React Native vs Flutter vs Ionic vs Native Script vs PWA

February 1, 2019

There are numbers of frameworks accessible at present. But the count of reliable frameworks is limited. Obviously, every technology has its own strong points and drawbacks. Picking up the right one for exact areas of usage is completely based on the requirements of the particular project. Before selecting a framework you may have to explore some of its aspects. These include features that make it unique. Its simplicity and ease of use, reliability, security standards, supporting community, popularity among developers, documentation features available, etc. For the success of any project, the developer should be ready to adapt to the changes.  In addition, he must be robust in technology. In this article, we will compare various frameworks. We compare react native vs flutter vs ionic vs native script vs PWA. Certainly, this will help to understand the frameworks.

React Native

React Native introduced by Facebook, is an open source JS programming language. It has been recognized as the most favored multi-platform solution for building both Android and iOS applications. In a single platform, you can work on multiple operating systems. Programmers code React Native apps using a combination of JS and XML-sequel markup called as JSX. React Native opens JavaScript components to platform APIs. Hence, the apps can easily access native features like the location, camera, etc. It focuses on main regions; the programmer experience and multi-platform development prospect.

Pros:

  • React native is a perfect choice to enhance the performances via native resources and components.
  • By associating with both the platforms, React native generates codes easily.
  • Code reusability is another advantage which in turn reduces the development cost.
  • React Native also improves the speed of development because of the existence of the already created modules from the open-source library.
  • Live reloading feature enables compiling and reading any code changes as and when done.

Cons:

  • The main area where it has reliability is the release of recurrent updates. This puts the developers under a confused state.
  • React Native has a tough learning curve particularly if you are a beginner in the app development sector.
  • The gap in the security strength.
  • The environment is continuously changing, and coders might have to re-learn the new working methods on a regular basis. Everything is growing, and some people do not cope up with such a pace.
  • The number of in-built components is quite less as the technology is still evolving.

Native script:

Native Script is yet another JavaScript-based framework that allows you to code once and run the code anywhere across various platforms. By using JavaScript typescript, you can build a project that runs across iOS and Android. While using Native Script to develop a dedicated app, you can use the specific tools.

Pros:

  • NativeScript shifts between JavaScript, AngularJs, and Typescript.
  • Strong support from the robust community of developers.
  • Robust and helps developers to identify errors easily.
  • Integrated APIs and built-in functionalities
  • Accessibility to wide-ranging third-party library resources
  • Integration of Frameworks is quite easy.

Cons:

  • Rendering eventually slows down the application performance
  • Requires individual platform for specific technology during development
  • More of a single-sourcing framework

Read Also: How is angular 2 Native-script different from React native

Ionic

Ionic is a hybrid framework that empowers you to build highly collaborative, multi-platform applications that can be implemented across any operating system. The apps built using ionic showcases native aspects, comprehensive signs, and personalized tools to improve accessibility. Those influential capabilities are incorporated into apps Ionic as it offers a rich HTML, CSS, and JS CSS modules to web developers. Developers know Ionic for good documentation feature. One can easily access documentation from the official website.

How Ionic works?

Pros:

  • Open source, free mobile UI kit for creating good-quality multi-platform applications for different OS using single codebase.
  • Ionic apps influence the power and constancy of the open web.
  • The building of spectacular apps using a locally installed app studio makes the development process rapid.
  • Ionic Appflow offers a whole mobile DevOps life span. Endlessly create and distribute apps instantaneously.

Cons:

  • Decreased in-app performance as the native code remains the same.
  • Necessitates the need for niche Angularjs skills for building difficult applications.
  • Constructing in-app navigation can be particularly difficult because the UI router is complicated to handle presently.
  • For gaming developments, Ionic does not fit well.
  • A developer might have to face security issues while building the app.

Flutter

Flutter is Google’s contemporary development kit intended to create apps for Android mobile devices, iOS devices, and many more. It lets you develop 2D mobile applications. This also allows you to build fully functional apps including support for camera, location, web, storage, and more. Flutter allows you to create striking layouts for any sector. Moreover, this holds a number of benefits supported by an expert developer community. Flutter was intended to link the gap. It emphases on better performance, intricate graphics, and output. This can offer an integrated experience, decreasing the time and labor and also lessens risk.

Pros

  • One can develop Good quality Android apps  in low end-machines using Flutter
  • Flutter offers a hot reload feature that allows you to promptly view the outcomes of the code modifications. This is similar to the Android Studio Instant Run feature but significantly quicker. The framework apparently empowers you to try out various looks for your app easily.
  • It is a responsive framework. This implies that when coded properly, no hassle of updating code every time. You can simply alter the variables in the source, and the UI elements will replicate the modifications spontaneously.

Cons

  • Considering for a long term use is still a question mark.
  • At present, Flutter does not support Web View widget. Hence embedding a Web View in your app is not possible. You must insert a plugin that presents a new web page window.
  • Comfortability of working with Flutter’s layout takes time. Usage of paddings, borders, and positioning other design features is not very spontaneous in the beginning. Moreover, you will have to devote time to familiarize with the box limitations.
  • When compared to the native components APK of flutter is quite large.

PWA:

A progressive web app (PWA) is a group of mobile app development method that involves creating apps similar to native mobile apps. With a web stack (JS, HTML, and CSS), progressive web apps offer rich features and unified user experience the same as that of native platform applications. Progressive Web Applications are a worthwhile alternative for native or hybrid mobile apps for most of the applications. These applications are hardly hardware exhaustive and are often budgeting cognizant. If you have decided about building native and cross-platform mobile apps then consider the advantage of using PWA technologies. The added cost of including it upfront is minimal. However, it will make a big difference in enhancing the user experience.

Pros

  • Progressive web app PWA which makes any web app experience rapid and consistent.
  • Because of a single codebase, makes is easy and simple
  • PWAs are compatible with all browsers and can work on any device, irrespective of screen size and other functionalities.
  • These apps duplicate navigation and communications similar to native web apps.
  • Apps built using PWA can automatically update themselves
  • Interestingly, one cannot download these applications via app stores.

Cons:

  • Less social media interaction.
  • Social media add-ons fail to fetch data. Hence, separate login must be done.
  • PWA cannot implement recent development in hardware. Fingerprint scanning, vision scanning are few to name. 

It is also very important to look at the cost and effort input required to implement any of these technologies. Definitely, each of the above-mentioned technology is still evolving. Hence, everybody has to go through a steep learning curve to master it. First, one has to gather requirements and then decide on the framework. And finally, it subjects to the decision of the businesses. If you still confused and require help, give a shout out to us. With a group of effective developers from various technologies, we can help you select the appropriate one for your project!

Written by Shveta Tavani

February 1, 2019

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