5 Points to Consider Before Making a Hybrid Mobile App
The hybrid mobile application has become an important factor in the development of mobile applications. By allowing developers to use web technologies (CSS, HTML, and Javascript) to point to multiple mobile platforms from a single code base, instead of writing native code (Objective-C, Java, Swift, C#) for each platform by Separate, hybrid mobile applications can significantly reduce the time and cost of developing mobile applications.
Many mobile app development companies take the opportunity to save time and money, but in some cases, choosing a cross platform application can be a crucial mistake. This article discusses several points to consider before following a hybrid mobile application approach.
1. Understand what features need native coding
It is extremely important to differentiate between something that can only be done natively and what can be done completely within the hybrid code. A general rule to follow is: if it's something you've seen done on a website, it can be done completely within a hybrid code. If not, it will probably require a native code.
To help you get an idea, here is a quick checklist of native and non-native features:
All hybrid applications have some kind of wrapper that makes the application installable, but it is provided by the hybrid framework chosen (Phonegap, Cordova, etc.). In addition to this container, hybrid applications often use packages or libraries that allow developers to complete the native functionality in a hybrid mobile application.
However, these packages and libraries must be written with native code. This means that if your application requires some native behavior, you will have to search for a functional library or perhaps write your own.
The main disadvantage here is that these native libraries should be written for each specific framework and take time to write. If you want to support native functionality immediately after a version of the operating system (such as Apple Health Kit in iOS 8.0), you can reach the market much sooner if you become a native. In addition, the dependency of these libraries means that you trust that the open source community will maintain and document them.
Having an application that requires native functionality is not a death sentence for a hybrid approach, but it does require careful consideration and possibly some compromises.
2. Consider the functionality of the current and future application
If you read the previous section, you consulted the requirements document of your version one and did not find native features, do not stop there! You should also consider the future and potential scope of its application. There is an application graveyard full of abandoned hybrid applications that functioned as minimum viable products (MVP), but they failed as more robust applications.
Many managers and product leaders have been given the serious news that their hybrid mobile application, which obediently put them on the market, will have to be removed and replaced with a native application.
Many companies can not tolerate the cost necessary to completely rebuild their application natively. Worse still, some companies will cling to their restrictive hybrid application, instead of rebuilding natively, just to see their competitors pass by with a superior mobile offering.
3. Know the present performance limitations of a cross platform application
Hybrid applications have several key limitations that leave natives as the only option in many cases. These limitations include the following:
Animations: almost without exception, hybrid applications handle animations with less fluency than native applications. This is something that can be designed, but often results in developers saying "no" to designers to their most involved animations.
Fluidity of the application: it is very similar to the previous element, but it is a little more general. Hybrid applications often seem inactive during page and state transitions. For example, the very popular open slide tray animation looks and feels significantly worse in hybrid applications.
Memory usage: As mobile applications run on a small physical device, the use of memory is a very real concern.
Hybrid applications use the web view of a device, which in itself occupies a large amount of memory. If your application will also require a moderate amount of memory, you may not be able to use the hybrid application approach.
Each of the above elements can be designed, but in many cases doing so can restrict the potential of an application. Saying "no" to a product manager because the application is already using too much memory or responding "nope" to a designer because its impressive animation will not be uniform does not kill a project, but it can damage it.
4. Lack of native user experience and user interface (UI/UX)
Android and iOS applications have different design languages and offer their own user experiences. Application developers are encouraged to make their users feel at home within their applications. However, hybrid applications target multiple platforms and, therefore, often feel generic or resemble the applications of a competing operating system.
Another important difference is that Android phones have a physical backspace button, while iOS apps often have a backward arrow in the upper left corner or implement sliding to the left to back up.
These are the types of things that are often lost in hybrid applications. Of course, your hybrid application can still work this way, but users will often take longer to get used to the behavior of your application and may feel frustrated if you do not feel like a native.
5. The possibility of choosing the wrong cross platform framework
Native mobile applications have a very well established technology stack and (most) well-documented. Android applications are almost always written using Java and are built in a very similar way. IOS apps can be written in Objective-C or Swift, but there is a large community of developers and a large knowledge base that surrounds them both.
Alternatively, hybrid mobile applications are created with the help of numerous application frameworks. In general, they are similar, but it would not be trivial to take a hybrid application built with one frame and reconstruct it with another. For that reason, you should make sure to make an informed decision when choosing the framework of your project.
Making this decision increasingly difficult is the large number of hybrid application frameworks in existence. It is very unlikely that all of these frameworks will be maintained in the coming years. Many are likely to lose market share and, therefore, become increasingly costly to maintain. Then, just for the act of choosing a framework, you are betting on your future success.
Wrapping Up
Going cross platform can be a great approach to developing mobile applications, but it can also end up costing you more than you initially saved. Before deciding to be a hybrid, you must fully understand the limitations and associated risks.
It is exciting to have this new and more profitable method for the development of applications, but as with all things, there is more to consider than just the price tag.
For more information related to mobile app development services please go through: www.appxure.co
Many mobile app development companies take the opportunity to save time and money, but in some cases, choosing a cross platform application can be a crucial mistake. This article discusses several points to consider before following a hybrid mobile application approach.
1. Understand what features need native coding
It is extremely important to differentiate between something that can only be done natively and what can be done completely within the hybrid code. A general rule to follow is: if it's something you've seen done on a website, it can be done completely within a hybrid code. If not, it will probably require a native code.
To help you get an idea, here is a quick checklist of native and non-native features:
- Accessing a customer's location: non-native
- Access the camera or photos of a client: native
- Pass control to a client's Facebook application for easy authentication: native
- Simple animations and page style: non-native
All hybrid applications have some kind of wrapper that makes the application installable, but it is provided by the hybrid framework chosen (Phonegap, Cordova, etc.). In addition to this container, hybrid applications often use packages or libraries that allow developers to complete the native functionality in a hybrid mobile application.
However, these packages and libraries must be written with native code. This means that if your application requires some native behavior, you will have to search for a functional library or perhaps write your own.
The main disadvantage here is that these native libraries should be written for each specific framework and take time to write. If you want to support native functionality immediately after a version of the operating system (such as Apple Health Kit in iOS 8.0), you can reach the market much sooner if you become a native. In addition, the dependency of these libraries means that you trust that the open source community will maintain and document them.
Having an application that requires native functionality is not a death sentence for a hybrid approach, but it does require careful consideration and possibly some compromises.
2. Consider the functionality of the current and future application
If you read the previous section, you consulted the requirements document of your version one and did not find native features, do not stop there! You should also consider the future and potential scope of its application. There is an application graveyard full of abandoned hybrid applications that functioned as minimum viable products (MVP), but they failed as more robust applications.
Many managers and product leaders have been given the serious news that their hybrid mobile application, which obediently put them on the market, will have to be removed and replaced with a native application.
Many companies can not tolerate the cost necessary to completely rebuild their application natively. Worse still, some companies will cling to their restrictive hybrid application, instead of rebuilding natively, just to see their competitors pass by with a superior mobile offering.
3. Know the present performance limitations of a cross platform application
Hybrid applications have several key limitations that leave natives as the only option in many cases. These limitations include the following:
Animations: almost without exception, hybrid applications handle animations with less fluency than native applications. This is something that can be designed, but often results in developers saying "no" to designers to their most involved animations.
Fluidity of the application: it is very similar to the previous element, but it is a little more general. Hybrid applications often seem inactive during page and state transitions. For example, the very popular open slide tray animation looks and feels significantly worse in hybrid applications.
Memory usage: As mobile applications run on a small physical device, the use of memory is a very real concern.
Hybrid applications use the web view of a device, which in itself occupies a large amount of memory. If your application will also require a moderate amount of memory, you may not be able to use the hybrid application approach.
Each of the above elements can be designed, but in many cases doing so can restrict the potential of an application. Saying "no" to a product manager because the application is already using too much memory or responding "nope" to a designer because its impressive animation will not be uniform does not kill a project, but it can damage it.
4. Lack of native user experience and user interface (UI/UX)
Android and iOS applications have different design languages and offer their own user experiences. Application developers are encouraged to make their users feel at home within their applications. However, hybrid applications target multiple platforms and, therefore, often feel generic or resemble the applications of a competing operating system.
Another important difference is that Android phones have a physical backspace button, while iOS apps often have a backward arrow in the upper left corner or implement sliding to the left to back up.
These are the types of things that are often lost in hybrid applications. Of course, your hybrid application can still work this way, but users will often take longer to get used to the behavior of your application and may feel frustrated if you do not feel like a native.
5. The possibility of choosing the wrong cross platform framework
Native mobile applications have a very well established technology stack and (most) well-documented. Android applications are almost always written using Java and are built in a very similar way. IOS apps can be written in Objective-C or Swift, but there is a large community of developers and a large knowledge base that surrounds them both.
Alternatively, hybrid mobile applications are created with the help of numerous application frameworks. In general, they are similar, but it would not be trivial to take a hybrid application built with one frame and reconstruct it with another. For that reason, you should make sure to make an informed decision when choosing the framework of your project.
Making this decision increasingly difficult is the large number of hybrid application frameworks in existence. It is very unlikely that all of these frameworks will be maintained in the coming years. Many are likely to lose market share and, therefore, become increasingly costly to maintain. Then, just for the act of choosing a framework, you are betting on your future success.
Wrapping Up
Going cross platform can be a great approach to developing mobile applications, but it can also end up costing you more than you initially saved. Before deciding to be a hybrid, you must fully understand the limitations and associated risks.
It is exciting to have this new and more profitable method for the development of applications, but as with all things, there is more to consider than just the price tag.
For more information related to mobile app development services please go through: www.appxure.co
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