Mobile Development Tools: What Can you Work With?
Mobile development tools are increasingly gaining popularity. They are outperforming desktop development computing. The tools are available in two basic forms: cross-platform and native tools. Platforms like Android and iOS provide a number of products designed to enable developers to make full use of available features through predefined application programming interfaces (APIs).
These set of tools can be official or unofficial. As a student developer, you can also use frameworks to simplify your work in native apps. Although the choice of tools is not guaranteed to make you an exceptional developer or designer, the right tool can help save time. Additionally, you may learn a few tricks about efficient workflows and best practices.
The first step to planning your application is formulating the basis of your design and wireframes. You need to create various elements, including views, images, buttons, and text with aesthetics in mind. A powerful image editor is an absolute necessity when looking to create a polished app.
Top mobile application development tools
Some of the best mobile development tools that are currently available to developers include:
- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
- Sketch for Mac
- Emulator
- PhoneGap
- Appcelerator
- Framework 7
- jQuery Mobile
- BuildFire
- And more
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Adobe's flagship products, Photoshop and Illustrator, provide equal parts versatility and superior performance. You will find it easy to adapt the image and vector graphics editors to build the mobile user interface (UI). The tools provide access to a wide selection of templates. They are available for Mac and Windows.
jQuery Mobile
The jQuery Mobile tool is a popular option that is also one of the oldest on the market. It boasts a wider selection of features than most development tools. This framework comes with a set of touch-friendly user interface widgets and JavaScript features. It supports animated page transitions using an Ajax-powered navigation system. This feature provides guidance on how to build your first jQuery mobile application.
The framework also supports major mobile platforms and web browsers. This is aimed at ensuring a wider reach of users. One of the key benefits of using jQuery is adaptability to suit different screen sizes.
PhoneGap
PhoneGap is a cross-platform mobile development framework that is compatible with various platforms, including Windows, iOS, and Android. It comes with a robust backend system designed to speed up the development process. The framework is available under an open source license.
Many developers prefer the PhoneGap for its flexibility. It allows the development of a wide variety of mobile applications. Basic knowledge of JavaScript, CSS3, and HTML5 is required.
What you should know before starting a degree program
When it comes to selecting the ideal tool that simplifies the development process, you should consider a variety of factors. These include levels of expertise, integration, lifecycle management, security, and more. With a wide array of choices, you need to make the right decision.
Usability is a key factor when evaluating a wide selection of tools. The ideal product choice is easy-to-use, intuitive, and offers comprehensive functionality. Costs are another aspect that requires attention. As a student, you will need to consider licensing fees and the purchase price. Meanwhile, well-supported open source tools are a great choice and can provide decent functionality to suit specific requirements.
Lifecycle management is a vital consideration that allows you to determine whether a tool will work optimally throughout your app's lifecycle. A good development tool makes it easier to test, host, deploy, analyze app usage, and carry out regular maintenance.
The product must offer built-in security controls in addition to integration capabilities. The tool should work seamlessly with a variety of systems and services linked to the app.
The future of mobile application development
The mobile application industry is an exciting field. It is introducing thousands of new apps every year. As a professional, you need to stay up-to-date with current and upcoming trends. You can expect newer and more powerful developer kits to grace the markets with each passing year.
The future trends will most likely see a rise in the number of cross-platform mobile development tools. This will translate to increased focus on building hybrid mobile apps. The evolution of HTML5 boosts this trend. On the other hand, mobile app development for the Internet of Things (IoT) is geared towards significant expansion. Developers are increasingly shifting attention to smart IoT devices like Android Wear, Nest thermostat, and smart watches.
As for developer kits, smarter mobile deep linking tools are set to gain popularity. They are aimed at enhancing user experience by improving the connection between different devices or platforms.
The mobile development field is constantly expanding, but education remains crucial to finding a foothold in this ever-changing environment. If you are interested in earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Software Development - Mobile Development Track, consider ECPI University for your education. For more information, contact a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
Gainful Employment Information – Software Development - Bachelor’s
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.