The trivial question that has been hanging in the air while building applications for our users, is "Should we create a native application or stick to a cross platform development?". This kind of an answer, as you might have guessed from the previous session isn't really an easy one. However, the solution sneaks up on you staring you in the face with the markings of a lion and it usually starts with “Well, it depends on the situation”. While there are definitely some trade offs in development between both applications, I have an unquestionable proof here that the Native app outmaneuvered the Cross Platform development. Beating the gun, I would stress that if Native app comes in like a lion then Cross-Platform goes out like a pray.
What is a Native application?
Native applications are defined as application programs that are created using the native programming languages and frameworks of the certain mobile operating system. When we talk about iOS it means that we use Objective-C and Swift, and for Android, it’s gonna be Java. It’s also possible to compile Android in C or C++ but it’s definitely something that Google would like to sponsor least of all.
Advantages of Native development
Native apps are built with a particular platform intent. They derive benefit from the operating systems native maintenance like email or messaging and hardware like camera and GPS, as well as user interfaces. What is more important is that Native apps normally look and function better than cross platform because they are developed by the same methods and software tools that the operating system was built in.
With regard to an end user's experience, native applications produce quick and stable manoeuvrable performance that is compatible with the operating system, and it looks like the app was created for the particular gadget a user is using. Oh yes, indeed, it was! There are some extensions that are only accessible with Native apps, both from a user's viewpoint that includes specific Touch Gestures capabilities and Finger-Swipe possibility, fluid navigation etc. and a developer's attitude like native development kits, seamless integration, APIs.
Once a developer designed a Native Application, it can only be placed to one applications market. It’s not possible to repeat the code that you built for an Android app in an iOS. These two programming languages ain’t got nothing to do with each other, they’re absolutely dissimilar and have no identical features operating at different levels.
Some Cross Platform benefits
Cross platform applications are created with frameworks that enable developers to handle one codebase and bring in an app that will work on compound operating systems. And it really works, at least in an ideal world it does. Such mobile application development frameworks and software platforms like Appcelerator, Phonegap or Xamarin, make it possible for the developers to use general web development languages that include HTML5, JavaScript, CSS to build cross platform apps.
And as an additional point, the cross platform apps apply the very same code as long as apps are developed for their particular platform. Here, the applications are deployed in an "app wrapper" for the platform it is being disengaged to, so it enables the cross platform app to be identified as a platform specific application.
So can anyone who is familiar with web development create an app? Sure, no doubt about it. Does a web developer with hardly any understanding and background in developing apps need to create an app with cross platform tools? I don’t think so. Such tools require some level of proficiency in this specific area, theoretical knowledge of mobile technologies, and a fair quantity of testing to make sure it’s bug free and prepared for action. The one environment where cross-platform is in its element, is mobile gaming.
Why Native Platform is a better option?
A Native App is an application program developed essentially for one particular mobile device besides it is installed straightforwardly to the device itself. In order to try it out and use the Native Applications, users should download them from mobile stores like the Apple App Store or Google Play. They can get access to Native Apps on their devices clicking the icons available in the home screen. They are specially designed for one platform and can take advantage of all the features opportunities that you got in your device as well as working offline.
The drawbacks far outbalanced the advantages in case of HTML-based cross-platform apps, even supposing their performance. It’s quite possible to develop UI on HTML, but you would waste months trying to obtain the performance native platforms have already acquired. If you can’t make up your mind whether to go cross platform or native you gotta answer to one question. Do you want your app to be interactive, visually appealing, integrating into various APIs, depending strongly on core operating system components? If you come up with an answer that is yes you're most probably going to stick to the native development solution.
Author - Yana Smirnova https://dribbble.com/JSmirnova
Today, the app stores are full of apps that are based on the same principle as they cost exactly nothing to download. Actually, over 90% of apps are