When to use native mobile app for your next project
The latest trend in the developing world seems to be developing a fully native mobile app. The most popular kind of development when it comes to cross-platform development is React Native owing to its framework as well as an effective mobile application. Moreover, surveys show that about 42% of all mobile app developers have a strong preference for open-source frameworks. Before we move any further, what exactly is native app development?
Simply put, native app development is the process of creating software that runs on certain platforms as well as devices. Native apps can be built for smart TVs, desktops, and smartphones.
Native apps unlike web applications and websites are not meant to be run in a browser. They need to be downloaded from specific platforms or app stores (Apple’s app store, Google play store). The thing about native app development is that it requires different technology and skill set in comparison to regular website development, however, the one thing you will not have to be bothered by is the compatibility of the browser behavior.
Some primary characters of native mobile apps are as follows:
- Native apps are extremely reliable by nature
- They are simple, exhibit fast performance, and come with a better user experience
- Native applications can accommodate both online as well as offline operations
- Native apps come with features that can be utilized in the best possible way
Some benefits of using native mobile apps are as follows:
- Better performance Since native apps interacts with native APIs without having to go through any form of middleware it has fewer dependencies. This makes them much faster and much more responsive than their counterparts, this feature is extremely important when it comes to performance-centric apps.
- Consistency in design All native apps are developed with the help of software development kits (SDKs) which is why their user interface is impeccably consistent and shows uniformity throughout. Given that there is no discrepancy between the operating system and the app’s design the user experience is considered to be far better.
- Immediate access to new features Native apps is allowed to access the newest features of ios or android, which is a feature exclusive to native apps since hybrid apps have to wait for a plugin.
- Compliance with the guidelines provided by the app store Owing to the architecture of native mobile apps they tend to be more compliant with the guidelines provided by the app store. This just makes native apps a safer option compared to hybrid apps.
Native app development for android Native android apps can be developed by using apps in C++, Kotlin, or Java. Moreover, advanced tools are also provided by Google, some of them are:
- Android SDK (software development kit)
- Command line tools for Linux, mac, as well as Windows
- Firebase (mobile app development platform)
- Android jetpack (premade android components)
Native app development for ios
Some of the tools Apple provides are as follows:
- ios SDK (with the cocoa touch framework)
- Xcode
- Swift playgrounds (swift development learning platform)
- Test flight (a beta testing app used by ios)
Some monitoring tips to know about native apps are as follows:
- Constantly measure the performance of your app not from the developer’s point of view but from the user’s
- Filter all the errors caused by operating systems, app versions, and device types.
- Constantly monitor third-party API calls
- Constantly monitor back-end services
- Measure metrics like launch time, data consumption, and UI response time.
Native mobile apps are more often than not compared to hybrid apps. Despite the two of them have similar features and design the technology they use is wildly different. Hybrid apps, true to their name are an amalgamation of both web apps and native apps and can be built using technologies like HTML, CSS, and Javascript. The edge that hybrid apps have is that they are extremely portable. The code needs to be written only once and can be run on various different operating systems. On a concluding note, both native apps, as well as hybrid apps, have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Choosing which kind of app would work best for you depends majorly on your requirement, the nature of your company, and the specifications involved. This process is also best undertaken after having discussions with the developers that are going to be involved with it, doing so will help shape your ideas more conveniently as well as efficiently. The dilemma of whether to create a hybrid app or a native app is one that has plagued many companies and developers over the past few years.