Top 5 Mobile App Development Tools

Mobile app creation requires a strong tech team and a comprehensive strategy.

18:28 10 November 2021

The development tools are just as crucial as the quality of design services. It is a one-time investment that brings long-term benefits. If you choose the wrong arsenal, you will have to start from the beginning and incur additional costs. 

 

Mobile tools are the starting point that determines the quality, capabilities, and fate of your digital product. Professional iOS app development services prevent the need for expensive and time-consuming reworking. Unfortunately, many startups ignore scalability in favor of instant solutions. So, what is the right way to choose a mobile app development tool?

 

Keys to Success

 

Begin by working out the requirements for your app. What features do you want it to include? Pick the framework that facilitates these functions best. If you hire a mobile app development firm locally or offshore, the project manager will suggest the best solutions based on your needs, target audience, and market. Here are five mobile app development tools that are all in high demand in 2021. 

 

Top 5 Mobile App Development Tools

 

Each of these tools has its unique strengths and applications. Do not choose without thorough research. Remember that this system can determine the fate of your app.

 

1. Xamarin

 

Xamarin is the leading choice for native apps — i.e., products developed exclusively for iOS or Android. This framework is provided by Microsoft, which ensures protection against termination of service and critical security threats. Xamarin is currently used by over 1.4 million developers around the world. Finding the right tech talent is not difficult, so you can build your team relatively fast.

 

Xamarin is classified as a mono network. It fully relies on native APIs to unlock the full potential of device capabilities. IntelliSense, a code completion aid, makes programming easier. Deep linking and app indexing means that users can find your in-app content using mobile Google search.

 

The development life cycle (building, testing, deployment, and repetition) based on the C++ programming language is simplified. Your team can create powerful shared libraries, incorporate social or enterprise authentication, include push notifications or features for offline syncing.

 

2. Sencha

 

This JavaScript-based framework is ideal for the rapid development of native apps compatible with the latest versions of Android, iOS, and BlackBerry. It is one of the top choices for enterprise-level apps. 

 

Your team can create code in HTML5 and use it to build Android and iOS apps. Sencha also uses MVC or Model-View-Controller. This design pattern ensures a clear separation between the display and business logic, which provides a better division of labor and maintenance. 

 

The Sencha ecosystem includes over 115 integrable components that work with a rich variety of Frameworks, such as Angular and FOSS. Create smooth menus, lists, and toolbars using commercially supported UI widgets. 

 

Thanks to the unified code paradigm for cross-platform development, you are less dependent on multiple versions and libraries. Sencha includes an end-to-end testing solution for Ext JS that helps developers deliver high-quality results. They can test their apps thoroughly with less time and investments required.

 

3. Appcelerator

 

Like Sencha, Appcelerator is a JavaScript-based framework. It is widely used for both native and cross-platform applications. One of its key strengths is efficiency, as the developers need fewer lines of code (60-90% less) to build an app. They can also sell or share templates, modules, and extensions in an open mobile marketplace. The framework comes with plenty of platform-specific features, APIs, and UI. 

 

As JavaScript is one of the most popular languages, your company will find developers easily. You can build fully native applications and make the most of device capability. JavaScript ensures direct access to APIs. Developers can track UI changes across OS, create dynamic animations and add other effects.

 

4. Ionic

 

This software development kit (SDK) is fully open-source. It is a popular choice for hybrid apps built on CSS, HTML5, and SASS. When developers work on a mobile app using Ionic, they can send the release update directly to the users. Automatic delivery is a major advantage, and it does not require any special expertise. 

 

As features and fixes are deployed easily, Ionic speeds up the development process. No MDM approval is required, and the team does not have to wait for the green light from the app store. With Ionic, you will automate the workflow from building native binaries to QA.

Binaries are created using cloud-based technology. Other development tasks are automated using pre-built workflows and defaults. Any changes are reflected in real-time in the shared central dashboard. 

 

5. Framework 7

 

Originally designed for native iOS apps, Framework 7 has recently started supporting Android development, too. It is an open-source mobile network based on HTML, the CSS framework, and JS files. Thanks to the simplicity of Framework 7, developers build native apps quickly. Note that the system still has a strong emphasis on iOS, so it is not a cross-platform solution.

 

The UI elements, such as animations, visualization, and touch interaction, are tailored to iOS. This is a broad set of ready-to-use features and widgets. Developers can easily access media lists, list views, models, pop-ups, form elements, and other options.

 

In addition, Framework 7 supports custom app styles and provides enhanced video ad support thanks to its partnership with VI (Video Intelligence). You can add video advertising out-of-the-box and monetize the app quickly. Finally, the system enables swipe-back action from the left side of the screen.

 

To Sum Up

 

App developers can choose from a plethora of tools, and the sheer variety of options is confusing to business owners. To make the right choice, you need a clear understanding of what your app should look like and what features your clients need. To get started, draw up a list of requirements and match them to the features of the tools. This article covers the bare essentials, and you still need a reliable tech team with a positive track record and experience in your industry.