So your team has finally decided that your start-up needs to have a mobile app. You’ve threshed out the main function/utility the app will provide, how its components align with usage, and all of its features and specifications. But you’re still faced with the question of which platform would be perfect for your mobile app development.
Not to mention which technology you should be using.
And oh, wait! You still need to figure out which framework would optimally complement your app’s specification.
Any dream of saying “Presto!” and materializing a fully functional app suddenly disappears when reality comes a-knocking. At this point, proceed with caution. The decisions you make could very well make or break your app development initiative.
A Quick Primer on Technology Stacks
Below you’ll find details as to which technology, platform, and tech stack will best suit your app development requirements. In the sphere of mobile app development, utilizing the right technology stack is mission-critical.
Your tech stack serves as the foundation of your app’s functionalities, ease of scalability, and maintenance. Informed choices are vital, especially since aligned mobile app development can bring in big bucks.
Every year the progress in the technology sphere is 10X compared to other segments. Mobile app development progress leads the list. An apt example of the all-pervasiveness of mobile applications as business tools is that 3 billion apps exist today.
But how does one choose between tech-stacks, a decision which is oh-so-important? Well, without further ado, let’s get to it.
What Is a Mobile Development Technology Stack?
In technical terms, an app development tech stack can be divided into three main segments. These segments form the anatomy of the application. These segments/components are:
- Frontend Development: The user interface of the application.
- Back-End Development: The application’s core code that captures input, processes it, and delivers an output.
- Development Platform: The part where the interface and libraries are combined to develop the application.
Now that we’re clear about what a technology stack entails, let’s look at a few reasons why the right technology stack is of grave importance.
Why Is It Important to Find the Best Tech Stack for Your App?
From app stability to functionality and scalability and then on to maintenance, the choice of tech stack dictates all.
The tech stack you choose will decide whether your application will be able to scale. A great deal depends on your app idea as well. Coming up with the right idea at the right time is essential.
An uninformed decision could lead to situations that negatively affect app performance, viability, and future growth.
How to Choose the Ideal Tech Stack for App Development
Today, the development sphere offers a wide variety of tech stacks for mobile applications. It’s easy to get lost in the quagmire of feature additions, functionality extensions, and false promises of stability and usability.
It’s critical to have a solid plan before choosing a mobile app development tech stack if you desire enterprise-grade, functional software. The kind that ticks all the boxes regarding maintainability, scalability, and security.
Directly below is a list of considerations you need to have while choosing the right technology stack for your mobile application.
1. Project Type
The type of app you wish to build is a vital determinant while choosing your tech stack.
If you desire a complex, feature-rich, high-performing application with a bespoke platform-specific UI, then native app development is your best bet. (Do consider budgets before choosing native app development.) Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS are the highest-rated programming languages for native mobile app development.
2. The Goal of the App
What you aim to achieve with your mobile application is also a decisive factor while selecting the ideal technology stack.
There’s a stark difference between the ideal tech stack for a high latency application vis-à-vis a low latency quick response mobile app. Mobile apps dependent on heavy load processing will require a far more robust tech stack than an application that operates with fat-free interactions.
3. Budget
No one has to reiterate how important money is for every startup. Nor how it is a core driver for every business. Smaller companies often can’t set apart the required budget required for simultaneous iOS and Android app development. Idea validation is war itself.
Cross-platform app development stands apart as the most prudent option.
But though it may not cost more than native app development for two apps catering to different operating systems, it’s still not cheap. We recommend Flutter in such a scenario. This is because it scores over other cross-platform app development frameworks in terms of support and capabilities of building streamlined and highly performant cross-platform apps.
4. Long-Term Strategy
Scalability and stability are crucial to successful app development. These aspects dictate the ability of your mobile app to deal with growth spurts and seasonal high-traffic situations.
Scalability and stability are key metrics that can prove to be highly pertinent to the growth of your business. In today’s competitive environment, users happen to be not as loyal as they once were.
As your start-up grows and matures along with a growth in the number of your customers, your application should be able to scale in tandem. It should be able to adapt to the evolving needs of your business. Your app should manage horizontal and vertical scaling with regular and effective post-release maintenance. The kind that guarantees seamless performance while reducing and eliminating customer churns.
Wrapping Up
Mobile app development is a sphere that has seen and will continue to see massive growth as the number of smartphones increases and businesses begin utilizing phones as customer touchpoints.
Choosing the right tech stack is the key ingredient, especially if you wish to create an app that balances features, functionality, utility, scalability, and stability. As you brainstorm, stay abreast of current trends and additional tips for successful mobile app development.
Hopefully, you are now armed with much of what you need to know about choosing an aligned technology stack for your mobile app development project. Regardless of which technology you use, ensure that it works cohesively with your current app structure and builds your mobile app on the bleeding edge of innovation.
