The power of hybrid app development

Developing an app starts with establishing a clear concept, in which the desired functionalities and features are specified. It’s important to gain a deep understanding of who the users are and how the app will be distributed and made available. These considerations play a key role in choosing the right technologies and tools for developing a successful app.

The first decision to be made is whether to choose a web app, a native app, or a hybrid app. This choice is crucial, as each type of app has its own advantages.

Web Apps

A (progressive) web app is an application that can be easily added to the home screen of your phone or tablet. This app runs in a web view, the built-in browser of your device, and is displayed in full-screen mode without traditional browser navigation. As a result, the app is accessible on all platforms without installation. Web apps are fast and relatively easy to develop and maintain. However, due to limited access to hardware and less deep integration with the device’s operating system, the user experience may be less smooth.

Native Apps

Native apps, on the other hand, need to be installed on a device before they can be used. These apps have access to all the functionalities and capabilities that the phone or tablet’s operating system offers.

Native apps are available through well-known app stores such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, but also through lesser-known stores and distribution channels. For companies that want to distribute an app exclusively internally, there are enterprise distribution options that allow the app to be offered outside of public stores.

For developing a native app for iOS, you can choose between Swift or the now outdated Objective-C. For Android development, options include Java, Kotlin, and Dart. If you want to develop an app for both platforms, this means you’ll need to create two separate apps. This not only extends the development time but also increases development and maintenance costs, as both codebases need to be regularly updated due to rapidly changing programming languages and technologies.

Hybrid Apps: one codebase, two platforms

Hybrid app development is gaining popularity due to the many benefits it offers for developing Android and iOS apps.

A hybrid app is developed using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and TypeScript and provides access to native features of the operating system, such as GPS, camera, and push notifications. An even greater advantage is that a hybrid app consists of a single large codebase, and most of the source code is the same for both iOS and Android.

The code is compiled into a native Android and iOS app. The apps can then, just like traditional apps, be offered to the app stores and distributed to the end-user. This development approach allows for new functionalities to be developed and rolled out more efficiently, resulting in lower development and maintenance costs.

React Native

At SowiesoDigital, we choose React Native for hybrid app development, a popular open-source framework. React Native allows us to build mobile applications using JavaScript and React, a powerful library originally designed for developing web applications.

React employs a component-based architecture, enabling developers to create reusable components that can be quickly adapted without reloading the entire page. This promotes a smooth and interactive user experience, where the app feels fast and responsive.

This framework not only delivers excellent performance and scalability but is also supported by a large and active community of developers who continuously contribute to its improvement and innovation. As a result, React Native has become one of the most widely used tools in mobile app development. Hundreds of thousands of apps have been developed worldwide with React Native, including popular apps like WhatsApp, Netflix, Airbnb, Uber Eats, and Instagram.

Interested in Developing an App?

At SowiesoDigital, we leverage powerful technology to develop high-quality, efficient, and scalable apps. Do you want to launch a web, native, or hybrid app? We are ready to support you at every step of the process: from concept, design, and technical development to launch and maintenance. Want to bring your app idea to life? Contact us today for more information.