Introduction to Mobile App Programming Language
Choice of mobile app Programming Language is the first and most important step in mobile app development, and it largely depends upon the OS that you are going to work with, as different Operating Systems support different mobile app programming languages. For instance, whereas C and Objective C would be used for iOS apps. HTML5 is ideal for both as. Your choice of language would make or break the success of your app.
This article will guide you through the basic Mobile App Programming Language, which will help you create your very own apps!
The app development world is lucrative for not only those who wish to earn through it but also for those who believe their ideas to be pioneering. If you wish to get into the world of app development, all you need is a computer and a basic grasp of the mobile app programming languages that make up the apps. However, choosing a language can often be confusing, especially for individuals lacking information about the programming world.
Mobile App Programming Language
There are a large number of mobile app programming languages that Mobile developers use for app development. Whether you are new to Mobile App Programming Language or a pro interested in learning a new skill, these eight languages are ideal to start with.
- Java
- C++
- Objective-C
- Swift
- HTML5
- C#
- Ruby
- Python
Follow this 5-step approach before making a choice on the language to be used: pitfalls.
- Study cross-platform app design
- Evaluate the common challenges of developing the app.
- Decide your target audience
- Decide the platform you are planning to use
- Research well and consider all options before selecting a language.
1. Java
Often, Java, JavaScript, and Enterprise Java Beans are confused with being the same languages. In reality, however, these three are different software development systems, all having “Java” in their names. While JavaScript is a scripting language used in Web browser apps and is helpful in enhancing attributes of a Web page, Java Beans, on the other hand, is a reusable software component that can be manipulated visually in a builder tool.” But when we talk about the mobile app programming language, it is Java that is being discussed.
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Java, developed at Sun Microsystems, is now co-owned by Oracle. It is among the most commonly used mobile app programming languages, and hence a major chunk of developers are skilled in Java.
Java is a platform-independent object-oriented program development language. That makes it extremely practical as one can use it across various operating systems. But most of all, it is used with Google’s Android mobile OS. It is most suitable in cases where Android is the main platform. It is also used where a codebase that is shared across various platforms needs to be developed. For iOS, however, Java cannot be used as an initial development language.
Java, being a compiled language, has the advantage of running, both in a browser as well as in a device without a browser. Due to this flexibility, the coding can be easily re-used, and software updation also becomes easy. This makes it an excellent performer.
USPs
- Object-Oriented
- Platform independent
Best Suited For:
- Android OS
2. C++
| Bjarne Stroustrup, at Bell Labs, designed C++ 80s as an object-oriented language based on the C language in the early 80s |
C++ is an object-oriented mobile app programming language that is one of the oldest and most widely used languages worldwide. It is used for designing apps on almost all platforms like Android iOS, Windows, and Mac OS X operating system platforms.
| Over 11 million professional developers are skilled in C++ and use it regularly. |
It is the primary language that propels the mobile industry in the present day. It is ideal for low-level programming and is now being used to create high-performance applications and games. Major web applications such as Adobe and Mozilla are also steered by C++. It supports the two most popular Operating Systems: Windows and Mac OS X.
C++ Programming skills are easily accessible as a large number of programmers are skilled in it. Hence, training resources for C++ are extensively available. It is interesting to note that Java and C# borrow their syntax from C++,
USPs
- Object-oriented
- High-performance server
- Middleware
- A great choice for client-side development
Best Suited For:
- Android OS
- iOS
- Windows
3. Objective-C
iOS apps are primarily written using Objective-C programming language and Xcode, a development environment. It is the preferred app development language for writing software with native iOS platforms and Apple’s OS X, that is, fr devices such as iPhone or iPad.
Objective-C is a superset of the C mobile app programming language and thus, borrows its syntax, primitive types, and flow control statements. This applies that its object-oriented syntax is small and easily understood, and it has a magnificent runtime. It is used for coding, designing the user interface for the app, running trials for the new application, and debugging.
USPs
- Object-Oriented
Best Suited For mobile operating systems such as :
- iOS
- Apple’s OS X
4. Swift
The language used for writing code for Apple’s latest APIs, Cocoa and Cocoa Touch, is Swift. Swift is meant to be used in conjunction with Objective-C, as per Apple. But in the times to come, Apple anticipates many developers to take up Swift as a comprehensive mobile app programming language.
An advantage of Swift over Objective-C is that it does away with the chances of occurrence of various security issues. So, Swift is the choice currently when it comes to writing apps for iOS.
Swift would soon become available as an open-source, as announced by Apple at WWDC 2015 (Worldwide Developers’ Conference – a highlight of Apple’s yearly calendar). That will inevitably have more and more developers working with Swift. Also, the number of projects with Swift as the primary development language would also increase as a result of this advancement.
USPs
- Open-source
Best Suited For mobile operating systems such as :
- iOS
5. HTML5
We all know about HTML or HyperText Markup Language, which was initially written to design Web apps stored on the Web but meant to run on mobile browsers.
So, HTML5 becomes the obvious choice for Web-based or browser-based apps for mobile devices. It is preferred for mobile app development as it has useful tools like Offline Web Storage, GeoLocation API, Canvas Drawing, CSS3, to name just a few. It is easier to add different data types and streamline input factors in it. It is also possible to adjust the screen sizes, as needed, in HTML 5.
For those, who are already familiar with HTML, learning HTML 5 mobile framework would be much easier, take up very little time to master, and would also be cost-effective. As the mobile game market is hot, developers are looking for the best methods for developing game apps that are accessible to a maximum number of users with minimum cost.
Downside
HTML5 can also pose the below-mentioned challenges :
- Developers have to face the challenge of compressing media due to licensing issues
- Also, apps built on HTML5 cannot be sold in conventional app markets such s Google Play Store or Apple iTunes, and hence it is difficult to monetize HTML 5 apps with the conventional approach.
- Slight fine-tuning could be required in the language in the coming time, largely impacting the way browsers manage HTML5.
- Accessing Native APIs and creating App Store-ready applications builds could be a challenge that can be overcome by using PhoneGap or PhoneGap Build.
- Lending a native feel to the UI ( User Interface)
Best Suited For mobile operating systems such as :
6. C#
Just as Objective C is ‘The Language’ for app development on iOS, C#( C-Sharp)the most sought-after mobile app programming language for Windows OS, which does not imply that you cannot design Android or iOS apps using C#. This is made possible by using cross-platform tools, such as Unity and Xamarin. In fact, statistics suggest that 23% of Apple developers and 14% of Google Android developers use C# while only 10% use it to develop Windows apps. Yet, it is the most well-suited app development language for Windows.
C# is an Object-Oriented, portable cross-language well-suited for all languages built on Microsoft Windows. It allows code extension to the developer. Windows platform-specific programs can be coded too so that they can also operate with the code of other Mobile App Programming Language. Its concepts are similar to Java and C++, but it uses only the beneficial part of those leaving out features that are confusing and can lead to errors, causing bugs in a code. C# programs are managed code, which means; they are coded and implemented in a controlled environment leaving no scope for irregularities or “bugs”, as we call them. It is a concise language even with the commands and supports effective and reusable components.
USPs
- Object-oriented
- Portable
7. Ruby- Ruby on Rails
Ruby is an open-source mobile app programming language and a key provider of web apps. Software written in Ruby, predominantly in its Ruby on Rails web framework, is extremely popular and growing in demand. It is preferred by developers as it is a dynamic language that is extremely easy to learn. If you know Ruby or are a Ruby developer, you are in high demand in the mobile app development market.
Its biggest plus is its emphasis on simplicity and efficiency. It has a sophisticated syntax that can be easily read and written. As per the TIOBE index, Ruby is among the top 10 programming languages globally. Being an open-source language, it is not only free of cost but also free to be used, copied, altered, and distributed. Talking about altering or editing, it gives users the ability to alter, remove or restructure its parts. Hence, it is also known to be a very flexible language.
Coding can be done without any confines. The programmer does require configuring files to get set up as Rails has a ‘ready-to-use set of conventions which make it highly time-efficient.
To code an iOS, Android, or OS X app in Ruby, programmers use RubyMotion, an innovative tool that helps in developing cross-platform native apps for the above Oss quickly.
USPs
- Object-oriented
- Open-source
- General-purpose programming language
Best Suited For mobile operating systems such as :
- Web Apps
8. Python
Python is frequently labeled as one of the easiest mobile app programming languages around. Anybody can learn it, considering it has uncomplicated and straightforward syntax. It is also possible to run app programming python run anywhere as it is compatible with a host of application types, which includes Web development, scientific computing, education, and many more.
You can find a Python framework for your varied requirements, be it web app development data analysis. It has grown drastically in popularity in the past few years, so much so that it is the most favored Mobile App Programming Language being taught in schools in the United States, generating a large talent pool,
Some examples of famous applications written in Python are Pinterest and Instagram, and WordStream.
It is simple to use, flexible, and easily readable enabling open source development. It is dynamically typed and, Its code is less wordy, carefully avoiding unnecessary detail.
Conclusion
Mobile App Programming Language is an ever-growing industry, and the construction of new languages and constant upgrading of prevailing languages leads to a healthy competitive environment.
It is entirely the choice of the developer to decide the efficiency and functionality language that is ideal for the app or program he has to write.
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