Approaches for Mobile Application Development — Native, Cross-platform, Hybrid, PWAs

Deciding to build a mobile application is easy. It’s the decisions you have to make later that makes the whole application building process difficult. Things like ‘should I go Native? Is Cross-platform app development a better choice? Can Progressive Web App Development really enhance my application performance?

So, let’s look at the different approaches of mobile app development London that are popular and, when to use which.

Native App Development

Here we build software applications in a specific programming language for a specific device platform. This means you will have to use platform-specific programming language, software development kits, development environment, and other tools offered by the Operating System.

When Native?

• You have time and resources for separate teams- iOS and Android mobile application development London.
• You have the money to spend for superior UI and performance.
• You need full-access to hardware-related features like gestures, geolocation, touch ID.
• Building a graphic-rich app/game and need topmost performance and speed.

Most popular Native applications: Pokemon Go, Twitter, Google Maps, LinkedIn.

Hybrid App

Hybrid apps use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and run on webview, a simplified web browser within the application. These applications function as websites and technically they are somewhere in between a web app and a browser page. Some tools are PhoneGap, ionic, Apache Cordova, Visual Studio.

When Hybrid?

You have an idea and want to see market responsiveness, build an MVP. Get something usable, quickly and without wasting your resources on just hiring mobile app developers London.

Some popular Hybrid applications are Yelp, BaseCamp, Untappd.

Cross-platform App

They use a single toolset to deliver apps across multiple platforms. Some of the popular solutions for cross-platform app development are Xamarin, React Native, Flutter, Titanium, etc.

When Cross-Platform App?

• To reach the market fast.
• Build a low budget app with simple UI but heavy logic.

Some popular cross-platform applications are Google Ads, Picturex, Reflectly, Birch finance.

Progressive Web App, PWA

This is just a set of best practices to make a web application function like a desktop or mobile application. They aim to deliver a uniform and seamless experience such that users can’t differentiate between a PWA and a Native App. They bring in features like push notifications, offline mode, load on the home screen, access to device hardware like vibration, improved touch gestures to web apps.

When Progressive Web App?

If your goal is to build a mobile-friendly application, with a huge reach and a wide range of users. They are a cost-effective way to put your app in front of millions of people.

After adopting PWA, some huge players have seen an enhanced user experience and a boost in an overall performance like Flipkart, AliExpress, Instagram, etc.

Conclusion

Systango is a web and mobile app development company in London. We are a software studio specialising in niche technologies and using the latest technological trends like IoT, AI, AR, Fintech, Blockchain to create Super Apps. Our client roster includes the likes of Grindr, Disney, Porsche, Accenture, MGM, Target and Dialpad.