Cross Platform Application Design: The Benefits And Disadvantages One Should Remember

By Author: Yancy Marry
Total Articles: 184
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Having a mobile strategy shifted from optional to compulsory for enterprises two years back. Today, a similar shift is being seen in the adoption of multiple OS platforms within an enterprise. This means that most enterprises across the world have to support mobile applications across the major operating systems of iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and Symbian. Developing apps for all the OS platforms has come across as a challenge to not only application development units but also the businesses which have access to limited resources. However, with the advent of the concept of cross platform application design, developers can use a variety of programming languages & development tools to create mobile apps that will run effectively in all major OS platforms. Like all forms of technology, the cross platform technique also has its share of advantages & hazards. Let us take a look at some of them in order to help you decide whether cross platform technology is important or can be disregarded.

The Benefits of Using the Cross Platform Framework:
1. Reusable Code – Now a developer no longer has to write ...
... specific actions & sequences for every operating system; he/she writes a single code and uses the same code in app development projects conducted across all platforms.

2. Easy for Developers – The scripting languages used in the different cross platform frameworks are dynamic in nature. This is the reason why developers do not face difficulty in using them. Support of the standard programming languages of CSS3 and HTML5 is an added advantage to developers.

3. Cost Effective – The development costs are comparatively low in the case of app designing using cross platform technology. Enterprises can make an app function across all major platforms without making investments specific to all ecosystems.

4. Support for Cloud Services – Frameworks such as AWS, Salesforce.com, and Box.net can be directly integrated with cloud services, thus benefitting the app developers.

5. Easy Access to Modules and Plugins – Most frameworks under the cross platform technology give a developer access to plugins & modules; thus means that he/she can easily plug into various tools & services.

6. Easily Compilable and Deployable – According to developers, apps can be compiled & deployed more quickly and efficiently in a cross platform environment. With improvement in technology, the new tools used under this framework are more effective in this regard.

The Disadvantages of Using the Cross Platform Framework:
1. Personal Tools Cannot Be Used – The framework demands forgoing of a developer’s IDE preference. Many app developers may find it difficult to create well functioning apps when not using personal tools.

2. Code Runs Slowly – The process of cross compilation of apps is slow since the reusable code runs very slowly.

3. No Support to Several Operating Systems and Mobile Devices – Every single time an OS platform or mobile device adds new features, the framework must be updated for supporting the added features.

4. Limited 3D and High End Graphic Support – If a developer is working on the creation of game centric mobile apps, the cross platform framework often fails to provide solutions to building successful apps.

With the demand for mobile apps rising and resources with enterprises being limited, the concept of cross platform application design is fast catching up in the mobile world. However, the developer must take precautions to ensure that a cross platform app appears similar in whichever platform it is operated.

Copper Mobile, with branches in the cities of Dallas, London and Noida, is one of the top mobile app companies of the world. The Mobile application development India has team of highly experienced BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and iPhone developer Austin .