3 different ways to build a mobile app 📲

⁣Thinking about entering mobile app development??

It’s important to select the correct type of mobile app development based on the app’s needs and the developer skill/resources available.

Here are the different types of mobile app development to consider:

1. Pure/native
— This is ‘pure’ mobile development using the tools provided directly from Google and Apple⠀
— iOS: code in Swift or Objective C using the Apple Xcode IDE⠀
— Android: code in Java or Kotlin using Android Studio (or other Java-based IDE)⠀
— Advantage: completely native and performant for each platform; easier to update to latest platform features⠀
— Disadvantage: double development (per platform); need to know both platform languages⠀
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2. Cross-platform frameworks/libraries⠀
— Apps can be written in a single language/framework and be ‘cross’-built to both iOS and Android from a single codebase
— Advantage: share code between iOS and Android (write once, deploy on both); use the language you know well (like JavaScript or C#)⠀
— Disadvantage: can be less performant than pure native; can be more difficult to support native platform features/UI at times⠀
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3. “No-code” app builders, or Hybrid⠀
— Alternative solutions are using “No-code” app builders, and Hybrid solutions like Cordova
— “No-code” app builders: various services that enable you to build apps without coding - Advantage: can built quickly without knowing how to code
- Disadvantage: there could be notable limitations in deeper app capabilities
— Hybrid: most logic/UI is proxied through a web view embedded into the app; more like a web app embedded into a native app frame. I don’t recommend this today since it typically had very poor performance and/or quality
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I also want to mention that any of these options still require you to work with Apple and Google for:⠀
— Publishing to their app stores⠀
— Using their services (push notifications, payments, etc.)⠀
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I’ve used all three options but my favorite is native as it’s the the most powerful/flexible.⠀
The one I use the most however is cross-platform as it’s the most time-saving/optimal.⠀
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Which option(s) interest you? If you have some experience, feel free to share.

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