Benefits of Cross-Platform App Development

A stark comparison between cross-platform app development and native development.

The world of programming has been thriving on innovation and variations ever since it came into existence. If you are an app developing organization, you must be aware of the debate between native and cross-platform app development. A few years ago, it would have been an easy conclusion to choose native development over cross-platform because of the risks it posed.

However, with several cross-platform tools performing better and providing better facilities, the debate still stands strong with giants like Alibaba choosing cross-platform over native development. Do you think innovation is the major reason for this? How does one settle this debate, considering all the attributes of both without bias? This is to reinstate the fact that cross-development came back strongly into the scene only a few years ago but it has made its mark better than ever.

We haven’t established our conclusion, in the beginning, itself without a stark comparison between the two. Here’s how we reached there; in case you were wondering.

1. Deployment

Cross-platform:

Developers need not learn multiple languages to create apps. They just need a few tricks up their sleeve to set the ball rolling. Since there is no requirement of having multiple codebases, deployment on target platforms is faster and easier. We, at RootQuotient, have been using Flutter (a cross-platform app development framework by Google) to develop our apps and have been successful with every endeavour.

Native:

Conversion and rewriting of codes should be followed for each platform separately making it more difficult to deploy faster. The process should begin much earlier to ensure availability on target platforms as planned.

2. Cost and time

Cross-platform:

With faster deployment and a single code for usage, it is obviously cost-effective. The time required to complete one development and using it on multiple platforms is also much lesser since they can be applied on various platforms simultaneously.

Flutter performs better than other cross-platform apps because there is no JavaScript bridge to interact with native components. This means that the Dart code is compiled to the native machine code, leading to better performances.

Native:

Coding individually results in an elaborate process that requires more patience, time and money. Though they have their advantages, in a fast-paced world, immediate and faster modes are preferred.

3. Audience reach

Cross-platform:

A specific tool accessible on all platforms ensures a wider audience reach and popularity. This also means easier marketing and reaching consumers better. Isn’t this the ultimate goal of any product?

Native:

Restriction on the target platform means missed opportunities in terms of consumer attraction. All the development efforts are focused on one point, which does not give space for a wider audience scope.

4. Prototyping

Cross-platform:

Developing a fully operating prototype is crucial to understand if a product is market-friendly. Flutter assists in quicker development and release of an app on multiple platforms at the same time.

Native:

With the time-consuming process, creating a prototype and then releasing the app in the market means the process gets longer. Companies look to launch products as soon as possible and even go the extent of patenting them. This proves a lot more difficult in native development.

5. Problem-solving

Cross-platform:

Though the aim is to launch an app without any bugs or issues, there is always a possibility of an error at some point. With this, it is easier to resolve them as one change can be applied to all platforms simultaneously.

Native:

Each problem requires individual resolving on every platform and the process is longer resulting in possible unpleasant user experience.

So, Cross-Platform or Native app development?

Through years of experience, we have clearly understood that cross-platform app development has fought back into the app development scene and has gained more popularity in recent times over native app development. Native applications have their own advantages like better positioning on app stores, better user interface, etc. However, faster and easier modes of the development outweigh the advantages of native development, therefore giving cross-platform an edge over them.

Do you want expert assistance in solving your app development issues? Reach out to our experts directly and gain from our services at RootQuotient.