How to Choose Hybrid App Development Framework for Your Business?
One of the reigning mobile app development trends is taking the hybrid development approach. The quicker release, smoother app development process, and reusable code can be attributed to taking this route.
With a plethora of options available for developing hybrid apps, it has become essential for mobile app developers to choose the proper framework for their business. However, before we touch upon the steps you have to take to select a good framework, let’s take note of all the frameworks available at the moment that help with hybrid development.
Popular Hybrid App Development Frameworks You Need To Know
#1 Ionic
Ionic framework gained popularity immediately after its release in the market. Its native-like experience and smooth performance made developers choose the platform and develop apps. In addition, the documentation, a ready-to-help community, and ever-evolving features allow you to create extensive functionality and instantly bring your apps to the market.
The only flip side to this otherwise exciting framework is the intense learning curve associated with it. It is not your regular DIY framework that you can use to build a solid solution. Instead, you are dependent on developers to help you around with mobile app development.
#2 Flutter
Flutter comes with lots of features that make it essentially the best framework for building your mobile apps. As a result, many mobile app development companies have started offering flutter solutions to create platform-agnostic applications.
Few features include hot reload and VI editors that appeal to the developer and create useful apps faster. In addition, implementing friendly designs is easier with Flutter, as it provides a drag-and-drop design interface.
#3 React Native
If you are planning development in 2021, you must partner with a promising React Native development company. This is one of the lightweight and accessible frameworks that allow you to create able platform-agnostic applications.
This framework gives you a native-like experience. With React Native, you can build apps similar to the ones you would create using Objective-C or Android technologies.
The only thing to take care of when building apps with React Native is adding the necessary security layers. Make sure to add the essential security for the business apps.
#4 Xamarin
This is a Microsoft product and is highly recommended for mobile app development as well as testing. It offers a broad scope for the developers. The mobile apps bear a native-like experience and provide extensive features.
However, the learning curve is steep, and it is recommended to partner with a developer to build your mobile apps.
#5 Kendo UI
This hybrid framework comes with several JavaScript UI components and built-in JQuery, Angular, and React libraries. Along with the libraries, you also get several widgets that make your life as a developer smooth. As a result, you can accelerate the development of high-performance and incredible app solutions with this framework. The world-class support, open-source nature for enterprise, and strict QA process make it the best framework for developing hybrid app solutions.
#6 Framework7
This framework belongs to the list of few that command the HTML technology to devise hybrid solutions. You can combine this technology with Electron and NW.js to create native-like desktop apps.
This framework is majorly used for prototyping and uses Google’s material design to create the solutions. In addition, it contains the components of other frameworks that make it exciting and design-friendly.
You are now aware of some of the frameworks that are used in developing hybrid app solutions. There are others, too, such as PhoneGap, Onsen UI, JQuery Mobile, and Aurelia. These popular frameworks offer the developers a free hand to deliver the custom app solution that fits the business requirements.
With so many frameworks doing the round and aiding developers offer the apt solution, choosing the ideal solution for your business becomes essential. Here, we will take you through all the things you should consider when selecting the mobile app development framework for your hybrid app solution.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Framework
With almost all the frameworks offering similar flexibility or capability, it becomes challenging to make a choice. Here are a few pointers that might help.
1. List the Native-like Features
We mean that you need to list down all the native-like features you wish to add to your business solution. For instance, you want to make use of the camera to create a part. This would be a native-like feature as it will be using the native functionality to create the end solution. Similarly, if you plan to utilize other native functionality, you will have to list all of them down.
How does this help?
It will ensure that you know which framework can pull off, adding all the native-like features the way you need. Remember, when adding the features and functionality, you cannot compromise on the speed and performance of the mobile app. So, with this list, you will know which framework is capable of being helpful without compromising on quality.
2. Think of Current and Future
It is not just about what you want to add at the moment that you need to consider when defining the framework. It is equally important to understand the future-driven features that you wish to add to your business.
Define the current as well as future scope for your mobile app. We will tell you why this is important. Say you decided on a framework based on your current features. Now, after a few months, you want to add new features, and you notice that the framework doesn’t hold the capability to do so. What will you do? You have to develop the entire solution using a new framework.
That can add to the burden the developer feels. They will need to accelerate the development, ensuring proper learning without compromising on quality. But, something or the other is compromised, and you don’t get the same quality app.
As a result, make sure to add the current and future scope before hunting the framework for your hybrid app.
3. Identify the Limitations of Hybrid Solutions
As a key decision-maker, you should know the flip side of developing a hybrid mobile app. For instance, you want to add animations. Now, a hybrid framework has its limitations concerning animations. As a result, you should keep in mind if the solution can accept this limitation.
This will also help you know if hybrid app development is the best fit for the solution you have in mind. Alternatively, it will help you choose the hybrid framework that offers features (even with certain limitations) to meet the scope you have in mind.
4. The Interface Design for the Apps
This is an important consideration when choosing the frameworks. Developers have to operate within the guidelines of ease of operation, accessibility, and usability. If the apps don’t possess these qualities, they will be discarded by the users.
As a result, when you are developing app solutions, you need to consider which frameworks can cater to these guidelines. You want to be able to create smooth and frictionless apps for your business.
The framework should allow you to create inclusive designs, abide by the design laws and help make them seamless. But, of course, it would help if you also had design units that offer flexible tools and freehand designs.
5. Choosing the Partner Company
When creating a hybrid app for your business, you should outsource the whole part to someone with relevant experience. But, unfortunately, the different hybrid frameworks don’t come with a smooth learning curve.
In most cases, you might have to go through a learning curve and take time to understand how to add the features and functionality. By outsourcing to the experts, you save some time and effort that goes into developing the app. You get time to work on your core business while the development company will take care of your solution needs.
As a result, your turnaround time is maintained, and so is the quality of the solution you aim to offer your users.
It is essential for businesses, too, at the same time, to have skilled personnel in-house who can stay in control of the project. This way, you can ensure that the app developed is consistent with what you want.
The partner company is an essential element of choosing the framework. They will help you realize if you can develop the solutions you are planning in the choice of framework. If they feel you can, then you should go ahead with the framework.
6. Check for Evolution and Growth
With technology, it is essential to know if it will evolve with changing times. Therefore, it would help if you always adopted technology solutions and frameworks that evolve with time.
When choosing the framework for your business app, bear this in mind. Look for a technology that has shown scope for evolution and has grown over some time. Check how it has embraced current technologies and added them to its scope. These pointers are essential as they help you know the worthiness of the technology.
It also helps you understand the future scope of these technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hybrid app development?
Hybrid app development happens when you create a single app for both operating systems. It is a combination of the web and native app technologies, which allows the developers to streamline the development process and release the apps faster.
They are installed on mobile devices but, do not occupy a lot of space. They are accessed through the platform’s embedded browser and not the web browser, thus enabling faster accessibility and smooth availability.
What is the difference between a hybrid and a native app?
Native apps, as the name suggests, have been created to work with a particular operating system. It can be an iOS-specific or Android-specific application. If the developers want to create a solution for both operating systems, they will have to create separate apps.
As the apps are developed for the native platform, the user experience is unmatched and it offers excellent performance. These apps are highly secure too, promising to mitigate data risks.
On the other hand, it is easier to develop and deploy apps for two different platforms with a single codebase using the hybrid app solution. The hybrid apps are easy to maintain and the turnaround time is also less for these app solutions.
When should you use a hybrid app?
• If you have an app that requires you to handle multiple image formats and a large amount of data, then you should go with hybrid solutions.
• They hybrid app development can be considered when developing an MVP for the product you are planning.
• If you are a startup, and you want to create a base-level app for your business, then hybrid works best.
Hybrid apps are best when you want to create a low-maintenance, low-cost, and high-performance app solution for your business.
Conclusion
Choosing the proper framework for your hybrid app development needs can ensure a smooth sail through your project development and release.
While you are planning a hybrid app solution for your business, here are a few things you might want to give importance to:
7. The scope of the project
8. The irreplaceable features in your business app
9. The kind of development approach you plan to take
It is an excellent idea to outsource your business solution to a mobile app development company as they have the right blend of experience, expertise, and infrastructure.
Jignen Pandya
Vice President at Expert App Devs
Responsible for creating a sales funnel, attracting top-of-the-funnel customers, and converting the target market.
