Mobile application development is the process of creating software applications that run on a mobile device, and a typical mobile application utilizes a network connection to work with remote computing resources.
Presently, more than one-third of the human population on Earth has a mobile smart device such as an Android phone, iPhone or iPad. This statistic represents a new way undreamed of few years ago to communicate with new customers / consumers (because we are all consumers in one way or the other)
Since we all use mobile apps at present, it eases my role now and wouldn’t spend much time of what and how a mobile app works.
Top Programming Languages for Android App Development
While Kotlin is the official language for Android, there are many other languages that can be used for Android App Development. Details about these are provided below to help you make an informed decision.
1. Java
Firstly Java was the official language for Android App Development (but now it was replaced by Kotlin) and consequently, it is the most used language as well. Many of the apps in the Play Store are built with Java, and it is also the most supported language by Google. In addition to all this, Java has a great online community for support in case of any problems (And trust me, there will be problems!).
However, Java is a complicated language for a beginner to use as it contains complex topics like constructors, null pointer exceptions, concurrency, checked exceptions, etc. Also, The Android Software Development Kit (SDK) increases the complexity to a new level!
All in all, Java is a great language to experience the full joys of Android App Development. However, it may be a little complex for beginners who would prefer to start with something easier and then return to it.
2. Kotlin
Now Kotlin is the official language for Android App Development declared by Google in 2019. Kotlin is a cross-platform programming language that may be used as an alternative to Java for Android App Development. It has also introduced as a secondary “official” Java language in 2017. Kotlin can interoperate with Java and it runs on the Java Virtual Machine.
The only sizable difference is that Kotlin removes the superfluous features of Java such as null pointer exceptions. It also removes the necessity of ending every line with a semicolon. In short, Kotlin is much simpler for beginners to try as compared to Java and it can also be used as an “entry point” for Android App Development.
3. C++
C++ can be used for Android App Development using the Android Native Development Kit(NDK). However, an app cannot be created totally using C++ and the NDK is used to implement parts of the app in C++ native code. This helps in using C++ code libraries for the app as required.
While C++ is useful for Android App Development in some cases, it is much more difficult to set up and is much less flexible. It may also lead to more bugs because of the increased complexity. So, it is better to use Java as compared to C++ as it does not provide enough gain to offset the efforts required.
4. C#
C# is quite similar to Java and so it is ideal for Android App Development. Like Java, C# also implements garbage collection so there are fewer chances of memory leaks. And C# also has a cleaner and simpler syntax than Java which makes coding with it comparatively easier.
Earlier, the biggest drawback of C# was that it could run only on Windows systems as it used the .NET Framework. However, this problem was handled by Xamarin. Android (formerly Mono for Android) is a cross-platform implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure. Now, Xamarin. Android tools can be used to write native Android apps and share the code across multiple platforms.
5. Python
Python can be used for Android App Development even though Android doesn’t support native Python development. This can be done using various tools that convert the Python apps into Android Packages that can run on Android devices.
An example of this is Kivy which is an open-source Python library used for developing mobile apps. It supports Android and also encourages rapid app development (which is a win-win situation according to me!). However, a downside to this is that there won’t be native benefits for Kivy as it isn’t natively supported.
6. HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Android apps can be created using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript using the Adobe PhoneGap framework that is powered by Apache Cordova. The PhoneGap framework basically allows the usage of web development skills to create hybrid apps that are shown through “WebView” but are packaged like an app.
While the Adobe PhoneGap framework is enough for basic tasks in the realm of Android App Development, it hardly requires much programming except for JavaScript. And since it needs a lot of work to even create a decent app, it is better to use the other languages in this list if you want to be called a true Android developer(Yes…That’s a thing!). But if you are comfortable with Javascript, you can learn React Native, which is an open-source framework that is now highly in demand. You can develop beautiful and powerful Hybrid apps with react native means your app will be on android and ios both. Hybrid app development is getting so much popular so learning react-native can help you make your carrier in Software development.
7. Dart
Ignoring Dart as a programming language in today’s context would be like ignoring the gorilla in the room (because the elephant is java). Dart is an open-source programming language that powers the Flutter framework, which is getting a lot of traction these days because of its ability to deliver beautiful and performance apps for the web, desktop, and mobile in lesser time. The key selling point of dart is that it is designed by Google as a client-optimized language for fast apps on any platform. Dart mainly focuses on making UI development easier for developers with features such as hot-reload, which lets developers see changes instantly while working on the app. Dart is also known for its fast performance, it compiles to ARM and x64 machine code for mobile, desktop, and backend. And to JavaScript for the web apps.
We have one more programming language for Android App Development i.e.
Corona
Corona is a software development kit that can be used for developing Android apps using Lua. It has two operational modes, namely Corona Simulator and Corona Native. The Corona Simulator is used to build apps directly while the Corona Native is used to integrate the Lua code with an Android Studio project to build an app using native features.
While Lua is a little limited as compared to Java, it is also much simpler and has an easier learning curve. Moreover, there are build monetization features as well as various assets and plugins that enrich the app development experience. Corona is mostly used to create graphics applications and games but is by no means limited to that.
Top Programming Languages For iOS App Development
Top 6 programming languages for iOS app development. Let’s have a look at them one-by-one.
1. Swift
Since its release, Swift has become one of the most popular languages used for crafting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, WatchOS, itvOS. It was introduced in 2014 by Apple as a substitute for Objective C and ever since it has been highly used by iOS developers. According to the PYPL Index (Popularity of Programming Language), Swift ranks at number 8 worldwide in terms of popularity and it captures a market share of about 2.03%. The reason that makes it so popular for its three major characteristics:
- Speed: Apple introduced Swift as a replacement for Objective-C, C, C++, and if you’ll compare them Swift is way too fast and smooth and throws astonishing performance for most of the tasks.
- Security: Working on swift is much cleaner and safer as compared to others. If you’re working for a project then safety is the biggest concern and keeping this in mind swift cannot be “nil” by default and its compiler will terminate you from using “nil” and will prevent your app from any unwanted crashes.
- First Language choice: If you’re at a beginner level, swift can be a good choice for you as it offers free tutorials for developers in a very interactive way and is available for an iPad currently named Swift Playground.
2. C#
It was introduced by Microsoft in 2000 as a standing competitor of Java. It’s an object-oriented programming language that is integrated with the .Net framework. Over the period of time, C# has gained popularity due to its simple and high-level architecture and has been ranked 7th ranking globally, and has been used by 31.4% of programmers today. Besides this, there are certain factors that will let you decide more about this programming language.
- Open Source: Due to its demand among developers it became open-source in 2014
- Responsive: When it comes to execution speed, C# delivers extensive fast response timing during compilation
- Library: C# offers an extensive range of libraries with pre-defined functions which makes it faster compared to others.
3. Objective-C
Objective-c was introduced back in 1984 by Tom Love and Brad Cox with an aim to provide an extension of OOPS along with similar properties. Today, it is one of the best solutions for iOS app development and has been actively used among developers way before Swift was introduced. Besides this, just because there is a lot more potential in the iOS market in monetary terms, an Objective can likewise be implemented while developing an iOS app after taking several things into consideration.
- Derived from C/C++: The very fundamental of using Objective C is that it is being derived from C/C++ which enables it to compile any C program using its compiler and you can also add C language code within an Objective-C class which makes it simple, flexible, and scalable for mobile app development.
- Community Support: It’s possible that you’re working on any language and there can be sometimes when you’re stuck somewhere and cope with such a situation. Since Objective-C came into existence way before swift language, it offers extensive support of the forum, and every day thousands of queries are being posted and you get instant support for your query.
- Easy to Go: Due to its simplicity and superior run time, Objective-C is one of the most basic programming languages today especially if you’re using powerful SDKs then Objective-c is the right choice.
4. Flutter
What if we say that you get a chance to pick a language that is extremely fast and can fit in today’s digital era. Yes, Flutter offers a fast experience and instant reload which enables the user to view all the recent changes without losing any relevant data. Those who are looking to get into iOS app development might consider learning this comprehensive app development kit a.k.a SDK which was introduced by Google in 2015 and was launched in 2017.
There has to be a solid reason while using Flutter, have a look at them:
- Widgets: Flutter offers a wide range of ready-to-go widgets which allows developers to implement them while developing any iOS application.
- Implementation Flexibility: Flutters offers any user to use any complex implementation via custom UI which can be deployed cross-platform. It enables developers to save time and effort.
- Less Code: Google introduced Flutter in 2017 with the concept of saving time and business manpower. Flutter was prepared on Dart programming language which uses JIT and AOT which enables it to save extra time. Not only this, flutter enables UI to refresh without making any unwanted changes.
5. React Native
React Native is widely used to create apps for iOS platforms. It’s offered by Meta and has a large community base. It also allows you to deploy your app to the Android platform. Besides this, being one of the most easy-to-learn programming languages makes it the first choice for developers who wish to become an ios app developers. Because it uses well-known javascript and typescript. So developers who are already familiar with these programming languages can easily shift to React Native to build mobile apps. You can build beautiful iOS apps using React Native.
React Native comes with many advantages:
- Large Community base: Whenever you are stuck somewhere, you can find solutions online.
- Reusable: In React Native, everything is a component which makes it reusable.
- Hot Reloading: It allows you to see your changes in real-time. You don’t need to compile your app again and again just to see small changes.
6. HTML5
Last on this list is HTML5 (HyperText Markup Language) which holds accountability for about 89% of the websites as of now. It is used to create applications by adjoining CSS & Jscript. Today, small-scale startups are using this language as it does not consume time and is also considered a highly cost-effective toolkit. Being a beginner, you can also start with HTML5 for learning and developing iOS apps development. However, before you jump to its conclusion, you might check out some of these highlighters beforehand.
- Limitations: As I’ve mentioned earlier, it can be a good fit for beginners so it comes up with limited functionality and can be trouble while working on complex items.
- Popularity: As per a survey by Stackflow, it is considered the 2nd highly used language by developers globally.
- Accessibility: If you’re looking for technology that can create applications in less time and can be accessible offline then HTML5 is for you.
- Compatibility: Although HTML is highly used among developers but still cannot be a perfect choice due to its compatibility issues with old browsers and also HTML5 support to build Native apps. This makes it issues with flexibility and with limited functionality with custom designing.
App Certifications That Convey Talent, Experience and Reliability
Here are a few certifications you should look for when hiring an app developer:
- Android Certified App Developer;
- MCSD: Windows Store Apps;
- GIAC GMOB;
- MTA Mobile Development Fundamentals;
- MTA Developer;
- Oracle Java ME Mobile Application Developer;
- Mobile Development Institute (MDI); and
- And Java Technology for Wireless Industry (JTWI).
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