved into a new renaissance.

According to recent statistics published by grandviewresearch the global mobile app development market has reached nearly $240 billion in 2023 which is growing at the rate of 13%.

iOS developers need to keep themselves updated with the latest development trends to deliver modern apps to their customers. Business owners should also be aware of the latest development trends so that they can ideate the right app for their business.

Top 8 iOS App Development Statistics and Trends

  • Number of iOS App Store Apps:
    As of September 2023, the Apple App Store hosted over 2.24 million apps.
  • iOS App Revenue:
    In 2023, iOS app revenue reached approximately $86 billion, and it is projected to grow in the coming years. 
  • iOS App Downloads:
    In 2023, the total number of iOS app downloads surpassed $142 billion.
  • Swift Programming Language Adoption:
    Swift, Apple’s programming language for iOS app development, has gained significant popularity since its introduction in 2014. As of September 2022, it was the 10th most popular programming language globally. 
  • ARKit Adoption:
    ARKit, Apple’s augmented reality framework, has been embraced by developers to create AR experiences. By 2023, more than 5,000 apps on the App Store were using ARKit.
  • iOS App Update Frequency:
    On average, iOS apps are updated every 30 to 45 days to improve performance, fix bugs, and introduce new features. 
  • User Retention Rate:
    The average mobile app retention rate for iOS apps after 90 days is approximately 21%, indicating the challenges in retaining users over time. 
  • In-App Purchases:
    As of 2022, in-app purchases accounted for over 50% of all mobile app revenue, indicating the importance of monetization strategies within iOS apps.

We have researched the top iOS development trends and have prepared this list. Read on to learn the new technology trend in iOS development that you can implement in 2023.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR)

AR and MR technologies will continue to redefine user experiences in 2023. These technologies blend digital elements with the physical environment, enhancing interactions and engagement. 

From AR-based gaming experiences to AR-powered shopping and navigation apps, the possibilities are limitless. 

iOS app developers will leverage ARKit and other frameworks to create captivating and interactive apps that bridge the gap between the real and virtual realms.

AI and Machine Learning

AI and ML are two rapidly developing technologies that are transforming the way humans interact with technology.

Because AI and ML are more accessible and affordable for developers, it makes it easier for them to include advanced AI driven features such as personal assistants, chat bots, image recognition, etc into iOS apps.

2023 is the year of AI-based programs. We can expect to see more AI-based apps being developed for enterprises. Apple has a Core ML framework that enables developers to integrate machine learning models into iOS apps.

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This framework enables developers to add AI-driven features such as image recognition and natural language processing. These features can also help improve the user experience and user engagement.

Privacy and User Consent Features

In response to Apple’s push for user privacy, iOS app developers will implement features like App Tracking Transparency (ATT) to seek user consent before collecting and using personal data. 

This trend will reinforce user trust and encourage developers to adopt more transparent data practices. Apps that prioritize user privacy will likely enjoy increased user loyalty and retention.

IoT (Internet of Things)

IoT or Internet of Things is all about connecting physical objects such as home appliances, automobiles, and other electronic devices to a central computer system for intra-communication. It creates a more wholesome connected space enabling them to communicate with each other as well as transfer data.

IoT provides consumers the ability to remotely control their smart home devices though iPhones. Consumers can remotely operate devices such as lights, security systems, thermostats, vehicles, etc.

In 2022 usage of IoT devices increased by 18% which amounts to a total of approximately 14 billion.

Apps For Wearables

The popularity of smartwatches, fitness trackers and other wearable devices is rapidly growing. It is estimated that between 2023 to 2030 wearable technology will grow by 14%.

Wearable devices such as fitness trackers and smartwatches let users track their heart rate, get weather notification, view and send messages, play music and much more. These apps can enable users to get fast access to important information and functions.

Mobile Wallets

Mobile wallet is the one of the newest types of apps for iOS app development. It is quickly becoming popular for their ease of use and rewards such as loyalty points, wallet coins, with credit and debit functions.

Mobile-first countries such as India and China are fueling the growth of mobile wallets. These countries have truly revolutionised the way customers use mobile wallets because of their high smartphone penetration rate.

Mobile wallets also enable banks to reach a wider customer base. It is forecasted that by 2026 the number of mobile wallet users will exceed over 5 billion global users. Some of the most popular mobile wallets services are PayPal, ApplePay, GooglePay and AmazonPay who are taking the market by storm.

Chatbots

Chatbots have been in the trend for a while. Many businesses, especially customer support teams already employ chatbots to increase customer satisfaction and retention.

Online businesses use chatbots as virtual assistants who provide helpful information to customer queries. Moreover, chatbots can provide curated information on common queries.

A recent article on AI found that nearly 40% of consumers prefer to interact with businesses through chatbots and customer support if it can address their queries promptly and accurately.

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Businesses have also invested heavily on chatbots as an alternative way to interact with customers which not only saves them time and money but also reduces human errors and resource utilisation.

Today, chatbots have become highly effective and are able to provide information in a more human way.

Cloud Integration

Both developers and end-users are increasingly using cloud platforms to develop apps and services. Cloud services are quickly becoming the norm for storing files and documents. The trend will only continue to increase in 2023 and 2024.

Some commonly used cloud-apps available today are GoogleDrive, DropBox and Microsoft Office 365.

Cloud integration brings with it several other benefits such as file sharing, file security, flexibility, disaster recovery etc. which can be easily implemented and integrated while developing cloud-based apps.

Cloud integration is an essential part of any iphone application. It can solve different problems, such as:

Swift UI

SwiftUI is a modern and declarative framework for building user interfaces for various Apple platforms. It was introduced in 2019 and since then SwiftUI has only grown in popularity in developing intuitive and use-engaging interfaces for iphone devices.

The SwiftUI framework provides simple syntax for building user interfaces which makes it easier for developers to understand and use.

SwiftUI’s straightforward approach makes it easier to predict and debug the layout of the user interface which also makes it a great development technology for building both complex and dynamic user interfaces. Developers can take advantage of the SwiftUI to create truly native apps for Apple’s devices.

Camera-Focused Apps

The demand for camera-focused apps have skyrocketed in recent years. Mobile phone cameras are getting more and more powerful with each iteration.

2023 has witnessed an increase in usage of AI-driven camera apps for photography, video conferencing, remote communication and collaboration. It is also an important factor in encouraging more social media shares.

Apps like Instagram, Facebook, video reels leverage the camera to enable users to create stunning images and videos to be shared with their users thereby reaching a wider customer base.

5G Integration

The widespread adoption of 5G networks will transform the iOS app development landscape in 2023. With lightning-fast speeds and minimal latency, 5G integration will unlock new possibilities for app developers. 

Expect apps to load faster, deliver smoother streaming experiences, and facilitate real-time data processing. This technology will be particularly beneficial for apps that rely on augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and immersive gaming experiences.

Conclusion

The iphone development trends keep evolving in the market, today’s developers are quickly adopting these latest trends to develop more and more engaging apps for the users.

Moreover with the increasing awareness of these trends among customers, the demand for modern apps is getting higher making it paramount for iOS developers to keep up with the latest development trends.

 

Frequently Asked Question

  • What are the potential impacts of Apple’s new hardware and software updates on iOS app development in 2023?

Potential impact of Apple’s new hardware and software updates on iOS app development in 2023 includes improved performance and capabilities. This will require developers to optimize apps for new devices and software features. It may also introduce new opportunities for AR/VR integration and machine learning applications, shaping future app development trends.

  • What are the key factors to consider for iOS app developers targeting Gen Z and younger demographics in 2023?

Key factors for iOS app developers targeting Gen Z and younger demographics in 2023 would involve creating personalized and interactive experiences. Developers will leverage social media integration, prioritize short-form content, and address privacy concerns. Inclusive design and sustainability values will also resonate with this tech-savvy generation.

  • What are the top user experience (UX) trends to consider in iOS app development for 2023?

Top user experience (UX) trends for iOS app development in 2023 will revolve around voice-based interfaces, multi-device experiences, gesture-based interactions, dark mode support, and AI-driven personalized content. Developers must prioritize intuitive navigation and optimize app performance to enhance overall user satisfaction.

  • How will app monetization strategies evolve for iOS developers in 2023?

App monetization strategies for iOS developers in 2023 may shift towards subscription-based models, in-app purchases, and ad-supported free apps. Developers may also explore NFTs and tokenization for unique app features or digital goods, as well as user data privacy as a premium offering.

  • Will blockchain technology find applications in iOS app development trends in 2023?

While blockchain technology shows potential in enhancing security and decentralization, its direct application in iOS app development trends in 2023 remains uncertain. However, it could influence secure payment systems, digital identity verification, and token-based loyalty programs, depending on regulatory and adoption factors.

How to Develop an App for Internet of Things (IoT)

Posted on by Jay

IoT (Internet of Things) is a medium of connection and communication that helps to connect one device with another through the internet. Besides smartphones, computers, and laptops, we can use it in other smart devices.

Also, read “how IoT creates an impact on mobile app development”

Both businesses and individuals are showing their interest in IoT applications to take advantage of the latest technology and the number is growing every day.

As the demand is growing day by day, developers and companies are building applications that are compatible with various types of devices with IoT systems and servers.

The main objective of Internet Of Things technology is to clarify the data, analyze it, and create technology that will be faster and more useful for the user.

Why Develop a Custom Internet of Things application?

The Internet of Things market is huge, the annual growth rate of IoT is more than 30%, and this figure is increasing every time.

As a result, big marketing giants such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Facebook, and more are investing heavily in IoT technology-based applications and solutions.

“The total installed base of Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices worldwide is projected to amount to 30.9 billion units by 2025, a sharp jump from the 13.8 billion units that are expected in 2021.”

How to Develop an App for the Internet of Things

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Conclusion

The future of mobile app development is a little challenging to enter in the digital space. Internet Of Things has brought smart and unique business solutions which connect multiple devices seamlessly and securely.

It is an advanced technology and keeps growing globally. More and more companies are trying to jump and secure their positions in verticals like retail or healthcare.

Internet Of Things has great potential to provide solutions within a short time.

We at Andolasoft agree that IoT application development is a promising way to take your business to the next level.

Over the last couple of years, we have developed some IoT applications for our customers and in-house products.

If you are planning to develop a new IoT application for yourself or want to add new features to your existing one then get in touch with us today. We have experienced developers to help you…

Android Architecture Patterns and Their Differences

Posted on by Jay

Android Architecture Patterns can help you create mobile apps with fewer bugs, better maintainability and testable code. These include Layered Architecture, Model-View-Controller, Data-Table-Fragment, Single-Page Applications, and Microscope. They focus on different areas of an app, from how to structure your app to how you should handle user interactions with it.

What is Architecture?

If you are building an application in an organized manner with some set of rules, describe proper functionalities and implement it with proper protocols, then it is called an Architecture.

Role of Architecture

Let us say if we are not using any architecture and we are writing our code in a class/activity/ fragment in an unorganized manner then the problems we will face are-

  • The number of lines of code will increase that it will become complex to understand.
  • It decreases readability and increases the number of bugs. Thus, it is difficult to test and reduces the quality of the product.

So, to provide clear data flow which will increase robustness, scalability, bug resistant, increase readability, easy to modify and increase productivity and provide a quality app. Thus, we should use proper architecture, suitable to work in a team.

But why does your app need good architecture?

A simple answer is that everything should be organized in a proper way. So does your Android project. If not, the following problems sound familiar to you: All of your codes are not covered by Unit Tests.

  • It is difficult to debug a class because it contains a huge number of functions.
  • You are unable to keep track of the logic inside that huge class.
  • Another developer finds it so difficult to maintain and add new features to your work.

So, if you are going to build a high-quality app, you should care about architecture.

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What does your app get from a proper architecture?

  • Simplicity: Separate and define a clear single role for each component in your app. A class is not going to be a multi-tasking component. You will find it easy to know what it does and what is inside it. It advocates the Keep It Stupid Simple (KISS).
  • Testability: Before we can apply Unit Tests, we have to write testable codes.
  • Low-cost maintenance: It is easy to add, and remove features. Especially, it helps us to keep track of important logic parts.

The When & How?

Several upcoming questions maybe appear in your head.

  1. So, what is the best architecture pattern for my Android apps?
  2. And how can I apply that pattern in the most effective way?
    • There is no single candidate that suits all of your Android projects because the design pattern is abstract and its implementation depends on specific requirements.
    • Fortunately, the more we understand about it, the more effectively and properly we apply them.
    • You can use different architectures across different apps. Even, in one complex project, each module has its own structure.

Another question?

So, if I have never used any architecture in my Android apps yet. So, what should I do?

Just pick up one of them. Read about it, try to apply it. After that, you will become familiar with it and have your own best practices.

Developers out there are talking about these following popular patterns:

  • MVC ( Model — View — Controller)
  • MVP ( Model — View — Presenter)
  • MVVM (Model — View — View Model)

Some principles for good Architecture in Android

To get good architecture there are some basic concepts we should follow. They are:-

  • Separation of concern: Component should do what it is required. Shown in the diagram.

Architecture Pattern

This we can achieve by Architecture pattern.

  • No Hard dependency: It should be fixed if every component should work on some limited amount of dependency. All dependencies should be provided from outside. Tips: Use Dependency Injections.
  • Manage lifecycle and data persistence: It can be achieved by Architecture Component.

MVC:

It is a Model-View-Controller. The most commonly used architecture. These are the three components used in MVC.

  • Model– It is business logic and Data State. Getting and manipulating the data, communicates with the controller, interacts with the database, sometimes update the views.
  • View– What we see. User Interface consists of HTML/CSS/XML. It communicates with the controller and sometimes interacts with the model. It passed some dynamic views through the controller.
  • Controller– It is Activity/Fragment. It communicates with view and model. It takes the user input from view/REST services. Process request Get data from the model and passes to the view.

Advantages

  • It keeps business logic separate in the model.
  • Support asynchronous techniques
  • The modification does not affect the entire model
  • Faster development process

Disadvantages

  • Due to large code controller is unmanageable.
  • Hinders the Unit testing
  • Increased Complexity

MVC

MVP:

It as Model-View-Presenter. For the phase of developing time or for the phase of developers it is vital to divide the architecture into layers. It breaks the dependency on what we have on view.

  • Model– It is business logic and Data State. Getting and manipulating the data, communicates with the presenter, interacts with the database. It doesn’t interact with the view.
  • View – Consists of UI, activity, and fragment. It interacts with the presenter.
  • Presenter– It presents the data from the model. Control all the behavior that want to display from the app. It drives the view. It tells view what to do. Any interaction between the model and the view is handled by the presenter. Saves the data back to the model.

Advantages

  • It makes view dumb so that you can swap the view easily.
  • Reusable of View and Presenter
  • Code is more readable and maintainable
  • Easy testing as business logic separated from UI

Disadvantages

  • Tight coupling between View and Presenter
  • Huge amount of interfaces for interaction between layers.
  • The code size is quite excessive.

MVP

MVVM:

It is a Model-View-View Model. It losses the tight coupling between each component and reduces the glue classes. Works on the concept of observables. Children don’t have reference to the parent, they only have reference by observables.

  • Model– It has business logic, local and remote data source and repository. Repository: communicate with local or remote data sources according to the request from View Model.
  • View– Only user interaction i.e.XML, no business logic. Direct send user action to view model but does not directly get a response. To get a response view observes some data which View Model exposes.
  • View Model– Most of the user interface logic center it here. It is a bridge between a view and a business logic. It does not have any clue which view has to use it. As it does not have a direct reference to the view. Thus, good in testing and has loose coupling. But still, it needs to update the UI this interaction done by observables. When data changes observable notifies.

Advantages

  • No tight coupling between the view and view model
  • No interfaces between view and model.
  • Easy to unit testing and code is event-driven.

Disadvantages

  • You have to create observables for each UI component.
  • The code size is quite excessive.

MVVM

Difference between MVC, MVP & MVVM Design patterns

MVC (Model View Controller)

  • One of the oldest software architecture
  • UI (View) and data-access mechanism (Model) are tightly coupled.
  • Controller and View exist with the one-to-many relationship. One Controller can select a different View based upon required operation.
  • The View has no knowledge about the Controller.
  • Difficult to make changes and modify the app features as the code layers are tightly coupled.
  • User Inputs are handled by the Controller.
  • Ideal for small scale projects only.
  • Limited support to Unit testing.
  • This architecture has a high dependency on Android APIs.
  • It does not follow the modular and single responsibility principle.

MVP (Model View Presenter)

  • Developed as the second iteration of software architecture which is advance from MVC.
  • It resolves the problem of having a dependent View by using Presenter as a communication channel between Model and View.
  • The one-to-one relationship exists between Presenter and View as one Presenter class manages one View at a time.
  • The View has references to the Presenter.
  • Code layers are loosely coupled and thus it is easy to carry out modifications/changes in the application code.
  • The View is the entry point to the Application
  • Ideal for simple and complex applications.
  • Easy to carry out Unit testing but a tight bond of View and Presenter can make it slightly difficult.
  • It has a low dependency on the Android APIs.
  • Follows modular and single responsibility principle

MVVM (Model View View Model)

  • Industry-recognized architecture pattern for applications.
  • This architecture pattern is more event-driven as it uses data binding and thus makes easy separation of core business logic from the View.
  • Multiple View can be mapped with a single View Model and thus, the one-to-many relationship exists between View and View Model.
  • The View has references to the View Model
  • Easy to make changes in the application. However, if data binding logic is too complex, it will be a little harder to debug the application.
  • The View takes the input from the user and acts as the entry point of the application.
  • Not ideal for small scale projects.
  • Unit testability is highest in this architecture.
  • Has low or no dependency on the Android APIs.
  • Follows modular and single responsibility principle.

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Conclusion

When it comes to Android, both MVP and MVVM offer better modular architecture than MVC. Though, they also tend to add more complexity to your app.

In simpler applications which involves two or more screens, MVC can work fine in Android. Whereas in more complex cases where your application needs to be developed considering to add more features in future, MVVM with data binding will make you write lesser code.

Android architecture describes how a mobile app should be structured internally. By understanding the pros and cons of different patterns, you can make your app more maintainable and scalable.

Although the app market is still in its infancy, the number of successful mobile apps is growing exponentially. It’s no surprise then that the number of new mobile app development patterns are emerging at an equally rapid rate.

So, which architectural design pattern are you going to consider for your mobile application?

Key Difference Between ReactJS And React Native

Posted on by Anurag Pattnaik

ReactJS and React Native are two leading JavaScript frameworks that allow users to build mobile user interfaces (MUI). They both provide developers with an opportunity to quickly prototype mobile apps and manage complexity as projects grow in scope. Both ReactJS and React Native are used to create native-like apps. However, there are certain differences between the two. Let me explain one by one

What is ReactJS?

React.JS often referred to as React or ReactJS is a JavaScript library responsible for building a hierarchy of UI components or in other words, responsible for the rendering of UI components. It provides support for both front-end and server-side.

Advantages of ReactJS

  1. Easy to learn and use: ReactJS is much easier to learn and use. Any developer who comes from a JavaScript background can easily understand and start creating web apps using react.
  2. Creating dynamic web applications becomes easier: To create a dynamic web application specifically with HTML was tricky, which requires complex coding, but ReactJS solved that issue and makes it easier. It provides less coding and gives more functionality.
  3. Reusable components: ReactJS web application is made up of multiple components, and each component has its logic and controls. These components can be reused wherever needed. The reusable code helps to make your apps easier to develop and maintain.
  4. Performance enhancement: ReactJS improves performance due to virtual DOM. The React Virtual DOM exists entirely in memory and is a representation of the web browser’s DOM. Due to this, when we write a react component, we do not write directly to the DOM. Instead, we are writing virtual components that will turn into the DOM, leading to smoother and faster performance.
  5. The support of handy tools: ReactJS supports a handy set of tools which make the task of the developers understandable and easier.

What is React Native?

React Native is an open-source JavaScript framework used for developing a mobile application for iOS, Android, and Windows. It uses only JavaScript to build a cross-platform mobile app. React Native is the same as react, but it uses native components instead of using web components as building blocks. It targets mobile platforms rather than the browser.

Facebook developed the React Native in 2013 for its internal project Hackathon. In March 2015, Facebook announced that React Native is open and available on GitHub.

Advantages of React Native

There are several advantages of React Native for building mobile applications. Some of them are given below:

  1. Cross-Platform Usage: It provides the facility of “Learn once write everywhere.” It works for both platform Android as well as iOS devices.
  2. Class Performance: The code written in React Native is compiled into native code, which enables it for both operating systems as well as it functions in the same way on both the platforms.
  3. JavaScript: JavaScript knowledge is used to build native mobile apps.
  4. Community: The large community of ReactJS and React Native helps us to find any answer we require.
  5. Hot Reloading: Making a few changes in the code of your app will be immediately visible during development. If the business logic is changed, its reflection is live reloaded on screen.
  6. Improving with Time: Some features of iOS and Android are still not supported, and the community is always inventing the best practices.
  7. Native Components: We will need to write some platform specific code if we want to create native functionality, which is not designed yet.
  8. Existence is Uncertain: As Facebook develops this framework, its presence is uncertain since it keeps all the rights to kill off the project anytime. As the popularity of React Native rises, it is unlikely to happen.

Disadvantages of React Native

  1. React Native is still new and immature: React Native is a newbie in Android and iOS programming languages and is still in its improvement stage, which can have a negative impact on the apps.
  2. Learning is tough: React Native is not easy to learn, especially for a fresher in the app development field.
  3. Lacks the Security Robustness: React Native is a JavaScript library and open-source framework, which creates a gap in the security robustness. When you are creating banking and financial apps where data is highly confidential, experts advise not to choose React Native.
  4. Takes More Time to Initialize: React Native takes a lot of time for initializing the runtime even for the hi-tech gadgets and devices.

ReactJS vs React Native

ReactJS

React Native
ReactJS initial release was in 2013. React Native initial release was in 2015.
Used for developing web applications. Used for developing mobile applications.
Can be executed on all platforms. Not platform independent. It takes more effort to be executed on all platforms.
Uses React-router for navigating web pages. Built-in navigator library for navigating mobile applications.
Uses HTML tags. Does not use HTML tags.
Use code components, which saves a lot of valuable time. Reuse React Native UI components and modules which allow hybrid apps to render natively.
Provides high security. Provides low security in comparison to ReactJS.
The Virtual DOM renders the browser code. Native uses its API to render code for mobile applications.

Which is better, React or React native?

Both ReactJS and React Native are important pillars for app and web development, and due to their flexible functionalities and an evolving Eco-system of libraries, they are gaining momentum with each passing day.

While ReactJS is basically a JavaScript library and React Native is the entire framework, the former is the heart of the latter, and compliments each other.

If ReactJS is optimal for creating apps with high functionality and complex calculations, then React Native is ideal to give a native feeling to your mobile apps.

Conclusion

React is a framework for building applications using JavaScript. React Native is an entire platform allowing you to build native, cross-platform mobile apps, and React.JS is a JavaScript library you use for constructing a high performing UI layer.

React.JS is the heart of React Native, and it embodies all react principles and syntax, so the learning curve is easy. The platform is what gave rise to their technical differences. Like the browser code in React is rendered through Virtual DOM while React Native uses Native API’s to render components on mobile.

So both the framework has huge market demand for web and mobile application development. We have also expertise in developing application in react and react native. If you have any quarries on these two framework then please book a free consultation or if you are looking to develop application on these two framework then you are in the right place. Contact us now

An Introduction To BuildContext In Flutter and It’s Importance?

Posted on by Anurag Pattnaik

BuildContext is the object that stores information about the current build. It provides information such as the minimum and maximum supported Flutter version, the device’s screen size and pixel density, the currently active theme, and more.

The BuildContext is the set of inputs that Flutter uses to create an instance of a widget. It includes properties on the Android and iOS platforms, as well as properties related to the current device and environment.

It can be used to customize the behavior and appearance of your widget, but it’s important to understand how it works in order to avoid any issues.

For instance, you can use BuildContext.host () to get a string that specifies the current app’s host name. You can also use BuildContext.local (context).emulator so you can set up an emulator for testing your app on different devices without needing to change settings in Android Studio every time you want to switch emulators.

Flutter is one of the hottest technologies for cross-platform mobile development. It has been described as a new contender in the app development industry, competing with traditional frameworks like React Native and Xamarin.

Flutter builds on Google’s own Dart programming language and provides a library of scalable, customizable UI widgets to help developers build beautiful native interfaces that run across all platforms. It has been designed to help developers build high-quality, natively compiled apps that run on both Android and iOS from one codebase.

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What is a BuildContext?

The BuildContext is a locator that is used to point the location of the widget in the widget tree.

In Flutter we have to create widgets through the build method & we have to pass the BuildContext as an argument to the build method.

Each BuildContext is different for every widget. Each widget you create has its own BuildContext and they can locate themselves in the widget tree or reach out to the nearest widget.

This is how we create a widget

[code language=”css”]
Widget build (BuildContext context)=> MyAwesomeWidget();
[/code]

Flutter widget tree

Everything in Flutter is a widget. Whether it is a container, providers, text, button, image etc. everything is a widget, whether it reflects the UI in the app or not.

The UI or display in Flutter comprises stacks of widgets popularly called a widget tree. Each component is responsible for a small unit of the entire UI.

Flutter widget tree

The above image is an example of a widget tree in Flutter. We can observe that every widget has its own place in the widget tree i.e. the Button widget is under column widget.

Widgets are only visible to its BuildContext or to its parent’s BuildContext. That means we can locate the parent widget from the child widget. For the above image tree structure we can get Scaffold from Container by going up:

[code language=”css”]
context.ancestorWidgetOfExactType(Scaffold)
[/code]

You can also locate a child widget from a parent widget and for that, we use Inherited Widgets.

There are three main trees in Flutter:

  1. Widget
  2. Element
  3. Render

Widget

Widgets are immutable, they represent the structure for RenderObjects Fluorescence is optimized, which can easily create and destroy widgets without any significant performance implications.

The same can’t be said for RenderObjects.

Element

In the middle of Widgets and RenderObjects sits elements. These act as the glue between the immutable widget layer and the mutable render layer.

As the configuration of a widget changes (for example, the user calls the set state that triggers a rebuild), the element notices incoming changes and says to the corresponding render object,

“Hey! Please update. ”

Render

RenderObjects are what the visual pieces on the screen correspond to. Their purpose is to define areas on the screen regarding their spatial dimensions. They are referenced by the element. As a consequence we are dealing with another (third) tree here: the RenderObjects together form a tree which is called Render Tree whose root node is a RenderView (being a variant of a RenderObject). The RenderObject, on the other hand, are mutable objects that do the heavy lifting of turning the configuration supplied from widgets into pixels users can see and interact with on the screen.

Unlike widgets that are cheap and can safely be created and destroyed without any significant performance implications, the same cannot be said for RenderObjects.

For this reason, whenever the configuration of a widget changes, the framework looks at the change and updates the associated RenderObject instead of creating a new one each time.

Conclusion

Understanding BuildContext is very crucial to develop applications in Flutter. This improves our knowledge on how Flutter works and helps to build apps confidently.

BuildContext is a facade that provides a consistent API for implementing custom layouts and animations. The code is platform-specific, but the abstraction weaves some of the underlying platform-specific logic out of sight. BuildContext also helps reduce the need to know about the underlying platform details when implementing custom layouts and animations.

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Flutter is an open-source mobile app SDK that is used to make a high-quality app with a beautiful and consistent user experience. Unlike native mobile development, Flutter does not require that an app has a single, complete codebase but instead lets you mix and match code for different platforms. It also provides a rich set of pre-built widgets and allows for shared state.

The BuildContext is the context in which the Flutter app is running and is used for determining where to find resources and strings. It can be thought of as the environment in which the app is being used. Flutter provides an abstract class called BuildContext that handles the loading of resources, without requiring the developer to use hardcoded paths. This abstraction is one of the things that makes flutter so easy to use.

Flutter provides a set of high-level classes to help flutter developers build reactive user interfaces. Are you looking to develop an application in flutter framework? Let’s discuss

How To Use Service Oriented Architecture In IOS Swift

Posted on by Anurag Pattnaik

Talking about software and application architecture is always fascinating. In order to run smoothly, everyone needs to follow certain processes and principles. It’s always good to have clean, reusable, and bug-free code, and Service Oriented Architecture plays a crucial role in implementing that.

Service-oriented architecture makes our life easier by structuring the interaction between the high-level and lower-level implementations while keeping our code reusable and structured.

So now the question arises, what exactly service oriented architecture (SOA) is?

What is Service Oriented Architecture?

Service Oriented Architecture is an architecture pattern that consolidates functionalities and business logic in such a way that services can be injected into view controllers for use. This process easily and cleanly separates the front end user interface and the back end programming and business logic.

Service Oriented Architecture(Source – orientsoftware.com)

Why Service Oriented Architecture

Let’s take a look at a few benefits of Service-Oriented Architecture. The most important benefit is managing business changes quickly and supporting newer channels of customer interaction,

  • Improvement in the flow of information.
  • Flexibility in the functionalities.
  • Reduced cost in the developmental cycle.
  • Easy to manage.
  • Improvement in data confidentiality and hence more reliability.
  • Quicker system upgrades.
  • Testing has improved.
  • Re-usability of codes.
  • A standard form of communication is established.
  • Allowing scalability to meet the needs of clients.

Why Service Oriented Architecture(Source – orientsoftware.com)

There are many patterns which can be used on the iOS development like MVC, MVVM, MVP, or VIPER. These architectural patterns handle only the higher level (UI) of our application. But soon after, we also need to implement the network managers, API clients, data sources, persistence containers, and so on.

In the following folder structure and piece of code we can view, how to implement a service-oriented architecture (SOA) in our iOS app development.

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Folder Structure

  • Classes
    • DataAccessLayer
    • PresentationLayer
    • WebAccessLayer
    • BusinessLayer
  1. The DataAccessLayer folder contains the persistence layer folders
    1. DBHelper
    2. CoreDataManager
    3. CoreDataObject
  2. PresentationLayer folder contains the user interface layer folders
    1. ViewControllers
    2. CustomCells
    3. CustomViews
  3. WebAccessLayer folder contains the
    1. APIManager
  4. BusinessLayer folder contains the business logic
    1. BusinessLogic
    2. BusinessObj

Sample Code

1. DBHelper

[code language=”css”]
func insertSportsToLocalDB(arrSports:NSMutableArray) ->Void {
}
[/code]

2. CoreDataManager

[code language=”css”]
funcfetchPrivacySettingData() ->Array<Any> {
do {
# fetch result from local db
} catchlet error asNSError {
# handle the sql exception
}
return results!
}
[/code]

3. CoreDataObject

[code language=”css”]
extensionCourts {

@nonobjc public class funcfetchRequest() ->NSFetchRequest<Courts> {
returnNSFetchRequest<Courts>(entityName: "Courts");
}

@NSManaged public varvenue_id: String?
…
…
}
[/code]

4. ViewControllers

[code language=”css”]
funcserviceCallToSaveGame() ->Void {
#show activity indicator
#prepare the service call request
letparams = ["user_id" : UserDefaults.standard.object(forKey: STRING_CONSTANT.KEY_USERID)]
#call the api manager web service call method
APIManager.sharedInstance.serviceCallRelatedToVenue(url: _API_PATH.kCreatePOI
param: params)(
#hide the indicator
…
}
}
[/code]

5. CustomCells

[code language=”css”]
a. CustomCells contains listview of user interface
[/code]

6. CustomViews

[code language=”css”]
funcdesignCustomListPopUp(withDataarrLists: Array<Any>) ->Void {
…
}
[/code]

7. APIManager

[code language=”css”]
funcserviceCallToGetProfile(withPathpath:String, withDataparam:[String:Any], withCompletionHandler completion:@escaping (AnyObject?) ->Void){

Alamofire.request(requestURL, method: .post, parameters: param, encoding: URLEncoding.methodDependent, headers: nil).responseJSON { (responseJson) in
}

}
[/code]

Advantages of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)

1. Reliability

With small and independent services in the SOA, it becomes easier to test and debug the applications instead of debugging the massive code chunks, which makes this highly reliable.

2. Location Independence

Services are located through the service registry and can be accessed through Uniform Resource Locator (URL), therefore they can change their location over time without interrupting consumer experience on the system while making SOA location independent.

3. Scalability

As SOA enables services to run across multiple platforms, programming languages and services, that is, services of the service-oriented architecture operate on different servers within an environment, which increases its scalability.

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4. Platform Independence

Service-Oriented Architecture permits the development of the complex application by integrating different services opted from different sources that make it independent of the platform.

5. Loosely Coupled

The loose coupling concept in SOA is inspired by the object-oriented design paradigm that reduces coupling between classes to cherish an environment where classes can be changed without breaking the existing relationship. SOA highly encourages the development of independent services to enhance the efficiency of the software application.

6. Re-usability

An application based on SOA is developed by accumulating small, self-contained and loosely coupled functionality services. It allows the re-usability of the services in multiple applications independently without interacting with other services.

7. Agility

Instead of rewriting and reintegrating each new development project, developers are able to build applications from reusable components or services, increasing SOA’s agility as a result of the ability to quickly respond to new business requirements.

8. Easy Maintenance

The above process should give you a good idea of how to implement a Service Oriented Architecture in iOS Swift. Service Oriented Architectures handle business processes easily and make software code more reusable and bug-free.

Conclusion:

Service Oriented Architecture handles the business process easily and makes the software codes clean, reusable and bug free.  SOA implementation in iOS Swift is interesting. I hope the above process must help you to get a clear picture of implementation.

At Andolasoft we have a team dedicated iOS app developer who has long expertise in implementation of SOA. Our developers can help you in all your mobile app development issues. So don’t hesitate to communicate with them. Book a free consultation to access them directly.