Cross-platform app development creates a single application that can run on multiple platforms. This means that you can make an app once and then deploy it to multiple operating systems without having to redesign it or rewrite any code. This process works by using a combination of native frameworks and tools built specifically for each operating system.
These tools enable developers to write their code once and then translate it into the native language for each platform. This allows them to avoid writing new code for each operating system, which would take much longer than simply translating an existing project from one language to another. The result is an app that looks and acts like its native counterpart but runs on multiple platforms.
When choosing this process, you must consider its benefits, frameworks, and the whole cross-platform app development activities to ensure success.
Benefits
Today, the overwhelming trend in the software development industry is to develop cross-platform apps by working with mobile development teams like Diffco. Developers, small businesses, and major corporations want to create applications that can be accessed by anyone on any platform, irrespective of their operating system. So, the six benefits of cross-platform app development technology are many and continue to grow with time:
- Cost Efficiency: The cost to develop an app for multiple platforms can be very high, but with cross-platform development, you can create the same app for various media at a fraction of the cost.
- Wider Audience Reach: As most people have access to multiple devices, your app must work on all of them. With this alternative, you can reach more customers and increase your profit margin.
- Easy Debugging: As the same codebase is used for both platforms, you can easily debug the application on one platform and replicate it on the other. This process saves a lot of time and resources, as there’s no need to change the source code each time you want to test it on another platform.
- High Speed: The speed of cross-platform app development can be attributed to the fact that it has been designed to be compatible with multiple devices. This means that you don’t have to code your app over and over for each platform. You’ll only have to develop it once and ensure it works on all platforms.
- Reliability: A good cross-platform application should run smoothly on different devices without any issues or errors. In turn, users can enjoy as they use your apps without having any problems or concerns about performance.
- Offline Access Support: Cross-platform apps come with offline access support, so users can use them even with no internet connection. This feature makes them ideal for businesses that want their employees to be able to work remotely or in areas where there are poor connectivity issues, such as remote locations or during natural disasters like hurricanes and floods.
These are some of the benefits to keep in mind.
Trending Cross-Platform Frameworks
A few years back, when there were no cross-platform frameworks, developers had to write codes again and again to develop an app for different platforms. But now, they can use frameworks to create apps for multiple platforms at once. So, here are four of the trending cross-platform frameworks:
- Flutter is a mobile app SDK for building high-performance and high-fidelity apps on operating systems like iOS and Android. It offers a new way to create user interfaces that combine the best of web development and native development. It works with existing code and is used by many developers. It’s also a free and open source.
- React Native is a framework for building native apps with React. The React Native library allows you to build mobile apps using only JavaScript and React without switching back and forth between different languages.
- Ionic is one of the most popular frameworks used by developers today. This JavaScript library helps you create icons in any size and resolution without extra effort. It also provides an extensive collection of icons ranging from small ones to substantial pixel-size icons.
- Xamarin Forms (formerly MonoMac) is a UI framework from Xamarin that allows developers to build applications using both .NET and C# for iOS, Android, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS devices.
App Development Process
There are a lot of different factors that go into the development process of a cross-platform app, which include the following:
- Define App Design Requirements: The first step in cross-platform app development is to sit down and define the app design requirements. This can be done using a wireframe or mockup tool to create prototypes. Once this has been completed, you can begin to plan how they will build the application.
- Creating Development Tools: You can do this through an integrated development environment (IDE) that’ll allow you to make the code for your app and then compile it into multiple platforms.
- Selecting A Programming Language: When talking about mobile applications, you have two main choices: native and hybrid apps. Native apps are developed by a company specializing in creating applications for one specific device or OS (for example, iOS).
On the other hand, hybrid apps are developed using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript, which your browser understands but can still be accessed on any operating system with no additional coding required (iPad/iPhone, Android, etc.). The advantage of this is that it makes creating cross-platform applications much easier as they don’t need to be rewritten, depending on what type of device they’re being used with.
- Working On User Experience Design: The UX design is how users interact with an app and how they feel about it. An app should be easy to use and understand. This phase will also include the user journey, which helps determine how your users will interact with your product.
- Testing App Usability: After ensuring smooth navigation with UX, it’s time for you to test your new app. This process allows you to see firsthand what works and what doesn’t so that you can make necessary changes.
- Development Phase: This part is where the actual coding takes place for the app. At this point, all features are set in stone, and there aren’t any changes being made anymore—just bug fixes here and there until it’s ready for release.
Key Takeaway
Your responsibility as an entrepreneur is to provide your online customers with the best possible experience as they browse your platforms. Therefore, you must go through cross-platform app development by considering these benefits and frameworks. To close, follow this six-step guide for success.
