Choosing the Right Technology
Table of Contents
Do you want to create a mobile app as a new business or expand on your current one? You may be ready to start designing but don’t forget about choosing the right technology.
Using the right app technology can make your project easier and more cost-effective. And using the wrong technology can cause many problems.
Keep reading to learn how to choose the best technology for your app.
Determine Your Budget
When choosing the right technology for your app, you need to consider how much money you can spend. You should also consider how long the project can take as that can increase the overall price.
While a lot of factors can determine how much your app will cost, different technologies can also affect that. If you want to release the app on different operating systems, you’ll need to consider if you want a developer to write the code for each system.
You can write the code once and use it on different devices. But that will limit your choices for your app development technology.
Consider the Operating System
Once you determine your budget, consider which operating system(s) you want to use. If you want to focus on Apple users, for example, you can choose technology to help develop an Apple app.
But developing an app for multiple platforms is more complicated. You can use technology specific to iOS and Android.
However, that can add time and money to the app development process. You can simplify it by using universal technology so that you can release the app to multiple platforms.
Don’t forget this step. The last thing you want is to have your developer rewrite the entire code when you could have had them do it once.
List Out the Features
You should also list the features you need or want to include in your app. A good app developer should be able to make features work with different technologies.
However, they can also suggest the best technology for your features. In some cases, writing the code twice may be worth it so that the app functions as it should.
For example, apps that use augmented or virtual reality, gaming apps, and travel apps all work well when you use native technologies. It can be a pain to write the code twice.
However, doing so will ensure your app can work well on each device or operating system.
Look at Native Technologies
When considering how to choose the right app technology, consider native technologies. A native mobile app uses a programming language that works with one operating system.
They offer many benefits, like compatibility with features like your phone’s camera or GPS. You can also make the app run faster when using native technology.
Another reason to consider native technology is if you want users to run the app without the internet. This is a great option for mobile games or calendar apps.
If you want to focus on one operating system, this is a good option. But it can get expensive and time-consuming if you want to release the app on multiple platforms.
Look at Hybrid Technologies
Hybrid apps are an excellent choice if you want to develop an app for different operating systems. You can take advantage of native technologies without having to create the app from scratch each time.
You can use hybrid technology in a couple of ways. First, you can make a compiled hybrid app, which uses one language. Then, the app will be compiled to the native code for your different operating systems.
The other option you have is to do a WebView app. You will write the code in an internal browser inside a native app.
Both technologies allow you to create apps for as many platforms as you want. But you don’t have to write the code each time, so you can save money on your development.
Know When to Use Which Type
While the two technologies are very popular, you should figure out which type is right for your app development project. You can also look into other technologies, like generic mobile apps or dedicated web apps.
No matter which type you want, you should consider how each type can affect your app. Consider everything from the time and money upfront to ongoing maintenance.
Compare the details of some essential features and elements of your app.
Amount of Code
Of course, consider how much code will be involved in the app. If you want to minimize code, you can use a technology like Flutter.
Flutter is open-source and works with different platforms. You don’t have to lock yourself into Android or iOS, and you can easily release your app on more platforms.
Other cross-platform languages can also reduce the amount of coding to do for your app. While you may still need a lot of code for a complex app, you can cut the development time in half with a hybrid or web technology.
However, native technologies can be just fine if you know you won’t need to expand your app to a new platform.
App Maintenance
After you release your app, you still need to consider app development. You will need to update your app periodically, either with new features or to make it compatible with the new version of the operating system.
If you don’t update it enough, it may not work for users who update their phones or tablets. So you could lose a lot of customers if you just make the app and publish it.
Just like with the initial coding, hybrid and web technologies will make updates easier for cross-platform apps. But you will need to make sure the update will work on each platform.
Integration and Safety
Both native technologies and options like Flutter can integrate well. Of course, native technologies are native to their respective operating systems so will have all of the features you need.
But Flutter and similar technologies can also integrate with platforms like iOS and Android. You can add plugins to Flutter to help integrate your app with special features on various devices.
Native technologies also can be very safe to use. However, you will need to consider things like encryption with any app technology.
App Performance
Developing an app with native technologies allows for an excellent performance. You don’t need to worry about adding plugins or other features to create the app.
The app should run well once you publish it. Your app can also run without using a ton of energy or memory usage.
Flutter can also perform well, and apps can run quickly. If you want to focus on performance on multiple platforms, Flutter is an excellent technique to use.
However, Flutter apps do take up more space than native technologies. That’s something to consider for a more complex app or if your ideal user already has a lot of apps on their device.
Your Developer
Another thing to think about is what your developer can use. If you want to hire an app developer, you should ask them a lot of questions, one of which is the coding languages they use.
If you know which language or technology you want to use, you should find a developer who can work with that. But your developer may also help you with choosing the right technology if you don’t know which is best.
You and your developer can go over the features and designs you have. Talk about everything from platforms to your budget and schedule. Then, you can make sure to choose the right app technology for your project.
More Coding Options
When choosing the right technology, you should consider as many options as possible. While hiring a specialist in iOS development can help, it’s not always the best choice.
If you want to make sure you develop the best, most flexible app, you should look for a developer or company that can use different technologies.
That way, you and the developer can choose the right one for your project. Even if you have a technology in mind, you may decide to change it.
And if that happens, you won’t want to have to find another developer. Here are some coding languages to ask about when choosing a developer for your app.
iOS
If you want to develop an iOS app you have a couple of choices. Of course, you can use native technology, which for iOS is a technology called Swift. You can use Swift to design an app that works with all of the iOS features.
This is a good option if you want fast performance. It’s also useful if your target audience all uses Apple devices. You don’t need to spend time developing or optimizing an app for a platform your audience doesn’t use.
If you want to release an app on iOS, you can also use Flutter. Fluter is a hybrid technology, so you can create an app for iOS alone or also for something like Android.
You should use Flutter if you aren’t sure which platform is best for your app. That way, you don’t need to code multiple versions of your app.
Android
You can also use native technology if you want to create an Android app. In this case, you would use Kotlin to make the app. You can follow similar steps to developing an app native to iOS.
Kotlin lets you take advantage of the Android operating system. You don’t need to use the internet to code the app, and you can release the app without the internet as a usage requirement.
Fluter is another great option if you want to make a hybrid app that you can release on Android. You should use Flutter if you want a flexible user interface (UI). It’s also a great option for MVP mobile apps.
Even if you want to start with Android apps, using Flutter will give you flexibility in the future. That way, you can expand your app business if you want.
API and Backend
If you don’t know which platforms you want your app to be on, you can develop your app using API and backend technologies. That way, you don’t have to push back your project.
As you create the app, you may decide on one or more operating systems. But with these technologies, you can release the app wherever you like.
Examples of these technologies include NodeJS and Laravel. NodeJS uses Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, so it’s great for developers with experience in that language.
Laravel is a web application framework, and it uses PHP. It’s a great option if you want to develop an app using syntax.
Database
You can also use database technologies to develop an app. These technologies focus on entering and retrieving information for a database. It’s a great option if you want to support queries and updates from multiple users.
A popular option for database technology is MySQL. It’s an open-source database management system, and it can deploy cloud-native applications. The letters SQL stand for the structured query language.
Another choice in this category is MongoDB. This technology does not use structured query languages, but it does use databases. You can use it with programs like Azure and AWS.
Frontend
The last category of app technologies you can use is the front end. These technologies focus on creating what you see in an app rather than writing the code and starting from the back.
ReactJS is one example of front-end technology. It is an open-source JavaScript library that you can use to build UI components of an app. You can use it as the base for your mobile app, and you can focus on the visual aspects.
VueJS is a similar technology, and it can build single-page applications. It uses a view-view model framework, and it’s a progressive, approachable technology.
Choosing the Right Technology for Mobile App Development
When developing an app, choosing the right technology is crucial. If you don’t you could spend more time and money on different versions and updates.
So consider everything from the operating systems you want to use to the app features. That way, you can choose the best app development technology for you.
Are you ready to start developing an app? Book a consultation today.