How to Choose Technologies for Mobile App Development?

What programming language should you use? How do you protect customer data? What are the top mobile app development technologies in 2024? These are some questions business partners and prospective customers ask.

In most situations, company owners don’t know anything about mobile phone application development, what issues it will answer, and how it will make money. Most firms require help from a reputable mobile software development company when choosing the best tech stack for mobile app development to bridge the gap between business demands and execution.

Choosing the appropriate mobile app technology may minimize development costs, speed time-to-market, and make your app easily maintained and scalable for future expansion. Let’s start with the technological stack description and the latest mobile app development technologies for your company strategy.

What’s a Tech Stack in Mobile App Development?

For iOS or Android app development, an app technology stack is a set of software components, programming languages, frameworks, libraries, platforms, tools, and UI/UX solutions required to create a mobile app tech.

Frontend technologies and back-end app development are the backbones of software development projects, and the stack selected will affect security and user experience. Your iOS and Android app development technology stack may become a competitive advantage, enhancing your company’s market position and helping it to grow.

Why It is Important to Choose a Modern Technology Stack?

Let’s explore the benefits of investing time in selecting the mobile application development technologies stack:

#1. Design that meets customer needs 

Modern technologies allow you to create an app that’s not just functional, but delightful to use. These technologies can incorporate features like intuitive navigation, smooth animations, and platform-specific design elements. 

This, in turn, leads to a more engaging and satisfying user experience, which is crucial for attracting and retaining customers in today’s competitive mobile landscape.

#2. Return of investment

By using modern app development technologies you can create a product that meets market and customer requirements. This will help you attract new customers quickly and retain existing customers effortlessly. 

Your investment in mobile app tech stack will be paid off with excellent app performance, robust security, and, ultimately, increased profitability.

#3. System compatibility

Carefully selected technology stack ensures scalability and system compatibility. This means your app is less likely to become obsolete as new devices and operating systems emerge. 

Choosing a stack with active development and strong community support ensures easier maintenance and access to updates that address future compatibility concerns. This not only saves resources but also keeps your app functioning optimally across different platforms.

#4. Longevity 

Reliable and well-established technologies form the foundation of a modern stack. These technologies have a proven track record of keeping your app running smoothly and consistently. 

Native development, for instance, offers exceptional performance and access to a wider range of device features compared to some cross-platform approaches. This translates to a more robust and dependable application for your users.

What Technologies are Used for Mobile Application Development?

Four types of technologies are used for mobile applications development. These are

• Native technologies
• Cross-platform technologies
• Hybrid technologies
• Web technologies

Each type of mobile app development technologies offers unique advantages and caters to specific needs. 

Native Mobile App Development Technologies

Native application technologies are programming languages and mobile app development frameworks that are native to iOS and Android apps. By using these technologies you can easily access all device capabilities such as camera, microphone, GPS, NFC, Bluetooth, etc. Native mobile application technologies are considered the top choice to build highly performable mobile apps. 

Native iOS application technologies

Programming languages: Objective-C or Swift

iOS mobile development tools: Xcode

#1. Objective-C has been the main coding language for years and is still extensively used. Mobile app development teams may choose Objective-C if they need to handle a huge legacy project or if they lack qualified Swift developers. On top of that, you can pick Objective-C because:

• it’s a well-tried and tested language;
• it offers good compatibility with C++;
• it provides easy use of private APIs;
• It has an expressive code syntax.

#2. Swift is newer, yet it’s among the best easy to use mobile development technologies. Swift is a more useful and robust technology for building iOS mobile apps. It is very popular for the following reasons:

• faster work and better performance;
• safe and more resistant to errors;
• clear syntax guarantees better code readability and easier support;
• progressive and versatile language;
• huge community support.

Swift app development is quicker and cheaper for businesses. We, at DashDevs, use this language to construct our own products, and we just published a PurchaseController module that embeds in-app purchase capabilities into mobile applications.

Native Android application technologies

Programming languages: Java, Kotlin

Android app development tools: Android Studio

I’ve already confronted Kotlin vs Java in one of our previous blog posts, but when it comes to native Android app development, these languages are in great demand.

#1. Java is a seasoned computing language used for app developing software projects, Big Data, and more. Open-source libraries and technologies reduce development and deployment times for mobile app developers. Teams prefer it because:

• it’s highly secure;
• it’s easily scalable and portable;
• self-operative memory management;
• multi-threaded capability;
• vast functionality.

#2. Kotlin, though newer than Java, is a robust programming language. It’s compatible with Java, allowing for multi-language development teams. This makes it one of the top choices for Android mobile app technologies for development due to its versatility and capabilities. :

• lazy initialization feature to prevent threads;
• a clear and effective syntax that results in up to 35 percent fewer lines of code compared to Java;
• better security and fault tolerance;
• large ecosystem and good support;
• extension function;
• strong community.

Kotlin is a consistent, lightweight, and short tool for developing Android apps. Our internal products and most client projects use Kotlin.

Cross-Platform Mobile Development Technologies

Cross-platform mobile app technologies are technologies used to develop an app that can run on both iOS and Android platforms. Unlike native mobile app development technologies that are used for specific OS, cross-platform technologies allow building a universal solution suitable for any device. Cross-platform technologies are a common choice of developers because they allow building applications faster and with fewer costs.

Programming tools: React Native, Flutter, Xamarin

Look at the best technology stack used for cross-platform mobile app development.

#1. React Native is a mobile app development framework that combines JavaScript and TypeScript to resemble native apps. React Native uses the same UI building pieces as Android and iOS but with React and JavaScript. It’s the greatest approach to developing cross-platform mobile applications since it’s more mature than Flutter and more popular than Xamarin. Let’s also discuss why programmers prefer React Native for mobile app development, highlighting some of its benefits:

• platform-agnostic;
• good performance, close to the native;
• high responsiveness;
• live reloading;
• strong community and rich ecosystem.

#2. Flutter is a mobile app development framework for designing appealing and effective mobile, web, and desktop apps from one codebase. It’s built by Google and features all the applications, widgets, and tools a mobile team needs. I’ve previously compared React Native versus Flutter’s commercial strengths. They are:

• hot reload feature to see all the changes to the code right in the mobile application development solutions in real-time;
• ability to reuse existing Swift, Java, or Objective-C code and get access to native features, like GPS or camera;
• fast time-to-market;
• smooth and quick performance, close to native.

#3. Xamarin is one of the most used mobile app development frameworks that lets developers reuse up to 96% of their code while redesigning UI components for each platform. Xamarin developers build code in C# or.NET and compile it into iOS and Android binaries. Top advantages of building mobile applications using Xamarin on the Microsoft architecture are:

• ability to use MVVM and MVC design patterns to speed up development, make it easier for team members to work together, and make debugging easier;
• functional and high-performing code;
• shared application logic;
• massive community support.

Xamarin, React Native, and Flutter app development services provide code reuse, reduced project length and costs, and faster time-to-market. This works well for JavaScript, Dart, and .NET teams who don’t upgrade their tech stack.

Technologies Used To Develop Progressive Web Apps

Technologies used to develop progressive web apps (PWA) are standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These technologies are very popular among the best application development software in engineering. 

A progressive web app is essentially a mobile-optimized website that users can access through their mobile browser. Unlike native apps, PWA doesn’t need to be downloaded and installed separately; it operates directly within the browser. Google coined this term in 2015, and today, such solutions significantly boost conversions and revenue for businesses. 

Programming tools:

Except for already mentioned HTML, CSS, and JavaScript the following tools are used to develop progressive web apps

#1. Service workers are scripts run in the background. They enable different features in PWAs, including push notifications, background syncing, and offline access.

#2. Web app manifest is a JSON file that provides metadata about the app. It allows saving the app on the home screen and launching it like a native app.

#3. Responsive design frameworks include tools like Bootstrap or Foundation. They help ensure that the PWA looks and performs well across all possible screens.

#4. PWA builder is a Microsoft tool that helps developers easily convert existing websites into PWAs.

Hybrid Mobile App Development Technologies

Hybrid mobile technologies are web technologies like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript plus web browser integration technologies. In simple terms, hybrid app development uses web technologies to develop an app and then utilizes a native shell with an embedded web browser to execute that app. Hybrid mobile apps are similar to web apps but with broader native capabilities.

Programming tools: PhoneGap, Ionic (plus Cordova)

Let’s examine the most popular coding frameworks.

#1. PhoneGap is an open-source mobile app development framework that runs on Apache Cordova and includes a full toolbox. It has JavaScript APIs to access device sensors, data, and cameras. PhoneGap app development has various benefits:

• a vast number of libraries to eliminate excessive coding and improve app functionality;
• predefined templates to accelerate the engineering process;
• good compatibility with external tools.

#2. Ionic is an AngularJS-based mobile app development framework for hybrid mobile apps development. Ionic/Cordova should be used to access GPS, sensors, and more. It supports several external plugins and extensions and reuses DOM components to improve solution speed. Ionic app development benefits include:

• fast implementation due to the rich ecosystem;
• material design support for beautiful UI;
• helpful community.

Both PhoneGap and Ionic app development enable you to go beyond browser-only limits and access multiple platforms and mobile devices’ features. 

Native vs. Cross-Platform vs. Web vs. Hybrid Mobile App Development

Dealing with software application for mobile is exciting, but choosing the right development approach can feel overwhelming. 

Let’s delve into the pros and cons of each mobile app development approach to help you make an informed decision.

Pros & Cons of Native App Development

Native app development is a traditional mobile app development approach that guarantees high quality of the application. However, it comes with specific shortcomings. Below I list pros and cons of native app development:

Pros

• Leverages device-specific languages for optimal performance
• Faster rendering times and smoother experience
• Feels natural and intuitive for the platform
• Stores data locally for uninterrupted functionality
• Grants unrestricted access to all device features (camera, GPS, sensors)
• Enables features like real-time photo editing, LBS, and fingerprint authentication
• Adheres to stricter platform-specific security guidelines

Cons

• Requires separate development teams or extended timelines
• Can significantly increase overall project cost
• Maintaining separate codebases can be challenging
• Bug fixes and updates need implementation across both platforms

Pros & Cons of Cross-Platform Mobile Development

Having discussed native app development, let’s now turn our attention to cross-platform app development. Below, I’ll examine the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a cross-platform approach for your mobile projects. 

Pros

• Utilizes a single codebase for both iOS and Android
• Shrinks development time and potentially lowers costs
• Maintaining a single codebase simplifies ongoing maintenance
• Bug fixes and updates can be deployed across both platforms

Cons

• May have slightly less responsive performance
• Might lack platform-specific user experience nuances

Pros & Cons of Hybrid Mobile Apps Development

Hybrid app development gains momentum in modern mobile projects. This approach also has specific advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when selecting between mobile app development technologies.

Pros

• Reusable code that can be utilized for mobile app development across devices
• Faster time to market thanks to shorter SDLC
• Availability of offline functionality
• Reduced development and maintenance costs
• Broader audience reach thanks to device-independence

Cons

• Slower performance compared to native apps
• Limited customization opportunities in terms of UX
• Hardware access comes with significant limitations
• Challenging security configurations

Pros & Cons of Web App Development

Web apps are actively used by mobile users via browsers on mobile phones. You should consider the following pros and cons of web app development if you choose it for your project.

Pros

• Less expensive because PWAs use standard web technologies
• Accessible across platforms and devices
• Ability to add app to home screen bypassing the installation
• Automatic updates with no need to go to app store
• Fast loading time and enhanced UX

Cons

• Limited functionality when it comes to device-specific hardware
• Old browsers may not support modern PWAs
• Less discoverability since the apps are not located in the app stores

How to Choose the Right Mobile App Development Technologies for Your Project

The tech stack you choose directly impacts how your mobile development application performs, feels to users, gets built, and adapts to future needs. This guide unpacks the key steps to remember when creating your tech stack strategy:

1. Define Your App’s Needs

• Complexity: Native development might be most beneficial for feature-rich apps with intricate functionalities. Languages like Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android) offer peak performance and a seamless user experience. These languages unlock full access to a device’s features, which is crucial for high-performance apps like games, augmented reality, or those processing massive amounts of data.
• Offline functionality: If your app needs to work without an internet connection, native development is generally preferred. Native apps can store data locally, ensuring a reliable experience even in areas with limited connectivity.
• Device feature integration: Apps heavily reliant on device features like camera, GPS, sensors, or fingerprint login will find native development most efficient and secure. Native access ensures these features function smoothly within the app.

2. Understand Who You’re Building For

• Target platform: If your target audience primarily uses one platform (iOS or Android), native development allows you to cater to their specific user experience preferences, potentially leading to higher engagement and satisfaction.
• Reaching a wider audience: Need to reach a broader audience across both iOS and Android? Consider cross-platform development frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin. These frameworks let you build a single codebase that works on both platforms, reducing development time and cost. However, there might be trade-offs in performance and access to some device features.

3. Consider Team’s Expertise & Resources

• Team skills: Evaluate your development team’s skills and experience. If your mobile app developer team is already comfortable with native languages like Swift or Kotlin, leveraging native development might be more efficient.
• Project timeline & budget: Cross-platform development can be faster and more cost-effective initially, especially if your team is familiar with the chosen framework. Yet, long-term maintenance costs might be higher for cross-platform apps than well-maintained native codebases.

4. Set up long-term business goals

• App maintenance & updates: Native apps typically require separate codebases for iOS and Android, potentially increasing maintenance complexity in the long run. However, with proper planning and architecture, native codebases can be highly scalable and maintainable for complex apps.
• Long-term vision: Consider your app’s potential for future growth and feature additions. Native development offers more flexibility and control over the app’s architecture, making it easier to accommodate future iterations.

5. Consider Security and Performance

• Security: Native development often provides a security advantage, especially for apps handling sensitive data. Leverage platform-specific security features and best practices for robust app protection.
• Performance optimization: For performance-critical apps, explore native development tools and libraries optimized for specific device architectures. This can significantly enhance your app’s responsiveness and user experience.
• Developer community & resources: The chosen technology stack should be backed by a strong developer community and extensive resources. This ensures easier access to technical support, tutorials, and code libraries during development and maintenance.

By carefully considering these factors and tailoring them to your specific project, you’ll be well-equipped to choose the optimal tech stack that lays the groundwork for a successful and sustainable mobile app.

Wrapping Up

To select the appropriate technology stack for your mobile application, you must meticulously assess the app’s requirements, target audience, team expertise, and long-term objectives. Consider the app’s intricacy, offline capabilities, device integration, and scalability in the context of future growth.

Keep in mind that there is no universally applicable solution. It’s crucial not to solely focus on the initial development expenses; factors such as security, app performance, and ongoing developer support should also be taken into account. By meticulously evaluating these elements, you’ll be well-equipped to choose the optimal technology stack that ensures the success and sustainability of your mobile application.

Wonder How DashDevs Can Help?

DashDevs has over twelve years of experience in the web and mobile engineering field. We’ve come a long way since we used to just make apps for Android and iOS. We’ve now created over 500 successful software products for clients worldwide.

We offer consulting and mobile add development services for business technology in strategic planning, data analysis, DevOps, software testing, and design. This is made possible by our deep knowledge, track record, and a list of app developers with great expertise.