#mobile application development react native course

Mobile phones are used by 5.22 billion people, while 4.66 billion people have access to the internet. The rush to develop innovative apps based on new concepts is greater than ever. Businesses of all sizes have set aside funds to develop the most relevant mobile applications to meet the demands and preferences of their consumers. React Native and Xamarin are presently dominating the scene, according to those who monitor the mobile app development industry's trends.

The developer community prefers both of these open source cross-platform frameworks for developing high-performing apps with minimal coding effort and time. Several businesses have made it a prerequisite to hire mobile app developers who know how to write code that works on both iOS and Android. It's no surprise that these frameworks have become quite popular.

When asked which of these two titans has the upper hand in the sector, however, individuals rarely have an answer. Both React Native and Xamarin have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, making it tough to choose between the two.

Today, we'll go over some major aspects that highlight the differences between React Native and Xamarin. But before that, let’s look at their individual characteristics. Let’s go

What is Xamarin?

Xamarin is an open-source platform for .NET developers, similar to React Native. The fundamental purpose of Xamarin is to keep shared code and platform code in communication. The ability of Xamarin to enhance the capabilities of the .NET developer platform with platform-independent tools and frameworks distinguishes it as a unique framework for app development.

Furthermore, Xamarin may take advantage of the entire functionality of the underlying platform. This means that when the app runs on Android, it will take advantage of platform-specific features to deliver the desired user experience. The same can be said for an app that runs on iOS devices. Its ability to take use of the hardware acceleration capabilities of the underlying platform is also due to Xamarin's ability to offer the necessary performance.

Benefits:

Below are some of the benefits of Xamarin:

Xamarin is an ecosystem of built-in technology that enables Xamarin developers to create cross-platform apps in a single step. Developers may reuse 96 percent of this code when using the C# language and the .NET framework. Building apps for all platforms necessitates the use of three technologies: C#, .NET, and Visual Studio.

Xamarin applications are designed to operate on a variety of platforms, yet they share a similar code base. Aside from that, their business logic, database access, and network connectivity are all the same. The developer's only responsibilities are to make improvements to the user interface. This is necessary to ensure that each platform retains its original feel and appearance. In the development world, Xamarin is recognized for providing a highly native but simple application performance. Xamarin has unrivalled performance as compared to other cross-platform programming tools. The picture loading performance of a native platform is just 14 percent quicker than Xamarin when compared to native application development and rendering.

Using Xamarin, you can create a fantastic user experience. It's a collection of standardized interface components and pieces with 100% reuse code. Developers may utilize the built-in Xamarin to change the components from either  Xamarin or iOS or Xamarin. Android to make the needed modifications.

Even for the most popular components, Xamarin did not have a large number of libraries available to developers initially. However, Microsoft's development team heeded this request and created ready-to-use components for typical scenarios and use cases.

Having read about Xamarin and it’s benefits, let’s see what React Native has to offer us.

What is React Native?

React Native is an open-source framework built and introduced by Facebook in 2015. It is based on JavaScript and JSX. The goal is to create native apps for both iOS and Android devices.

The React Native framework uses JSX, which is an amalgamation of XML-Esque Markup. React renders to the native platform of the device on which the app is executing.

This ensures that the app performs similar to those created with a native app development framework such as Java for Android or Objective-C for iOS. As they have a common code base, React Native mobile app development enables the creation of platform-specific versions of components that can be shared across platforms. React Native is used to create mobile apps such as Facebook, Walmart, Bloomberg, and Instagram.

Benefits:

Following are some of the benefits of React Native:

Developers built React Native, and they continue to support it with the same zeal. For this incredible community support, there has been a revolution in React Native mobile app development. The community generously distributes its vast expertise, and everyone gets free access to a plethora of free components for mobile app creation.

With live and hot reloading, React Native mobile app development improves itself. Both of these qualities are complementary, yet there is a significant difference between them. The framework can compile and read the changes performed by the developer in real time thanks to live reloading. When sending a new file to the simulator, the complete file is read from the beginning and the changes are updated. The goal of hot reloading is to test the application's modifications without actually reloading it.

React Native is the go-to solution for developers looking to save money because 90% of the code can be reused to build iOS and Android apps. Working with React Native saves a lot of time because it just requires small changes to add nativity and minor changes to create performant applications.

The React Native application developers may render the application for third-party support using the JavaScript-powered framework. Because React Native does not have all of its components in one place, it makes use of native and JavaScript modules to improve the application's functionality. Third-party modules may be used to integrate features like maps and two-factor authentication to the app.

The frameworks chosen to develop an application have a direct impact on its performance and capacity to deliver a better client experience. As React Native makes use of native modules and components to assist developers in creating a working application, it is possible to generate code for native APIs without causing any issues. As a result, performance-centric apps may be developed at reduced costs and in record time.

Now that we have some in-depth information about the two platforms, let’s do a comparative study between the two to help web developers choose the right platform.

Xamarin Vs React Native:

Direct comparisons are usually the most effective approach to choose between two options. Let’s have a look.

Performance: This area is critical to your ultimate selection because cross-platform and hybrid frameworks are renowned for sacrificing performance for convenience. Though both Xamarin and React Native provide near-native performance, Xamarin is faster on Android and iOS and provides a UI for utilizing native tools.

Popularity: Although popularity does not necessarily define the worth of software, it does have a significant impact on how other people engage with it. The popularity of the software is frequently associated with characteristics like a big skill pool, thorough tooling, and a vibrant community. React Native is more popular than Xamarin, maybe because it is open-source whereas Xamarin is closed-source and exclusively supported by Microsoft. This is evident in everything from Stack Overflow insights to Google Trends.

Community And Developer Ecosystem: You may expect React Native to have a larger and more supportive community than Xamarin for the same reasons mentioned above. React Native's community was small when it first started. However, as the framework develops in popularity and JavaScript frameworks in general gain in popularity, spotting other React Native developers has gotten simpler and easier.

Development Environment: Pre-built components are available in both Xamarin and React Native to improve speed and the developer experience. Despite the live reload functionality of React Native, the technology as a whole pales in contrast to Xamarin. Xamarin. Forms and  Xamarin.iOS as well as Xamarin.Android  gives developers the ability to design native UI components that are particular to the platform. Xamarin developers may get native-like performance in this method, which React Native developers may not be able to do.

Availability: The majority of open-source frameworks are free to use. Xamarin, on the other hand, is unable to claim that title. There is a free version of Xamarin, however it has restricted functionality. In general, more access equals more freedom, therefore React Native has the upper hand in this category.

Compilation: Just-in-time (JIT) compilation is used by JavaScript and its frameworks, notably React Native. Despite the fact that compiled languages are quicker than interpreted languages because they are translated to machine code before execution, JIT compilation may offer the best of both worlds. JIT compilation is used by JavaScript, Java, and C#. However, React Native's JIT compilation only works on Android, not iOS, causing performance issues for iOS apps. Both JIT and ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation are available in C#. In most situations, AOT compiled code runs quicker. Xamarin vs. React Native demonstrates that both frameworks have identical compilation techniques, but Xamarin has a compiler that works well on both iOS and Android.

Expense: Xamarin and React Native are both free to download. However, Xamarin is only available for free to individuals and small businesses. This, of course, makes React Native, which is completely free, much more enticing.

Wrap Up:

Difference of the Native and Cross-platform Applications

Off course, it’s the time where cross platform mobile app is ahead of the native. But the preference can be changed with the change of technologies and the requirements.

Native App is designed and develop with a focus on particular platforms such as Android, iOS, etc.

With Cross-platform frameworks, you have the opportunity that a single code can work on multiple platform.

Latest technologies like Xamarin, Flutter, React Native, etc. make possible to do so. 

Having a great idea is just the first step in the creation of a successful mobile app. Afterward, checking its validity in the real world is the key to getting started. And building an MVP or Minimum Viable Product can help you test your idea, accelerate time to market & keep the development cost under budget.

If you have reached here, you might be already aware of all the benefits of building an MVP. But for those who are new to this world, it’s important to first understand the importance of getting started with an MVP instead of the full-fledged product.

Importance of Building an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

As mentioned above, MVP development is all about validating the idea, as it confirms the interest of users in your product. The main purpose is to test the hypothesis by reducing errors.

In other words, building a minimum viable product can help you bridge the gap between “what the business is offering to customers and what they actually need.” Moreover, you can significantly reduce the overall cost of development.

How? Well, to build a mobile app you need a team of full-time dedicated developers. Whereas, if you want to build an MVP then hiring developers on a temporary basis would also work. Here, temporary developers mean hiring freelancers or remote developers from an agency.

Now, with the reduced overhead cost, you can build your mobile app with basic features & launch the prototype while saving cost, efforts & time in the hiring process of full-time employees.

For better clarity, let’s list down all the benefits of building an MVP (Minimum Viable Product);

1. Testing the App Concept

Like mentioned earlier, checking the validity of your idea is the prime purpose. Of course, you would not like to invest in an idea that might lead you towards failure. Moreover, while testing the idea you can collect feedback from the early users, make adjustments, and consider new features to satisfy the end-users.

2. Faster Development

This is one of the best advantages. By opting to build an MVP, you can reduce the time to market and launch your mobile app with basic features. The average time-span for building an MVP would be about one or two months, getting you ahead of your competitors, that will launch their full-fledged app after six months.

3. Reduced Development Cost

Are you a startup? If yes, building an MVP becomes even more relevant for you. Because your app is going to take fewer hours to launch, you will pay a lesser amount to the developers. Thus, you can test the waters without spending thousands of dollars.

4. Outreaching Investors

Considering that you are seeking investment for your idea, you may need to present a working prototype. That’s where MVP development becomes handy. Just take a quick look at the above benefits, and you will agree that presenting a prototype to investors is easier.

Getting Started with an MVP

It is always recommended to start with the basic and limited features, especially for startups. But before that, you should conduct market research to find out the features that are must and would be required to fulfill the requirements of the end-users.

Related – 7 Secrets to Make Users Go Crazy for your Mobile App

Additionally, it will give you an opportunity to start the promotion of your app earlier. As a result, you can easily reach out to your target audience. And as soon as you will get a clear picture of the users’ preferences, you can improvise the end product accordingly.

Besides this, a tangible outcome can help you gain the attention of potential investors.

Suggested Frameworks for Building MVP

The mobile app development industry is going through a technological transformation. For building a prototype, experts always recommend choosing a cross-platform framework. Top contenders on the list are React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin.

But most entrepreneurs choose between React Native and Flutter. Of course, both of them are the best, but in terms of design and flexibility, Flutter wins the competition.

For more insights, you can check out this React Native vs Flutter comparison.

Evolving Technology with Flutter App Development

With plenty of mobile app frameworks trending in the market, it is quintessential to select the one that best fits the company’s objectives. Flutter is one such platform that is worth investing in and promises to deliver superior-quality apps for both iOS and Android.

Flutter is creating headlines within the mobile app development industry. The top-notch quality and effectiveness are evident by the stable release of Flutter 1.2.2. Furthermore, adoption by big giants like Alibaba, Google Ads, Birch Finance, App Tree, etc, adds up more support for the use of this framework.

What Makes Flutter an Ideal Choice for MVP Development?

Flutter is basically an open-source software development kit that is in the market since 2015. And, it remained in the beta stage before the official launch in December 2018. But has now evolved as a mature framework and best choice for the development of hybrid mobile apps.

Over time, Flutter has become popular for enhanced features, bug fixes, and widgets. Being open-source, it complements MVP development whether it is for startups or established firms. As you are fully aware of Flutter, let’s discuss the benefits of using Flutter for Building MVP;

1. Development of a Cost-Efficient Mobile App

From the very beginning, cost limitations have been the major hindrances for businesses that wish to enter into the mobility space. While developing native apps, you may end up spending more on hiring two teams of mobile app developers (iOS and Android).

Flutter can facilitate the development of a budget-friendly MVP in different ways.

Flutter comes as a solution, supporting the development of mobile apps compatible with iOS and Android with a single code base. Also, the availability of widgets makes it easy for flutter app developers to seamlessly work on the UI aspect of the application.

Besides this, Flutter gives you the opportunity to make valuable integrations. Developers can export the sketch design directly into the pixel-perfect codes. Despite making changes in the visuals, developers can prioritize delivering the value.

2. Expressive and Flexible User-interface

Flutter carries what Google is popular for; the expressive and flexible UIs to elevate the customer’s experience. For e.g, Flutter owns the built-in widgets for the material design, Cupertino and default animations for normal scrolling, rich motion APIs, etc.

3. Best Native Performance

Indeed, if you have a large budget to spend on mobile apps, you can go ahead and hire Android app developers and iPhone app developers, to build native applications.

But if you are on a budget and want to develop hybrid apps, most of the frameworks will compromise with the performance, thereby undermining the app’s user experience.

Whereas apps built with Flutter are known for their performance. The apps run via natively compiled code without the interference by interpreters, therefore, start quickly to maintain a constant 60fps speed. In short, if you plan to develop the MVP of your application using Flutter, it will have the ability to provide native experience to the users.

4. Expedited App Development Process

App development using Flutter provides a quick turnaround time. This is because the SDK comes packed with the hot reload functionality making it possible for the developers to review the app changes in real-time. This makes the complete app development process fast and easy.

5. Straightforward Integration with Firebase

There is no need to have a separate backend for developing a simple MVP. Firebase offers out-of-box support for plenty of services like cloud storage, cloud functions, real-time databases, hosting, authentication, etc.

Basically, the Firebase Remote Config assists you in making changes in the app without long waits for the play store to deploy the same.

The support becomes serverless, redundant, and scalable. This simply means that there is no need to spend a lot of time and resources on the development of the backend. It can be directly combined with a tool for automating the development and release process like Fastlane, facilitating continuous delivery.

6. Supports Plenty of IDEs

When you hire Flutter developers, they can choose a number of Integrated Development Environment supported by this software development kit. Plus, Flutter Live uses Visual Code, which is light-weighted and much faster, having many features available in the Android Studio and IntelliJ, thus, eliminating the need to start over.

7. React Inspired Modern Framework

React is basically a JavaScript library. Whereas Flutter has a modern framework inspired by React, thus, allowing developers to use the complete framework or parts as per the requirement.

8. Built In-app Campaigns

After the app launch, marketing is the first concern for most entrepreneurs. Well, Flutter has found a solution to this problem as well. It allows you to promote the app on different platforms inclusive of Google Play, Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, and continuously growing on the Google Display Network.

Moreover, it offers $75 credit on the spend of $25 on different campaigns.

9. Continuous Growth and Improvement

Flutter gives a dynamic app development setup. It comprises a dedicated widget engine and UI components resembling the native platforms. The widgets are also flexible when it comes to customization and are aesthetically designed.

10. Flutter has an Active Community

The super-active Flutter community is always active for the contributors. The community has several platforms inclusive of Github for raising tickets, Meetup for the next event, or getting involved in Q/A conversations in Stack Overflow, Medium, Slack, YouTube, and different platforms.

Top Companies that Build MVP before Getting Popular

Undoubtedly, developing an MVP before launching the actual product has a long list of benefits. And there are many companies that gained overnight success by using MVP’s first approach. Here are a few companies that released MVP’s to achieve massive growth:

1. Dropbox

Dropbox, the most popular cloud-based storage platform, had to face financial challenges in its initial stages. They didn’t even release the physical product, rather created a short video that demoed their product’s first build.

Because the concept was unique and innovative, it turned out to be an overnight success. After the immediate release of the video, their beta sign-up list went from 5,000 to 75,000.

2. Instagram

The biggest photo and video sharing social media app, “Instagram” was launched when the market for editing software for images was saturated. Developing an MVP initially, making it a huge success.

In the beginning, when it was a simple photo-sharing platform having basic filters, it was only compatible with iOS. In a saturated market, the MVP worked wonders for the makers.

3. Airbnb

Airbnb has its own significance in the tourism industry. It started offering accommodations at a reasonable price to the travelers and tourists around the locality of their journey. The MVP had different images of the apartments and flats. With Flutter MVP, the main motive was to obtain feedback from the customers and then work on the end product accordingly.

Closing Thoughts

Building exceptional and high-performance mobile apps require a decent amount of support from SDKs like Flutter. Well, Flutter has the ability to make a lot of difference as it can simplify the complete process of mobile app development without compromising the appeal and quality of the app.

It provides native app performance, making it more lucrative to the initial adopters and investors. Also, it beautifully fits into the particular needs of the Flutter app developers. However, there has been no skepticism regarding the Flutter’s efficacy on the outstanding interface, flexible APIs as well as excellent performance.

So, what is keeping you from picking up this platform for your MVP development? Drop your requirements at [email protected] and harness the lucrative power of Flutter to create an extraordinary Minimum Viable Solution as the end product.

Ready to take off with your app idea? Hire developers from Your Team in India and start working on your dream project.