Native app development is the development of apps that run on specific platforms, e.g. iOS, and Android, through means of platform-specific languages and tools. Having this way provides several advantages and disadvantages, while frameworks that are popular among developers can directly be applied to cut on the development process. In this article, we’ll explain the advantages and disadvantages of native app development and showcase several libraries commonly used by developers.
1. Pros of Native App Development
Performance:
Native apps in general use platform hardware and software platforms for the improvement of the application performance and responsiveness to ensure the best usability.
User Experience:
Native apps respectively give users a good experience because they are specifically developed according to the platform’s specifications and standards.
Access to Device Features:
The native apps can make use of these device features like camera, GPS, and accelerometer among other functions which therefore enable developers to create more responsive and multi-featured apps.
Offline Functionality:
The native apps will have the facility to operate offline where users can use some features and view a few contents without being connected to the internet.
Security:
The developers of native apps are highly scrutinized because the app store requirements on the safety aspect are very high.
2. Cons of Native App Development
Development Time and Cost:
Writing native apps for multiple platforms may take much time and money as the developer has to code separately for each platform.
Maintenance:
Overcoming the issue of native app upkeep is equally difficult, given developers have to catch up with new upgrades and changes in the platform ecosystem.
Limited Audience Reach:
The issue of native apps being confined to certain platforms puts a limitation on how many people can use them when compared with cross-platform or web apps.
App Store Approval Process:
Native apps need to endure the app store acceptance procedure which might be too time-consuming and sometimes even not always predictable.
3. Popular Frameworks for Native App Development
iOS Development:
For developing iOS, Swift, and Objective-C are the two main programming languages used. The most common ones are UIKit, SwiftUI, and CocoaTouch.
Android Development:
For Android development, Java and Kotlin are the main programming languages that the developers mostly use. Common libraries are the Android SDK, the Android NDK, and Jetpack.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between native app development and cross-platform app development?
Native app development means building apps for multiple platforms by using different programming languages and frameworks for each platform, and cross-platform app development means creating apps that will work on different platforms without the need to re-code.
2. Can native apps be converted into cross-platform apps?
Converting native apps into cross-platform apps may be enabled by using Xamarin, React Native, or Flutter. Moreover, some features and functionalities must be re-engineered and optimized to omit compatibility issues.
3. How do I choose between native and cross-platform app development?
Regarding the matter between native and cross-platform app development, multiple ingredients must be considered, such as the target audience, budget, time frame, and features. Native development generally gives better end-usability and speed, while cross-platform development provides faster development and economical solutions.
