Written By
Michael A
Tech & Design Leader & Educator, Rita Lab Founder & Instructor
As an up and coming developer, you might be curious about the key distinctions between developing for the web and crafting native mobile apps. Although they might seem similar at a surface level, the development process, languages, tools, and best practices involved can vary significantly. This post will break down these differences, helping you understand what it means to develop for each platform.
Web development involves creating websites or web applications that are accessible via internet browsers. This process requires a solid grasp of languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These foundational technologies enable developers to build and design websites, implement interactivity, and manage data, respectively.
Web development practices often emphasize responsiveness, ensuring the website or web application displays and functions correctly on various device sizes, from large desktop monitors to smaller mobile screens.
Web applications are typically hosted on servers and delivered to users over the internet. They can be as simple as static pages or as complex as full-featured applications. Developers must also consider cross-browser compatibility, as users access websites through a variety of browsers, each with their unique rendering engines and support for web standards.
On the other hand, native mobile app development involves creating applications that are installed directly on a device. These applications are typically built with programming languages and tools specific to a particular platform.
For instance, if you're developing for iOS, you'll likely use Swift or Objective-C, and Xcode as your integrated development environment (IDE). For Android, Kotlin and Java are commonly used languages, with Android Studio as the preferred IDE.
Native mobile apps must also adhere to the guidelines and standards set by the respective platform. For example, iOS apps should align with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, while Android apps should conform to Google's Material Design guidelines.
A critical aspect of mobile app development is considering the device's capabilities. This includes leveraging native features such as GPS, camera, accelerometer, and push notifications. The limited screen real estate also requires careful planning of the app's UI and functionality.
The divergences between web and mobile app development significantly influence the development process. Testing a website usually entails checking its functionality and design across various browsers and devices, while testing a mobile app involves emulator software or hardware testing on different device models and operating systems.
Moreover, while both web and mobile developers need to consider accessibility, the techniques to implement it differ across platforms. Web developers use techniques based on WAI-ARIA standards, while mobile developers utilize platform-specific APIs and tools.
Coding patterns and architecture also vary. Web developers often follow patterns like MVC (Model-View-Controller) and use libraries or frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.js. Mobile developers may use MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) or VIPER, depending on the complexity of the app, and use platform-specific libraries and tools.
Whether you choose to develop for the web, native mobile apps, or both, the critical factor is continuous learning. The tech landscape evolves rapidly, with new tools, languages, and best practices emerging all the time. Understanding the key distinctions between these two development paths can help you better navigate your learning journey and build effective, engaging, and user-friendly applications. Happy coding!
As an up and coming developer, you might be curious about the key distinctions between developing for the web and crafting native mobile apps. Although they might seem similar at a surface level, the development process, languages, tools, and best practices involved can vary significantly. This post will break down these differences, helping you understand what it means to develop for each platform.
Web development involves creating websites or web applications that are accessible via internet browsers. This process requires a solid grasp of languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These foundational technologies enable developers to build and design websites, implement interactivity, and manage data, respectively.
Web development practices often emphasize responsiveness, ensuring the website or web application displays and functions correctly on various device sizes, from large desktop monitors to smaller mobile screens.
Web applications are typically hosted on servers and delivered to users over the internet. They can be as simple as static pages or as complex as full-featured applications. Developers must also consider cross-browser compatibility, as users access websites through a variety of browsers, each with their unique rendering engines and support for web standards.
On the other hand, native mobile app development involves creating applications that are installed directly on a device. These applications are typically built with programming languages and tools specific to a particular platform.
For instance, if you're developing for iOS, you'll likely use Swift or Objective-C, and Xcode as your integrated development environment (IDE). For Android, Kotlin and Java are commonly used languages, with Android Studio as the preferred IDE.
Native mobile apps must also adhere to the guidelines and standards set by the respective platform. For example, iOS apps should align with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, while Android apps should conform to Google's Material Design guidelines.
A critical aspect of mobile app development is considering the device's capabilities. This includes leveraging native features such as GPS, camera, accelerometer, and push notifications. The limited screen real estate also requires careful planning of the app's UI and functionality.
The divergences between web and mobile app development significantly influence the development process. Testing a website usually entails checking its functionality and design across various browsers and devices, while testing a mobile app involves emulator software or hardware testing on different device models and operating systems.
Moreover, while both web and mobile developers need to consider accessibility, the techniques to implement it differ across platforms. Web developers use techniques based on WAI-ARIA standards, while mobile developers utilize platform-specific APIs and tools.
Coding patterns and architecture also vary. Web developers often follow patterns like MVC (Model-View-Controller) and use libraries or frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.js. Mobile developers may use MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) or VIPER, depending on the complexity of the app, and use platform-specific libraries and tools.
Whether you choose to develop for the web, native mobile apps, or both, the critical factor is continuous learning. The tech landscape evolves rapidly, with new tools, languages, and best practices emerging all the time. Understanding the key distinctions between these two development paths can help you better navigate your learning journey and build effective, engaging, and user-friendly applications. Happy coding!