Top 6 Cross-Platform App Development Tools of 2021
Creating mobile applications to boost productivity within a time frame can be challenging for app developers; that’s why software development companies have developed tools/frameworks that can create apps to simplify the whole smartphone app development process.
In a highly competitive market, app developers are looking for cross-device app development tools while businesses are looking for ways to improve their revenue. Cross mobile application development is time-consuming and resource crunching.
Thanks to some popular cross-platform mobile application creators that have gained center stage to work on multiple platforms, including Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, iOS, and many more.
To help you get the idea of these frameworks, I have winded up some best cross-platform development tools with the latest technology upgrades.
1. Phone Gap
Engineered by Apache Cordova, the open-source framework Phone Gap includes a compiler, debugger, and testing tools blended with popular web technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. It allows programmers to build apps within a native app container, which will enable Javascript to access device-level APIs likewise other apps do. It has gotten back up of various plugins like Media Recorder, Push Plugin, Image Capture Plugin, and much more. It triggers some key functionalities like GPS, Accelerometer, sound, camera, etc.
Features — Sturdy backend for beginners, Open source, Immensely flexible for developers.
2. App accelerator
The cross-platform development tool App Accelerator uses the JavaScript universal code mechanism to develop, deploy, and test apps’ functionality. It can create applications for platforms like iOS, Android, and Blackberry to boost product development and delivery. Building a prototype is more straightforward with less effort and reduced time to analyze UI with user interaction. It offers high-quality drag and drop palettes and helps 60% to 90% code reusability when publishing on different platforms.
Features — Titanium framework, Cloud service to pack, distribute and examine, fundamental source code.
3. Xamarin
One of the leading solutions for native cross-platform application development allows developers to use a single C# codebase for Android, iOS, and Windows. Xamarin gives you the flexibility to add components directly from an interface, native API access, integration with backends, interfaces for sharing code, and much more. Developers can use APIs, language, IDE everywhere. With a good set of features, developers can reuse up to 70% of code when adapting to other platforms.
Features — Single technological stack, simplified maintenance, time, and cost-saving.
4. Ionic
Ionic is an open-source framework that provides platform-specific UL elements with a library of native components. It uses front-end technologies like Javascript, CSS, and Angular for app development. It uses an HTML5 framework that needs a wrapper like Cordova or Phone Gap as native.
Developers have the flexibility to access more than a hundred design and functional elements with various components and plugins. The mobile development lifecycle can quickly create powerful apps for iOS, Android, Electron, and PWA. It provides pre-designed components, interactive paradigms, extensive themes, and typography.
Features — Javascript components, Framework compatibility, mobile-optimized UI components.
5. Sencha
Sencha allows you to build apps with modern Java and JavaScript frameworks. With about 115+ fully supported and tested UI components, you can easily integrate them into your app. Developers use HTML5 for creating apps and converting them to other platforms with Adobe PhoneGap. Deploying a single script enables developers to create iOS, Windows, Blackberry, and Android apps. With adaptive layouts, fluid animations, and smooth scrolling features, it makes apps more engaging and user-friendly.
The platform ensures that the overall look of the app is uniformly maintained across all platform apps. It comes with high-performance UI widgets, toolbars, forms, menus, and lists. It also allows you to access design tools, create reusable themes without adding lengthy code.
Features — Code compatibility of new with an old library of prebuilt UI components, custom modules.
6. Solar 2D (Formerly Corona)
Solar 2D is a cross-platform development framework for 2D games and mobile apps. Launched in 2009 with open GL hardware acceleration for graphics and animation, it is considered a high-performing multimedia development tool. It includes more than 1000 apps and plugins that make it easy for developers. Paired with IDE, it changes code instantly and provides a real-time preview of your app.
The apps are optimized for higher performance due to the lightweight script power of the Lua language. It is a free-to-use tool primarily used in 2D games and supports HD graphics and high-speed development games. No matter if you are a pro or novice app developer, the entry-level of development allows you to access the core functionality of the framework.
Wrapping Up
Today, businesses face tough competition, and it has been imperative to provide top-notch technology for smooth performance. Cross mobile app development offers server advantages, including budget reduction, less time, and the possibility to expand the targeted audience outreach. The advantage of cross-development tools becomes popular with time and stimulate further development.
Originally published at https://thecompetenza.com on April 23, 2021.