What is the Process Involved in Cross-Platform Mobile App Development?

Many businesses are now faced with the issue of developing mobile apps for numerous platforms, notably Android and iOS. Ultimately, cross-platform solutions have created a famous software development trend.

As Raj Aggarwal puts it, “The rich and interactive experiences we have come to expect on mobile apps have created new standards and expectations for all digital media, including the web. Ultimately, websites are transforming to be more app-like in their rich features.”

According to Statista, in the first quarter of 2021, there were 3.48 million mobile applications accessible on the Google Play Store and 2.22 million apps on the App Store, with Android and iOS now accounting for 99% of the global mobile operating system market.

How do you develop a mobile app that Android and iOS users can use? Discover why more and more mobile engineers opt for a cross-platform, or multiplatform, mobile development strategy in this MarsDevs article!

What is cross-platform development?

With mobile applications becoming an increasingly vital element of any company, you must grasp the complexities of app development. Cross-platform mobile development entails developing software apps that can operate on various mobile operating systems.

Developers of cross-platform programs can share some or even all of the source code. It implies that developers can create and distribute mobile assets that operate on Android and iOS without capturing them separately for each platform.

Cross-platform mobile app development enables developers to create apps that use a single codebase, lowering development expenses. It also helps your software reach a bigger audience. Cross-platform mobile app creation provides a uniform user experience across several platforms, making maintenance and upgrades easier.

Native or Cross-Platform App Development: Solving The Longstanding Debate

The debate over native vs cross-platform development continues in the IT sector. Both of these technologies are constantly evolving, and each has its own set of advantages & disadvantages. Some experts continue to choose native mobile development over multiplatform solutions, citing the superior performance and user experience of native apps as some of the most significant advantages.

However, many modern firms must cut time to market and per-platform development costs while maintaining a presence on both Android and iOS. Cross-platform development frameworks like Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile can be helpful here.

How are cross-platform mobile apps built? 

According to the experts, working with a reputed cross-platform mobile app development business is better to create a highly trustworthy and functioning cross-platform mobile app. 

To compete in today's fast-paced mobile marketing environment, you must ensure the building of a mobile app that can be effective by adhering to all of those systematic development methods with the most up-to-date app development features. It will increase the exposure of your mobile app and allow it to reach potential consumers worldwide.

But what are the steps involved? Here’s a visual. 

Aside from those key considerations, the development tool should be considered while creating a cross-platform mobile app. Ensure your app developers use the best cross-platform tools while creating your mobile app!

What Are The Most Popular Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks?

Now, let’s talk about the cross-platform app frameworks. 

The most common cross-platform frameworks create apps from a single code base for several platforms. It implies you must code on a programming framework supported by your preferred platform. Since converting a single code base into different apps is not easy, several common methods have advantages and downsides when compared. 

However, the most popular are:

1. Xamarin

Microsoft owns Xamarin, an open-source, cross-platform app development toolkit. C# and .NET are used to create native cross-platform Android, iOS, and Windows apps. Xamarin apps leverage native user interface controls to deliver a high-performance user experience. Apps for Fox Sports, Alaska Airlines, HCL, the American Cancer Society, and BBC Good Food are just a few examples.

1. React Native

React Native is an open-source, cross-platform app development framework that Meta (formerly Facebook) developed. It is used to create native cross-platform programs for Android, iOS, and Windows using JavaScript and TypeScript (a strongly typed version of JS). 

Popular React Native-based apps include Instagram, Bloomberg, Pinterest, Skype, and Tesla. Regarding user uptake and popularity, React Native and Xamarin are at the top. However, there are others as well.

1. Flutter

Google owns Flutter, an open-source, cross-platform app development framework. Dart is used to create native cross-platform Android, iOS, and Windows apps. Alibaba, BMW, Google Ads, and Tencent are a few examples. Many ready-made native app solutions allow developers to integrate with Continuous Integration systems such as Travis and Jenkins. 

1. Cordova

The Apache Cordova platform is a framework for developing mobile apps for platforms such as Android, iOS, and Windows Phone, among others, by utilizing CSS3 and HTML5 for rendering and JavaScript for functionality. 

It gives developers access to device-specific capabilities via JavaScript APIs, allowing them to construct apps using web technologies rather than the native programming languages of each operating system (Java or Objective C). Debugging is quite simple since it makes use of web technology.

How To Test Your Cross-Platform Apps?

For a consistent and smooth user experience, testing is essential. That’s where cross-platform tools and frameworks come in.

• Appium: Appium supports Android and iOS platforms, allowing you to test cross-platform mobile apps. Appium Grid also allows you to run numerous tests in parallel. It can test both native and hybrid apps.

• Selenium: Selenium offers mobile automation testing in addition to online application testing. It supports various programming languages, including Java, Python, C#, and JavaScript.

• BrowserStack App Live: BrowserStack software Live allows you to manually test your cross-platform software on Android and iOS devices running multiple operating systems. It enables you to test real-world user situations and employ technologies such as biometric authentication, IP geolocation testing, network simulation, etc.

• BrowserStack App Automate: BrowserStack App Automate enables you to automate cross-platform app testing on actual Android and iOS devices. It enables you to test across several OS versions and device combinations under real-world user settings and on native capabilities such as Camera Injection, Network Simulation, etc.

Cross-Platform App Development in the AI Age - The Future

In recent years, the technology sector has changed substantially, with artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly becoming a fundamental component of software development. Introducing AI-powered app builders adds a new dimension to the app creation process, offering developers, designers, and non-technical users powerful tools to construct web, Android, and iOS applications.

AI-powered app builders use machine learning algorithms and advanced automation techniques to accelerate app development, enhance user interfaces, and produce code that works across numerous platforms.

AI handles platform optimization, so developers no longer worry about inconsistencies and compatibility concerns. These cutting-edge platforms are especially useful for cross-platform app creation. They can generate streamlined, efficient, and platform-specific code at breakneck speed, allowing users to construct web, Android, and iOS apps simultaneously.

As cross-platform development becomes more popular, AI-powered app builders are poised to become the go-to option for developing scalable and adaptable apps that meet various customer demands while providing a uniform user experience across every platform.

Closing Notes

Cross-platform development solutions' restrictions have begun to fade in reaction to the benefits they give as they progress. Several technologies are on the market, each suited to a distinct set of workflows and requirements. Each technology discussed in this article greatly assists teams considering a cross-platform strategy.

Finally, carefully analyzing your company demands, objectives, and responsibilities and defining clear goals for your app can help you select what's best for you. And if you need help, don’t hesitate to contact MarsDevs. Get on a free 15-minute call with us today!