hyuni
9/15/2015 - 6:15 AM

General overview of the most prominent Operating systems for Smartphones and Frameworks available for cross-platform development

General overview of the most prominent Operating systems for Smartphones and Frameworks available for cross-platform development

Smartphones app-development overview - as of 06.2015

Marketshare

Smartphones operating systems overview

Android - Google

  • License:
    • OS: Apache v2
    • kernel: LGPL v3
  • Development:
    • Windows, MAC OS X and Linux supported
    • Android SDK: for command line and make scripts
    • Programming language:
      • Logic: Java
      • Layout: XML
    • IDE - Android Studio
      • Drag and drop Layout creation
      • Simultaneous output app-packages
      • Importing code templates from Github
      • Virtual devices simulation
    • Publish:
      • Google Play:
        • one time payment - $25 USD
        • country selection possible
        • Private App-distribution Channel - Google App account neccessary
        • Alpha and Beta relase testing possible
    • From unknown sources:
      • smartphone configuration necessary
      • per email
      • from a website
      • from the IDE - only for developers
    • Support:
      • Google
      • ~ 680 000 questions in Stackoverflow

iOS - Apple

  • License:
    • Private
  • Development:
    • MAC OS X 10.8 necessary
    • iOS SDK: for iPad, iPhone and iPod
      • $ 99 USD per year - single developer
      • $ 299 USD per year - company use
    • Programming language:
      • Logic:
        • Swift, Objective-C
      • Layout: Interface Builder Programm
        • Drag and drop style
    • IDE - XCode
      • Virtual device simulation
      • Code live rendering possible
      • Performance tests
  • Publish:
    • App Store:
      • Free
      • country selection possible
      • B2B apss distribution possible
      • Beta releases possible
        • up to 1000 external testers - per email invitation
      • Ad Hoc distribution
        • up to 100 registered iOS devices
  • Support:
    • Apple
    • ~ 340 000 questions in Stackoverflow

Windows Phone - Microsoft

  • License:
    • Private
  • Development:
    • Windows 8.1 necessary
    • Programming languages:
      • C# with XAML
      • C++ with Microsoft DirectX
      • Javascript with HTML5 and CSS
    • IDE:
      • Microsoft Visual Studio Express 2013
      • Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2013 + Update 3 + Phone Emulaor
      • Virtual devices simulation possible
  • Publish:
    • Windows phone App store:
      • $ 19 USD - single developer
      • $ 99 USD - company account
    • country selection possible
    • Beta releases possible
      • up to 10 000 testes - per URL link
    • Internal Company App Distribution possible
  • Support:
    • Microsoft
    • ~18 000 questions in Stackoverflow

Frameworks for Cross-platform mobile development

Apache Cordova

  • License:
    • Apache v2
  • Programming language:
    • Javascript
    • HTML5 + CSS
  • Operating Systems:
    • Windows Phone
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Firefox OS
    • Blackberry
    • others
  • Compaibility
    • ~100 % code reusability
    • Hybrid application
  • Cost:
    • Free
  • Support:
    • Apache Foundation
    • Adobe
    • ~30 000 questions in Stackoverflow
  • Plugins:
    • 1031 listed
    • device sensors supported

Xamarin

  • License:
    • LGPLv2
    • Commercial use base on subscription
  • Programming language:
    • C#
  • Operating Systems
    • Windows Phone
    • iOS
    • Android
  • Compatibility
    • ~75 % - only Logic
    • ~100 % - Logic + Layout
    • Native compilation
  • Cost:
    • Basic - $25 USD per month per OS
    • Company - $83 USD per month per OS
    • Enterprise - $158 USD per month per OS
    • Student - Free = Basic
  • Support:
    • ~7500 Questions on Stackoverflow
    • ~82 USD millions from fund raising

Appcelerator (Titanium)

  • License:
    • Apachev2
  • Programming language
    • Javascript
  • Operating Systems:
    • Windows Phone - beta
    • iOS
    • Android
  • Compatibility
    • ~ 60 - 90 %
    • Hybrid application
  • Cost
    • Titanium - Free
    • Appcelerator platform:
      • single - $39 USD per month
      • team - $259 USD per person per month
      • company - per request
  • Support:
    • ~1500 questions on Stackoverflow
    • ~660 000 current users
  • Plugins
    • ~5000

Sencha Touch

  • License:
    • GPLv3
    • Commercial use base on subscription
  • Programming language:
    • Javascript
  • Operating system:
    • Android
    • iOS
    • Windows Phone 8.1
    • Blackberry
  • Compatibility
    • ~100%
    • Hybrid application
  • Cost
    • Free
    • subscription with support
      • 5 developers - $1395 USD
      • 20 developers - $4995 USD
  • Support
    • ~4500 questions on Stackoverflow

QT Mobile

  • License:
    • LGPL
    • Commercial use:
      • subscription base
      • unlimited
  • Programming language:
    • QML (similar to CSS and Javascript)
  • Operating System:
    • Android
    • iOS
    • Windows Phone
  • Compatibility
    • ~100%
    • Hybrid application
  • Cost
    • Free (LGPL)
    • with support:
      • single - $25 USD per month
      • company - $174 USD per month per developer
  • Support
    • ~41 000 question in Stackoverflow (for QT not QT Mobile! )

Overview - Mobile development

References: