Cross Platform App Development
Cross-platform app development refers to the process of creating mobile applications that can run on multiple operating systems and devices.
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Same code across platforms
Unlike traditional native app development, where separate code bases are needed for each platform, cross-platform development allows developers to write code once and deploy it across various platforms, such as iOS, and Android. Feature development however happens natively and thus cross platform development will always be behind native development in terms of access to the latest progress on the platforms.
Familiar code bases
Cross-platform built on third-party, open source user interface frameworks such as React-Native, Flutter, Ionic, Xamarin, and Kotlin multiplatform. Many of these will be familiar to App Developers and Web Developers alike making it possible to increase your app development team.
Accelerated development
With a cross-platform approach developers work on a single codebase that can be shared across different platforms, reducing the need for duplicating efforts and maintaining separate codebases.
With code reusability, app development can be accelerated in a situation where developer resources are limited, allowing for faster time-to-market compared to developing separate native apps.
By writing and reusing the app logic across multiple platforms, developers can minimize the chances of introducing inconsistencies or errors in the functionality of the application. This approach allows for centralized management and testing of the shared app logic, reducing the likelihood of bugs or issues arising from duplicating code or implementing platform-specific logic separately. Thus, sharing app logic can contribute to improved overall app stability and reliability.
However, UI bugs can occur more often due to the fact that the same UI codebase interacts with both platforms, which can introduce certain platform-specific issues.
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The Caveats
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Cross-platform frameworks may not provide immediate access to all platform-specific features and APIs. Developers might need to rely on plugins or customizations to access certain functionalities.
Cross-platform apps may not fully leverage the performance capabilities of each platform, as they run on an additional layer or framework that may introduce some overhead. This overhead can result in slower page rendering times.
Updating third-party libraries and framework libraries in a cross-platform application can be a time-consuming task. It involves assessing compatibility, making code adaptations, and thorough testing. Compatibility issues and the need for workarounds can further prolong the process. However, regular updates are essential for security, stability, and performance.
Achieving a native-like UI in cross-platform development can be challenging. It involves replicating the look, feel, and behavior of the user interface specific to each platform. Developers may face limitations or differences in the capabilities and APIs provided by cross-platform frameworks compared to native development. This can make it more challenging to achieve the exact same user experience across different platforms.
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Current Technologies
There are different frameworks for developing cross platform apps. The most commonly used frameworks are Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile.
A widely adopted framework, Flutter, was introduced by Google, enabling the creation of mobile, web, and desktop applications using a unified codebase. To leverage the capabilities of Flutter, developers are required to utilize Dart, a programming language developed by Google.
React Native is an open-source software framework for user interface (UI). It is based on React, a JavaScript library developed by Facebook and hugely popular with web developers. React Native empowers developers to construct cross-platform mobile applications with native rendering capabilities.
Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM), developed by JetBrains, is an SDK, designed for the creation of Android and iOS applications. One of the key features of Kotlin Multiplatform mobile is that iOS and Android UI elements and native functionality (Camera, push, location, bluetooth) can be natively developed for each platform in Kotlin and Swift respectively, while on other cross-platform frameworks the UI might be also cross-platform.
Another key feature of KMM is that the extent of shared code between the two platforms can be adjusted based on the specific requirements of the project.
With Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM), you have more control over the features on different platforms. You can adjust them to work specifically for each platform. KMM also lets you add a multiplatform module to an existing application and extend its functionality.