Cross Platform Mobile Development

You may be familiar with the term “hybrid app” or “hybrid development”. When it comes to cross platform mobile app development, there are several tools and possibilities available. Multi-platform app development is the name for mobile applications that are compatible with multiple operating systems.

Think of a popular mobile app that is available for both Android and iOS phones. If you have an Apple iPhone and your friend has an HTC Android, you may both still be able to access the same app and look up the same information. Think of popular business apps like Yelp, JPMorgan Chase, YouTube, Google Drive, and more.

Cross platform and multi-platform mobile app development used to be next to impossible. It was often easier to focus on native applications, which were built for each operating system individually and re-written from scratch if developers wanted it to be available for a second platform. But with the innovation of new types of backend systems, it is becoming easier and easier to make cross platform mobile app development available.

Approaches to Cross Platform Mobile App Development

The following cross platform mobile app development tools have been recently available to make multi-platform mobile development easier and easier:

• Hybrid mobile app development – this is basically like creating just the skeleton of the app, such as the front end code. Then, the cross platform mobile app developer will take a native device wrapper and apply it to the existing code, like sliding a cover on to match each platform or operating system.
• Windows universal apps – while this only works for Windows devices, there is now the ability to use a single codebase that applies across all of its operating systems and devices. The same app can be written only once and it will work simultaneously on a Windows computer, smartphone, tablet, or even on the Xbox.
• Rapid mobile app development – also known as RMAD, this programming tool makes cross platform development code-free, which is a fast and simple way to make an app that can be then applied to multiple platforms.

Key Things to Consider

When deciding whether or not to make your mobile app development cross platform for iOS and Android, there are a few things to keep in consideration. Make sure the following points are addressed before starting app development:

• Mobile apps are always being updated – Keep in mind all of the different updates and changes that are being made not only to the apps themselves, but to the software platforms as well. Having a cross platform mobile app may require that you apply each update to each individual operating system.
• Consider your budget – cross platform mobile app development tools are often cheaper than other development options, and they also increase the speed at which your app is finished.
• A wide range of tools – There are many ways to develop and create a cross platform mobile app, whether your developer chooses to make it from the ground up or use a third-party service. You will end with a multi-platform app that can be accessed by a wider range of customers.

Cross platform mobile app development has many advantages and drawbacks. Ultimately, the decision to make a mobile app applicable to multiple operating systems is up to you – but keep in mind that this is a trend moving forward.