As fledgling mobile app developers, it can be difficult to know whether to specialize in iOS or Android app development.
Both may have similarities on an architectural level, but their requirements from a maintenance and developmental perspective differ in several ways. The reality is that Android and iOS developers are just as in-demand as each other. You only have to look at some of the most active mobile industries to prove that case.
In the UK, the most popular betting applications have become a cornerstone for how online sportsbooks operate, given that they are now utilized by millions of sports fans nationwide. It’s a similar story in the casual gaming industry, where titles such as Arcane Legends, Pocket Legends, and Vainglory, all boast cross-platform capabilities.
If you’re just starting out in your journey in app development, below we’ll unpick the major differences between app development for iOS and Android devices.
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Core programming language
First and foremost, the primary programming language for Android and iOS devices is very different. iOS relies on the proprietary Swift language, while Android uses Java or Kotlin for its technology stack. Typically, iOS developers find it quicker to master Swift programming than Java, due to its impressive readability.
Kotlin is fast creeping up along the rails to overtake Java as the number-one Android coding language and this is equally modern and forward-thinking in its approach, so the gap could narrow in the coming years.
Proprietary development environment
The integrated development environment of both iOS and Android applications differs significantly too. iOS coders will lean on the XCode platform, which is a solution underpinned by Apple funding, enabling developers to tweak in-app bugs and ensure fully responsive experiences across the full spectrum of iOS devices and screen sizes.
Similarly, Android developers use their own platform called Android Studio, devised and introduced by Google in 2013. Like XCode, Android Studio has plenty of debugging functions and has high readability for experienced coders to ramp up productivity.
Complexity of development
In most cases, iOS app coding is significantly easier than Android app coding. The key is the fragmentation of each device. Apple’s product range is that much smaller than Android’s product range and therefore has fewer devices to cater for.
It’s simply not the case with Android, with so many smartphone and tablet manufacturers embracing the open-source nature of Android. Android developers therefore need to undergo significant periods of testing and simulations before it can pass quality control checks.
Ultimately, Android has the market share on a global perspective, with almost three-quarters (71.59%) of mobile devices powered by Android compared with 16% with iOS. However, iOS has the edge in terms of mastering app development with speed – and maintaining applications is that much easier too.