Cross-platform development is essential for any company that wants the largest audience possible for its application. At the same time, most organizations can’t afford the cost of managing separate programming teams for both mobile and web development. Consider the inherent inefficiencies of managing specific requirements for each separate team.
In this situation, using one of the many cross-platform mobile development frameworks makes perfect sense. After all, being able to target multiple operating systems– iOS, Android, Windows, and more – with one framework-based codebase improves the productivity of any software developer team and the quality of their source code.
With the goal of helping your team build cross-platform framework mobile applications efficiently and in a cost-effective fashion, check out these insights on the best frameworks for native app developers.
We also cover a few insights to help you understand this unique form of software engineering. In the end, expect your organization’s compelling app to reach the widest audience, resulting in a successful venture.
Targeting multiple platforms from a single codebase provides significant benefits to organizations.
We already talked about the improved velocity of the development process as well as its enhanced efficiency. The team gains significant efficiency by leveraging a singular codebase for a large portion of their programming effort.
Of course, all this speed lets companies bring their compelling app to a broad audience faster than ever before. This is the best cross-platform app development outcome when it comes to mobile application development.
No matter where the app gets run – smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer – users enjoy a similar experience. The app’s graphic elements render in the same fashion, albeit in smaller sizes on a smartphone compared to desktop PCs and most tablets.
High performance is provided – with limits noted below – when following this cross-platform approach. With that in mind, let’s analyze the disadvantages of hybrid apps (cross-platform) in mobile development.
When it comes to performance, mobile apps built in a cross-platform fashion just don’t provide the same horsepower as native development. So if your application idea relies on the heavy use of graphics, audio, and other multimedia elements, the cross-platform path might not be appropriate for you to build apps.
In this situation, adopting a native development approach provides the power your app needs.
For example, the iOS platform boasts many professional-level music creation apps with strong user interfaces, including synthesizers, effects, and digital audio workstations.
On the other hand, those kinds of app frameworks are essentially absent on the Android platform. The reason for this lies in the fact Apple provides a native development environment allowing programmers to get “close to the iron” when building highly-responsive music apps.
Additionally, native Android development requires supporting a wide array of hardware devices with varying specifications. It’s a case where the “walled garden” of iOS provides the best platform for pro music app developers.
In short, cross-platform development frameworks provide limited access to a device’s built-in capabilities. Compatibility issues may also hamper the user experience depending on their device. Additionally, cross-platform apps might not support new features added to iOS or Android after the app’s release.
Considering this scenario, the extra dollars spent on building a native app for mobile devices is a requirement for providing superior performance to users.
Companies enjoy a wide range of options when it comes to cross-platform mobile development frameworks. Ultimately, the platforms your organization wants to target for its app likely influence your final decision.
Also, keep in mind the current skill set of your development staff. Choose a framework using the programming languages your team understands.
If your organization needs advice on cross-platform enterprise mobile development, speak with the experts at NineTwoThree. Our experience in crafting compelling digital ventures for mobile and the web help steer you in the right direction. Connect with us to discuss your company’s cross-platform mobile apps and more!
