Q&A on Cross-Platform App Development: Pros & Cons Revealed

As apps become an integral part of our lives, organizations realize the importance to shift to an approach that targets their services across platforms. And, to be perceived as a top player in this segment, it’s crucial to leverage the right methodologies to build a strong and lasting competitive edge. Cross-platform mobile app development is one strategy that helps businesses redefine their approach to achieving rapid digital growth. Wondering why? Let’s find out.

As a cross-platform app development company, we encounter similar queries now and then from our customers. Through this post, we aim to answer multiple facets of how & why cross-platform applications have become a popular choice, their advantages, popular frameworks & also how native & cross-platform development approaches differ.

Let’s dive right in!

A: It is a development framework that allows teams globally to build mobile applications using a single code base that works across multiple systems. It helps save them time to write native code across each operating system while acquiring new skills to support every mobile device. Further, the reusable code base enables the timely resolution of bugs and includes enhancements on all platforms in one go. This is beyond doing it for each platform separately.

The fast turnaround time, rapid development & high-quality outcomes are some of the reasons that encourage more businesses to take this route.

A: It enables companies to create low-cost custom applications that are secure, stable and effortless to maintain. They are easier to iterate and hence facilitate faster development cycles with quicker time to market as opposed to traditional app development initiatives.

To put it simpler words; with cross-platform applications you:

• Get wider access to the target audience
• Reduce development costs with a quicker process
• Have easier maintenance
• Have reusable code
• Get Faster time-to-market

We will be discussing them in greater detail below in the advantages of cross-platform development section, so stay with us!

A: You would agree with the saying that goes like every bean has its black. And, cross-platform development isn’t an exception. Listed below are few points in this reference;

Performance challenges: Cross-platform apps have integration challenges with their target operating systems. It is because of inconsistent communication between the device’s native and non-native components. It affects the optimum performance of applications.

Slow code performance with limited tool availability: Cross-compliance during the development phase makes the code sluggish at times and even reduces the speed. Also, in certain scenarios, it becomes mandatory for the developers to make use of tools suited to a particular app.

Limited user experience: Cross-platform applications are not able to take total advantage of native-only features to provide excellent user experiences. It is because of different screen layouts, platforms, and functionality.

A: As an organization that has worked with various businesses to build cross-platform apps, we’ve learned that Flutter, React Native and Xamarin top the list of best frameworks. We’ll break down these terms for you so that you get a better understanding of each framework.

• React Native: As one of the top cross-platform frameworks by Facebook, this is a best-in-breed JavaScript library that helps with creating powerful user interfaces. With this, you can create mobile apps that reuse their code up to 80% and can also access certain native features like mobile camera and accelerometer.
• Flutter: As Google’s UI toolkit, this framework helps build native compiled apps for smartphones, desktops and web browsers using the same code. Dart, a comparatively new programming language that powers Flutter shares similarities with Swift and Kotlin & can be converted into JavaScript code. It helps design apps that can be built quickly and can be converted to platform-specific UX logic. It’s also most suitable for MVP development.
• Xamarin: Built using .NET and C#, it is capable of building apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and tvOS. If you want a platform-specific interface, Xamarin.Android and Xamarin.iOS are the best tools. It also provides access to native and third-party APIs, using smartphone functionality and features like camera, text messages, connectivity, sensors and more. Xamarin also provides a ‘native-like app experience even when dynamic data is rendered in real-time.

A: Since these technologies are in a constant state of evolution, it’s important to review and compare them to understand the key differences. From a business standpoint though, we believe that it’s important for you to understand the key differences between these processes, which will help you make a more concrete choice.

With cross-platform app development gaining traction in the mobile development world, it would be a smarter choice to adopt a mobile-first approach. As it is becoming more effortless by the day, why shouldn’t your organization take advantage of the benefits that help improve the business performance?

By getting rid of a cumbersome development process, one can shift their focus towards product innovation to drive value for your customers. It would ultimately augment long-term profits. We hope the points discussed above, provided clarity on what all entails cross-platform app development.