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In the past decade, mobile app development has become an increasingly popular way to create software applications that can be used on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. According to Pillir (https://www.pillir.io/eol/sap-mii), as the popularity of mobile apps continues to grow, so too has the value of mobile app development.

Not only can mobile apps be used by almost anyone with access to a smartphone or other mobile device, but mobile apps also provide a unique way to deliver software applications to customers through the use of mobile browsers, mobile apps, and mobile operating systems.

Instead of developing software applications for different operating systems and hardware, mobile app development provides software developers with the opportunity to write code once and then compile it for a variety of operating systems and hardware. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the different types of mobile app development platforms and how these platforms can help leverage your software development organization’s lower code, no code, and platform strategy.

What is a Mobile App Development Platform?

A mobile app development platform is a collection of software tools, services, and technologies that enable app developers to build mobile apps. The term “platform” is often used to describe a collection of different software tools, services, and technologies that are used to build software applications. https://www.clariontech.com/blog/top-mobile-app-development-frameworks-in-2019

Mobile app development platforms offer a range of features, such as infrastructure for hosting and distributing apps, tools for building, testing, and deploying apps, and services for accessing data and functionality for mobile apps. Mobile app development platforms can be categorized as either on-premises or cloud-based. On-premises platforms are accessed by developers within the organization that uses the platform. Cloud-based platforms are accessed via a web browser and can be accessed from anywhere at any time.

1. Low Code, No Code Platforms

Lower code platforms, such as Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS, provide convenient access to millions of consumers’ mobile devices and allow developers to build native mobile apps. This type of platform is often referred to as a “no code” mobile development platform.

The low code, no code approach to app development enables software development organizations to leverage their existing skill sets to create software applications that can run on a variety of mobile operating systems, including iOS and Android (https://magenest.com/en/best-mobile-app-development-platforms/).

2. Native Apps

Native apps are built using a specific, custom software development technology that runs on a specific mobile operating system, such as Android or iOS. This type of app uses the native software development technology that is native to the mobile operating system and does not require the use of a third-party app store.

Native apps can be built using a low code, no code or platform-as-a-service (PaaS) approach. In addition to providing the capabilities of a mobile app through modern mobile application development technologies such as JavaScript, native apps also provide additional capabilities that cannot be replicated by JavaScript-based apps, including access to hardware components of a mobile device, such as sensors or cameras.

3. HTML5 and JavaScript Development

Modern JavaScript apps can be built using a number of development technologies, including HTML5, JavaScript, and Microsoft’s XAML capabilities. These technologies enable the creation of apps that run in almost any web browser, including Internet Explorer on Windows-based systems. Modern JavaScript apps can be built on any low code, no code or platform-as-a-service (PaaS) app development platform, including Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) App Engine and Google’s App Engine.

4. Hybrid Platforms

Hybrid platforms also enable software development organizations to leverage a low code approach to app development. Hybrid platforms combine a low code approach with a modern software development technology, such as Microsoft’s Web App or Google’s App Engine. Hybrid platforms enable organizations to build apps using a low code approach, such as JavaScript, and then deploy the apps to a modern software development technology, such as Web App or App Engine.

Upgrade to Modern Applications using Low Code no Code Platforms Final Thoughts

In today’s highly connected world, mobile app development platforms make it easier than ever to build software applications that can be used on a wide range of mobile devices. As the popularity of mobile apps continues to grow, so too will the value of mobile app development. To fully take advantage of this trend, it’s important for software organizations to evaluate their current mobile application portfolio and determine which apps should be re-envisioned as modern mobile apps instead of traditional desktop apps.