Question

Compare and explain the pros and cons of native, cross-platform and web mobile development ?

Answer 1

1 ):- Native application development

Native apps are platform-specific apps that are coded in a platform-specific programming language. This means that if the app is for an Android platform, it will use Java; if it is for a Windows phone, it will use C#; and if it is for iOS, it will use Objective C or Swift.

Because native apps are specially designed for a particular device, they have full liberty to use the features that are present on the device, such as its camera, contact list, GPS, and Bluetooth.

Pros of Native Apps

There are many benefits of developing native apps.

Native Apps Offer Speed

Because native apps are native to the platform, they work faster.

Many elements come preloaded. The user data is fetched from the web rather than the entire application, and since they work with the device’s built-in features, they are speedy.

Native Apps Work Offline

Native apps work even if there is no internet connectivity.

So, in situations where you are stuck somewhere with limited or no service, such as an airplane, underground tunnel, or subway, native apps are accessible.

Native Apps Provide a Recognizable Look and Feel

Native applications are a nuanced version of their device’s default apps.

When a user performs some functions, he quickly understands the natural flow of the application because it is similar to apps already on the device.

Native Apps Maintain Aspect Ratios

Aspect ratio is the ratio of width to height of different screens. It is an important factor that determines the quality of an image.

Many apps collapse and start functioning improperly upon changing the device's size and shape. Native apps have better control over the orientation, size, and resolution of the app.

Cons of Native Apps

Despite the many benefits of native apps, they still come with some challenges.

Lengthy Downloading Process

Native apps are ready to use only when users download them from the app store (Google Play or Apple App Store).

This involves a lot of steps – going to the app store, finding the application, accepting its terms and conditions, and then finally downloading it.

No Flexibility

Developers have no flexibility regarding the platform for developing native apps.

Developers have to code for one platform at a time, with separate coding for Android and iOS.

Much of the time, if you are hiring app developers for your native app idea, you’ll have to hire two teams of developers – one for Android and one for iOS.

Expensive Development

The programming used in native apps is quite tricky, and developers who code in this language are scarce.

Thus, native app development requires more labor, which adds to the time and cost of development.

Also, with different codes for different platforms, developing native apps takes even more time and, therefore, money.

Time-Consuming Development

Every platform, such as iOS and Android, needs a separate set of codes, which means more time is required, as it is equivalent to coding for two different apps.

It takes about 18 weeks to develop a good quality native app. The time increases based on the project’s complexity.

Native Apps Require Frequent Upgrades

If a bug is fixed in native apps or a new update is about to be launched, developers have to first submit the updates to the app store and then hope that users will update their apps to the new versions.

If users don't update their app - maybe they didn't notice the update, or they don't have enough storage space - those users might abandon the app due to unfixed glitches.

2):-  Cross-Platform Applications :-

For many years App development companies had been looking for solutions to develop tools for apps that could run on any platforms, or in a single integrated development environment(IDE). Cross-platform apps were developed using a single source code that could be run on multiple platforms and devices.

There are advantages to native applications, but a well-made cross-platform app will make the differences seem small with the advantage of being able to run on more than one platform where your product or service will have access to. This makes cross platform apps popular with the corporate world.

The Pros of Cross-Platform Apps

Low Maintenance Cost

These apps are developed using a single code which helps the maintenance of these apps easier than the native apps. Performing routine maintenance is also easier with respect to cross platform apps reducing the cost factor.

Reduced Development Cost

Cross platform app developers use reusable codes that saves a good deal of time and trouble in writing new codes. This helps in keeping the development cost comparatively low. Besides it also lets businesses run their apps on multiple platforms and devices for which cross platform apps can not be replaced.

Faster Development Process

With the advantage of being able to use a single source code across different platforms, the development efforts can be reduced significantly. It enables to innovate a feature-rich business app in less time. With fast developments deadlines do not create much of an issue.

Seamless Cloud Integration

Cloud integration can be done easily due to a single source code. Enterprise-grade plugins are available to integrate your business apps with the cloud can make them universally compatible.

The advent technology is however enabling cross platform apps to deliver native-like apps. The use of advanced tools and functionality are enabling developers to develop cross-platform apps bearing semblance to the native apps. It wouldn’t be far when cross platform apps will start delivering like the native apps.

The Cons of Cross-Platform Apps

These apps face performance issues due to the integration problems with certain operating systems. This arises due to the lack of compatibility between the native and non-native components of the devices on which it runs. These apps perform lower in comparison with their native counterparts.

Limited number of tools

The app developers find it difficult to bring about a cross platform compliance as the tools for developing these apps are limited. We find Android and iOS platforms coming out with updated versions that are more advanced which leaves cross-platform apps lagging behind .

UX Challenges

It is not that cross platform apps doesn’t have a good user interface but they sometimes cannot match the seamless performance and attractive UI as the native apps. They fail to meet user expectations. The slow loading time with performance related issues can be very discouraging.

Security Issues

Cyber attacks are not at all that uncommon and mobile apps are vulnerable to them. With frequent updates, native apps are able to rectify their loopholes but cross-platform apps are not up to the level of that agility in addressing security issues. For apps that deal with a lot of corporate and business data, it would be better to opt for native apps.

Cross-platform app development companies are doing their best to address these challenges with the adoption of cutting edge tools and architecture.

3 ):- Web Mobile Development

As with any other website, a mobile website is a browser-based way of accessing internet content. Unlike regular websites, it's designed specifically for mobile devices, and therefore is not displayed perfectly on desktop.

Along with mobile, there's another broader concept of optimizing websites for smaller screens: we're talking about a website with responsive design.

Pros

• Compatibility. A website enhances the user experience across different types of mobile devices. In contrast, a mobile application requires developing a separate version for each operating system and device type. Users who own devices of different types may especially appreciate the benefits of compatibility that responsive websites provide. Besides, they support easy integration with other mobile features like QR codes and text messaging.
• Broader Reach. Due to the multi-device support that responsive web design provides across various platforms, it's becoming easy to reach a broader audience than a mobile app can reach. In the "app vs website" debate, the website definitely wins in terms of potential audience.
• Support and Maintenance. Websites also cost less to upgrade. You need to maintain just a single version of a them. Compared to mobile apps, which require downloading of every single update, responsive/mobile websites let you change the content or design just by editing them once, and allow you to do that efficiently and flexibly. After implementing, updates become active and visible immediately across all types of devices.

Cons

Mobile websites have a wider reach, better compatibility, and require less money than mobile applications. Still, they have their limitations.

• Convenience. Unlike an application, a responsive/mobile website can't leverage all smartphone features as efficiently. Cameras, GPS, phone dialing, and other features integrated into mobile devices aren't always well developed for responsive/mobile websites, even though APIs and libraries aimed to help solve these issues have been appearing lately.

  Another limitation to user benefits is a device's screen size. Of course, portability is the key reason why users enjoy having smaller devices on the go. However, mobile devices display a lot less content compared to a computer monitor or laptop screen. Both responsive design and mobile website don't fully access to all the content available on the desktop. Even though responsive web design adjusts to the screen size dynamically, still it doesn't make it completely convenient for users to surf the content on a mobile device. The same thing is with mobile website which actually reduces and rearranges the content available on the desktop.

• User Experience. Since mobile experiences significantly differ from desktop experiences, implementing the same interface for both platforms may harm your UX strategy. This mostly relates to the single-window restriction. The single-window restriction says that a user shouldn't have to leave their current page to access all the content they're looking for; however, with mobile sites it's often impossible to fit everything onto one page.
• Offline Access. Even if you design your mobile website in the lightest and most informative way possible, it still may work offline with only limited functionality using cached pages. Unlike a mobile application, which can run locally, a mobile website requires a good internet connection to operate fully.