Android Framework: Introduction
Android is the most popular operating system in the world, with over 2.5 billion active users spanning over 190 countries. Due to the widespread popularity and the scope of customization available on this platform, Android app development and Android framework have become a field of interest for enterprises looking to build applications to accelerate their product and up their game. There are 3.48 million apps currently on the Google Play Store.
Many factors go into building a robust, scalable, and reliable application that can be tailored according to the business’s requirements. An Android framework and libraries have been developed to simplify the process and reduce technical coding while maximizing the app’s features.
Several Android frameworks are available to simplify the code, provide a backbone to the application, and debug it quickly along the way. There are a plethora of frameworks, such as Flutter, Xamarin, and Kotlin, each with its pros and cons along with different criteria it fulfills.
Android Framework: The Bones Of An Application
- During any software development, be it web or app, frameworks are used so that the developers have a basic structure. It is also integrated with rich features such as APIs and ready-made components to create dynamic and attractive applications.
- Frameworks are created by experienced software developers and usually have a community of developers worldwide, which makes them a trustworthy source on which you can rely to build your app. Instead of focusing on the basic low-level details, you can focus on other aspects which are more complicated and time-consuming and require intervention from external sources.
- Each framework works with different programming languages and features, which can be added or subtracted per the client’s choice. For using frameworks, one should have a solid foundation in at least one programming language, Java, C++, or something else.
- You can write clear and concise code, avoid code replication and focus more on the development part of the application rather than worrying about technical errors such as syntax problems or functional integration.
- Mobile application frameworks consist of debugging tools, platform-specific tools, and libraries and modules to increase the scope of your app multifold. They can be platform-specific, hybrid, or made for web-based applications. For businesses, developing an application using frameworks helps to reach out to a broader customer base and reduces errors during development, thus also to decrease the time to market.
Android Framework: Key Attributes To Look Out
Choosing the framework can be a determining factor for the success or failure of the app. Thus, one needs to out for a few attributes to select the most appropriate one to suit the app and fulfill your business goals.
1. Development Cost
It’s essential to check the ROI the framework will provide, as app development can be a resource-intensive process. The company should know its budget, the amount they are willing to invest in the app development process, and the number of users they target.
2. Performance
Each framework has a different performance depending upon its integration capacity, the load it can take, and the number of third-party plugins they have. Therefore, one should check other apps which have used the particular framework and analyze their reviews to see if they function smoothly or not and guarantees a high-quality output.
3. Base Language
Different frameworks use different languages, even though the conceptual idea remains the same. Therefore, it’s essential to check the developer’s capabilities and familiarity with the language, the community around it, and the appropriate documentation and resources available to help debug and create new components.
4. Maintenance Support
It’s essential to check if the framework works seamlessly after deployment and automates processes like upgrades, updates, and support.
Top 10 Android Framework For App Development
1. Flutter
Flutter is an open-source UI-based framework developed by Google in 2017. It is cross-platform, meaning a single codebase is required for iOS and Android. Flutter is a prevalent choice nowadays due to its productivity and efficiency. It helps to create a beautiful user interface that provides a native-like feel and has various widgets which can be personalized to create a beautiful front end. Some apps made using Flutter are Groupon, Google Ads, and Philips Hue.
2. Xamarin
With over 2 billion downloads, the Xamarin framework is used by over 13,000 apps. Xamarin has recently emerged as an in-demand choice for developing cross-platform applications. It uses C# and works on all three platforms, Windows, iOS, and Android, to give the whole experience of a native app (the code shareability is almost 90%). In addition, it provides a variety of class libraries, cuts down on time and cost during development, and uses modern-day IDEs such as VSCode.
3. Ionic
Released in 2015, Ionic is an open-source frontend framework based on technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Angular, and Typescript. It allows you to create hybrid mobile applications, provides high performance, and creates sophisticated and robust designs. Ionic comes with various plugins and extensions to power your mobile app and make it user-friendly.
4. React Native
This framework is thriving, especially in the Android app development domain. React Native is based on JavaScript and is one of the most in-demand frameworks. It is estimated that 14.85% of the top 500 apps in the US are built with React Native. Created by Facebook, it’s a UI-based framework with a robust open-source community. Apps like Netflix, Instagram, and Uber utilize this framework due to its code reusability, live-to-reload features, and excellent performance flexibility.
5. Appcelerator Titanium
The company Appcelerator offers Titanium Android Studio, an open-source, cross-platform framework for building mobile apps using JavaScript codes. You can develop your app in JavaScript and then compile it for native apps on multiple platforms. It helps to accelerate the application development life cycle and gives the developers an edge if they have worked on web-based applications.
6. Corona SDK
A popular choice for developing 2D games and apps, Corona SDK is known for its graphics and animation. Now known as Solar2D, Corona SDK is extremely fast as well as efficient and is based on an open scripting language Lua. It has thousands of APIs and plugins, along with the ability to make a call to any native library, which helps to increase the functionality of the app drastically.
7. Swiftic
An app development platform designed for people having almost zero knowledge of code, Swiftic helps to create DIY mobile apps. This platform can be used to develop Android as well as iOS apps and enables you to import features from a wide variety of themes. It’s easy to use and offers external tools for connecting with customers and personalizing the app.
8. Sencha Touch
Sencha Touch is used for creating mobile web apps using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Based on the MVC architecture, it can be used to create multi-platform apps. Its features include rich UI widgets, unique Native-looking themes, as well as a robust data package.
9. NativeScript
NativeScript is an excellent SDK for creating hybrid apps and a framework for developing Android applications. An open-source framework, Nativescript supports JavaScript-based frameworks such as Angular or Vue. It allows you to directly access native APIs using JavaScript, resulting in convenient data binding as well as code reusability.
10. PhoneGap
Created by Adobe, PhoneGap is a cross-platform framework that requires knowledge of only web-based languages to develop apps instead of mobile app-based languages. It has a large community base, compatible UI libraries, as well as access to Native APIs. Overall, it helps to save time and money primarily.
Android Framework: Markovate & Its Experience
Choosing the ideal developers is crucial because utilizing the right Android framework can be challenging and requires solid technical understanding. At Markovate, we deliver Android App development services to ensure your business gets top-notch apps, hybrid or native. From designing an effective product to developing the code and managing maintenance, we’re with you at every step.
Our developers are highly skilled as well as flexible to adjust as per your requirements and needs. We want to help you create an app that stands out in the industry, is reliable, and also has the perfect mix of the latest technologies to provide you with the best mobile app possible!
Further Read: Best Mobile App Development Frameworks for 2022 (and Why?)
Android Framework: FAQs
1. Which android app development framework can be considered the most popular?
React Native can be considered one of the most popular frameworks, with almost 40% of apps built using it.
2. Which mobile app development frameworks can be used for cross-platform app development?
Xamarin, Flutter, and Ionic are some cross-platform mobile app development frameworks, i.e., they can be used on both iOS and Android.
3. What technologies or frameworks can be applied to build a mobile application?
Technologies or frameworks such as Dart, C++, Kotlin, Swift, Appcelerator, and PHP can be used to build a mobile application.