The best cross platform development frameworks

Cross-platform app development is becoming increasingly popular because of the multiple benefits it offers to modern developers. Given the wide acceptance of cross-platform development, more tools and frameworks began to flood the market.  The massive number of cross-platform development tools makes the procedure for selecting the right one is challenging.  That is why we take the time to review the top cross-platform development tools to help you choose the best option for your app project. 

First of all, let’s look at mobile app developments and the benefits that cross-platform frameworks offer.

What is a Framework?

Frameworks are unique platforms that help developers build apps faster without compromising quality. They consist of essential toolkits and other resources that expedites app development procedures.  Most frameworks allow the developer to create apps for a single platform.

Introducing Cross-Platform Frameworks?

In contrast to the typical development framework, cross-platform frameworks are designed to create apps for multiple platforms. In essence, the developer can create a single code and deploy the app on Android, iOS, and the Web without hassles.  Developers love cross-platform frameworks because it enables them to create quality applications for multiple platforms faster than before. 

Why Choose Mobile Cross-Platform Framework?

Here are some reasons why developers prefer cross-platform development frameworks.

• Cost-Efficiency:  It lowers the overall costs of multi-platform app development projects.

• Saves Time:  Allows developers to create apps for multiple platforms faster and expediting the time to market.

• Easy Code Management: Because a single code is deployed to create apps on multiple platforms, the procedure for updating and maintaining the code base is more manageable. 

• Hybrid App Benefits: Hybrid apps offer a seamless experience on all mobile platforms because the backend functions of hybrid apps are similar. 

The Best Cross-Platform Frameworks

The leading five cross-platform development frameworks in the world today str listed in the table below.

Now let’s take some time to review each of these cross-platform mobile app development frameworks.

React Native

React Native is one of the most popular JavaScript frameworks for cross-platform app development. It’s an excellent option for creating mobile apps for Android, iOS, and the Web from a single codebase. 

Developers adopted React Native quickly after its release as an opensource framework in 2015. It has since evolved as a leading cross-platform development framework in the world today. The developers that use React Native for cross-platform app development is increasing continuously.

The Benefits of React Native

Below are the benefits of React Native.

Inexpensive: Several factors such as code reusability help cut down development costs considerably. You can simply write a code and deploy it to multiple platforms, thereby reducing development time, efforts, and expenses.

Active Community: Like most open-source platforms, React Native is community-driven. The active community of React Native gives developers access to community-based support, documentation, tutorials, and sample codes. Members of the community are open to helping other developers that need assistance. 

High Performance:  React Native framework is known for its high-high performance apps. Factors such as Native Controls. Modules and separate threads for UIs and APIs work together to enhance React Native apps’ performance. React Native can communicate with native Android and iOS components through native APIs, reducing the need to use processor power for interpretations.  

Enhance Stability: This framework uses unique data binding technology to prevent the parent data from getting affected by a child component. This feature enhances the stability and security of an app.  For instance, it would restrict updates by unauthorized components. 

Support for Third-Party Plugins: React Native provides support for plugins from third-parties like Native Modules and JavaScript Modules. These third-party modules are useful for adding unique features such as Map to app development projects. 

Flutter

Flutter is a Google-owned opensource framework for creating mobile user interfaces and made available to the public at no cost.  It allows you to create native apps with a single codebase and deploy to Android and iOS platforms. 

Flutter presently supports only Dart language, which is excellent for front-end development such as apps for the web and mobile devices. The platform consists of a framework, an SDK, app development toolkits, and UI elements that are reusable.

Benefits of Flutter

Below are the benefits of Flutter

Reduces Development Costs:  Flutter provides developers with the tools to develop high-quality apps, save time, and minimize costs. 

Native App-Like Performance: Although Flutter apps communicate directly with the machine code, it works flawlessly. It differs from native apps because it does not need an interpreter. 

Web Apps: Flutter has been used to create mobile apps, offline browser apps, and web-based applications since its inception. However, a new version known as Flutter Web was released in 2019, which is better suited for web apps development. 

Support for Dart: Flutter supports the Dart programming language, which is beginner-friendly, powerful, and uses simplified Syntax.  Its simple design makes it an excellent language for both beginners and expert developers. 

Cordova

Adobe Systems is the present owner of Cordova after the 2011 purchase and rebranding of Nitobi, the platform’s original creator.  Cordova is an application development framework that was open-sourced by Adobe. The platform uses JavaScript. HTML5 and CSS to create hybrid apps for Android and iOS platforms. 

Cordova apps are not entirely native nor web apps. However, they can leverage the power of APIs to access native app functions. In essence, Cordova creates apps by combining hybrid development with elements of native codes. 

The Benefits of Cordova

The benefits of Cordova are discussed below:

Expedites Multi-Platform App Development: This platform allows developers to create hybrid apps that work on multiple platforms such as iOS, Desktops, Android, and the Web. Cordova empowers developers to perform tasks faster than ever. 

Leverage JavaScript: Cordova uses JavaScript, HTML and CSS3 to create apps. Therefore, developers can leverage the power of JavaScript to create novel functions for their apps without having to learn a new programming language. 

Access to Add-Ons: Cordova developers have unfettered access to community add-ons. These are useful resources that contain multiple libraries, frameworks, and other tools optimized for Cordova. 

Hassle-Free Media Management: Cordova offers tools that simplify the management of application media files.  Developers can integrate CSS and query media content without hassles

Ionic

Ionic, which was initially built on AngularJS and Apache Cordova. The platform was later revamped as a set of web components allowing options to select a preferred framework like React, Angular, or VU.js. A feature that enables the use of Ionic components without a user-interface was added to the latest release. 

The Benefits of Ionic

Below are the benefits of Ionic.

Uses HTML and CSS:  It is easy to catch up with Ionic development because it uses JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. These are everyday skills among developers.  As such, learning a new language before using this framework is not necessary.

The Programming Language: With Ionic, the developer can use a single programming language to create apps for different platforms such as iOS and Android.  Therefore, there is no need to learn multiple languages before deploying apps on additional platforms. 

Plugins:  Developers on Ionic can leverage a wide array of plugins to enhance their application development in various ways.  Third-party plugins can be integrated into app development projects seamlessly.

More Platforms: Ionic apps works on Android, iOS, and Windows operating systems.

Support for AngularJS: The integration of AngularJS into Ionic creates value for programmers since it is one of the most popular JavaScript frameworks. However, developers have the option to select another supported framework for Ionic development. 

Xamarin

Xamarin is another cross-platform application development framework that uses C# for development. This is in direct contrast to many other frameworks that depend on JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Xamarin offers a runtime that works on Android, iOS, and Windows. Typical Xamarin apps have a look and feel of native mobile apps. Xamarin creates C# codes that can access native features of an app platform.

The Benefits of Xamarin

Xamarin offers the following benefits:

Visual Studio Compatible: The fact that Xamarin integrates seamlessly with the powerful Visual Studio IDE is an added advantage. It allows developers to create quality native codes that enhance app performance. 

App Logic Sharing: This feature allows developers to write a single code and deploy it across multiple platforms. 

UI Layout: Provides an option to select a UI layout. This is an excellent feature that empowers developers to create apps with a beautiful and functional user interface. 

Test Cloud: The test cloud feature allows the developer to test apps in real-time. They can simulate apps in various devices and access detailed reporting systems that help monitor performance and fix bugs.

Component Store: Xamarin gives developers access to a wide array of development resources such as themes, controls, UIs, charts, and lots more. 

A Final Note

Cross-platform development frameworks are useful tools that add value to mobile apps development projects.  Since there are many options out there, the procedure of choosing the most appropriate framework can be overwhelming. This article would help you review the top frameworks to select the best one for your app development project.

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