Cross-Platform App Development: Building for Multiple Devices

Introduction

The mobile application market size was valued to be at 207 billion dollars in 2022. With a CAGR of 13.8% from 2023 to 2030, mobile applications are only bound to increase in popularity. With the advent of technologies like IoT, AI/ML, enterprise mobility, and eCommerce, mobile applications are being developed for a myriad of industries. Apart from being great tools for customer engagement, mobile applications are creative mediums for distributing content and managing smart devices.

Today, the mobile application market stands with 75% of applications developed for Android followed by 24% shared by iOS development and 0.35% by KaiOS. That being said, enterprises need to develop an application that is compatible with different mobile operating systems (OSes). Such applications are referred to as cross-platform apps. Amongst the various mobile app services offered by software development companies, cross platform app development is one of the most sought-after services and refers to the process of developing applications that are compatible with multiple mobile operating systems. Let us study this in detail.

What is cross-platform app development?

Different mobile operating systems require different compatibility when it comes to running an application in them. The coding of these applications is unique and does not run on every OSe system. Until very recently, this led to software development companies developing more than 3-4 versions of applications compatible with different platforms. Such a process was not only time-consuming but also expensive on the pocket. In 2017, Google introduced cross platform development and it instantaneously caught the attention of the masses.

Typically, cross-platform mobile app development refers to a type of software development that is fit to be run on multiple platforms of smartphones commonly known as OSe systems. According to Statista, a leading survey site, over 98% of users globally use either Android or iOS as their core operating system. Hence it becomes very important for enterprises to aim for solutions that are compatible mainly with these two OS.

Cross-platform Applications need to be versatile and flexible. Developers of such applications ensure this by keeping some, and sometimes even all of the source code the same. This allows them to develop mobile assets for both Android and iOS operating systems without having to individually record for each platform. Code reusability and easy maintenance are a few of the many benefits cross platform app development offers.

Advantages of cross platform mobile app development

Amongst the many benefits of cross platform app development, given are the most important ones:

• Users do not need to download different applications for different OS

• Faster time to market

• One source code

• Easy implementation

• Easy product maintenance

However, covering multiple platforms with single source code is tough and limits developers to some extent. Since each platform has its unique architecture, they demand their integration of native APIs. This leads to developers having two choices - either delivering native-like performances and compatibility or prioritizing simpler yet speedy development of mobile applications.

It's common knowledge that cross platform development frameworks function as native code at some point in the software development lifecycle. The efficacy of this process often decides how the application will perform in the long run. As cross-platform frameworks are larger than their native counterparts, the performance of applications built on them often gets hampered. This is the reason cross platform development is not considered for applications whose critical priority is performance.

Differences between Cross-platform and Native Mobile app development

To understand better key differences between the two types of mobile app development, let us have a look at the following table :

Cross-platform development

• Single codebase compatibles with multiple OSes

• Code is written in various languages like C#, F#, Visual Basic, Dart, and Javascript using special frameworks

• Reusable Code

• Reduced overheads, development, and time maintenance costs

• Greater market reach

• Much easier to build Native platform development

• Different codebases for different platforms

• Code is written in Visual Basic, Dart, and JavaScript using special frameworks

• Code cannot be used again and again

• Slightly expensive

• Less versatile

• Needs more technical experts

Conclusion

If you are an enterprise looking to develop an application, it is recommended to proceed with cross platform app development. Cross-platform applications are gaining popularity by the day and are often being leveraged by SMEs to gain a competitive advantage. Many mobile app development companies can help businesses make the best of cross platform application development.

Zealous, enthusiastic, and consistent, Steve Fary is an ardent reader and an experienced writer. He loves animals and adventure.