A Guide To Mobile Application Development. Android VS iOS.
With the usage of smartphones increasing profusely, you might no longer see an individual that does not own a smartphone. For that reason, the competition between mobile manufacturing companies has increased too. Since owning a mobile is nothing extraordinary, mobile manufacturing companies have been looking for unique ways to capture user attention.
However, along with the newest models of smartphones, different types of mobile applications. You might be using social media apps on a frequent basis but there is more to mobile apps than social media alone.
Brief Comparison – Android vs iOS
Businesses have also begun to excel with their business operations through apps. But only two popular mobile operating system competitors exist – Android and iOS. Both these operating systems have their own similarities as well as differences so you cannot deem them alike. The features and development options vary on different levels so if you are eager to develop a mobile app from scratch and you cannot make a firm decision then you have come to the right place today.
Programming Features And Options In Android and iOS
Both operating systems have different levels of popularity in their own domains. Now that means there will also be a difference in the programming features, options and other details in the app development criteria.
Languages for programming
Now if you have chosen Android OS then the main programming language is Java. If you think Java development is a difficult choice for you then you have other quality and feasible alternative as well. The best alternative programming language is Kotlin. The language is not only easy to understand but also very easy to execute and code once you get a hang of it.
As for iOS, Objective-C is widely used for app development. It was used initially and ever since it is the most preferred programming language for every iOS app out there. As an alternative to Objective-C, you can use a newer and improved programming language Swift.
Back end development environment
For backend development, you need to select a befitting environment as well as the relevant development tools. Since both iOS and Android are not similar in many ways, you would need to know those differences before barging into app development. First, know about the existing IDEs for app development. For the backend development of Android, you have the option of Android Studio and Eclipse.
If you are developing an iOS app for iPad or iPhone then the first option you have is of Xcode and mainly its latest version, Xcode 8. That is an IDE that does not only lets you code the backend part of the app but also lets you design the user interface accordingly.
Design similarities and changes
After you have clearly understood the differences and similarities in backend development, the next is to know about the design preferences of both these mobile operating systems. UI patterns are a concept that exists in both Android and iOS. When you open an app, what you usually see is the menu, different lists, and buttons that are spread across the interface. Viewing a display is easier than actually coding but with the inclusion of different operating systems and programming dynamics, it has become a lot easier than before.
UX and UI design
Every operating system has a common pattern for UI design and you can find different code snippets and templates online. However, if you want to bring a flair of uniqueness to app design, you can look further into learning the dynamics and coding techniques of UI and UX design.
A list of the most used UI patterns has been accumulated which you can go through for further assistance. The list of patterns is actually designed to provide ease in navigational options for apps. A specific button or bar on the front interface of your app will have a different purpose than the one that is located on the internal pages of your app.
Debugging and testing options
Finally, you would have to test your app after completion. Testing and debugging options are aplenty. You can just use a tool that tests the app and its code for you or you can stick to the existing conventional techniques. However, the testing abilities for each operating system is different in some ways so you first have to be wary of those and then proceed with the testing phase.
Two types of testing tools exist and both are emulators for Android and iOS. Using these emulators, you can know where you have fallen short and where you have not. These simulators exist in different forms and some even perform quite fast. So, it all depends on the type of emulator you have chosen for your app.
