The Technology Behind Apps: Everything You Need to Know

What we do is mediated by the digital world and, therefore, by applications. Nowadays, there are apps for all kinds of needs, from calling a taxi to learning languages. There may be no one in the world who, when asked "what is an app", wouldn't know the answer.

Of course, companies are not excluded from this boom. Mobile applications have become a fundamental tool for generating sales, fostering customer loyalty, and remaining competitive. But have you ever wondered what the process is like or what technologies are involved in app design?

In recent years, this task has evolved from the creation of simple applications to increasingly complex and customized ones. The emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) has driven this progress by enabling the integration of advanced features like voice recognition, smart recommendations, and task automation. These functions significantly improve the user experience.

One of the biggest challenges for developers is keeping up with the latest technologies and trends in a constantly evolving field. Hiring pre-vetted developers is a fundamental part of the process, but to develop a new app, you first need to understand which app technologies are available and best suited for its development.

What is app development? 

App development is the computer-based process of creating an application from scratch that serves a specific function for users while adapting to the characteristics of certain devices. Beyond having its own rules, this process has its roots in traditional software development.

There are different ways to carry out mobile app development. A mobile developer can opt for hybrid app development or native app development. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that the more complex the application, the more work it will take to transfer it to a mobile device.

Native or hybrid apps

Before developing an application, it’s necessary to understand the different types of mobile app development technologies. There are three major technologies for creating a mobile app:

Native Apps

Native apps are developed using the technologies and tools provided by each device’s manufacturer. For example, Android apps use Java or Kotlin, iOS apps use Swift, and Windows Phone apps use .NET.

Cross-Platform Apps

Cross-platform apps are built using development frameworks that allow the creation of apps for both Android and iOS with a single codebase, without relying on web technology. The final product is a native app. The most widely used technologies for this type of application are React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, and Unity.

Hybrid Apps

Hybrid apps are also built using development frameworks that allow for the creation of apps for both Android and iOS with a single codebase, but they rely on web technologies. The most commonly used platforms for hybrid development are Cordova, Ionic, and NativeScript.

Technologies used for app development 

While there are countless technologies used for app development, some stand out in the field due to their flexibility, compatibility with other tools, and applicability in native or hybrid development.

1. Swift 

Swift is the programming language offered by Apple for developing apps that work exclusively on its platforms. While its main advantage is performance, it’s essential to note that apps developed with this language will only work on Apple devices. Therefore, if you’re planning to create an app for both iOS and Android, you’ll need to double the code and developer resources.

2. Kotlin 

Kotlin enables the creation of high-quality native apps with great performance on all platforms supported by Android, including smartphones, TVs, and smartwatches. Its main drawback is the same as that of apps developed with Swift—duplication of effort, teams, and code.

3. Ionic 

Ionic is arguably the most popular framework for developing cross-platform apps. It helps build apps using HTML, CSS3, and JavaScript, leveraging the full potential of web development technologies. The results achieved with this framework are truly impressive.

4. React Native 

Created by Facebook in 2015, React Native is a framework for developing cross-platform apps. Like Ionic, it also uses JavaScript but orchestrates platform-specific UI controls. While this tool achieves great performance, it’s not fully integrated with native systems, which means that, in some cases, native code adjustments may be required.

5. Xamarin 

Xamarin is a platform created by the developers of Mono and later acquired by Microsoft. It uses C# to create native apps with high performance. However, its user interface requires more time to build, and its community is not as active.

What makes a good app development tool?

Several key features make a tool effective for app development. When choosing a tool, consider the following aspects:

• User-friendly interface: App development software should be easy to use, with an intuitive interface that simplifies the development process.

• Platform compatibility: A good app development tool should be compatible with multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, and web applications.

• Customization: The tool should be flexible and customizable to meet the specific needs of teams and companies.

• Debugging and testing capabilities: The tool should have robust debugging, testing, and quality assurance features to facilitate the identification and correction of errors, enabling the quick development of mobile apps.

• Security: A good app development tool should be stable and reliable, with a high level of security to ensure that customer and company data remains private and protected.

• Integration with third-party services: Mobile app development tools should have the ability to integrate with third-party services and APIs to provide additional features and functionalities.

• Project management and team collaboration feature: Project management tools can help developers track tasks and deadlines, assign tasks to team members, and monitor progress in real-time. Team collaboration features facilitate real-time project tracking and enable teams to work together more efficiently and effectively.

Creating, testing, and maintaining mobile apps can be long and winding. But with good mobile app development tools, the process can be simplified, collaboration improved, and workflows streamlined for successful outcomes.

The reality is that the technological design of your app will be the one that best suits your goals. The recommendation is to understand how each of these technologies works and to see which applications have been developed with them. This will ensure that they are similar to what you have in mind and can meet the original specifications of your project.