Choosing the Right Tech Stack for Mobile App Development

What does mean by tech stack? 

Before we discuss the tech stack, it's important to understand what it actually is and what it includes. A tech stack is a combination of technologies, frameworks, and programming languages used for both front-end and backend development to build and run an application. These technologies work together to handle everything from user interactions to data processing and storage.

The development team chooses technologies to build different parts of an app, mainly the client side (front-end) and the server side (backend).

A tech stack usually includes front-end technologies and programming languages, backend technologies, and services that help connect with third-party tools. It also includes platform-specific tools like the iOS SDK or Android SDK for native apps or frameworks like React Native and Flutter for cross-platform development. 

On top of that, you'll need a hosting solution to store and manage app data, which could be a cloud provider like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure or a web server setup using technologies like Apache or Nginx.

Why You Should Choose the Right Tech Stack? 

Simply put, your tech stack plays a big role in your app's long-term success. A wrong decision based on development time and cost can waste money and resources and might even lead to project failure. That's why this step is just as important as choosing the right architecture or any other key aspect of your app. The tech stack you choose impacts how powerful your app will be and how well it can scale in the future.

Negative Outcomes of Choosing the Wrong Tech Stack 

Adopting new technology will take more time, and modernizing or optimizing the app could get complicated. Choosing the wrong technology can lead to scaling challenges, and if you pick something that doesn't fit well, finding the right resources later might be tough. Plus, if the technology isn't right, your app could face serious security issues.

To summarise; 

1. Adopting new technology can be time-consuming.

2. Modernizing or optimizing the app may become complicated.

3. Choosing the wrong technology can cause scaling issues.

4. Picking the wrong fit could make finding the right resources difficult.

5. The wrong technology could lead to serious security risks.

Selecting Tech for Mobile App Technology Stack

1. Start with Defining Your App's Purpose and Requirements

Define what your app will do and who it's for. Is it a simple utility app or a complex platform with real-time features? Understanding your requirements will help you decide between native and cross-platform development. You'll get closer to the right technology if you've clearly listed your needs, including:

• App type 

• platform 

• features and functions 

• Budget

2. Choose Between Native vs Cross-Platform

The first step should be deciding what kind of app you want to build—native or cross-platform. We've discussed native and cross-platform development in detail in several of our articles. Recently, we published an article on React Native (one of the most popular cross-platform frameworks) and the pros and cons of native development. If you want to understand the difference between native and cross-platform, you can check that out.

Native vs. Cross-Platform

Once you decide between native and cross-platform, you can choose the right technology.

1. Native apps are built using the OS's native language, like Java/Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS. However, the challenge is that you need to write two separate codebases for each platform.

2. Cross-platform apps don't fully match native apps in terms of performance and feel, but they are quicker to develop and more cost-effective. Many popular apps, like Discord, are built using React Native.

For large brands, native has always been the preferred choice. However, for startups, investing in multiple technologies and hiring specialists from the start isn't always practical. So, whether you go for native or cross-platform really depends on your needs and budget.

3. Select the Right Tech Stack for Mobile App Development 

3.1. Native App Development Tech Stack For iOS

Swift is Apple's modern programming language designed for iOS development. It's known for being fast, expressive, and safe, making it the go-to choice for most new iOS projects. 

It is used for iOS mobile app development for many good reasons, including; 

1. Optimized for performance, enabling smooth app experiences.

2. Clean, readable syntax for easier coding.

3. Built-in features that reduce common coding errors.

4. Continuously updated with new features for efficient development.

5. The go-to language for most iOS projects.

Objective-C, though older, is still used to maintain legacy apps.  Xcode, Apple's integrated development environment (IDE), is where you build, test, and debug iOS applications. 

Features of Objective-C

1. Used for maintaining and updating older iOS apps.

2. Works with Xcode for building, testing, and debugging apps.

3. Supports both Swift and Objective-C codebases in a single project.

4. Suitable for long-term app maintenance and large-scale projects.

5. It provides access to older libraries and frameworks that are still in use today.

3.2. Native App Development Tech Stack For Android

Kotlin is the preferred programming language for Android development, offering features like null-safety and concise syntax. While Java was historically the main language for Android, Kotlin has become the standard for new applications. 

Why Kotlin is popular among Android developers 

1. Primarily used for Android app development.

2. Runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), offering great compatibility with Java.

3. Concise syntax, reducing boilerplate code.

4. Supports functional programming features alongside object-oriented design.

5. Fully interoperable with Java, allowing integration with existing Java codebases.

6. Designed for safety, with built-in null safety to prevent common errors. 

7. Officially supported by Google for Android development.

Android Studio, the official IDE, includes everything needed to write, test, and deploy Android apps. Jetpack Libraries is a collection of Android components that simplify app development by handling repetitive tasks like background processing, UI updates, and navigation.

3.3. For Backend: Node.js, Java, Python, .NET

Node.js is a popular backend solution for mobile apps, known for its ability to handle a large number of simultaneous requests with a non-blocking event-driven architecture. 

Java has been a long-time backend language, often used with Android apps for APIs. 

Python is a flexible and efficient language for building backend services, often preferred for its simplicity and ease of integration with other technologies. 

.NET is often used for enterprise-level mobile apps, especially in environments already relying on Microsoft technologies.

3.4. Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Tech Stack

Frameworks: React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, Ionic

React Native allows developers to write mobile apps using JavaScript and React, and it compiles into native code, offering a near-native performance experience. 

Why Choose React Native

1. Cross-platform development for both iOS and Android apps.

2. Hot reloading for instantly previewing changes without rebuilding.

3. Native components for faster performance and smoother experiences.

4. Uses JavaScript and React, tapping into a large developer community.

5. Access to a wide range of libraries and third-party tools.

6. Modular architecture for easier updates and component replacements.

7. Active community support with frequent updates.

8. Code reusability across platforms for business logic and components.

Flutter is another framework by Google that uses Dart to create highly performant, visually rich mobile apps for both Android and iOS from a single codebase. 

Reasons to choose Flutter

1. Build apps for iOS, Android, web, and desktop from a single codebase.

2. Hot reload is used to quickly see changes without restarting the app.

3. Directly compiles to native code for better performance.

4. Pre-built and customizable widgets for creating beautiful UIs.

5. Large community with extensive resources and plugins.

6. Uses Dart, which is easy to learn for JavaScript and Java developers.

7. Extensive documentation and tools that speed up development.

8. Easily integrates with native code for platform-specific features.

Xamarin, powered by Microsoft, allows developers to use C# and .NET to build apps that run on Android, iOS, and Windows. Ionic, primarily a web-based framework, uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create hybrid apps that feel like native ones.

3.5. Programming Languages for Cross-Platform Development 

JavaScript, used in React Native, is one of the most popular languages for building web and mobile applications. React Native's large ecosystem allows for rapid app development, and JavaScript makes it easy to integrate with other tools and libraries. 

Dart, the language used with Flutter, is optimized for performance and UI-building, making it suitable for high-performance mobile applications. C# is the main language for Xamarin, which offers a great advantage for developers who are already familiar with the .NET ecosystem, allowing them to build mobile apps efficiently.

What to Consider When Selecting a Tech Stack for Mobile App Development 

It can be a tough decision if you're new to this and come from a non-technical background. There are two main reasons for that. First, there are so many options available that it can feel overwhelming. Second, as you work with a mobile app development company, you'll likely run into new requirements along the way—like integrating different services or building the backend with multiple technologies.

1. App complexity and type

An app can be categorized as basic, intermediate, or complex, and it can also be either native or cross-platform. Whether it's a web app or a native app, it will impact your choice of technology. For example, if you're building a native app, you'll need an OS-specific programming language and a skilled mobile app development team to create separate versions for different platforms.

2. Platform 

Building a multiplatform app with native technologies can be expensive. But if you choose to launch on just one platform, whether it's Android or iOS, you could miss out on millions of potential users. That's why choosing the right platform is an important decision.  

Cross-platform development can help cut costs, but it comes with some trade-offs. These apps don't integrate as deeply with native components, so you'll have to balance between performance and cost.

3. Features

The more features you add, the more expensive the app will be. So, it's important to know exactly how many features you want and which ones are necessary. You can take inspiration from well-established apps, or you could launch your MVP with a basic model and add more features over time based on what works and what users prefer. 

This decision will also affect the tech selection, as some features can only be built with specific technologies. For example, if you want to integrate real-time communication, you'll likely need technologies like WebSockets or Firebase.

4. Budget

The budget you have and the available resources, like your development team's expertise and time, will also affect this decision. But you have two options: one is to set up your own development team, and the other is to outsource the team. You can also save costs by hiring a mobile app developer to build just specific features, which can be a cost-effective hybrid approach. If the budget is your main concern, then deciding between cross-platform and native should be your first step.

Conclusion 

It is difficult to choose a tech stack for mobile app development as there are so many things to consider before developing a mobile app. There are so many tools, technologies, and frameworks available today, which can sometimes be overwhelming. It is recommended to consult with a professional mobile application development company before getting into the development phase to out a strategic development plan.  There is one-size-fits-all technology; you will need to shuffle and trade-off between different options to build a successful mobile app. 

Still, do you have questions? Reach out to us to build cutting-edge solutions using expert developers and modern technologies.