8 Best Android Frameworks You Must Know
Mobile apps make the world go round these days. We are absolutely dependent on our phones which are full of apps that help make our day-to-day life easy. Ordering a pizza, communicating with team members and work, and checking social media for news and other updates, we can’t imagine life without these savvy apps anymore.
Being on the other side of the curtain to design and develop these apps are a different ball game altogether. You need to understand what frameworks work best for which project.
Top Android Frameworks in 2022
In this blog we discuss 8 such popular Android frameworks that every developer needs to know about:
First, on the list, this multiplatform software development kit is created and managed by Google. It is distinct in function, as compared to various other Android frameworks. It is created in Dart programming language with the intention of making cross development process easy and accessible. It is one of the most popular frameworks as it is ideal for Hybrid app development.
It uses Skia, a 2D rendering engine for graphic creation comparable to the Cupertino design aesthetic. It is also an excellent framework for testing as it allows users to test functionality and execute UI. The hot-reload capabilities offered by Flutter are like no other, which offers smooth testing of the app without having to restart it. KlasterMe, GoogleAds, and Hamilton are some examples of apps created on the single source code flutter framework.
2. Ionic
This framework is best known to create interactive apps. Ionic is an open-source and free Android development framework, verified by MIT, which enables the creation of CSS3, JavaScript, and HTML5-based hybrid apps. It offers cross-platform functions and Angular JS interaction capabilities. Equipped with tools, animations, and gestures, Ionic enables top-notch desktop, mobile, and web app development. Highly popular, with millions of users across 200 countries, it interfaces with Instagram and Google Pay. Some eminent features of Ionic include plugins for Cordova, a natural-feeling user interface, and framework compatibility with React.js, JavaScript, and Angular.
3. Corona SDK
This software development kit works best for fast-loading games and apps. This cross-platform Android UI framework speeds up the entire development process manifold with features like Lua integration and offers versatility, usability, and performance. It supports real-time testing and flexibility according to the needs and requirements of the developers.
It offers a feature-rich API suite with elements like widgets, networking, graphics, and particle effects, and is easy to incorporate. Easy-to-use SDK has its own built-in library, which saves a lot of time. It supports native UI and has the API utilizing ability along with C++, C, and Obj-C familiarity.
4. React Native Framework
This is a strong, open-source framework that offers extensive support for different development tools and IDEs. It is based on React, and many popular firms like Walmart, Tesla, Airbnb, and Instagram use it to create different native mobile apps for their respective platforms. One major advantage of this framework is that once the code is written it can be run on any platform, saving time and money.
External third-party plugins can be used and only a single interface is needed to build and design the app. Errors can be identified easily with the use of declarative programming techniques. The hot-reload feature enables updating of files without disturbing the current disposition of the app.
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5. Framework 7
This is one of the newest and most influential MIT-licensed open-source Android UI frameworks and boasts several features for an easy and quick app launch. Some main features include ‘pull to refresh’, ‘lazy loading’, ‘infinite scrolling’, and ‘swiper slider’. Most developers find this framework ideal for PWA construction. The interface is simple and user-friendly.
The jQuery syntax offers a quick start without delays. Flexible Router API supports template-based page loading. It also offers built-in helper libraries and no licensing costs.
6. jQuery Mobile Framework
Developers believe this to be one of the most accessible tools for the launch of online and mobile apps, along with being a cross-platform HTML5-based framework. It allows developers to write code once and run it on different platforms such as Symbian, Windows, iOS, Android, etc. The entire primary app interface in this framework can be written using HTML without much use for JavaScript code. Ajax, CSS animation, and event handling could be simplified a lot when used in correlation with jQuery.
The integrated theme system allows the style of application with each project, in order to best match the potential audience’s preferences. The framework is incredibly small in size, which is a huge benefit. There are several plugins offered like an image slider, content slider, pop-up boxes, etc. The ThemeRoller feature makes drag-and-drop convenient.
7. NativeScript Android Framework
This free, open-source framework enables developers to create hybrid apps using TypeScript, Angular, and Vue. You can reuse a wide range of plugins with NativeScript, whether created with CocoaPods or Gradle. It allows developers to create online apps using expertise in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. It facilitates UI integration with the native platform’s offering engine which results in better-synchronized performance.
It offers simple authentication, the use of Webpack, and LiveSync. It uses different frames in one app. With the use of Platform-specific APIs, the need for learning new languages eliminates itself. It works well with third-party libraries besides the automatic generation of splash screens and icons using high-resolution photos.
8. Xamarin
This is one of the most popular Microsoft-owned Android development frameworks. It uses a single C# codebase that allows developers a toolset to create native apps on different mobile platforms. The code-sharing capability of Xamarin is what makes it a developer’s dream, as it saves time and hassle.
Since Xamarin has been introduced as a component of the Visual Studio IDE, several huge corporations from the energy and healthcare sectors have started adopting it as the go-to framework. It enables developers to share as much as 95 percent of their code across different platforms. It offers the best user interface for forms and eradicates the need for switching between different environments. It facilitates testing and app performance check through Xamarin test Cloud and Test Recorder tools. It also saves time and eliminates bugs.
Conclusion
With a phenomenal range of choices available, each unique in function and capabilities, you have a sea of possibilities to choose from. A little bit of research into these options will help you land the best option according to your specific needs.