Web, Native or Hybrid – Decoding the Development Dilemma!

Variable is the only constant in the world of technology. In a sector that is dominated by constant upgrades and improvisations, it’s only prudent that one keeps innovating to keep up with the changes brought about in computing, as well as computation. Concentrating on the technical advancements being made in mobile technology along with the manufacture of smart, multi-purpose devices, there are many a factors contributing towards app development.

As mobile devices become an integral part of people’s everyday lives, businesses are resorting to implementing every trick in the books to enhance consumer engagement on their respective mobile applications. The mobile devices are no longer an option for businesses; they have become as important as the business itself. This blog focuses on understanding each of the three types of applications along with points to keep in mind while developing an app.

Mobile Web Apps:

The closest kin of a website, mobile web apps use the standard web development technologies like HTML5, CSS and JavaScript in their code base. Their write once, run anywhere development approach allows for cross-platform functionalities that work on multiple devices.

Features:

– Parts of HTML5, CSS and JavaScript code can be utilized for rendering a mobile-optimized website.
– A Responsive Web Design can achieve platform and device independence and present a synchronized view of the application across all devices.

Native Apps:

Arguably the best in terms of performance and design layout, native applications are specific to a particular mobile platform, say iOS or Android. These apps are usually developed using development tools and languages supported by the respective platforms. For example, developing an app for iOS would require the use of XCODE IDE and Objective-C whereas Android app developers would need the Android Studio or Eclipse IDE and Java as the programming language. You can also use online development cost calculators to know what is cost to create an app for your project.

Features:

– Multi-Touch, utilizes the device’s touch interface and feature-set.
– Fast Graphics API can be effectively implemented using the native platform of the device hardware for quickly loading graphics.
– Fluid Animation, an extension of Fast Graphics API, is used for implementing highly dynamic and interactive interfaces and functionalities.
– The native mobile apps can effectively incorporate the built-in device components like geo-location, address book, camera and other features.

Hybrid Apps:

Part native, part web, the hybrid apps utilize the best (and worst) elements from both web and native apps. It is possible for HTML5 apps to be embedded inside a thin native container when designing hybrid apps. These apps can be accessed from an app store and are capable of utilizing the devices’ inbuilt features.

Features:
Native apps reside on the device while web apps reside on a server! So, where do the hybrid apps reside – on a device, on a server or both? There are actually two ways to host hybrid apps.

– Server:
A full web application can be implemented from the server by simply using the container as thin shell over the UI Web view. Caching can be implemented in some cases t o improve performance.

– Local:
HTML and JavaScript code can be packaged in the mobile app, which is similar to a native app structure. Also, REST APIs can be used to toggle data from the cloud and device.

For detailed info related to mobile app development , explore the Clavax portfolio – http://www.clavax.com/portfolio/mobility