Essential Tools Every Cross Platform App Development Company Should Have In Its Arsenal In 2021

At a time when mobile apps were gaining crucial grounds across the world, the pandemic arrived and made them more inevitable in our lives. From calming our minds to ordering apparel and electronic products, we do most of our shopping through apps. With a major chunk of the population going the mobile commerce way, every cross platform development company around the world is now strategizing on capitalizing on this situation.

The new and modified scenario has drastically decreased the time-to-market for several companies of their products. Every mobile app development company is now looking at quicker ways to develop, launch their apps in the market and gain that initial edge in its respective segment. Besides, statistics also reveal that businesses with mobile apps attracted more investments (around $73bn in 2020).

This, in turn, has made cross platform app development more prominent in the app development sector. If yours is a cross platform app development company, looking for the right set of tools to accommodate newer projects and grow your business this year, here is a list of tools you need to have in your arsenal.

But before that, let's understand the difference between native app development and cross platform app development and realize what the buzz is all about.

How Are Native and Cross Platform App Development Different?

Like you know, there are two distinct systems owning and moderating the apps segment – Apple and Google. With each having its own unique operating system, what immensely differs is the way an app functions, utilizes its respective device's unique functionalities and how an app is developed from scratch.

For the uninitiated, the app development process for iOS is very different from that of Android. That's why companies have to employ two diverse teams – a native app development company - with specific app development skill sets to develop the same app for iOS and Android individually. This not only increases the expenses involved in app development but the time taken for development as well.

To solve this challenge and allow companies to quickly roll out apps for both the markets arrived cross platform app development.

This enabled developers to make use of a programming language such as JavaScript to develop codes for an app and run the code on other platforms. This code reusability is what defines cross platform mobile app development and makes it more credible and ideal for businesses with limited budget and go to market.

If you're quickly skimming through the article, here are the key takeaways:

• Cross platform app development allows you to develop code once and reuse it for multiple platforms.
• it minimizes development time.
• It also helps you reduce expenses on app development.
• It paves the way for a single app that can be launched across diverse app stores.
• And testing and app maintenance become comparatively simple.

Tools Every Cross Platform App Development Company Should Deploy

Now that we understand the benefits of cross platform app development, let's dive in further and explore the multitude of tools available.

React Native

When we're discussing cross platform app development frameworks, the list should obviously start with the crowd favorite React Native. Conceived and launched by Facebook, the framework almost instantly went on to become a rage among developers thanks to its functionalities and flexibility it offered.

It's been almost six years since the framework was launched but the community and developers of React are still working on making it more effective. Ideal for both iOS app development and android applications development, this framework is devoid of WebView and HTML. It blends in the functionalities and capabilities of JavaScript, Swift, Objective C and React.js to allow developers to build robust and scalable hybrid applications.

Where React Soars

• It allows for up to 80% code reusability
• New changes can be deployed within seconds because of the Hot Reload functionality
• It emphasizes the importance of UI
• Amazing Support

Where React Stalls

One aspect where React offers shortcomings is that it requires integrations with third party APIs to make an app completely user friendly.

If you run a cross platform app development company, you cannot overlook the importance of React.

Flutter

Two years after the roll out of React, another tech giant and market player launched a cross platform app development framework. This time, it was Google with its Flutter tool. Founded on Google's in-house programming language called Dart, Flutter offers a range of tools and widgets that simplify the development process for developers.

Unlike React, Flutter is devoid of JavaScript and instead deploys a myriad of contemporary programming languages for hybrid application development processes. However, it does retain the Hot Reload feature for real-time changes visibility.

Where Flutter Soars

• It is a relatively new and contemporary development framework backed by a tech giant.
• It is free and open source.
• Structuring is a great feature in Flutter as it allows developers to have clarity when developing complex apps.
• It eliminates the need to interface individually for Android and iOS systems.

Where Flutter Stalls

• Community support and development are still in their nascent stages because of the tools' recent origins.
• It offers a stronger edge for native app development and not cross platform app development.

Xamarin

Initially developed in 2011 by a standalone cross platform app development company, the framework later got acquired by the Cupertino based tech mammoth Microsoft in the year 2016. It arrives at a timeline that is exactly between React and Flutter respectively. Microsoft acquiring Xamarin brought in a wave of developers preferring this for the credibility and market value and true to this notion, it hasn't disappointed them.

Based on C#, Xamarin is more like the .NET platform's extension with several .NET libraries. Apart from mobile app development, Xamarin also allows developers to build apps that could seamlessly run on operating systems like Mac, Windows and others.

Where Xamarin Soars

• It is free and open source.
• It is very easy to use and probably has the least learning curve in the list.
• Has a massive fan base and a community of contributors, moderators and supporters.
• Offers automatic installation of Android SDK.
• Tremendous visual experiences to users.

Where Xamarin Stalls

• Though ideal for generic app development, enterprise app development can prove to be expensive because of the formalities associated with obtaining Microsoft licenses.
• If you have heavy graphical files, Xamarin might not be the most ideal choice for cross platform app development.
• Resourceful libraries offer limited access to developers.

Corona SDK

Now, we do understand that it's not the best name out there, specifically after the pandemic, but trust us when we say that Corona SDK offers remarkable benefits in the entertainment front.

If your cross platform app development company is inclined towards developing gaming apps, Corona SDK should be the only framework you need. Based on the programming language Lua, it allows developers to build 2D gaming apps at a speed which is 10x the normal development time on other cross platform app development platforms. One of the standout features of Corona SDK is that you can use the framework to develop apps not just for iOS and Android but for Windows and Kindle as well.

Where Corona Soars

• Developers can integrate over 1000 APIs and optimize their apps for audio, animation and immersive visual experience.
• Apps developed on Corona are extremely portable, fast and scalable.
• It offers real-time preview of code changes with the help of Corona Simulator.

Where Corona Stalls

Because of its structuring and visuals, one can easily lose track of codes in the clutter.

Ionic

Another super-resourceful framework or tool every cross platform app development company should deploy is Ionic. Launched in the year 2013, the tool is based on Apache Cordova and AngularJS. This framework incorporates Cordova principles for mobile app development processes. A unique shell is created on smartphones to support the functioning of Ionic. Housing HTML apps, the framework executes HTML and JavaScript on users' devices.

Where Ionic Soars

• It is free and open source
• It offers tons of readily-available UI components which can be easily incorporated into apps.
• Diverse plugins are available for developers to make their apps look and function like native apps.
• One can seek assistance from a support community of over 5 million developers and contributors.

Where Ionic Stalls

It requires developers to know languages like JavaScript, CSS, HTML and Angular to get started with cross platform app development.

PhoneGap

Originally launched in the year 2005 by Nitobi Software as a website marketing strategy tool, PhoneGap evolved into a completely standalone cross platform app development company after Adobe acquired and took over the operations. Ever since its acquisition in 2011, the framework is being used by developers to roll out apps for both the web and mobile. But its applications don't just end there. It's used by developers to build apps for platforms like Windows, Blackberry, Bada and more.

Based on programming languages like JavaScript, HTML and CSS3, its solid backend system allows for a seamless and quick app development process. If your cross platform app development company is into building simple apps that don't require heavy features or functionalities, PhoneGap is just the right tool.

Where PhoneGap Soars

• Minimal differences are visible across the platforms its apps are deployed on.
• Libraries such as Sencha Touch and Prototype further simplify development processes.
• Titanium framework cuts down on development expenses.

Where PhoneGap Stalls

• Apps that are feature rich and complex cannot be developed using PhoneGap.
• Doesn't offer the experience of a native app to users.
• The app development process is reliant on iOS SDKs.

Wrapping Up

As a cross platform app development company, we are sure you now have an extensive idea of the tools and frameworks you need to have in your arsenal. Based on the recommendations, diversify your teams and tools for optimized development processes.

But if you found these too technical and all that you need is a solid hybrid app developed for your business, we recommend getting in touch with an premier cross platform app development company like us. We have the right brains and minds from the industry at work.

Reach out to us today.