In 2021, 4 types of application development will predominate. Of various natures and with their own characteristics, each has its advantages and disadvantages. From the Web App to applications hybrid applications through the native development and native native generated applicationsHere is an overview of these application development models to help you decide which one to choose for your project.
The 4 main types of application development: native application, native generated application, hybrid application and Web App
Contrary to popular belief, mobile applications are not on the declineOn the contrary, they efficiently meet the needs of many projects and users. Although there are others, here are 4 types of application development selected according to 3 criteria: popularity, efficiency and profitability.
The development ofa native application, to aim for excellence
Native is still the main technology for mobile app development. It is simply using a specific language for each operating system to create the application from scratch on each platform. The development of a mobile application on iOS or Android differs and therefore requires 2 separate projectsThis requires a lot of time and resources.
Technically, programming languages vary depending on the operating system for native applications. Here are the most common ones:
- Java and Kotlin on Android
- Objective-C and Swift on iOS
The initial investment is therefore more important. However, it has several advantages: native is the type of development that offers the greatest freedom in terms of display optimization, functionalities and updates. If it is reserved for more ambitious projects, requiring many resources, it offers the final customer an application that can be customized at will.
As far as application security is concerned, we invite you to read our dedicated article.
The development ofof a native application, to get closer to the native
L'native application is a good alternative to the native application. It offers performance close to that of the native application, but with a single code and a single development for iOS and Android. The native application generated is developed using a cross-platform exclusion languagelanguage, such as React Native, Ruby or JavaScript. Integration, display and customization are all there for performance close to, but not better than, native. This is one of the best types of application development in terms of the quality of the product delivered and the possibilities offered. Instagram, Skype and AirBnb are just a few examples of generated application development (with React Native).
Nevertheless, the development of native generated applications requires finding developers who master the programming languages in question. This automatically increases the cost.
If you'd like to find out how it works in real-life development, we invite you to read our series on Flutter and the CCIFI application .
The development ofa hybrid application, between web and native
The development ofhybrid applications deserves special attention, since it is a clever mix between native and web. A hybrid mobile application is developed with web languages like HTML5, CSS or even JavaScript. To take a popular example, the mobile version LinkedIn is a hybrid application. The optimized display is similar to a websitebut does not appear on the smartphone browser: a dedicated window opens in a specific browser to display the application. Another particularity, it is possible to update the dedicated browser (the application) using native code and thus deploy new features.
Hybrid development is particularly suitable for a limited budget. For example, it can be used to code only the web part of the application, which can be sufficient. Indeed, it is purely and simply a question of web development. One of the major advantages of the hybrid application is therefore linked to its "one-shot" creation: a single development is enough to create an application that is very close to the original one.is enough to create an application very close to the native one for all platforms, iOS and Android.
However, the flip side of the coin is that the hybrid application suffers from the defects of the web : poorly optimized display, aging technologies, lower performance compared to other types of application development, etc.
Web App development, or when the website becomes an application
The Web App (or PWA for Progressive Web App) is an elaborate version of a responsive. It is not an application per se, but it offers several advantages when viewed on a smartphone. First, it is possible to install the application directly on the home screen and display it in full screen, like a "real" application. The navigation is more immersive than a responsive and its appearance is closer to a native application. Its most obvious advantages are the affordablethe dual web-mobile presence with a single codeor even the SEO (natural referencing). Often, the Web App can also be used offlineunlike a website.
On the other hand, the Web App suffers:
- of an absence on the stores of applications;
- of a customization very limited customization;
- of Inferior performance to that offered by the native ;
- of a display not optimized;
- of an ergonomics not always at the rendezvous.
The Web App is a good solution to turn a well built website into an application, in order to make it more accessible on mobile and offer new features. This is how some e-commerce sites are doing.
Uber and Pinterest are notably Web Apps, web applications.
To learn more about the development stages of a web application, discover the Web App project that Blue Soft led for Vinci Immobilier with a custom application, which significantly improves the quality control of the projects of the real estate branch of the group.
How much does it cost to develop an application?
The cost of a mobile application can vary depending on the type of application development and the scope of the project. Prices range from a few thousand euros for a basic Web App project to several hundred thousand euros for a large scale native application development project. Depending on the budget and the required functionalities, some types of applications are more suitable than others. It is not uncommon for native development to be simply excluded for cost reasons. Indeed, we must not forget that this model requires 2 distinct developments. Globally, the more an application provides featuresthe more the budget increases. The same goes for the requirements in terms ofuser experience and d'interface ergonomics. In most cases, an application development project costs several tens of thousands of euros.
It is difficult to estimate the exact cost of an application: the best way to get an accurate idea is to discuss it directly with our experts.
If you are interested in this article, please also read our 10 must-have DevOps tools for 2021 as well as our case study : The support Blue Soft within the Devops department of Médiamétrie.
