Choosing The Best Mobile App Framework
Native
In mobile application development, first-party frameworks refer to the official development frameworks provided by the platform owners, namely Apple for iOS and Google for Android. These frameworks are also known as native development frameworks because they allow developers to build apps using the native languages and tools provided by the platform.
Apple & Google
Owner
When developing mobile applications, the framework owner plays a crucial role. Apple and Google, the tech giants behind the iOS and Android operating systems respectively, provide their own development tools for creating apps on their platforms.
For iOS app development, Apple offers its proprietary tools, ensuring a consistent and secure environment for developers. Similarly, Google provides its own tools for Android app development. Since these tools are directly created and maintained by Apple and Google, there is minimal third-party risk involved. As long as Apple continues to develop iOS and Google continues to develop Android, developers can rely on their robust and dedicated development tools.
Native
UI / UX
In mobile application development, the User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) are essential elements that are inherently native to their respective platforms. This means that developers use the APIs provided by iOS and Android to create these elements.
When Apple and Google develop their platforms, they offer a comprehensive suite of APIs that cater to all aspects of app development. These APIs cover everything from building the UI, including buttons and labels, to more advanced functionalities like making remote API calls and using Bluetooth. By utilizing these native APIs, developers can ensure their apps are optimized and fully compatible with the respective operating systems.
Slow
Development Speed
When it comes to development speed in mobile application development, working with native tools and APIs tends to be slower compared to using cross-platform frameworks. Although it is possible to achieve fast development, creating the same app for both iOS and Android inherently takes more time.
Developers need to build the iOS app in Xcode using Swift or Objective-C, and then create the Android app in Android Studio using Java or Kotlin. Despite the apps looking and functioning identically, the code cannot be shared between the two platforms. This often means needing to hire two separate development teams or having one team work sequentially on each platform, which slows down the overall development process.
Additionally, the Swift code for iOS and the Kotlin code for Android will have different architectures and API´s and may encounter unique bugs and challenges, further contributing to the extended development time.
High
Maintenance costs
When adding a new feature to a mobile application, it needs to be implemented twice—once for iOS and once for Android. This dual implementation significantly increases maintenance costs compared to using a cross-platform framework. As a result, the ongoing effort and resources required to maintain and update the app on both platforms are higher.
Since maintenance typically represents the largest portion of the total lifetime cost of an app, having separate expertise for both platforms becomes critical. Usually, this involves having a separate team for each platform, leading to high maintenance costs due to the need for specialized skills and the management of two distinct codebases.
Highest
Performance
Performance is exceptionally high when using native tools for mobile application development, you can’t achieve faster performance than this. Cross-platform frameworks, while very good nowadays and offering performance that is indistinguishable in most apps, still come with a bit of overhead. Consequently, they can’t always match the speed and efficiency of native tools.
If there is any uncertainty about whether performance will be optimal with a cross-platform framework, native development is the optimal choice. However, in many cases, even for complex applications, cross-platform frameworks perform sufficiently well. This makes them a viable option for a wide range of apps, balancing development efficiency with performance needs.
Swift & Kotlin
Programming Languages
For iOS development, Swift is the primary and recommended programming language. However, developers can still use Objective-C, which is the older language for the platform.
For Android development, Kotlin is the primary and recommended programming language. Nevertheless, developers can still use Java, which is the older language for the platform.
Very Mature
Maturity
Because they are first-party tools, the development platforms for both iOS and Android have been around since the beginning and are very mature. This maturity translates into robust, reliable, and well-documented tools that provide a stable foundation for building mobile applications.
Apple’s Xcode and Swift, along with Google’s Android Studio and Kotlin, have undergone continuous improvement and refinement over the years. This long-term evolution ensures that developers have access to the latest features, optimized performance, and comprehensive support. The maturity of these platforms also means that there is a vast amount of community knowledge, resources, and third-party libraries available, making problem-solving and feature implementation more efficient.
The reliability and extensive support of these mature tools make them the optimal choice for developers aiming to create high-quality, performant, and scalable mobile applications.
Complete
Feature Access
When developing mobile applications using native tools, you have full access to all the features and native APIs available on the platform. This includes advanced functionalities such as Augmented Reality (AR), geolocation services, Bluetooth connectivity, and much more.
Having direct access to these features means you can fully leverage the capabilities of the device, creating richer and more integrated user experiences. For example, you can implement AR experiences seamlessly on iOS using ARKit, or utilize Google Maps and geolocation APIs on Android for location-based services. Bluetooth APIs enable connectivity with a wide range of peripherals, from fitness trackers to smart home devices.
Additionally, because these APIs are provided and maintained by Apple and Google, they are always up-to-date with the latest platform advancements. This ensures that your app can take advantage of new features as soon as they are released, keeping your app competitive and aligned with current technological trends. This comprehensive feature access is a significant advantage of using native development tools, allowing developers to create highly functional and innovative applications.
Yes & No
Open Source
iOS is not open source; Apple maintains strict control over its development and distribution. This closed-source approach allows Apple to ensure a high level of quality and security within the iOS ecosystem, providing a consistent experience for users and developers alike.
In contrast, Android is open source. It started as a community project and was later adopted by Google, which now leads its development and maintenance. This open-source nature allows a diverse range of developers and manufacturers to contribute to and modify the Android operating system. It fosters innovation and flexibility, enabling manufacturers to tailor Android to their specific hardware and user needs.
The open-source model of Android also means that the source code is publicly accessible, encouraging collaboration and transparency. Developers can explore the underlying code, contribute to its improvement, and customize it for various devices and applications. This has led to a vibrant community of contributors and a wide array of custom Android versions and enhancements.
While iOS’s closed-source model provides a controlled and uniform platform, Android’s open-source nature offers greater flexibility and community-driven innovation. Both approaches have their unique advantages, catering to different development philosophies and market needs.