Do you want to build a hybrid mobile application? When you decide to develop an application, the first question that arises is the programming language that should be used. If you want to build apps that are compatible with iOS or Android, you’ll have to choose between different types, namely “native”, “hybrid” or “cross-platform”.
Native applications are designed to work only on the intended operating system. Thus a native Android application will not be compatible with the iOS system. To be able to reach as many people as possible, applications turn to the other two solutions. But what exactly is a hybrid application?
What is Hybrid Mobile App?
Hybrid mobile application is none other than an application that has source code compatible with Android, iOS or even Windows Phone. Nowadays, most of the applications being developed are native. There are two codes for when you can find the app on both Android and iOS.
However, this trend will change with new technologies that will make it easier to hybridize applications. A single source code is half the work, and a single piece of code to modify during updates and various revisions. A solution that greatly facilitates the task and saves time and money.
Why Build a Hybrid App?
Hybrid application allows only one application to be developed to be compatible with iOS and Android. So it is not necessary to call a developer twice, but only once. This design makes it possible to optimize costs and avoids taking into account the constraints associated with each system.
A hybrid app can be created for all kinds of reasons. Take the example of mobile game development. If you want to be able to reach as many people as possible, it’s important not to neglect iOS users.
With native apps, so you’d need to develop the game twice with different programming languages, which would take you twice as long. You will also need to modify the code during the update and test the update on two applications, which complicates matters further.
Hybrid application is also very useful for many other applications. A dating application, for example, cannot afford to leave about 10% of the world’s population at risk by not making its solution compatible with iOS. This applies to sports, entertainment and any other solution.
By choosing a hybrid application, you ensure that you centralize your source code in one place, which minimizes errors and allows you to provide a better quality solution by spending more time improving it than developing it. allows for.
Advantages and disadvantages of hybrid applications
The first advantage that is put forward in the development of hybrid applications is the cost of the application. Indeed, hybrid technologies require only one source code that allows two applications to be published. So the work that needs to be done is half that of native applications.
In terms of update and maintenance, again the costs are optimized because it only deals with one code, not two.
Another major advantage of hybrid mobile application is its speed of development and deployment on different platforms. Both applications are developed together from the same source code, so there is no lag between releases on Android and iOS. In addition, delays are minimized by reducing the amount of work. In short, Hybrid Mobile Application is a simple application to deploy and easy to develop.
On the disadvantage side, it is important to know that most of the limitations associated with hybrid solutions have been overcome thanks to the cross platform which makes it possible to go even further. However, there are always special cases for which developing multiple applications remains a better solution.
A common limitation is the user interface that is pushed. In fact, some displays that are complex can be difficult to implement in a hybrid solution. This is because of the difference in appearance that there can be between an iOS menu and an Android menu. Today’s frameworks offer great customization for simple and advanced development. But when the complexity is pushed further, they start to show their limits, which can be a problem for this type of development.
Another point that often comes up is the consistency of the code. A hybrid code and logically less stable than native code, as it is not specifically designed for the operating system. Hence it is necessary to favor native mobile applications to avoid various bugs and compatibility issues. Many phone-related plug-ins and features are pieces of code that are made available to developers.
So using these different functionalities can quickly lead to a dependency on these communities that do not always publish updated plug-ins in a timely manner. With the evolution of operating systems, applications can quickly become obsolete or obsolete, which can greatly affect its popularity. One problem that we don’t come across in the case of native application development.
Various Hybrid Growth Technologies
Before starting or hiring a freelancer or agency to develop your hybrid application, it’s a good idea to ask the right questions to make sure you understand what professional means by hybrid.
To help you see more clearly, we have compiled a list of different techniques that can be used. Thus you will be able to have an overview and get your own idea about the type of rendering that is possible to achieve.
This is how we find ported web applications and PWAs. So-called “HTML5” applications that do not mention any other names are simply websites that are ported directly to the mobile version.
This solution is the simplest to set up, but it is also by far the most limited. It is therefore only suitable for simple applications that do not seek to integrate native functionalities. One can easily turn to this type of solution for publishing a showcase type of application or blog post.
Next come hybrid growth technologies. So your freelancer or the agency in charge of your project should tell you about Ionic, Apache Cordova and PhoneGap. It is important to know that these three technologies are all connected.
Apache Cordova is a so called free project that will serve as the basis for development on various platforms. The technology is based more on web technologies, namely HTML5, JavaScript and CSS, than native code.
As for PhoneGap, it’s just a version of Cordova that is maintained and built entirely by the giant Adobe.
Lastly, the Ionic framework is a set of CSS classes, but also libraries and several JavaScript modules that rely on AngularJS to enrich Cordova with many features.
Our tips for building hybrid apps
To build a hybrid application that meets your expectations, there is no doubt that you will need strong skills in mobile application development. Unfortunately, the people who undertake this type of project do not always have the skills to complete them, which puts the brakes on the development of the project.
Then it is necessary to call in a professional who has the skills to do this type of development. Cheaper and more flexible, freelancers have a definite advantage over development agencies, however, they are not always reliable. This is why Codeur.com is a platform that allows you to publish a mission for free and interact with dozens of freelance mobile developers in a completely secure way.
You can choose from different offers each with their price, their delivery time and their approach to application development. It doesn’t cost you anything, and you get dozens of quotes to complete your project from qualified professionals, whose opinions you can see while benefiting from the platform’s supervision for maximum security.
By choosing Codeur.com, you are guaranteed that your hybrid mobile application development is in good hands, and you can focus on other tasks related to your project to allow it to kick into gear.