Enough has been spoken and heard about artificial intelligence and machine learning. Most of us are aware of these technological jargons. We are in a world where we must have come across these technologies on a daily basis, but little do we know deeper about it. From tech to voice to face enabled devices, we all have witnessed a dramatic evolution of technology in the last decade. It did not only contribute towards the transformation of the internet and software industry, but also the lives of individuals – you, me, and us!

Technologies related to AI and ML is expected to grow in the years to come. Even many social media platforms are today investing ample amount of money in the development of AI techniques to keep their audiences hooked to the platform. Over-viewing the mobile app industry, it is not a hidden fact that today most of the mobile applications are built on AI and ML technologies. Today, we have mobile applications for all our activities – shopping to dating, food to fashion, travelling to surfing, etc.

According to a report by Statista, the global artificial intelligence market is expected to grow greatly by generating 118.6 billion revenue in 2025. Viewing that, the future of AI and ML technology looks very promising. Therefore, it is a great time to incorporate some AL and ML techniques in your mobile application. Let us look at how two of the leading the AI and ML techniques can help build a trending mobile application:

Predict User Behaviour 

You must have used Amazon or Myntra. Did you get what we are hinting at?

Yes, those suggestions, recommendations, and notifications. They provide you with the most similar products you are looking for. How do you think this happens? Is there is a fairy in the app? Yes, there is and she exactly knows – what you are looking for, what you like and what you don’t, what excites you and what makes you add the items in the cart. Well, no points for guessing, she is AI and ML.

AI and ML mobile applications developed by top AI and ML app developers help the businesses and their marketing teams to understand customer behaviour and psychology. The insights drawn provides information on customer choices, preferences, buying patterns, and budgets by capturing data such as age, location, gender, buying frequency, spending capacity, etc. It is the perfect integration of in-depth data learning and observing the user behaviour across all devices that help create a 360^o view on customers. The data so collected enables the brands to approach each customer group and deliver products that perfectly fit their individual needs.

Virtual Assistants 

Hey Siri! “Go on, I am listening” – Siri (Well, there’s someone ‘listening’)

That is how we connect with our smartphones these days, don’t we? Siri, Alexa, and Google, all are changing the digital way of communication with our phones and mobile applications. The technology helps you use your phone or a mobile application while you are performing some other task. It has made the user experience much seamless and fruitful.

This technology has further strengthened the trend of online shopping. Today, 95% of online shopping in the world is made through voice commands and that shouldn’t be a surprise. Industry to industry, virtual assistants are greatly impacting and disrupting the way consumers purchase and retailers sell/market.

Are you still wondering how can you invest in AI and ML? Lets us connect to understand your requirements and help you with an AI and ML based mobile application. Connect with us at +91- 9863077000 or contact@goodworklabs.com.

Coronavirus 2019 is surely a sour pain for all of us. Little did we know that it would take an epidemic to change our lifestyle upside-down. People locked up, offices shut, roads empty, and socialising became a nightmare. These tough times have not only affected individuals but also the companies and government, as all countries in the world have had a major hit in their economy. It would not be wrong to say that in future, the world will never be the same as it used to be. Many businesses are likely to be shut if they do not evolve and adapt during the pandemic, and many new opportunities will emerge.

Who knew that the words like social-distancing and contact-less experience would disrupt our lifestyle and be a norm someday. Well, it is now, and we can not deny that. No matter what businesses you are in, you will have to adapt to this change, sooner the better. This is the time when you need to pay closer attention to consumer demands than ever and adapt accordingly. For instance: Zomato – an online food delivery app started delivering groceries as that is the need of the hour.

Talking about the mobile application, today, many governments are using this technology to track the movement of COVID-19 infection amongst the community. Thereby enabling them to take necessary actions in respective regions. Likewise, a mobile application that will solve the current problems faced by consumers will grow and evolve. Consumers are looking for contact-less experiences and the app development domain offers the same seamlessly. Therefore, mobile application development will strengthen the new norms and trends furthermore.

Let us take a closer look at the industries that can take advantage of mobile application development during this new normal:

Education Technology 

With no clear picture on when the schools and institutes are going to be open, the demand for online and digital learning will boom the sector of education technology. Children have already started learning online – from attending a virtual lecture to submitting their assignments. What was once started as a value add for kids to upskill has today become an integral part of learning. There are quite a few education apps available, and there is a lot more scope for the new ones to make their way and gain the maximum of the situation.

E-commerce 

Even if the malls and shopping complexes open, there is going to be a fear-factor in the consumer’s mind to physically go and shop. From safely packed food/goods to contact-less delivery, many e-commerce companies are following the new norm. A ‘contact-less’ or ‘zero-contact’ delivery limits the chances of contamination. Therefore, the e-commerce mobile applications are here to stay and rule the retail sector across the globe.

Teleworking 

Working from home is no more a taboo, organisations have seen an increase in productivity during this phase and it is defiantly going to be an accepted norm. This could be possible because of few teleworking applications as they help the teams to stay connected as they were during the regular days. From online meetings to sharing the tasks, teleworking mobile applications provide it with all for end-to-end communication with your teams.

Health and Fitness 

The pandemic has taught us the importance of a healthy lifestyle more than anything else. People now are more focused to enhance their physical and mental well-being. Hence, many consumers are now investing a lot more time on their health and giving it utmost importance. Mobile applications that provide a holistic health solution for mind, body, and soul is well accepted by the consumers. In a nutshell, it cost us a pandemic to understand how important our health is. This is one of the foremost reasons for the growth of mobile applications in the health and fitness industry.

App Payments 

No cash, no cards. They can be contaminated! Consumers along businesses have become very mindful about the contact-less experience and are motivated to pay using mobile applications. Once marketed for its convenient, fast, and effortless transactions, mobile app payments today advocate safety and health factors. So much said and done about the digital transactions, it has only been possible by a pandemic to make people understand that it is ‘safe’ and ‘reliable’.

OTT

Being home locked all day, people are exploring more and more options for entertainment as they have all the time in the world. Televisions are airing old and dated content, whereas OTT platforms are bringing new-age content from their stocked library. Despite watching some dated series, audiences are more interested in consuming new and fresh content each day. Seeing the growing demand for OTT platforms, many film producers are now considering to release their movies online at OTT mobile applications. For some time consumers will avoid visiting theatres and multiplexes. Therefore, this will further spurt the OTT industry.

In the days to come consumers will choose interactive mediums and applications that are safe, reliable, and disruptive. From eduction to payments, the pandemic is truly making India digital. Should you be planning to develop a disruptive mobile application in conjunction with the latest trends, then contact us at contact@goodworklabs.com or  +91- 9863077000.

In the last decade, almost every day, we have witnessed an emerging usage of smartphones and applications that support them. The mobile application industry has reshaped the businesses, organisations, individuals, and customers. Irrespective of the domain or sector you are in, it is necessary to integrate the latest mobile application development to get more reach, conversion, and growth. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that smartphones today are transforming business models, customer behaviour, operation models, and marketplaces.

In a report by Statista, it is clear that the mobile application industry is expected to reach $693 billion in 2021. Meaning, there is a great opportunity for the mobile app developers, and the year will generate more and more demand to create mobile applications that stand out and see the day of light.

Let us look at some of the emerging trends in the mobile application industry that can help you build a mobile application that is with and ahead of times:

AI and ML apps to make smartphones smarter 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) go hand in hand while building a mobile application. They are taking a centre stage of almost all technological advancements and innovation for they ease the life of customers, businesses, and employees. Apart from making life easy, they also contribute to saving time, effort, and money for mobile app developers and businesses.

Using AI and ML has lead businesses to understand user behaviour at a much deeper level. This indeed helps them solve complex business problems which would have been tough to gauge without interacting with users/customers. The simplest (or to say commonest) example of AI and ML apps is the usage of chatbots, Siri, and google.

Selling an experience through AR and VR

Known as extended reality, Augmented Reality(AR) and Virtual Reality(VR) is here to stay. Widely used for mobile gaming applications, this trend is slowly set to change by bringing in more meaningful experiences for the users or customers. It is predicted that this technology will be widely used on social platforms for branding and targeting potential customers through AR/VR apps. For instance: Creating an Instagram filter to promote your brand and engage the audiences.

Also, today many real estate developers are providing AR/VR videos for the audiences to experience their upcoming projects and taking informed decisions. This has helped them to set clear expectations and get faster conversions.

Talking about the worldwide market of AR and VR technology, Statista predicts that the business value will hit to $209 billion in 2022.

Wearables, the emerging fad

Expected to reach $44.2 billion by 2020, the wearable industry will change the everyday lifestyle. From healthcare to e-commerce all are banking on this trend to increase the engagement and revenue. The integration of wearables serves as a key to innovation and technological development.

Apple watches have pioneered this trend, and with their latest WatchOS update, they have made it clear that the Apple Watch apps will no longer require a companion iOS app. Meaning, the world of smart wearables will now be just as wide as that of smartphones.

On-demand apps, a change maker

Today we have an application for almost all our daily needs and chores – from delivery to travel, OTT to banking, and home-spa to healthcare. This is all possible because of the on-demand application developers. To develop an application that brings in change, you need to vision problems from the end-user point-of-view, anticipate, research, and then develop a solution.

In a report by Shamika Ravi and Niam Yaraghi, it is predicted that the on-demand application industry is expected to generate $335 billion in revenue. Therefore, most industries will make use of this successful business model by embracing on-demand application in their businesses. On-demand mobile applications will disrupt the way we life, work, travel, shop, and relax!

IoT, enabling a seamless experience

Living in a world of interconnected smart gadgets, we can see that Internet of Things (IoT) has already become an industry that is here to deliver a real-time experience which is seamless, fast, and valuable. IoT’s integration with mobile applications has brought in a change in inventory management, buying behaviour, digital marketing, etc. As the demand for IoT gadgets is increasing day by day, there is going to be increased demands of IoT-enabled applications as well.

With many applications being developed each day, the mobile application industry will continue to expand at a rapid pace. This will lead to more disruption thereby making way for newer trends that will change the way we all live, work, and play! Having said that, to stand out in the market and be alive, the businesses will have to anticipate and stay updated with the latest technological developments.

Should you be planning to develop a mobile application that will engage your customers and increase your revenue by using the latest trends, then contact us at contact@goodworklabs.com or  +91- 9863077000.

Have you have ever thought to yourself how much time do we spend using our mobile applications? A study says on an average people spend about three hours a day using their mobile applications. That is not surprising, after all, we do almost all daily tasks using these mobile applications – messaging, booking a ride, shopping online, playing games, banking, dating, etc. Smartphones and mobile applications have today become an integral part of our lives and society.

This pretty much says why a business needs to adopt mobile applications to lure and engage customers. These apps can help businesses drive more customers and already many companies are soaring high in the app store and play store.

Top app-based businesses like Swiggy, Zomato, AirBnB, Amazon, Uber, etc have adopted the mobile app trend and have become one of the largest companies in India and aboard. In India, this trend influenced many mobile app development companies in Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi to develop advanced apps for their clients to engage their customers and increase their business revenue. Irrespective of what business you are in, you should get a mobile application to simplify or ease the business operation.

Taking so much about the importance of having a mobile application for your business, let us look at five key factors that can make or break your dream application:

Invest in research

If you want to build an application that soars high in the app skies and strikes an engaging cord with your target audiences, then you should invest a lot of time in research before you start planning. Research the current trends in the app market and study about the upcoming or expected trends in the industry. Dig deeper and gain insights into the consumer demands and preferences. With this in-depth study and research, you should be able to analytically understand what kind of apps are popular among smartphone users.

Also, spend some time understanding the applications from the user perspective. Download the most popular apps, and get a first-hand experience of them. This shall help you understand the user experience, the interface, and the functionality of the app. Yet another way to learn through user’s perspectives are the reviews left on the app store and play store. You can find more about the loopholes and the best features here. This research will enable you a great foundation to work on.

Make clear objectives

An aimless app is just like an arrow in the dark – you don’t know where you are headed. Without a definite aim or objective, your application will surely be a failure. So get it right to the T! You can not afford to miss this. You should know why are you building a mobile application? Is it to engage your audience? Is it to increase revenue? Or is it to help people?

Without understanding the aims and objectives a mobile app, it will be impossible to – zero down the features, create a platform strategy, design UX/UI and ultimately develop an app. So get the aim right as that is the soul to your app.

Know your target audience

The most crucial step, for this, decides the success or failure of your mobile application. Therefore, identifying the right target audience plays a vital role in developing a mobile application and its features expansion. Put some time in doing primary research through surveys and interviews followed by studying the online forums to understand your market and audience. As all applications are here to solve some of the other problems, the ‘target audience’ should never be a work of guess.

You know who your target audience research is ready when you can answer these questions – Where are they located? What is their age group? What is their gender? Which income level do they belong to? What interests them? What is their occupation? What smartphone do they use? etc. Answers to these will help you create audience persona to visualize the needs of your audience sets. This step further strengthens your foundation, so be clear about who your target audience is.

Choose the right platform

Currently, there are three most popular platforms for smartphone applications. They are – android, iOS, and Windows. While android is largely common and there are many users to it, it surely can help you get a large number of downloads. But do keep a note on if your TG uses an android? Yes, you got that right. The platform strategy and selection depends on where the TG lies.

The best strategy that most app developers follow is to start with one platform, wait for the results, gather insights, and then move to a different platform. Choosing the right platform completely depends on the target audience, use, features, and pricing. Once the strategy and budget are ready you can develop a native or a hybrid mobile application.

Get the features right

The feature is the only factor that can make you stand out in the crowd. The more unique, the better. Needless to say, that your mobile application should be innovative, creative, and have easily accessible features. With everyday advancements in the smartphones and mobile application industry, it is now possible to integrate the features of smartphones in mobile applications. Adding good features enhances user experience, but adding too many features can make your application complex and slow. Therefore, always keep only the necessary, leave the rest.

The above-mentioned factors are crucial in developing an app that helps your brand successfully connect with your user base. When done right, a mobile app can help you build brand presence, convert loyal customers into brand evangelists, and increase profit margins. As one of the top mobile application development companies in India, Goodworklabs boasts an enviable track record in delivering quintessential web and mobile applications. For more information, contact our technical experts today.

These key factors are crucial in developing a mobile application that helps your brand reach, grow, and connect at a deeper level. If you follow the golden rules to the T, you are bound to reinforce your brand presence and increase your ROI by adding more customers. GoodWorkLabs, is the leading mobile application developer based out of Bangalore, India, and the San Francisco Bay Area, US. Should you require any help in building a mobile application, then reach out to us at +91- 9863077000 or contact@goodworklabs.com.

IoT (Internet of Things) is the backbone of a grand technological future. It is a concept of connecting multiple devices through the internet. Today, all industries make use of this technology and therefore have revolutionised their respective business sectors.

Taking a step further, IoT in the web and app development is making path-breaking contributions towards the world of technology. It has enabled a shift in the way users interact with websites and applications. Making the lives easier and more synchronised is the major advantage of IoT in mobile app development. As IoT begins to take over the world of technology, having a functional mobile app helps users to seamlessly connect to the world via a smartphone, a tablet, or a smartwatch.

Let us take a closer look at how IoT can impact Mobile Application Development

Enrich the User Experience

Providing a seamless user experience and keeping them engaged is one of the most important aims of the businesses and developers. With the rise of IoT, and through its continued growth we have a great advancement in the concept of everything smart – smart cities, smart applications, and smart homes.

Living in a tech-enabled world, brands today focus on enhancing the user-experience using smart applications that interact with your fitness equipment, watches, lights, speakers, and so on. This is where the IoT comes into the picture. It is IoT that keeps all these connected and synchronised to deliver a great user experience.

Open Source Development, a New Norm

Since its inception in the tech world, IoT has only grown and flourished across industries and sectors. This explosion has lead IT companies and developers to share their programs or applications openly for third parties to use. This encourages new and naive developers to build applications of their own.

Having an open-source development increases the opportunity to work with varied minds by leaps and bounds. This helps more and more creative minds to enter and develop smarter mobile applications. Bringing in transparency, companies and developers collaborating has today become a norm.

Creating New Platforms

Adopting IoT and creating apps with that at its core is a bit challenging for developers. Despite their constant and multiple adaptations, they are hindered by the dearth of the platforms. But this challenge didn’t stop them from working on their mandates, as they created brand-new platforms for their applications. This leads to the development of integrated IoT platforms, thereby enabling the developers to create more and more cross-platform applications. This trend will only encourage mobile app developers to focus on developing platforms as they offer profitable returns.

Opening up more opportunities for mobile app developers, IoT is no doubt a much-needed advancement in app development. IoT and Mobile App Development, together, will change the way we live, work, and relax. If you are planning to take some advantage of IoT and Mobile App Development, then contact us at contact@goodworklabs.com or  +91- 9863077000.

Cross-platform is commonly used by app developers to cut down on the development time and produce cost-effective results. However, cross-platform app development can lead to several performance & UX-related problems.

Cross-platform app development is the process or approach to develop applications that can run on multiple platforms. These applications use a reusable code that can reutilize to create the same form for several platforms. However, this method of approach comes with its advantages and disadvantages.

Let’s discuss in brief the pros and cons of cross-platform app development.

Pros

Reusable Code

One of the most significant advantages of this method of app development is the reusable code, which the developer can use across different platforms. Therefore, instead of developing separate applications for separate platforms, the developer can use and customize one code for different platforms. Moreover, the same code can be utilized for future projects as well.

Reduced Time

As mentioned above, the reusable code enables developers to use one code across all platforms. Doing so results in a significant reduction in development time and allows developers to complete development projects quickly.

Cost-Effective

Since one code can be used across all platforms, app owners don’t need to spend money on hiring separate developers for different platforms. Doing so saves a hefty amount of money. For instance, iPhone app development and android app development, if done separately, gets expensive.

Easy Development Process

Cross-platform app development makes the overall development process easy, resulting in a pleasant time for both developers and business owners. The cross-platform development framework supports HTML5 and CSS3, making it easy for developers to use.

Enhanced Market Reach

One of the limitations of single platform development is limited reach. If an application is developed specifically for iPhone, Android, or Windows, users will not be able to access it. And since single platform development is costly, app owners refrain from developing the same application on different platforms.

But cross-platform development enables app owners to launch the same application on all the platforms, enhancing the user base and market reach, which otherwise restricted in a single-platform application.

Integration with Cloud solutions

Cross-platform applications can integrate with various frameworks that offer several plugins to the developers for improving aesthetics, app functionality, and validity.

Simple to Update

Cross-platform applications are easy to edit and update. Since all the apps use a standard code, the update can follow across all platforms, which results in seamless operations.

Cons

Although cross-platform development comes with a bunch of exciting benefits, there are a few drawbacks to this approach as well, as discussed below.

Challenges in switching the platform

Almost all cross-platform frameworks use their JavaScript subsets, which may cause problems in the reusable code. The issues arise while switching to another platform; the reusable code becomes unusable.

Lengthy Integration Process

Another problem with cross-platform applications is the time-consuming integration process. The integration process with local settings and preferences is not easy and might require the support of third-party cloud providers to resolve the storage difficulties.

Limited Updates

The operating system may not support all the features a framework uses. For example, if IOS releases an update or adds a new element, you have to update the iOS version of your application accordingly. However, you cannot do the same with an android application until Google releases a similar update.

Sluggish Code

Cross-platform app development is not as easy as it seems, especially for novice developers. Developers need to use several cross-compliance during the development process that might lead to a sluggish code, and thereby a slow application.

The point of concern as a decision-maker or developer, how do you solve the problem of creating your mobile application for multiple platforms?

It has become an essential element for any organization, whatever its size. Some companies can focus on one operating system (operating system) and avoid all others. Nevertheless, many companies must focus on a multitude of mobile devices with different operating systems. Today, it’s vital for the app to support Android gadgets, iPads, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle, tablets, BlackBerry, and more.

One of the most challenging situations for application developers is developing a native mobile application and using it on multiple platforms. Of course, as a business, you have to deal with different types of customers with varying types of devices. As a result, you need a mobile application that can work seamlessly on almost any platform (for example, Android, iOS, Windows, etc.).

Whether your company creates a mobile app for application stores or in-house use, you often face the challenge of developing it for multiple platforms. In general, this means targeting both iOS and Android devices.

Let’s understand cross-platform apps

In an apt scenario, cross-platform applications run on multiple operating systems with a single code base. There are two types of cross-platform applications.

1. Native Cross-Platform Apps
2. Hybrid ‘HTML5’ Cross-Platform Apps

Cross-Platform Apps

The majority of the mobile operating system has its own Software Development Kit (SDK) for creating mobile applications. These SDKs also have preferred programming languages, supported by the operating system vendor. As we know, for iOS Objective-C and Swift are the recommended programming languages ​​supported by Apple, while for Android, Java is the preferred language supported by Google. Typically, applications framed with these languages ​​using the official SDK are known as native applications.

Nevertheless, it is possible to use APIs (Application Programming Interface) furnished by the native SDK, in other programming languages ​​that are not compatible with the operating system vendor. These are the way native “multi-platform” applications created. Typically, a third-party provider chooses a programming language and makes a unified API over the native software development kit availed by the various operating system vendors. With this unified API, it is possible to cater to multiple operating systems with a single code base. Because the final application produced still uses native APIs, cross-platform native applications can achieve near-native performance without any visible straggle for the user.

Some widely used cross-platform framework include

• React Native

React native leverages the best parts of native development with React, considered best-in-class JavaScript library for building user interfaces.

React Native can use in your existing Android and iOS ongoing development projects, or you can start the development from scratch.

Consistency in terms of UI and UX on both Android and iOS across multiple devices is one of the critical benefits of react-native.

How React Native Enables Low-Cost App Development

React Native competitive advantage is its low-cost development. Following are key features which enable in cost reduction;

1. Reusable Components
2. Smooth Debugging
3. Less Operational and Maintenance Cost
4. A Single and Robust UI/UX
5. Affordable Way to Market

• Ionic

Based on: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and SASS.

Ionic is one of the most popular cross-platform frameworks built with Angular and Apache Cordova; it felicitates the ability to develop apps for multiple mobile platforms in the most efficient manner. Apps developed using the Ionic cross-platform framework can run on iOS and Android.

Ionic apps use regular web technologies like HTML, CSS, and Angular and designed like web applications. But Cordova, which it depends on, enables it to make use of the device’s native features.

1. Hiring a new set of developers is not required. The existing web developers can transition easily to developing mobile apps with ionic since they make use of similar technologies.
2. Ionic makes use of web technologies, so it’s handy to work with it.

• NativeScript 

Like Titanium, NativeScript aims to make Web-based programming available for application development. Telerik announced NativeScript, a company famous for its suite of GUI components for enterprise applications in 2014. It uses JavaScript as its primary development language. The native script also supports TypeScript, Angular, and uses CSS for style. In comparison to the other technologies mentioned above, NativeScript is relatively new, but it has a lot of potentials.

• QT

QT is a cross-platform workstation development library in the industry, launched 21 years ago, in 1995. QT supported iOS and Android cross-platform applications in 2013. QT encompasses C ++ with Qt Meta Language or Qt Modeling Language – Which is a markup language similar to HTML for creating cross-platform applications. Still, by default, the Qt GUI components do not adhere to iOS and Android, and C ++ is not a handy programming language because of its vast syntax, manual memory management, and compatibility issues. QT can be quite productive if there are hands of experienced C ++ programmers.

• RubyMotion

RubyMotion is the primary language for development. One of the earliest actors in this field. When they announced for the first time in 2012, it was only related to iOS but has supported iOS and Android since 2014. Rubymotion needs a separate GUI code for iOS and Android. Nevertheless, business logic can be reused on all platforms.

Hybrid ‘HTML5’ cross-platform Apps

Mobile applications are graphical interface applications. Most of the mobile apps rely on core web services for much of their business logic. Approximately speaking, in mobile applications, especially in the area of business process automation, almost 60% of the code deals with the creation and management of the graphical interface.

As we know, iOS, Android, and Windows Phone all have a very advanced browser component in their SDK. By leveraging this Web View component, programmers can implement standard HTML5 Web technologies to design and program elements of their application. In the end, the use comprises at least one native frame and HTML / JavaScript code executed in a web view. That’s why they are called “hybrids.” Application features that require sensor input, such as geolocation, camera, or lower-level features, such as file system access, primarily use a native JavaScript bridge provided by the infrastructure of the hybrid application.

Apache Cordova, originally called PhoneGap (launched in early 2009), is the most popular multiplatform hybrid framework. It is compatible with most major operating systems for modern smartphones. Because in hybrid cross-platform frameworks, HTML and CSS used to generate a graphical interface, almost all of it can utilize on different operating systems.

In hybrid applications, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code furnishes with the app. As a result, there is no lag in loading UI-related code, as you experienced when loading Web sites on the network. On powerful and modern phones, it is possible to create a user-friendly interface with HTML5 technologies. With Cordova, primarily for B2B applications, it is possible to reuse the code between 80% and 90% on all platforms.

On the contrary, some programming languages used in native app development are:

1. Java
2. Python
3. PHP
4. Ruby
5. C++
6. JS

The Ending Note

Cross-platform development is a breakthrough technology that allows small business owners to reach a large number of the target audience with a single application. Moreover, this process helps them save a significant amount of time and money, as well. It is also a lot easier to make a mark on app marketplaces of google play store and apple app store. It has a broader user base owing to the opportunity to reach a more general audience.

However, in the case of a few businesses or applications that offer a plethora of sophisticated features, cross-platform development can have some challenges. Therefore, it is essential to contemplate the pros and cons before selecting a suitable development process for your application.

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Xamarin is the undisputed leader in cross-platform development

With a boom in the use of smartphones among customers, application development has been growing at a rapid pace. Different devices, carriers, and software have created their own identity in the everyday lives of people around the globe. Almost anything gets done with the help of a smartphone.

In terms of global market share, Android tops the list. The next in line is Apple’s iOS and Windows, respectively. As a mobile app developer, it gets confusing at times to choose the best platform for an application, other than its native platform.

Learning a new language, the API’s, and other related stuff is not only tedious but can keep you stuck on your platform. Xamarin can help you there. You can build cross-platform mobile applications to facilitate similar functions like platform native apps.

Know Xamarin

Xamarin is the name of a software company founded in the year 2011. Acquired in 2016 by Microsoft, Xamarin provides tools to developers to help them create cross-platform mobile applications. All these applications have their natural features intact while sharing a standard code set at the same time.

Xamarin tools are readily available, and they get downloaded with Visual Studio. You can directly develop apps for Android, iOS, and Windows apps from the Visual Studio itself.

A significant part of the standard code gets written in C#, eliminating the need to learn any other language like Objective-C, Swift, or Java as well. Using Xamarin instead of the usual learning procedure will prove helpful to you in learning app development on multiple platforms.

How Does Xamarin Work?

On a very elementary level, Xamarin converts the total iOS or Android SDK to C# to facilitate coding in a more familiar language for the developers. With one style to code for both platforms, you do not need to remember too much of syntax as well.

This makes it easy to access any Android or iOS API through Xamarin tools.

Benefits of Xamarin

There are several reasons Xamarin is used by a lot of companies, with brands like Trello, Slack, and GitHub a few of the ones.

We bring you some of these profound benefits Xamarin has over other technologies-

– Single Tech Stack for Coding on All Platforms

Xamarin takes the help of C# integrated with a.Net framework for creating apps for a mobile platform. Through this, you get to reuse about 96 percent of source code leading to a speedy engineering cycle. Xamarin also does not need to switch among the development environments.

All of the Xamarin apps can be entirely built in Visual Studio, a replacement for the Xamarin Studio. The tools to facilitate cross-platform development come without any added cost.

– Performance Almost as Good as Native

With the traditional hybrid solutions based on web technologies, a cross-platform app can never get the classification as native. With Xamarin, however, a cross-platform app can still get classified as a native app. The performance metrics can be easily compared with those of Java for Android and even Objective- C, or Swift to create a native app for iOS.

The performance of Xamarin is also improved continuously to meet the standards of native application development. Visual Studio provides a total option to build, test, and track the performance of an app.

– Native User Experience

With Xamarin, you can create a superb experience with the help of platform-specific UI elements. A lot of simple apps for iOS, Android, and Windows get designed with the help of Xamarin.

The use of Xamarin with the Forms tool brings about a significant increase in the pace of application development. With such a speedy process of development, it becomes a fantastic option for business-oriented projects.

However, you might always have the chance to see a slightly depleted performance, due to the presence of an extra abstraction layer. For a customized user interface and increased performance, you can use Xamarin for iOS and Android separately to get the best out of it.

– Total Hardware Support

Xamarin provides your solution with native-level app functions. The tool eliminates every hardware compatibility issue through plugins and particular API’s. This allows Xamarin to work with conventional device functionality across all platforms.

With access to platform specific API’s, Xamarin provides the function of linking native libraries. It gives a better degree of customization and a native-level functionality with just a little added cost.

– Open Sourced with Strong Corporate Support

When Microsoft acquired Xamarin in the year 2016, the licensing policies underwent quite a lot of significant changes. Xamarin SDK, with runtime, command line tools, and libraries have all become open sourced and available as per MIT license through Visual Studio.

The cost of license tends to be a significant barrier, and by eliminating this, Microsoft opened up the doors to further development of this platform.

– Ease in maintenance

Because of its cross-platform ability, Xamarin makes maintenance and providing updates easier. Developers can deploy the changes or updates to the source file itself. These updates then automatically get applied to both the iOS and Android applications.

It is important to note that this only works for the applications running on Xamarin. In short, with Xamarin, you save a lot of time and money spent on keeping your apps up to date.

Conclusion

Ones above are just a few benefits of Xamarin for mobile app development, there’s a lot more which makes Xamarin the undisputed leader in cross-platform development. The feature-rich layout and subsequent benefits make Xamarin an almost perfect option for cross-platform development.

Additionally, Xamarin has a community of more than 700,000 developers. This number is only increasing as collaboration and enhancement of software becomes more comfortable than ever with Xamarin as the app development tool.

At GoodWorkLabs we’ve highly skilled developers who’ve delivered critical solutions based applications, for enterprises from different domains.

Please write to us today at contact@goodworklabs.com to discuss your requirements.

React Native Or Xamarin for App Development

The number of smartphone users has remarkably increased over the years which is evident from the pace at which this generation is going tech-savvy. The smartphone industry has seen a growth from around 2.1 billion users in the year 2016 to nearly 2.5 billion users in 2018.

Globally, over 36% of the world’s population owns a smartphone now as compared to just 10% in 2011. Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are the most popularly used operating systems in the industry. Android leads the market with approximately 80% smartphone sales and on the contrary, iOS holds a 15% market share.

With this increasing demand for smartphones, the demand for mobile applications has grown to monstrous proportions today with more and more companies investing in them. Every day, thousands of apps are launching on both the platforms – Android and iOS. In 2017, Android users were able to choose from 2.8 million apps while Apple’s App Store had over 2.1 million apps.

The need for developing apps that work well over different platforms has increased. It makes it very important for developers to make their apps stand out in this overly crowded pool of apps. To develop great applications, a developer must be aware of the right set of tools required.

In the past, Android applications were written using Java while iOS applications used Objective-C and Swift. Currently, there has been a shift in this trend with the introduction of cross-platform development tools like React Native and Xamarin. Cross-platform development is basically designing applications that work well for both Android and iOS and other operating systems like Windows.

Earlier, developers had to write similar codes twice that would work for different platforms. With React Native and Xamarin, the development process has become easier. Not only are they cost-efficient but also save time and shorten the development cycle considerably.

The question that remains is which one between React Native and Xamarin serves as a better development tool.

For answering this, let us take a look at the detailed comparison between the two and then choose which one suits your needs the best.

Introduction to React Native and Xamarin

React Native is a cross-platform development tool that allows you to code using JavaScript while Xamarin uses C# for creating user interface codes. Big brands like Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb, and Tesla are using React Native and brands like Slack and Pinterest prefer Xamarin.

The key difference from the monetary perspective is React Native is a free tool that can be used to build applications while Xamarin does not offer a lot of features for free especially if you’re designing for a big enterprise.

7 detailed comparison between React Native and Xamarin

Here, we have outlined other differences for your perusal.

1. Development Environment

Both Xamarin and React Native are open source frameworks but the environment required for development is different for both.

For using Xamarin, you will have to download Microsoft’s Visual Studio. Visual Studio includes Android SDK which is a tool required for creating Android applications. For iOS, XCode is required which is only available for Mac.

For React Native, you will need to install Node and any other development environment tool to write JavaScript like Visual Studio and Atom. If you want to use React Native in a native way, you will have to download Android SDK and XCode, similar to Xamarin.

2. Performance

Xamarin allows you to run the fastest code for both platforms. Applications built on 64-bit code are faster as compared to  32-bit code. Xamarin supports 64-bit mode and it also provides the fastest UI by allowing developers to use native tools directly.

On the contrary, React Native does not support 64-bit mode on Android. It does not give very good results on iOS as well when it runs the fastest code but it does give you an option to custom UI designing frameworks which can use fast native widgets.

3. Code Compilation

React Native uses Just-in-time (JIT) compilation which converts program source code into native machine code just before the program is run. This cannot be done in iOS apps, so the developer needs to go back to the Android code and it does not happen the other way around.

Xamarin uses Ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation since JIT is not valid for iOS. AOT means that the code is compiled before starting an application. The reason behind this is security features don’t allow writable executable segments. This makes Xamarin a better choice.

4. Compilation Time and Development Speed

As your Xamarin app grows in size, it will require longer to compile. A bigger project means more compilation time, increasing the development time required as well as the cost.

On the contrary, React Native serves as a better tool since it does not require compilation as it uses JavaScript and it is scripted. It gives you the feature of hot reloading, which means you can simply reload the JavaScript by refreshing the app. It serves as an advantage since it allows you to test and modify React Native apps rapidly.

5. Debugging

Debugging an application code in Xamarin can be easily done since the debugging can be done in the same way as that of a .NET application using Visual Studio. This makes it a positive aspect of Xamarin.

Debugging with React Native is similar to debugging web applications. You can use the Chrome developer tool and also use third-party tools to debug such as Reactotron or Redux development tools.

6. Design

Xamarin allows you to design the UI in either a platform-specific way (by using XML for Android and storyboards on iOS) or you can use Xamarin. Forms which allows you to share the code for both Android and iOS.

React Native, on the other hand, allows you to customize visual components easier as compared to Xamarin, thus making React Native a better choice for developers because in any project a great extent of focus is stressed on the UI.

7. Framework

React Native uses a more modern one-way data flow for its development while Xamarin works with the MVVM framework style. Both frameworks are equally useful, depending upon the requirement of a project’s code.

Concluding the comparison between the two, it mostly depends on either a project’s needs or an individual’s requirements. However, if compared on the basis of their features, Xamarin can be a more preferred choice by developers as it provides a faster framework along with a classical approach. The biggest drawback of React Native is low performance and that it does not offer the native look and feel that Xamarin offers.

We made our points, now the choice is yours! 

Hybrid Mobile App Development

In 2019, the number of mobile phone users is estimated to reach 4.68 billion.  Hence, this is enough reason to stress the importance of having an online presence in the form of mobile apps. Now the next and major question is which approach to choose for app development, native or hybrid?

We understand that picking the perfect mobile development approach is a tough task. That’s why in this post, we have tried to clear the confusion by laying down circumstances in which Hybrid app development makes sense.

Why is Hybrid mobile app development more preferred?

As stated by the Ionic Developer Survey 2017, in which 13000 developers participated, 32.7% of developers are expected to completely abandon native app development for Hybrid app development. Also, there was a 700 percent decrease in developers developing exclusively with native tools.

Why Hybrid mobile app development outscores Native mobile app development?

Hybrid app development utilizes web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS while providing access to native platform features. The best examples of successful Hybrid mobile applications are Instagram, Basecamp, Yelp, and Uber.

These apps can access the native features like camera, contacts and at the same time, it runs on both Android and iOS.
With the advent of Hybrid mobile app frameworks such as PhoneGap, Ionic, and React Native, the options in mobile app development have diversified.

There are sizeable advantages for opting hybrid mobile app development.

To start with, the talent pool of Hybrid App developers is bigger than the native app developers, thus making Hybrid app development a cheaper venture than native apps. And you already know that every penny saved is a penny earned.

With Hybrid app development, multiple app platforms can be targeted without the requirement of maintaining multiple code bases. This, in turn, reduces the time to market and enhances the outreach to the users.

The following are key benefits of using Hybrid application development:

• Fast track development: single code base for all the platforms
• Easy to test and implement changes and scale to other platforms
• Inexpensive in all the aspects
  

Just like how every coin has two sides, there are some cons of opting for hybrid mobile app development as well. Consider this as well before opting for hybrid application development.

Disadvantages of hybrid mobile app development

Since a single code is used for all the major app platforms, it is difficult to match up with the performance of native apps. There are also some performance issues because of some device constraints in Android and iPhone. 

With the tech world evolving at a drastic rate, it will be difficult for organizations to stay updated with the latest features and hardware capabilities when they choose the hybrid framework. It is both a time consuming and cumbersome process altogether.

Why choose Hybrid App development?

Hybrid app development solves the chief purpose of fast-track development and a quick launch in the market. The added advantage is that it is inexpensive and there is no functional or visual difference to users.

Furthermore, hybrid apps are perfect for startups who desire a quick lane to market. Quick prototyping helps in getting an early feedback, so that unnecessary expenses on development can be avoided later. All you need is to build a Hybrid MVP and test your concepts, if it satisfies all the standards, move ahead with developing the Hybrid app or migrate back to the native app.

It is a general perception that hybrid app development has several constraints with custom features and that developers can only use the features that can be wrapped in a native container. But, the real fact is Hybrid app can cover up to 90% of standard features.

Also, the possibility to create something new with the modules already written in native for specific platforms is very high.

Another great usage of hybrid development is when you need an inner ‘corporate’ purpose app like conference apps, events and such. These applications are distributed via links and not uploaded on the Google Play or App Store.

How to decide whether Hybrid is the right choice for your business?

There is no clear choice when it comes to native or hybrid. No matter which option you pick you will have to make certain compromises. Your decision should obviously be based on your requirements, skills of developers, and budget.  Also, there are few mandatory questions that you must ask yourself before arriving at any decision.

Do you have strict budget constraints? If yes, then the hybrid app development will solve your purpose. On the contrary, if your app requires a lot of unique features in your app then native app development should be your first choice.

Summing-up

The decision of choosing the right approach for app development is not an easy one. It is like choosing between an iPhone or Android phone. The best approach to choose is to make a list of priorities and then test both app development approaches for appropriateness.

Also, the choice of app development approach varies with the project complexity. With all the pros and cons of hybrid and native app development in mind, you can make an educated decision.

If you would like a FREE consultation on the best approach for your App development needs, then drop us a quick message here

Flutter in Mobile App Development

Cross-platform app development is not just a buzz anymore. The industry has accepted it as an inherent property required for today’s market. Flutter is one software developer kit helping developers in this direction.

Working as one of the most reliable open sources, Flutter is applicable for both iOS and Android application development. Google has created Flutter with current digital app demands in mind. This SDK has proven to be helpful for online businesses in sectors such as e-commerce, food, and shopping. Flutter allows businesses to create mobile applications with advanced features such as geolocation, camera, storage, network, and much more.

Why is Flutter required in today’s market for App Development?

Flutter is soon gaining traction among developers for its ease in app development. Here are 5 reasons why Flutter is required for App development in today’s market.

1. Vast widget catalog

Using Flutter allows you to access multiple widgets in one catalog. Finding every widget organized in one place makes selection hassle-free. You can decide features and functionalities of your app and conveniently pick widgets. Dart helps you write app code and you can even include IntelliJ plugin to your application.

2. Open source enhances accessibility

Open-source development is another reason why Flutter is needed right now. Easy accessibility decides the success of any app. Which is why open collaboration brings user-friendliness to the table. An app design achieves a whole new level of scope with open source development. There is no other platform where you can find as many choices as in Flutter.

3. Easy app editing

While developing, an app has to go through multiple edits. Some features are added while others a removed. Flutter makes these changes easier. The platform provides Visual Studio code as well as Android Studio code. Using these integrations makes developed product smarter. Different variable types, function definitions and modules are used to create changes. In fact, a developer can also conduct push or pull via SCM service.

4. Dart matches Java features

Flutter gives you Dart that matches with Java in terms of feature similarities. That similarity allows developers to make a shift without any trouble. Editorial integrations, widget quality, and application features come together to make it a perfect kit for mobile app developers.

5. Single codebase for Android and iOS

With Flutter, mobile applications can achieve cross-platform functionality. A single codebase works on Android as well as iOS. So, there is no need to worry about shifting from one platform to the other and write the app from scratch. The app codebase works on both platforms, making your app more secure and protected in terms of patents.

All in all, Flutter is here to improve the standards of mobile app development projects. It is giving superior UI experience to the apps and providing feature addition capacity during an ongoing development project. The compatibility reaches the roof with Flutter, as it comes with customizable widgets.

However, all the benefits of Flutter come down to the expertise of the developers. Your team of mobile developers has to understand this technology and apply themselves completely. Companies that know how to leverage Flutter will lead mobile development to its future.

Hopefully, you feel ready to leverage this mobile development technology to your business advantage.