We all remember the time when you had to create different apps for different platforms. That was a lot of work and a waste of time and money. Now, thanks to technology, you can easily create cross-platform apps. It does have its difficulties and problems. Cross platform mobile development is not as easy as it sounds. There are a whole lot of factors that you need to pay attention to. One of the things that you must pay attention to is the technology that you want to use to develop cross-platform apps. That is because once you’ve made the app, it is very difficult to recreate the architecture. That means that once you select the programming language, you will have to continue developing your app and upgrading it with that language.
There are a lot of programming languages that developers use for cross platform app development. They all have their pros and cons and sometimes you might get confused as to which one is the best. Obviously, you don’t want to work with a platform that doesn’t provide you with the functionalities that you want.
That is why we have brought together a list of the best programming languages for cross-platform mobile app development so you can make an informed decision.
Python
As far as languages go, Python is the best cross-platform language that you can use to create GUIs (Graphic User Interfaces). The simpler your app is the better results you can get from Python. And you can also keep your app development cost to a minimum. One of the best things about Python is that it is one of the simplest programming languages out there. This means that if your team is as good as you think they are, they won’t have a hard time coding in Python. You can use multiple tools to convert the Python code and use it for other platforms.
Java
Next up, we have Java. Everybody knows Java or knows about it. It is both powerful and simple enough to be understood. According to the TIOBE Index, it is currently ranking second as the most popular programming language. C is the first (more about it later). One of the best things about Java is that it has a huge following. People are seriously working on it and you can find loads of libraries, frameworks, and tools for all of your needs. Most of them are open-source, so you can tweak them according to your needs.
C++
Another versatile and powerful language that you can use to create apps across multiple platforms is C++. It is one of the best languages as far as performance goes. You can directly control hardware features like CPU, GPU, RAM, and more. People use it for game engines, video and image processing, big data analysis, and more. The only thing with C++ is that it’s not as easy to code as Java or Python. There are additional factors to consider when using C++. That is one of the reasons why it is not so popular even though it is extremely powerful.
JavaScript
JavaScript is also a popular choice and its fame and popularity are continuously growing. Once it was just a scripting language that web developers used to make their web pages dynamic. Now it is being used to create powerful tools like applications. It is no more just a language restricted to your browsers. With platforms like NodeJS and more, you can create server as well as desktop-level applications that work on multiple operating systems like Windows, Mac OS, and LINUX. Not just restricted to desktop applications, you can also use JavaScript to create mobile applications. The best part is that you can create mobile applications that act and feel like a browser app. You can control capabilities like storage, push notification, camera, and more.
There are some downsides to using JavaScript. First of all, it doesn’t provide you with the UI that other native app development languages provide.
Secondly, it is object-based and not class-based like other languages.
Third, if you are using JavaScript, you will have to achieve closure through encapsulation.
But don’t let that discourage you from using JavaScript. There are a wide variety of tools and frameworks that help you work around these negative points and use the power of JavaScript.
C#
C# is another language that is hugely popular with mobile app developers. You have to use the .NET framework or the Mono framework if you want to use C#. Another difference between C# and other languages is that C# doesn’t use the VM (Virtual Machine) that you have in Java. When you use C#, you have to compile your code into an intermediate language. This code is then compiled into the native code when you run the app. This allows you to control the CPU better.
Conclusion
There is a myriad of programming languages that you can use to create cross-platform apps for mobiles. The main thing to consider here is your own requirement. Based on what you want, you have to select the right type of language. That is why there’s no leader of the programming languages out there. Based on the features that each language offers, they may be the right one for you or not.