Category: App Development Blog Category

A Comprehensive Guide on How to Develop an App like TikTok

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

TikTok has taken the social media world by storm, and it shows no sign of slowing down. The video-sharing app has 800 million active users globally who spend hours watching videos and creating their own content. The app has become the most preferred entertainment source among teens and adults. Besides, it has become a hot topic in the business world as most of them are looking into its business model to build a similar app like TikTok and keep users glued with it. 

If you are also one of them, here you will find all the features that make the app so appealing, and the tech stack required to develop an app like TikTok.

A Brief About TikTok

TikTok allows users to create video clips that can be edited using multiple effects and filters. The idea to combine music, video and social media came to Alex Zhu, the Co-Founder of TikTok, previously named Musical.ly. When he realized that people are using different apps for taking selfies, listening to music, and creating videos, he thought of developing a comprehensive app for today’s generation. And now, the app has made a statement in the social networking world. Some of the amazing statistics of TikTok  are:

  • TikTok has crossed 2B downloads.
  • Users spend an average of 52 minutes daily on TikTok.
  • The app is popular among people, with 41% of them aged between 16-24.
  • In Q1 2019, TikTok was the most installed app on App Store, with over 33M installs.

How to Develop an App Like TikTok – Features and Tech Stack

Before developing an app like TikTok , it is imperative to take necessary features into account. In most cases, embarking on an app development journey with an MVP (app with basic features only), and then reinforcing it with advanced features is a better idea.

Building a full-blown TikTok clone can be time-consuming and cost you a fortune. However, you can launch an MVP version of the app with some basic features to get feedback from your target audience and then fine-tune it accordingly. This approach also demands less investment of time as well as money.

Besides, with an MVP, you can gain trust of stakeholders and have more chances to get investment.

Now let’s take a closer look at the TikTok  features that you must ask your iOS/Android app developers to integrate into your app. We have divided features into two types – basic and advanced. 

Basic Features

Video Uploading

Besides creating, TikTok provides an easy and quick way to post videos that can be viewed by the global audience. This feature is paramount for the success of your app.

Video Editing

TikTok allows users to crop, rotate, or flip their video, add background music after creating it, and experiment with its playback speed. They can also use the famous “Beauty” filter, various stickers, and animations to make their video more appealing.

 Moreover, TikTok offers some fun AR effects using which users can change their hair and eye color and add virtual glasses, hats, flowers, and more to their heads. Video editing features, along with various filters, boost users’ confidence and encourage them to create and post more videos.

Social Sharing

Besides sharing videos within the app, TikTok users can also share them on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram and link their profiles with these platforms. This feature can help you gain more users through word of mouth – the best marketing tool.

Likes and Comments

Like TikTok, you can allow users to like posts by giving a heart and share their views in the comment section. The more number of hearts a video gets, the more popular it will be. It has to be said that TikTok has turned a plethora of people into celebrities.

Notifications

To keep users engaged with your app, inform them about comments and likes on the videos, along with other updates via push notifications. Usually, this feature is implemented through Apple Push Notification Service (iOS) or Google Cloud Messaging (Android).

Advanced Features

TikTok has some exciting advanced features that you can incorporate into your app when you start gaining users with your MVP.

Video Preview Before Sign Up

TikTok enables new users to watch popular videos without signing up. However, to like or comment on a post, they have to complete the registration process.

Live Video Streaming

Live video streaming has become one of the essential features of a social media app. While streaming, users can receive virtual gifts from their fans purchased with TikTok coins. Though TikTok doesn’t have this feature these days, you can integrate it to increase your app usage.

Geolocation

With geolocation, you can allow your users to see currently active users broadcasting live within their proximity.

Real-Time Analytics

This feature provides data about the number of likes and comments to the users. They can also view a graph displaying live viewers as well as broadcasters.

To sum up, you can add a lot of advanced features while building an app like TikTok. But it would be better to start off with an MVP.

Development Team and Tech Stack

Apart from features, you also need to consider the development team and the tech stack to create a futuristic app like TikTok. The team should have:

  • Project Manager
  • Android App Developer
  • iOS App Developer
  • Backend Developer
  • UI/UX Designer
  • QA Engineer

You can collaborate with IT specialists in two ways – hire an in-house team or an outsourcing iOS/Android app development company. Each option has its own pros and cons. For instance, communicating with an in-house team is easier, but you also have to manage additional expenses like office rent, equipment, and more. However, outsourcing companies offer reasonable hourly rates and deliver a high-quality product within a stipulated period.

If we talk about tech stack, many latest technologies can be used to develop an app like TikTok. To build a native app, you can choose Java or Kotlin for Android and Swift or C++ for iOS. In case you incline toward hybrid mobile app development, you can choose frameworks like Flutter, Ionic, and React Native. Below, we have listed other technologies you can use to create your TikTok clone.

Back-End Development

  • Programming Language: Node.js
  • Database: MongoDB, SQL, MySQL
  • Framework: Express 4
  • Cloud: AWS or Azure

Tools:

  • Signup: Amazon SES, Amazon SNS
  • Storage: Amazon S3
  • Real-Time Analytics: Google Mobile App Analytics or Azure Stream Analytics
  • Geolocation: Google Maps API, MapKit/Core Location Frameworks (for iOS).
  • AR-filters: ARCore, ML Kit
  • Chat: Twilio

Final Words

Following this guide will facilitate developing an app like TikTok and achieving success. All you have to do is find the best iOS/Android app developers who know the ins and outs of the app development. Moreover, you must dig deep into what your target audience demands. Knowing their preferences and requirements is the only way to build a video sharing app that they will fall in love with.

7 Apps That Shifted the Businesses’ Interest Toward Hybrid App Development

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

So, you are planning to develop a mobile app for your business growth. Then you must probably be confused between choosing between native and hybrid mobile app development. The battle between these two approaches is never-ending, as they both have their own pros and cons. However, hybrid apps have gained huge momentum and are actually giving a fierce competition to native apps. Here we will explore a few examples of apps that have shifted the interest of businesses toward hybrid app development.

Examples of Famous Hybrid Apps

Evernote

Evernote is one of the great productivity apps built using HTML. The hybrid app is known for its elegance, robustness, and multi-device sync capability, making it seamless and stand out from the competition. It also delivers smooth, native-like experience due to which the users love the app. 

A few features of Evernote are:

  • Automatic syncing of all important notes
  • Use the camera to capture and scan anything
  • Share memos or notes with friends and colleagues
  • Search for text inside images
  • Sort and organize information by date, title, or tag
  • Record audio notes
  • Create to-do lists with checkboxes

Instagram

Instagram is one of the leading social media apps that allow users to share images and videos, thus witnessing massive engagement. Powered by HTML5, the app supports both offline data and rich media. Besides, it allows users to access its media even when they have no or low internet connectivity.

A few features of Instagram are:

  • Post images and short videos to your feed
  • Create stories which are deleted automatically after 24 hours
  • Share your views on others’ post in the comment section
  • Text your friends directly
  • Access IGTV to watch longer videos.
  • Save favorite posts with a tap
  • Shoot videos, add filters and music from the Instagram catalog like Tik-Tok

Gmail

Talking about hybrid apps, and how can we forget Gmail, an app that has eased our professional lives. Google leveraged the potential of HTML5 to redefine the user experience of this email app with advanced features and functionalities.

Earlier, Gmail had limited usability as it was powered by HTML only. But now Google has made a new version of Gmail by combining HTML and native elements, which made the app more meaningful with a seamless experience.

A few features of Gmail are:

  • An organized inbox to categorize promotional and social messages
  • 15GB of free data storage to store emails
  • Multiple accounts support
  • Schedule emails to be sent at a later date or time
  • Snooze emails for later viewing
  • Set an expiration date and passcode for sensitive emails

Twitter

Twitter is another social media app that has actually brought a revolution in hybrid app development approach. The app witnesses massive traffic day in and day out, which fostered the demand for this kind of hybrid app.

A few features of Twitter are:

  • Express your thoughts by writing a tweet
  • Stay updated with the viral and latest news
  • Follow other users 
  • Get notifications about new followers, retweets, mentions, and more
  • Watch live and premium video stream from your mobile device

Baskin Robbins

The famous ice cream parlor, Baskin Robbins, leveraged the latest HTML version to make its app perform like a native app in terms of features and performance. The app provides the best offline access to the users with the same UI on multiple platforms.

A few features of Baskin Robbins are:

  • Access coupons and deals
  • Order customizable cakes and ice creams
  • Make instant and easy payments 
  • Locate the nearest Baskin Robbins shop
  • Purchase and share Baskin Robbins cards to friends and family
  • Stay informed on various events and promotions throughout the year

Sworkit

Sworkit is a fitness application that provides an ultimate guide on physical workouts and exercises through an interactive video session. It motivates users to set their fitness goals and make a strategy to achieve them within the ser timeframe. Users can also sync the app with Google fit app to track their health and activities hassle-free.

A few features of Sworkit are:

  • Get six weeks program to get physically fit
  • Access over 300 customizable workouts, 400 bodyweight and small equipment exercises, etc
  • Add or remove exercises to personalize the available workouts
  • Fix your own schedule to do workout
  • Get assistance from certified trainers

Remote POS

Remote POS app helps in managing and controlling an entire restaurant seamlessly. The app has a higher capacity, thanks to its cloud as well as local data storage. Though it can work offline, it requires an internet connection for printing the generated bills. Besides, the app facilitates order management and staff handling.

A few features of Remote POS are:

  • Allow customers to view restaurant’s menu and place an order
  • Offer fast and easy transactions
  • Send notifications about discounts and events
  • Create a customer loyalty program

Final Words

These are some of the examples that prove that hybrid app development has come a long way now. Since all of the above-mentioned apps have gained tremendous popularity, it won’t be wrong to say that this approach is here to stay, and businesses will happily hire hybrid mobile app developers to go mobile quickly.

Also read: Why businesses invest in hybrid mobile app development

6 Mistakes That Can Affect React Native App Development Process

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

Developing a mobile app using React Native is an excellent choice in today’s cutting-edge competition. The framework has gained global adoption due to its massive benefits. However, React Native app developers often make mistakes that can hinder the app development process or affect its performance. Here we have outlined a few common mistakes they should avoid to get the most of this framework and create smooth apps.

React Native App Development Mistakes to Avoid

Wrong Estimation

The wrong estimation is one of the most common mistakes made by React Native app developers while building an app. Things they should pay attention to are:

Layout for iOS and Android Version – Developers don’t consider that the layout for iOS and Android version is quite different. Yes, there are several common reusable components, but the design of the two platforms could be different. Even the app structure for these platforms can be different entirely. 

Forms – Developers should also estimate the validation layout form. This is because they are supposed to write more codes while developing a React Native app compared to a hybrid app using Cordova.

Creating Web Apps – Developers should check all the different endpoints offered by the backend. Since they have to handle the logic in the application, it should be coded accurately.  

Improper Redux Store Planning

When React Native app developers get an innovative project, they focus more on app layout planning and less on data handling. This is where Redux comes in handy. It efficiently handles and stores the data while managing and debugging app states. So, the tool should be planned properly to avoid issues.

Not Reading External Modules’ Codes 

React Native app developers use external modules to save time as they facilitate and expedite the development process, especially when they come with documentation. But sometimes, modules break, and things don’t work as predicted. That’s why developers should read the code before implementing it to know if something is wrong in the module and promptly resolve it. 

Leaving Console.Log Statements

Console log statements are quite handy and help in debugging the app execution. But they can cause a severe issue if developers leave the render methods and logics inside the application once they are done with debugging. Such a mistake can become a bottleneck in JavaScript thread and slow down the app loading speed.

Not Optimizing Images

Optimizing images in React Native apps should be a high priority task. It helps in resizing the images within the app and then uploading them to cloud storage through a server to get the CDN link, which can be returned using API.

Ignoring Project Structure

Project structuring plays a vital role in the entire React Native app development process. Experienced developers make this process easier by organizing projects, files, and folders. However, beginners don’t pay heed to organizing and structuring, which can later mess up things. So, it is essential to implement the best structuring practices to facilitate and speed up the development of React Native apps.

Final Words

These are some mistakes developers must avoid while creating a React Native app. It will not only save their time and effort but also helps in building a quick yet high-performance app. If you own a business and want to develop a futuristic app, approach a React Native app development company aware of these mistakes.

8 Grocery Delivery App Features That Can’t Be Ignored

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

With on-demand apps flooding the smartphones, shoppers have gradually gotten accustomed to shopping everything online, including food, medicine, cosmetics, and even grocery. Among all these segments, online grocery delivery remained underpenetrated for years. However, due to COVID-19 outspread, this segment became sought-after as people are reluctant to physically going to grocery stores. 

Since customers are now comfortable with shopping grocery online, retailers are going the extra mile to deliver them the best shopping experience by creating their own grocery delivery app.

If you’re also planning to hire iOS/Android app developers to build your app, here are a few grocery delivery app features that can make your customers less willing to go back to brick and mortar stores.

Features of a Grocery Delivery App

Seamless Registration

Registration is the first step users come across when they open an app. You can facilitate this process by allowing users to directly sign up using their phone number or social media profile on Google or Facebook. It will not only save their time but also eliminate the need for remembering the password of their account. Besides, you will also get their contact info easily using which you can stay engaged with them.

Smart Search

Suppose you have a wide range of products in your online grocery store, but customers cannot find the one they need from your inventory. In such a scenario, all of these products are worthless. Integrating smart search filters into your app can help them narrow their search and quickly find the required products. Moreover, you can provide a voice-enabled search option to allow users to find a specific product using voice commands. The more convenience you provide, the more they will love your app.

Real-Time Order Tracking

Order tracking feature works wonder when it comes to enhancing customer satisfaction. It allows your customers to track the delivery agents’ real-time location once they pick up the order from your store. Besides, they also have an idea of the order arrival time, which boosts their trust in your app. 

Popular and Recommendation

Recommendations never go unnoticed as they reduce our effort. So, make sure to recommend products to users based on their search history and shopping behavior while they browse through your app products. You can also show them a list of popular products that most customers are purchasing. This feature may encourage them to buy products from the popular or recommended list, thus increasing your sales substantially.

Save For Later

Sometimes customers don’t need a product but save it for later purchase because they love it. Thus, a feature like “wishlist” or “save items” can help your customers to remember products they wish to purchase in the future. 

Special Discounts and Rewards

Discounts and rewards persuade customers to visit your app every time they look for groceries. So, integrate a loyalty program into your app to give customers points for actions like signing up and making a purchase. It will not only give them a reason to stick to your app but also encourage them to shop more frequently.

Push Notifications

Push notifications increase customer engagement and trigger app usage. Using this feature, you can notify your customers about the latest products, deals and discounts, saved products, and order status and thus stay on their minds. But make sure not to send too many notifications as it can annoy them.

Multiple Payment Options

Payment is the last step of the order placement process. Incorporating multiple payment gateways like Credit/Debit Card, Stripe, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, Online Banking, and Cash on Delivery (COD) into your grocery delivery app allow customers to pay via the mode of their choice. In case one method doesn’t work, they will choose another but never abandon the cart. Thus, this feature significantly impacts your sales and bottom line.

Final Words

To sum up, we would say that idea of launching a grocery delivery app is quite profitable considering all the circumstances. Integrating the above-mentioned features into your app will encourage existing customers to switch to your online store and also multiply your sales. Besides, you can expand your grocery business by leveraging your application.

If you think that these grocery delivery app features can really benefit your business, invest in our iOS/Android app development services. Our experts will leave no stone unturned to deliver you an app that everyone will love.

Why React Native is the Best Platform for MVP Development

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

Excited about launching your app idea in the market and rolling in money? But what’s holding your back? 

Oh! You’re concerned about the feasibility of your idea and how your app will perform in the market. Don’t worry! We have a solution. Why don’t you develop a minimum viable product (MVP) instead of rolling out your app blindly?

An MVP will comprise all the essential features that enable you to quickly step into the market and validate your idea based on user feedback. Thus, you can fine-tune and modify your app to live up to the users’ expectations. Besides, this approach will also save you a lot of cost and effort that full-blown application development demands.

If you think that an MVP can overcome your concerns, hire React Native app developers because no platform can better develop an MVP than React Native.

Reasons to Develop an MVP Using React Native

You might already know that React Native is a JavaScript-based framework that allows developers to build cross-platform apps using a single codebase. They write the code once to develop an app that operates seamlessly on Android as well as iOS. The framework has now gained mainstream adoption among businesses due to its massive benefits. Let’s discuss a few reasons why React Native is ideal for MVP development.

Cost-Effective Development

To develop an MVP, you have to envision your app’s key features and sideline the supporting ones. A React Native app development company can provide you with better guidance on what’s really important to meet the users’ basic requirements. Besides, as we said earlier that React Native MVP or app is developed using a single code base, the development cost using React Native will be way lower native development.

Quick Designing 

React Native allows developers to quickly create engaging designs for your MVP, thanks to its pre-made UI toolkits and native app components. The product built using this framework provides a seamless native-like experience to users. Besides, these pre-made components are reusable, which accelerates the subsequent app development process.

Easy Testing

Though the notion behind introducing an MVP is to check its performance and errors, even a basic version demands rigorous testing before the launch. React Native’s single testing feature allows developers to test your product for multiple platforms simultaneously and fix bugs quickly.

Easy Iterations

With React Native, editing, changing, or scaling the product becomes as easy as pie. Developers can smoothly and quickly incorporate new features into the existing product using React Native’s UI components. Thus, you can enhance your app day-by-day while users continue to use it.

Final Words

React Native has become a sought-after framework for developing MVP as it requires minimal time, investment, and effort. The user interface of the React Native app or MVP is rendered through native views, which provides a better experience than other frameworks that usually try to achieve native-like feel by rendering a web component. 

Given all the factors, we can conclude that if you need a flexible and scalable platform for cross-platform MVP development, no framework can serve you better than React Native. So, invest in our React Native app development services to get your MVP developed now. We will steer your product development journey right from ideation to deployment.

8 Features That Can Make Your On-Demand Food Delivery App Stand Out

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

On-demand food delivery is the new favorite of people. It is a win-win for all parties. Customers get delicious meals delivered to their doorstep while restaurants proliferate their sales as well as profits. 

Besides, restaurants that never thought of delivering food are now planning to step into the food delivery market by creating a robust app. If you’re also one of them, integrate these key features into your on-demand food delivery app with the help of iOS/Android app developers and stand out from the competition.

Key Features of an On-Demand Food Delivery App

Real-Time Push Notifications 

Sending real-time push notifications is the best way to stay connected with your customers and ahead of the curve. It will help you convey important messages about discounts, new dishes, order status, and more.

However, this feature is a double-edged sword, as frequent notifications can also annoy your customers. So, make sure to control the frequency of notifications to improve customer engagement and make the most of this feature.

Rewards and Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs play an essential role in retaining old customers and attracting new ones. Reports say that around 40% of customers look for discounts and coupons before placing an order on food delivery apps, while 25% of customers use them to earn loyalty points. By giving discounts and offers, you not only boost their loyalty and satisfaction but also give them a reason to stick to your on-demand food delivery app. 

Real-Time Order Tracking

Order tracking is the most significant feature for the success of your food ordering app. Integrating a real-time tracking tool into your app allows your customers to track the delivery agents’ location once they arrive at the restaurant to pick up the order. Tracking also keeps the food lovers or starving customers patient as they have an idea of the order delivery time. A few APIs for this feature include MapKit, Google Maps, and Waze’s Navigation.

Multiple Payment Options

Payment is the last step of the order placement but can make a huge impact on your sales. A minor problem with the app payment may cost you a potential customer. So, provide a seamless and secure payment experience by incorporating multiple payment gateways, including Google Pay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, Stripe, Credit/Debit Card, Online Banking, and Cash on Delivery (COD). Hence, your customers will never run away and find one or the option to make payment for your delicious food.

Social Media Integration

People love to share their favorite things on social media. You can take its advantage by integrating social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat into your food app and allow customers to take pictures of your delicious meals and share with their online family. It will help you reach out to more customers through word of mouth – the best every marketing tool.

With social media integration, you can also encourage customers to invite their friends and family to your app and thus earn loyalty points. This way, they will subconsciously become your partner in success.

Customer Review and Ratings

Feedback or rating can help you figure out the strengths and shortcomings of your business. And who would be the best to review your services than the customers themselves? Incorporating a feedback portal allows customers to review or rate every meal they try. Thus, you would know what’s lacking in your particular meal, which dish makes customers drool, and what you can do to improve their experience.


Multiple Search Filters

Allowing customers to easily find delicious cuisine within their budget can boost their satisfaction. Make sure to add various filters like cuisine type, category, quantity, and price in your search option to narrow customers’ search and expedite order placement.

Order History

Order history allows customers to view their previous orders anytime. This feature is convenient for the ones who mostly place similar orders as it saves them from the hassle of searching for dishes over and over again.

Final Words

To wrap up, we would say that an on-demand food delivery app can be the most significant investment for the growth of your business. Reinforcing the app with the above-mentioned features will help you deliver the best experience to your customers and create a barrier that no competitor can surpass. All you have to do is collaborate with the best iOS/Android app development services provider that could comprehend your requirements and intelligently integrate these features into your food delivery app.

How Ionic Benefits Hybrid Mobile App Development Process

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

Ionic is an open-source framework used for creating hybrid apps that utilize a mobile platform’s Webview. These apps offer various advantages over native apps in terms of speed, cost, and platform support. The framework has facilitated the development of hybrid apps as they are written using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Besides, it is deemed as a UI framework that handles UI interactions of apps with support of native mobile components and elegant designs. Thus, we can say that Ionic emphasizes UI interactions and the look as well as the feel of the app.

Ionic also provides themes and components that allow hybrid mobile app developers to create apps having an intuitive and interactive user interface (UI). The framework offers both light and dark themes for mobile apps. And its features include typography, an extensible base theme, mobile components, and interactive paradigms that improve the app’s functionality. An Ionic app is developed through the Ionic command line (CLI) and requires a native wrapper like Cordova to operate as a native application. Also, the Ionic CLI comes with a built-in development server.

Why You Should Opt Ionic for Hybrid App Development Services

Easy to Adopt

Developing hybrid apps using Ionic is way easier if a developer has profound HTML, CSS, and JavaScript expertise. Besides, they can easily switch to Ionic if you need a quick and interactive app for your business.

Cross-Platform App Development

Ionic supports Android, iOS, and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) for creating a cross-platform app using the same code. Thus, it requires less programming, effort, resources to develop an app that runs seamlessly on multiple platforms, and have a unified look and feel.

Built on AngularJS

Ionic uses AngularJS, a widely used structure framework, to provide multiple functionalities using which designers can integrate appealing components into the app. Using AngularJS, Ionic also offers a robust structure that facilitates code management and improves the performance of hybrid apps.

User Interface

Ionic has multiple default CSS and JS components that cover the majority of requisites for hybrid mobile app development. These components include shape inputs, routes, tabs, sliding menus, sliding boxes, and more. The default styles are basic and smooth, and developers can redo them by adding pre-defined CSS classes to the component.

Utilizes Cordova Plugins

Ionic uses Cordova plugins to allow hybrid mobile app developers to access various components and features like GPS, Camera, Flashlight, and more. Such plugins help in building an app that can reach its maximum working capacity by using one or more of these features of an operating system.

Easy Testing

Testing a hybrid app is far easier with Ionic. QA engineers can test it on a desktop browser or even perform simulator testing for both Android and iOS using Cordova commands. Testing can even be done with a mobile browser or safari in iOS devices. Besides, they can directly test the app on the actual platform to get an idea of how the app would run.

Huge Community

Understanding the Ionic capabilities to get the most of the framework is the most challenging part while developing a hybrid app. However, Ionic has a huge community of active technology experts who help developers understand the framework’s ins and outs and provide solutions to every problem they face. Also, they keep on posting about the framework, Angular, and other related subjects on various forums to educate people in the best possible way.

Final Words

Ionic is an excellent framework for developing basic native functionalities within an app that operates across various operating systems. The framework also expedites the hybrid mobile app development process and reduces the need for maintenance. So, if you want to develop a quick app using Ionic, and make a statement in the market, invest in our hybrid app development services. Our experts have profound expertise in building high-performance hybrid apps using Ionic and technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

9 Best Code Editors for React Native App Development

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

React Native, a JavaScript-based framework, gained mainstream adoption when Facebook open-sourced it in 2015. Now, the framework is widely used to develop high-quality, native-like, and powerful cross-platform apps, thanks to its various benefits. 

Since React Native has become a sought-after platform for creating futuristic applications, many React Native app developers want to get insights into the best code editors or IDEs available for this framework. So, here we have shed light on the best editors that can contribute to developing high-performance applications.

Best React Native Editors for App Development

Nuclide

Nuclide is one of the best IDEs for building React Native apps as it comes with inbuilt support for the React Native framework and JavaScript. Facebook launched this editor to streamline the mobile app development process and overcome the limitations of other IDEs like Eclipse and AppCode.

Besides, it offers all the features of Flow, including Code Diagnostics and Autocomplete, which is indeed a significant benefit for React Native app developers who have to deal with apps primarily written in Flow.

Key features of Nuclide are:

  • Flow Support
  • Debugging
  • Remote Development 
  • Hack Language Support

Atom

Atom is an open-source editor that works across multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Developers widely use it for almost all major technologies. Since this editor has a large active community, a lot of its plugins or enhancements allow React Native app developers to build high-quality apps. Additionally, hacking the core and writing packages is easy with Atom, thanks to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Key Features of Atom are:

  • Autocompletion
  • File System Browser
  • Cross-Platform Editing
  • Multiple Panes
  • Built-In Package Manager
  • Find and Replace

Sublime Text

Sublime has been an all-time favorite editor for mobile app developers as it offers a lot of themes and packages. Since its inception in 2008, the Sublime Text has undergone a lot of iterations so far, which makes it a seasoned and sophisticated player in the tech market.

Key Features of Sublime Text are:

  • Multiple Selections
  • Command Palette
  • Split Editing
  • Goto Anything
  • Customize Anything
  • Distraction Free Mode
  • Instant Project Switch
  • Cross-Platform Support

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a powerful source editor introduced by Microsoft for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Since the editor comes with inbuilt support of JavaScript and TypeScript, it has gained a lot of traction among React Native app developers.

Key Features of Visual Studio Code are:

  • Git Commands Built-In
  • Code Debugging 
  • Extensible and Customizable
  • Easy Deployment

Vim Editor

Vim is a highly configurable, open-source text editor that facilitates creating and changing any kind of text. The editor is rock stable and has various plugins, including vim-jsx, vim-react-snippets, and vim-babel.

Key Features of Vim Editor are:

  • Integration with Multiple Tools
  • Powerful Search and Replace
  • Persistent, Multi-Level Undo Tree
  • Extensive Plugin System
  • Support For Ample Programming Languages and File Formats

Spacemacs Editor

Spacemacs is a community-driven, open-source Emacs distribution. The editor is based on layers, which facilitates adding and excluding pre-defined features.

Key Features of Spacemacs are:

  • Great Documentation
  • Command Line Editor
  • Highly Customizable
  • Simple Query System to Find Available Packages and Layers Quickly
  • Mnemonic Prefixes to Organize Key Binding Properly

GNU Emacs Editor

GNU Emacs is a customizable, extensible, free/libre, and self-documenting real-time editor that comes free under GPL License. This editor is one of the powerful text editors today.

Key Features of GNU Emacs are:

  • Full Unicode Support For Almost All Human Scripts
  • A Packaging System For Downloading and Installing Extensions
  • Content-Aware Editing Modes
  • Highly Customizable
  • Complete Built-In Documentation
  • An Ecosystem of Functionalities like text editing, debugger interfacem project planner, and more.

Deco

Deco is an all-in-one IDE for creating React Native apps that can be downloaded and used without any environment setup. It improves React Native app development workflow by allowing developers to edit UI in real-time and focus on component reuse.

Key Features of Deco are:

  • Real-Time Tweaking
  • Component Search and Insert
  • New File Scaffolds

WebStorm

WebStorm is a highly configurable, open-source IDE that has a vibrant plugin ecosystem. It offers advanced support for JSX and React, and provides core coding assistance for developing React Native apps.

Key Features of WebStorm are:

  • Version Control System
  • Intelligent Coding Assistance
  • Built-In Terminal
  • Support For the Latest Technologies
  • Seamless Tool Integration
  • Debugging, Tracing, and Testing

Final Words

These are the top code editors that facilitate the React Native app development process because of its powerful features. You can consult with an experienced React Native app development company to choose the best editor or IDE for your project. They will meticulously understand your requirements and objectives to suggest you an editor that suits the best to your project.

A Guide on Developing an Offline-First Mobile App

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

Every mobile app in the market today requires an internet connection to a certain extent and the reason is quite obvious – exchanging data between the user and the server. However, an app that demands a constant internet connection to work seamlessly has some acute disadvantages. One of the biggest pitfalls is the app becomes useless when there is no internet connectivity.  To counteract this, you should turn to an offline-first mobile app development approach to offer a better experience to users.

What is an Offline-First Mobile App?

An offline-first app, as the name suggests, doesn’t need a constant internet connection. It downloads data from the server and stores it locally on the user’s device, which can be accessed offline. And when the internet connection is available, the app downloads updates from the server, while simultaneously uploading the changes that the user had made offline.

Why You Should Adopt Offline-First App Development Approach

Like the continuous expansion of the internet, the issues related to its connection are also widespread. Being a business person, you must know that most users are impatient. If your app loads slowly or stops working abruptly due to low or no internet connection, they can get frustrated especially when they’re in the middle of something using your app. After experiencing such issues, users might abandon your app. So, creating an offline-first app with the help of iOS/Android app developers can avert situations like this.

Besides, the offline-first approach can be beneficial if your app has a large database that enables users to search for specific information. By developing a smaller version of a database that can be downloaded to the user’s device, you not only make your app more useful but also ensure that users can access the information even if there is no internet connection.

If you think your app has some features that don’t need constant internet connectivity to function, you should definitely go for an offline-first approach. Developing an offline-first app may be more complicated than developing an app that operates entirely with the internet, but it also comes with benefits like better performance and user experience.

How to Develop an Offline-First App?

The first and foremost thing to consider while developing is an offline-first design is how your application will handle the absence of constant connection to the database. Basically, there are three ways to store, sync, and update the local data which includes caching, manual replication, and real-time data synchronization.

Caching

Caching is the easiest way to manage local data and make it accessible if the app isn’t connected to the database. This approach can do wonders only if your app is simple. However, if you want to make your app capable of editing data and applying changes to it without an internet connection, caching is not the best idea.

Manual Replication

Manual replication allows users to change the viewed data offline by marking objects as “changed”. Users can manually upload the changes and download new data when the app connects to the server. However, this approach can be unpredictable and crash because of the issues with the internet or server, leading to data conflicts or poor app performance.

Real-Time Data Synchronization

This approach is akin to manual replication but allows data to be uploaded automatically rather manually. An offline app that leverages more advanced synchronization protocols transfers the changed version of the data as well as the actions made to edit it. This enables the system to resolve data conflicts automatically and improve the overall app performance.

Things to Consider While Developing an Offline-First App

Conflicting Data

What if the server changes the database online and the user simultaneously edits the exact part of that data offline? The server will encounter two conflicting pieces of data while trying to upload the information, which can lead to unpredictable system behavior and server crashes.

This situation is comparatively easier to handle, but many other issues can result in data conflicts. To cope with these issues, you need to create an app that could resolve conflicts quickly and predictably. For instance, you can clarify which piece of data has a higher priority to deal with the conflict described in the above situation.

Offline Features

An offline-first app works in two different modes – online and offline. Developing an online mode is easier since all the mobile design guidelines apply here while managing offline mode can be quite complicated.

Besides, an offline-first app should have useful features that work while not connected to the server. These features will depend on the kind of your app and the technical aspect of your project, as there are certain limitations to what can be done offline.

Making Online and Offline Functions Clear to Users

Understanding your app’s functionalities is one thing, but making them clear to the user is completely a different challenge. Finding hard to determine which functions are available offline and which works online can trigger a confusing experience. 

Let’s understand this phenomenon with an example of a shared text editor with a document that simultaneously can be edited by two users. If one user goes offline while another continues to edit, there will be two versions of the same doc. Consequently, there will be a lot of unnecessary work and unhappy users. To avert such a situation, you can let users decide whether they want to continue editing offline or not. Also, warning them about the conflicting versions via a notification will save their time and improve their experience.

Final Words

By adopting an offline-first approach, you provide a stable user experience no matter if your app is connected to the internet or not. Developing an offline-first app for Android and iOS may be complicated, but it will take your user experience to the next level. If you’re wondering if your app can benefit from offline-first approach or planning to invest in iOS/Android app development services, feel free to contact us. We will be more than happy to answer your queries and estimate your project for free.

7 Factors to Consider Before Developing a React Native App

Posted on by Abhishek Kalyan

Planning to develop a mobile app using React Native? If so, it is a great choice. This framework has been gaining massive momentum due to its enormous benefits. You can easily develop a cross-platform app within a fixed budget and timeline using React Native. Besides, the apps built with React Native are quite rapid to reserve a spot in the app store market and help you gain a competitive edge. However, you must consider a few factors before investing in React Native app development services. These factors can navigate your app development journey and contribute to its success.

Factors to Consider Before React Native App Development

The Reason Behind Building a React Native app

React Native is one of the leading and sought-after frameworks for developing a cross-platform app. But it doesn’t mean that every application can be built in this framework.

The App development framework depends on your project requirements. If you aim to develop a multi-platform app, you can achieve this using WebView. However, you also have to publish your application across all platforms, which people are already doing.

On the other hand, if you’re more concerned about high performance and appealing graphics using React Native, you might have to face disappointment. Most React Native apps fail to manage heavy tasks and offer better user experience (UX) than native apps.

We suggest you hire React Native app developers who are experienced enough to develop high-quality apps using this framework. They can leverage underlying components that are barely accessible from a WebView app.

Choose the Right Navigation Library

Partner with an experienced React Native app development company that can help you choose the right navigation library as it plays an important role in the app development process.

React Native provides two types of navigation libraries, including the Native navigators and the JavaScript Navigators. The former type is famous for its outstanding performance, while the latter is known for its easier setup.

So, you must discuss with your React Native app developers which type of navigation libraries will suit the best to your project.

App’s Scaling for Different Devices and Screens

Considering app’s scaling for different mobile devices and screen sizes is also an essential factor when it comes to React Native app development. Basically, scaling can be done in two ways – choosing different UI/UX based on screen size or the same for all screens.

React Native app developers go for the first option for building most of the apps. However, for developing a gaming app, the second option is more viable.

You can use third-party packages like React Native Responsive UI, or Dimensions API to identify the screen size.

Performance of Your App

React Native enables working in short development cycles that help in creating app quickly. The processing of React Native apps is fast, and they don’t have heavy components that impact their loading speed. In case your app loads slowly, there are many powerful ways to improve its performance.

Besides, the hot reload feature expedites the bundling of processes and allows developers to see even a small change in the app in real-time.

Animations

We understand that animations are imperative for apps these days, but React Native is not that effective in the animations. You can use animations, but developers have to frequently test the animation on the device because emulators don’t provide accurate feedback and leave them in doubt.

However, using useNativeDriver=true can help you yield better performance.

Easily Transform Web Project into a Mobile Version 

Code Reusability in React Native allows developers to roll out a single update for both platforms simultaneously. This helps in quickly detecting as well as fixing bugs. Even React Native app developers who haven’t worked on the project can understand the code easily.

Besides improving productivity, the framework also provides flexibility to the development team. In turn, this reduces the time required for quality assurance and facilitates transforming a web project into a mobile version.

React Native Styling

The working of React Native Style is akin to CSS, but the framework provides limited inheritance and doesn’t support cascade and many other properties. So, you should find workarounds or alternatives to achieve what you want.

Moreover, in this framework, every single element is flex by default. You must try to keep components small to overcome styling issues extensively. It will keep both the user interface as well as the styles fixed on a single page.

Final Words

React Native has become a sought-after framework among businesses and developers since its inception. The factors mentioned above can help you to improve the performance, scalability, and usability of your React Native app. To get a thorough understanding of these factors and other aspects, approach the experts of a React Native app development company. They will guide and help you in the best possible manner.

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