An average person wakes up to smart watch vibrations, quickly orders breakfast on a food delivery app, connects with colleagues on online meeting apps, moves around the city using cabs via apps, and so on. A normal day is filled with app usages, and it has now become impossible to navigate through the day without any of them.
There are currently 3.04 million apps on Google Play Store, indicating the intensity of competition in the android app development market. It is also used on PCs, smart watches, cars, home appliances, etc. Android's share of mobile OS worldwide stands at 74.13% in the ever-growing world of mobile apps. The reason for this wide range of use is that it is the most compatible and the easiest for customizable operating systems.
Why Android app development?
An android app development company has an array of frameworks to choose from. While in 2020 some of them are gaining more popularity over others, all of them are still in use for varied requirements. Since android operates on various platforms, cross-platform android app development is the way to go.
Exploring the Leading Android App Development Frameworks
1. Flutter
Flutter is Google’s free and open source framework, considered the best for hybrid and native app development. Since it has a single base code, it’s easier to use. The layered architecture renders the components faster than the other frameworks. The customizable widgets can be built in a matter of minutes.
Best features:
- High-performance application
- Good widget support
- Rich motion APIs
- Built-in material design
- Hot reload
Why should you use Flutter?
The world is fast moving and everyone needs their job done quick. Flutter offers everything on a plate, and the developer has to simply pick them and place them in the way a client wants. It does not require special training to use Flutter, thus saving both time and money.
Hot reload allows to witness and assess changes in real time, thereby saving time spent on testing.
Building an MVP is the first step to launch a product in the market. Dart is an object-oriented language that allows usage of the same code on all platforms and does not require the JavaScript bridge to work.
2. React Native
ReactJS, developed by Facebook, is one of the most widely used frameworks for android app development. It has been adopted by every app development company for the robust framework that it is. It is one of the fastest angular JS systems, and has proven to be the most productive frameworks in place.
It also secure and easily scalable, and assists in producing reusable and interactive interface. It uses Java, the most used language for app development, resulting in a low learnability curve.
Best features:
- Low code
- Declarative API for predictive UI
- Third-party plugins are made compatible
Why should you choose React Native?
Data and documentation processes involve online resources. Thus, the code is stable and presents a one-directional flow of data.
Since it is an open-source library, it encourages contributions to add to the available codes, creating a community.
Tools like React Native Debugger, Expo, Fast Refresh have made the developer experience exponentially better over the years, and a special team is working on making it even better with time.
3. Ionic
Placed under the license of MIT, Ionic is a free open-source network that provides with a complete library of gestures, elements and software tools. User interface elements are given by default so that the developer can focus on the development process rather than the interface. It is the only app to have a Command Line Interface (CLI).
Best features:
- Inbuilt UI components
- Complete control over app development
- Stable development platform
- Community of about 5 million developers
Why should you choose Ionic?
It facilitates rapid application building and multiple platforms support Ionic framework
Since it employs AngularJS, it is easier to build hybrid apps, and also provides many functionalities to the developers. AngularJS allows developers to rely on native hardware acceleration.
Ionic uses Cordova plugins, which allows easy access to camera, GPS, and other simple applications. Developers can use this to build their applications.
4. Xamarin
Xamarin is another open-source framework, with an excellent user interface written in C#/XAML. It comes will all the essential tools to build a mobile application. It is Ecma-standard compliant and comes with a .NET framework. It is used as a shared code and test business logic across various platforms.
Best features:
- Dynamic backend infrastructure
- Google emulator manager
- Diagnostic tools
- Application loader
- Storyboard files
Why should you choose Xamarin?
It assists in easy integration of API and works perfectly on multiple platforms
Users get android application development tool for the interface
Xamarin Insight keeps a record of crashes and exceptions, reducing the number of bugs and enhancing app performance.
5. Corona SDK
Corona SDK uses LUA, a lightweight and quick programming language to create android applications. Beginners transform into full-fledged professionals with this framework as it travels from the fundamentals of app development to other complicated details. The pace at which it develops an app is unmatched and it hosts native UI support, an integrated engine and over 500 APIs.
Best features:
- Multiple plugins for all needs
- Strong API support to integrate with native libraries
- LUA-based framework
- Continuous recreation of app preview
Why should you choose Corona SDK?
It is probably one of the quickest frameworks and can be done even by an absolute beginner. It is developer friendly.
A lot of gaming apps have LUA as their scripting language. Games are also the most popular apps on Google Play Store amounting for 13.44% of the apps worldwide.
It provides maximum support to integrate banner ads, implicit currencies and app properties.
Although each developer may prefer a framework of their own, it is understood that each of the above-discussed frameworks operate in a way that makes the developers’ jobs easier. The choice has to be made considering the features to be built, development time, and the level of expertise. Frameworks have been evolving and there has been a paradigm shift in code, script, integration, development, deployment. Building an operational app and turning it into an elegant product lies in the hands of the developer. If you are looking for such a developer, contact the experts to witness your ideas become reality.