When developing mobile apps, you must first decide on the platform or operating system you want to build for as certain features may only be suitable for specific types of apps.

An operating system is software that controls your mobile device and determines the functions and features available on your device. This includes the keyboard, synchronization with apps, email, text messaging, and more. It also determines which third-party applications (mobile apps) can be used on your device.

The two popular mobile platforms are iOS and Android.

iOS: Developed by Apple, iOS was created for the iPhone and later extended to support the iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple TV. The Apple App Store boasts over 500,000 apps with more than 25 billion downloads. It is known for its user-friendly interface, based on direct manipulation and multi-touch gestures.

Android: Developed by the Open Handset Alliance led by Google, Android is a Linux-based mobile operating system. It has a large community of developers writing apps that extend the functionality of devices. The Android Market has over 450,000 apps and has exceeded 10 billion downloads.

There are several types of mobile apps: Native, Cross-Platform, Hybrid, and Progressive Web Apps. Each has it pros and cons. Let's discuss them briefly.

Native Apps

Native apps are developed specifically for a single platform using the platform's specific language and IDE. For example, native Android apps are developed using Kotlin or Java with Android Studio, while iOS apps are developed using Swift/Objective-C and Xcode.

What are the advantages of developing native apps?

• Native Apps Offer Speed: They are designed to run seamlessly on the device and are optimized for the best performance, providing a smooth and fast user experience.

• Access to device hardware and software features like Cameras, sensors, microphones, and more

What are the disadvantages of developing native apps?

• Higher development cost: Developing native apps for multiple platforms, such as iOS and Android, can be more expensive as separate apps need to be created for each platform.

• Steep learning curve: Developing native apps requires a deeper understanding of the platform and its development tools, which can have a steep learning curve.

Let's have a look at Cross-platform apps

Cross-platform Apps

Cross-platform apps use a single codebase, allowing the same code to run on both Android and iOS. Tools used for cross-platform app development include Xamarin (using C# programming language), React Native (using JavaScript programming language), and Flutter (using Dart programming language).

What are the advantages of choosing to develop Cross-platform Apps?

• Single codebase: With a single codebase, developers can write code once and reuse it across multiple platforms, reducing the time and effort required to develop separate apps for each platform.

• Lower development cost: Cross-platform apps allow developers to reuse code across multiple platforms, reducing the overall cost of development compared to native apps.

What are the disadvantages of Cross-platform Apps?

• Performance issues: Cross-platform apps can be slower and less responsive than native apps as they need to use a "bridge" to interact with the underlying platform.

• Lack of platform-specific features: Cross-platform apps may not have access to all the features and functionalities of the underlying platform, as they need to be written to run on multiple platforms.

How about Hybrid apps? Let's have a look at them

Hybrid Apps

Hybrid apps are a combination of native and web-based technologies, developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and then wrapped inside a native application using platforms such as Cordova. This allows developers to use any web-based framework they want while still providing access to the native features of the device. The result is an app that can run on multiple platforms with a single codebase, offering a blend of native app functionality and web app accessibility.

What are the advantages of developing Hybrid Apps?

You may have guessed it right.

• Reusable codebase: Hybrid apps can reuse existing web-based code, reducing the time and effort required to develop a separate app for each platform.

• Reduced development costs: A single codebase means that development costs are reduced, as there is no need to maintain separate codebases for each platform.

What are the disadvantages of Hybrid Apps?

• Performance: Hybrid apps can be slower and less smooth compared to native apps because they rely on a web view to run the HTML and JavaScript code.

• Limited Customization: Because hybrid apps rely on web technologies, they may have limited customization options compared to native apps.

Lastly, let's look at Progressive Web Apps(PWAs)

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Progressive Web Apps(PWAs) are web-based applications that run on a browser interface and are stored on remote servers. They require an internet connection to function on a device, as they are not stored locally.

Advantages of Progress Web Apps:

• Cross-device compatibility: PWAs work across all devices, including desktop, mobile, and tablet, with a single codebase.

• Easy to discover: PWAs are easily discoverable as they can be found through search engines and are accessible via URLs, unlike native apps that have to be downloaded from app stores.

• Easy to develop and maintain: PWAs are easier and faster to develop as they use web technologies, and they can be updated quickly without having to go through the app store submission process.

What about the disadvantages of PWAs?

• Dependent on network connectivity: PWAs rely on network connectivity to run and may not work offline or in low connectivity areas.

• Less discoverable in app stores: PWAs are not listed in app stores and may be less discoverable to users, even if they are well-optimized for search engines.

How do you choose the best type of mobile app for your next project?

The choice between Native Apps, Cross Platform Apps, Hybrid Apps, and Progressive Web Apps depends on your specific needs, goals, and resources. You can consider comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of each type of mobile app and conduct a thorough analysis of your project requirements to make the best choice for your project.