Development process

  • Cross-Platform App Development CPAD
  • Use programming languages that are not native to the mobile OS.
  • The programming language itself is cross-platform.
  • Includes multiple SDKs for the various platforms.
CPAD Building Process
CPAD App Types

Drawbacks of using CPAD

  • Performance
    • Even though CPAD frameworks claim to have a performance matching a native app, native apps tend to perform faster.
    • Users will NOT notice the difference in most cases.
  • App size
    • Native apps tend to have a smaller size after compilation.
    • Apps created using CPAD will be larger in size due to the fact that additional elements are added during the converting process.
  • Constant Updating
    • When Google or Apple issue an update, an additional feature or a new API, CPAD frameworks must implement them and in a timely manner.

  • Opensource Hybrid app development framework by Apache.
    • Single codebase that generates native Android and iOS apps.
  • Languages used:
    • JavaScript
    • UI: HTML5 & CSS3 for UI.
  • Command line based:
    • No IDE: web component built using the developer’s editor of choice.
  • Process:
    • Build web application.
    • Cordova converts web app into native app.
    • Cordova provides a large set of plugins to access native capabilities via JavaScript.
  • Excellent when a web app already exists and needs to be converted it into an app.

  • Opensource Cross-platform Native app framework.
    • Single codebase that generates native Android and iOS apps.
  • Based on Facebook’s popular React JavaScript library.
    • Created by Facebook because the performance of the hybrid mobile apps was not satisfactory.
  • Languages used:
    • JavaScript & ECMAScript
    • UI: JSX & React Native components.
  • Command line based.
  • React Native outputs a Native app that can be opened and extended in Android Studio or XCode.

  • Opensource Cross-platform Native app framework by Google.
  • Single codebase that generates:
    • Native Android and iOS apps.
    • Web Apps.
    • Desktop apps.
  • Languages used:
    • Dart. (relatively new).
    • UI: Flutter Widgets.
  • Integrates easily with Android Studio & Visual Studio.

  • Opensource PWA app framework.
  • Single codebase that generates mobile apps.
  • Languages used:
    • Ract.
    • Angular.
    • Vue.
    • HTML5, CSS and JavaScript.
  • Utilizes Cordova plugins that allow access to in-built device features such as Audio Recorder, GPS, and Camera..
  • Cross-platform Native app framework by Microsoft.
  • .NET MAUI is the successor of Xamarin.Forms.
  • Many changes brought to Xamarin.Forms.
  • Will be discussed in more detail in this course.

Other frameworks worth mentioning

  • Opensource Cross-platform.
  • 2D Gaming engine.
  • Singe codebase to create gaming apps for :
    • Mobile.
    • Desktop.
    • Connected TV devices.
  • Uses Lua programming language.

  • Opensource Cross-Platform app framework.
  • For Java lovers.
  • Single codebase to build:
    • Native apps for Android, iOS.
    • Desktop apps.
    • Web apps.
  • Installs as a plugin in Eclipse, NetBeans, and IntelliJ.

Sources and Additional ressources

Brief History of Apps What is a mobile App National App Day Native vs CPAD PWA Flutter React Native Cordova Ionic Solar Codename