Xamarin is software which mainly makes use of C# programming language, class library, and run-time to build native apps for Android and iOS which include utility and gaming.
However, the native app development for Android and iOS are different and help the particular device run efficiently which are compatible with the particular operating system.
A research done by Statista read that Xamarin contributes about 7.4% as a software for mobile app development and is preferred by software developers for developing native apps for Android and iOS.
Also, according to report, it has been found that out of the total media time spent on various gadgets for media and entertainment, about 50% of the same is spent on surfing on the native apps.
Features of Xamarin:
☛ Support for Android
This particular software acts as a support framework to build native apps pertaining to utility and gaming for Android which shall run seamlessly on phones as well as tablets. It also has separate software set up for Android watches as well.
☛ Mac and iOS
Xamarin.forms is a feature that helps in analyzing and developing the user interface for mobile applications to be run on Apple gadgets as well as for Macbook versions through its versatility and coding ability and this is a part of Xamarin development.
☛ Developing apps for Windows
Xamarin also has the ability to help in creating or developing apps for Windows also through its unique feature of shared coding in such a way that all the apps including utility, lifestyle, and gaming work seamlessly on the given device.
☛ Creating Native apps
This feature explains the versatility of the software which is able to develop native applications for all the possible operating systems and platforms for running the applications seamlessly without errors and bugs making Xamarin performance better.
Features of Native app development:
☛ Features that are built-in
Some of the features such as navigation or location detector, camera, or even messages are the features that are built into a native app which help a particular user run their gadgets smoothly and seamlessly.
☛ Privacy and support
While using native apps either on a mobile, tablet or a computer it is necessary that there exists privacy of data of the user while using the particular app.
Also, there should not be any loopholes for hacking and viruses. This feature is highly considered while Xamarin Android is being considered for native app development.
☛ Modification and updates
Native apps can be modified and updated as per the feedback and user review on the particular app store.
There are constant updates made available to the particular user for seamless and bug-free use of the particular app.
Advantages of Xamarin:
☛ Multiple problems and one solution
Xamarin app development for various platforms or operating systems involves having only one common stack of coding for mobile app development. This is possible because Xamarin is a combination of C# and .Net framework and its Visual Studio has and consists of all the necessary tools necessary for developing a mobile app.
☛ A tool for developing native apps for all possible platforms
Through the Visual Studio tool, Xamarin is fully armed to develop and build native applications for all possible operating systems such as Android, iOS, as well as Windows in such a way that users can run their respective gadgets in a seamless and bug-free environment.
☛ Eliminating the issues of hardware compatibility
The native apps are built and developed through Xamarin in such a way that the Application Programming Interface and relative plugins make the particular application compatible to the device or gadget it has been designed for whether Android or iOS in such a way that errors or crash downs do not occur.
This particular feature should be considered while choosing Xamarin or Native.
☛ Technologically open sourced with strong backup
Xamarin is an open source tool which helps in developing and building native apps for various operating systems or digital platforms like Mac and Windows by eliminating expenses like the license cost.
This particular software or app building tool has been taken over by Microsoft in 2016. Xamarin is now powered by software companies like .NET Foundation, Red Hat, JetBrains, and Unity.
Disadvantages of Xamarin:
☛ Latest updates for applications are slow
This is one of the main factors while considering Xamarin pros and cons in such a way that the updates for the native apps developed for operating systems such as Android, iOS, Windows, or Mac are not as fast as they are expected.
It makes matter worse when other developers cannot help in upgrading the users. This shall also make the users switch to other apps by deleting or disabling the particular app.
☛ Open source libraries have their set of limitations
The user interfaces for all platforms and gadgets can be developed through open source libraries in such a way that the native apps are built just through a click and adding the plugins and visual effects along withal the necessary factors in such a way that they can run fluently.
But this is not all, and some features to be made prominent for users have to be paid and added to make the particular app robust and durable for use.
☛ A requirement of knowledge for Native languages
While comparing React Native Vs Xamarin it is also found that even though the software or the tool creates native apps for various operating systems or platforms, there still comes a requirement for native code or scripting language for developing the particular application.
Also, there might be a demand for JavaScript or Kotlin for Android devices and Objective-C or Swift for Apple devices or gadgets.
☛ Heavy or dynamic graphics are not supported
Xamarin and its plugins and tools are useful for building only simple user interfaces with a low or moderate level of graphics in such a way that it does not support large sized or heavy graphics due to a limited amount of shared coding system.
Also, a small sized app with all fancy features in a utility, lifestyle or gaming app cannot be expected from Xamarin.
Advantages of Native app development:
☛ Seamless and error-free performance
The native app to its particular operating system or device is highly compatible and performs seamlessly without any errors or virus attacks. Also, there is no threat to the device system to get hanged.
This particular feature stands as an advantage while comparing native with Xamarin pros and cons for being flexible while running an app on the device.
☛ Highly user-friendly with simulation
The native apps that are developed for its users are highly user-friendly in such a way that a particular user irrespective of its age can use the particular app easily without any difficulty or errors.
The native apps in each device like a mobile or a tablet are either simple or simulative such that the number of users for the same is also high.
☛ The user interface is also better
The native apps consist of a very simple and less complicated user interface that even kids or toddlers can use the specific apps on the tabs or phones.
Native apps have a user interface which has a support and is also secured with a certain amount of privacy protection in such a way that the user data is protected and cannot be invaded by any tactical means or by curbing network signals.
☛ Supported by Google Play and App Store
Virtual app stores like Google Play which supports Android and the Apple Store which supports Mac and iOS are the publishing bodies for the native apps through which various users can access them for their use without the hassle from downloading it from third party sources.
Google Play is a virtual assistant can provide native apps to its users almost free of cost without even charging for the subscription.
Disadvantages of Native apps:
☛ The source code is subject to the respective platform
Unlike Xamarin, Native shall not have a stack of codes for all platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac.
The source code of the particular app shall differ from platform to platform in such a way that a particular app may be developed for a particular platform or operating system alone.
Example:
Google Music is a native app for Android alone and shall not function on any other platform.
☛ The coding & scripting languages differ from platform to platform
This part turns into a hassle as the developers need to know the coding or scripting languages for each platform for which the particular native app is being developed.
This limitation coincides with the limitation of Xamarin where the knowledge for coding or native languages is mandatory for developing the applications in either of the cases.
Example:
The coding or scripting language shall be different for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac as the operating systems differ from each other in functionality.
☛ Increased time and cost incurred in app development
Native apps do not contain any forms like Xamarin or any additional plugins which are open sourced and free of cost to help build a particular Native app quickly without the hassle of payment.
The native app development is also highly time-consuming and shall not get done over a short period of time. Also, the testing for run-time errors and other technical issues also takes time and cannot be completed as quickly as it is for Xamarin to complete it.
☛ Does not launch at multiple platforms at the same time
This particular limitation of the native app directly affects the users as it may not be launched for all users across all operating platforms or systems at the same time making users lose interest over the particular app and shift to yet another app for their utility, lifestyle or gaming needs.
Example:
A car wash app designed for all the platforms may not be launched on all the play stores due to the complexities in the source code.
Conclusion
These are the pros and cons involved when Xamarin and Native are compared with each other for app development.
Xamarin is a tool or software which enables developing native applications wherein native apps can be developed through other software and tools too in such a way that the native apps are viewed as the end results without caring about the software or the tool which created it.
In the debate of Xamarin Vs Native, it is Native which wins due to privacy and security of the source codes which is maintained for different platforms or operating systems and the performance of the apps is higher and smoother than the former for giving a pleasant experience to its users.
