Mobile Application Development: Basic Fundamentals
Mobile application development is the set of the process involved in creating software for wireless computing devices like smartphones, tab, etc. App development is depending on installable software bundles like code, binaries, assets, etc, and backend processes such as data access with an API. In the end, the developed app tests on a targeting device that the developed application is much stable.
Why is Mobile App Development important?
In this competitive market having a mobile app can speed up digital connectivity with the client in business. If having a website for the business is not just enough because half of the total web traffic comes from mobile. So users are just not only depending on desktop or laptop, they are preferring mobile or wireless devices to search relevant content for their use and for that mobile application development is important to reach to the clients just one touch. A mobile app is made for targeting devices and operating services (android, ios). The importance or benefit of having a mobile application for business is to extend brand visibility, increase customer loyalty, increase visibility, increase accessibility, and increase sales.
What is a Mobile Application Development Platform (MADP)?
The mobile application development platform (MADP) is providing developer environments that consist of all necessary tools to create a mobile application. Mobile app development platforms are similar to integrated development environments (IDE). But These IDEs are specifically toward mobile applications. Many MADPs consist of mobile app testing, mobile app debugging, mobile app optimization. The MADPs must have front-end mobile creation tools for UI/UX design and back-end development tools for data service.
Some examples of MADPs are here –
Adobe air– Adobe Systems has developed Adobe air. It is ideal for iOS, android, blackberry10, MS windows. HTML5 programming language used for development. Adobe air allows the plugin to make it easy when all files go into the application directory and great for installation for all the files.
NativeScript– This is an open-source platform and developed by Progress and the community. It is ideal for android and ios. Javascript, typescript programming languages used for development. NativeScript is building cross-platform apps with a native user interface.
Android Studio– Google JetBrains has developed Android Studio. It is ideal for Android, mac os & windows, Linux. JAVA and Kotlin programming languages use for development. Android Studio replaces Eclipse android Development Tool as the primary IDE for native Android Application Development. This is also free for multiple platforms.
X-Code– Apple inc.has developed the X-code. It is ideal for macOS, iOS. C, C++, JAVA, Swift, Python, RUBY programming languages used for development. X-Code is the IDE for macOS and it is completely free to use.
Flutter– This is the new open-source native app development platform from Google. It is ideal for Android and iOS. Dart is Flutter’s object-oriented programming language. It uses a ready-made widget to develop the app.
What programming language is used for Mobile Application Development?
The first important thing before developing an app is choosing the best programming language. Here we discuss the trending best programming languages for mobile app development depending on which the leading web development company prefers.
Python– Python is a higher-level programming language. Web development, app development can be done by using this language. Also higher level computing and analysis prefer python. Mobile application development in python is great because it is less complex compared to other languages and easy to learn. Youtube, Instagram, Dropbox, and many other famous applications are developed by python.
Swift– Swift is the latest programming language for iOS app development. Swift is the language majority of developers writing code for iOS apps. Currently, Swift is considered the primary language for iOS app development and it works on Linux as well as it is open source. It can execute a Cocoa and Cocoa touch platform. Writing Swift code is interactive and easy to learn.
Java– Java is an official and popular language for android app development. It is an open-source library that enables object-oriented programming language. Because of JVM, it can run multiple environments and OS. Java is a flexible, versatile, simplified, portable, platform-independent language.
Kotlin– Kotlin is the advanced version of JAVA. Its native code can run on multiple platforms. Because of JVM, it is platform-independent and also compiled with JavaScript source code. Kotlin is one of the popular android development programming languages. Evernote, Coursera is developed by Kotlin.
Ruby– Ruby is a higher level multiple-paradigm, dynamic, interpreted, and backend object-oriented programming language. It has an automatic memory management system and offers a standard structure for web apps and mobile apps. Twitter, Shopify is developed by Ruby.
Hybrid App vs Native App –
Here is a clash between the hybrid app and native app when it comes to Mobile application development. So here we are going to discuss the differences between those two ideas of app development.
Native app– Native app is a mobile application development that is developed for specific devices and OS. There are mainly two OS that are Apple iOS and Android. Developing a Native app requires a software development kit (SDK) for a certain software framework and operating system. Like making an android app, JDK is required, for iOS, need swift or iOS SDK. The native app needs to be installed through the app store like google play or Apple’s app store.
Hybrid app– Hybrid app is the combination of both the native app and web app. It needs to be installed from the app store, then it acts like a native app, and is also a web view, acts as a web app. The hybrid app is developed using web technology like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The hybrid app is primarily based on the web app.
The key differences between Native App and Hybrid App are-
The hybrid app has a web view but the native app is only developed for certain platforms or OS.
The hybrid app is developed by using web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript. Whereas the Native app is dependent on SDK and it requires a specific platform to develop the app like JAVA for android, Swift for iOS.
For HD gaming or Graphical Application Native apps are faster than Hybrid apps.
For security and offline mode purposes Native app is better than a Hybrid app.
Conclusion –
Let conclude the brief description of mobile application development. Above we discussed what and why app development is required thereafter gave a brief idea of app development platforms and programming languages. Gave some examples of such MADPs and trending programming language. Finally, we describe the Hybrid app and Native app. So in this article the reader will get a brief idea of everything about mobile app development.
Author: Sumit Halder
Editor : Subrata Bhadra