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The Complete Guide to Cross-Platform App Development

It is cross-platform application Development.

Cross-platform mobile development vs. Native App Development

2. Development time: 

Without any doubt, cross-platform development is less time-consuming because of the code and database reusability. On the other hand, for native app development, the codebase must be created from scratch for each platform. Besides, developing two native UIs which appear and function the same is a monumental task.

Challenges of Developing a Cross-Platform App

  • The first and foremost challenge developers face while developing cross-platform applications is to write single and consistent code that incorporates a wide range of exceptions and ensures seamless functionality regardless of operating systems. It is an enormous challenge for cross-platform app developers to develop code to keep their applications compatible with various devices and operating systems.
  • Another challenge is to counter the low performance of cross-platform applications. Cross-platform applications are developed with additional abstraction layers, which entails inconsistent synchronization between the devices and operating systems. Cross-platform apps require a mixture of native and non-native components, which reduces the speed and performance of the application.
  • Developers cannot utilize all the platform-specific UI/UX visual elements, such as complex graphics and animations or special effects, because they must use a dedicated codebase for both platforms. Therefore, producing a simple UX design that is concentrated on essential features of each operating system is complex with a singular codebase. Additionally, a single codebase can also give rise to performance issues which are even more detrimental to performance and user experience.
  • Another significant challenge faced by cross-platform applications is security issues. Cross-platform applications are based on single codebases developed to work on multiple operating systems, which leaves many security loopholes. Besides, cross-platform applications receive scarce updates as compared to native apps, where security gaps are regularly patched. Delivering cross-platform mobile applications with the same level of data security and privacy is still a huge challenge for cross-platform mobile application developers.

Cross-Platform App Development Advantages

  • The development process of cross-platform applications is much faster and more convenient. Cross-platform apps employ a single codebase which reduces the development time by more than 60%. Rather than creating two native applications with entirely different codebases, developers can finish the projects faster by using a single codebase for both platforms.
  • One of the most significant advantages of cross-platform application development is its reusable code and agile app development. Once your cross-platform codebase is ready, you can run it across numerous platforms efficiently without the need for redevelopment, which dramatically reduces the development cost.
  • Cross-platform applications offer more straightforward implementation and maintenance because of their uniform codebase. All the modifications, updates, and synchronizations are quicker and more precise with the cross-platform application. Additionally, a flaw found in the common codebase only needs to be fixed once. It helps save a huge amount of money and effort.
  • Another significant benefit of cross-platform application development is its reusable code. A standard code can be utilized by programmers to create applications for separate platforms quickly and affordably rather than developing separate codes for each platform.
  • Cross-platform applications are compatible with multiple devices and operating systems which makes it simple to integrate different extensions and plugins with the cloud. Using the same source code with a multitude of extensions and plugins gives a massive boost to the functionality and scalability of the application.
  • The mobile application user base is mainly divided into two segments: IOS and Android users. You cannot target both user bases with one native application, but you can do it with a cross-platform app. A cross-platform application lets a business deliver a consistent user experience across several platforms, such as IOS, Android, and Linux. This way, a company can maximize its ROI and customer exposure without the need to create a separate app for every platform.

Conclusion

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