Mobile Development – the Right Tools to Start

All programming enthusiasts know it: whether it is web, mobile or desktop, it’s never easy to decide which language, framework or tool to choose when it’s time to get started. Learning a coding language is time consuming, so it is normal to walk the canvas for hours in search of the “ultimate tool” both “future-proof” and perfectly suited to your needs.

This article aims to provide a quick overview of the possibilities open to those who want to learn about mobile development, first by giving a brief presentation of the three main types of mobile applications it is possible to create today, then listing some popular languages ​​and practical tools to start programming them without delay.

Native, Web and Hybrid Application

Before embarking on development in the true sense, it is necessary to know what is possible to create. We will list here the three main types of mobile applications on the market, each with its advantages and disadvantages:

Native Apps

A native application is designed specifically for mobile devices and in an operating system-specific programming language (Swift for iOS, for example). Looking at the previous example of an application developed in the Swift language, if you want to run the iOS application on Android, it will require fully reprograming the application in Java or Kotlin. Native applications are therefore very expensive, but are the most efficient. In addition, they have direct access to features related to the various components of the device such as GPS or camera, can be used offline and can be downloaded directly from Google Play or Appstore application download platforms.

Web Applications

A web application is a mobile application that can be executed via the web browser of your mobile device, like a regular website. It has several advantages:

• Entirely in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, so much less code learning and less expensive than native applications.
• One code to write, no need to worry about compatibilities with Android or iOS because they will be compatible with all modern browsers.
• Other benefits of the web such as ease of insertion of many types of media, management of the display on different types of screens, etc.

The web application will not offer all the features native applications have, such as interaction with other applications or direct control of a devices components, and will not perform as well. However, JavaScript remains a very powerful language, and coupled with one of its many frameworks like Angular.js , it is quite possible to create excellent applications that will be powerful, multiplatform, and especially easy and fast to develop, therefore inexpensive.

Hybrid Applications

A hybrid application is a mixture of the first two types of applications that we have just seen. These are web applications that have features specific to native applications, such as GPS for example. They can be an interesting alternative to native applications because they are less expensive and downloadable from their respective application download platforms, but they are still less efficient than native apps and ergonomics are not always optimized.

The Languages of Mobile Development

HTML5 – JavaScript

Unsurprisingly, if your choice is a web applications , then HTML5 will be an obvious choice. Integrate popular CSS libraries such as Bootstrap into your application, or take advantage of the great power of Javascript by pairing it with libraries like jQuery Mobile or frameworks like React Native or Ionic 2 to easily and quickly develop inexpensive, powerful applications. compatible with all modern browsers.

Typescript

It is an open-source language developed by Microsoft that aims to enhance the security and efficiency of Javascript. TypeScript is “transcompiled” in JavaScript, which means it can be interpreted by any web browser or JavaScript engine. Pair this language with frameworks like Angular.js or NativeScript to create powerful web or hybrid applications.

Swift

This is the language to choose for programming native iOS applications . Swift is on the rise and is slowly taking over Objective-C , the main programming language for iOS, although they are still often used together. Swift has many advantages: it clarifies the syntax of Objective-C, facilitates the detection of programming errors, etc. If you are an Apple enthusiast and love its application design aesthetics, these two languages ​​are for you.

Java

It is the most used programming language on the planet, and the default language for the development of native Android applications . The strength of Java is that unlike more ‘closed’ languages ​​like Swift, designed for iOS only, Java is not just for Android, and can be used as a base code for developing programs that will run on almost every possible device imaginable. In addition, the community of Java programmers is so huge that it is almost impossible to get stuck on a line of code: your problem has probably already been met and solved. Java is a safe bet, you can not go wrong by choosing it.

Kotlin

Like Java, Kotlin is a language for the development of native Android applications . Its syntax is simpler, cleaner and less error-prone than that of Java, which has earned it its popularity and position as “Android’s core programming language” alongside Java since May 2017. Integrate with Java for even greater performance, Kotlin is a must-have ally if Android app development is your forte.

C ++

No article dealing with programming would be complete without a few words on the C ++ language. This reference programming language was there long before our smartphones and was created with the aim of developing programs for all types of objectives and all media, which it has done and continues to do wonderfully. C ++ is not very modern and its complex syntax will repel more than one, but it remains a reliable and powerful reference in programming that will allow you to do literally everything you want.

C #

Because Android and iOS are not the only ones on the market, it would be unfair not to mention C #, the base language for Windows Mobile native application development . Its syntax resembles that of C ++, simplified by the adoption of certain elements of the Java language, making its structure more intuitive.

Your Turn!

Mobile development is an exciting sector and full of possibilities. There are solutions for all projects and all budgets, and there is no “wrong” choice.

Contact us today to develop your next game changing native application!