Hybrid Apps: when to use and what is needed?

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With Hybrid Applications cross-platform gain development time, but have some doubts about the real need to use a framework.

The most famous Phonegap, Ionic and Titanium are easy and friendly. But due to the fact of being in HTML, CSS and JavaScript I believe that applications depend on a browser. From what I understand, they are emulated. It turns out that I have not yet tested on several platforms, with this arose some doubts:

  1. Code is reusable or unique for systems like Android and IOS?
  2. When should I use this type of framework? With it I can make robust applications that will make the most of the device?
  3. I can modify the layout of a specific system or all systems will use the same features?

On the other hand, I see, in constant growth, the Xamarin. In analysis, I realized that it works differently from other’s framework. I could also notice that the code is reused on various platforms, generating a native application.

More doubts have arisen:

  1. With him I can do build for Android, IOS and WP in the same IDE?
  2. How much code can I reuse for different platforms?
  3. I will still depend on the MAC to test and publish my applications?

For research article, I suggest also leave, in addition to the questions, a list of post and cons of each framework.

  • I think that Xamarin does not fit as hybridized, as all components and device access are native.

  • Development for all platforms is with c# correct?

  • That’s right, C#. Definition Hybrid

  • Would you know how to answer all the questions of the post? It would help me a lot.

  • 1

    I have already developed (little) hybrid applications if what search is performance can forget, may have compatibility problem (layout, commands, etc), not that native has not, but hybrid is extremely worse. Xamarin FORMS 99%, and it can reach 100% easily if you don’t have something very specific for each platform. To develop iOS you will need MAC or Virtualization one (HACKINTOSH). For WP you will need WIN8 or higher.

  • @Hstackoverflow, you can tell in a matter of compatibility which cell phones don’t support?

  • 2

    Xamarin generates native so there is no problem with the compatibility relative to model mobile. Obviously the compatibility will be in relation to the version of Android installed in the apparatus. Specifically Xamarin Forms is compatible with version 4.0 or higher unless mistaken.

  • 1

    The @Fernando did a survey and put together an article on mobile development. It appears in the chat almost daily.. leave a msg for him there.

  • @Emanuelsn You don’t have the article?

  • I think so. At lunchtime I confirm and notify you here.

  • 2

    That is the article. LINK

  • The most recommended is to create an html, css and javascript project and then create the apps with the IDES of each platform

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Let’s go for every question:

1) Is the code reusable or is it unique to systems like Android and IOS? When should I use this type of framework?

Much of the code may be reused for all platforms, but anything that makes native access to the system will use a JS API to access a device resource, such as camera, storage or GPS, will have a specific code for each platform. Other than that, your code will run inside a Webview, which is a native OS browser that will ensure access to OS features running your website. The performance of your app will depend on the capacity of Webview. They are evolving a lot and today allow a very good performance even compared to a native app.

2) With it I can make robust applications that will use the most of the device?

If I’m not mistaken iOS and Android allow access to all Apis by Webview, but performance depends much more on Web technologies than that, for example, to make games you can use Webgl, that evolved quite does not have as many libraries or capabilities as the native options.

3) I can modify the layout of a specific system or all systems will use the same resources?

That’s entirely up to you. You can use Javascript to dynamically control what will be made available or already generate code without or with options for the builds of each OS.

As for Xamarin, I know almost nothing.

My tip for you is this: make a web application that could easily be adapted to Mobile, do some tests and go testing your idea. If you really need an app, consider making a native app if it doesn’t need so much processing and performance.

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