Shania has started a new job as an app developer. Her first task was to make an old app designed for Android available on other platforms. Which of the following would make her job easiest and fastest?
Use the same set of codes for different platforms.
Feed the existing code into cross-platform tools to develop different versions of the same app.
Develop different versions of the same app for different programs.
Use cross-platform tools to write code that will translate the existing Android app code into different native formats.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is:
Feed the existing code into cross-platform tools to develop different versions of the same app.
Explanation:
When Shania is tasked with making an old Android app available on other platforms (like iOS, Windows, etc.), using cross-platform tools is likely the most efficient approach. Here’s why this option makes her job the easiest and fastest:
1. Reusing Existing Code with Cross-Platform Tools:
Cross-platform development tools allow developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms (e.g., Android, iOS, Web). Popular frameworks like Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin enable developers to reuse a large portion of their existing Android code. These tools can convert the original Android app’s logic and user interface into versions that run natively on different platforms. This reduces the need for writing completely separate versions of the app for each platform.
For example, a tool like Flutter uses Dart programming language to build apps that work on both Android and iOS. React Native, on the other hand, uses JavaScript to build cross-platform apps. These tools handle much of the heavy lifting behind the scenes, such as translating the code into platform-specific components while maintaining a consistent experience across platforms.
2. Faster Development Cycle:
The major advantage of using cross-platform tools is the reduction in development time. Rather than developing separate versions of the app for each platform (Android, iOS, etc.), Shania can focus on one codebase that is then adapted for each platform. This minimizes duplication of effort, accelerates testing, and simplifies maintenance.
3. Consistency Across Platforms:
Cross-platform tools ensure that the user interface and functionality remain consistent across devices. This is particularly important when trying to ensure the app’s look and feel remains the same, regardless of whether the user is on an Android or iOS device.
Why the Other Options Aren’t Ideal:
- Using the same set of codes for different platforms: While this sounds efficient, it typically requires a more integrated framework like cross-platform tools to work effectively. Pure Android code wouldn’t run directly on iOS or other platforms without significant modifications.
- Developing different versions for different platforms: This would involve maintaining separate codebases, leading to increased effort and time for updates and debugging, which isn’t ideal for speed or efficiency.
- Using cross-platform tools to translate the code: This could imply converting Android code into different native formats, but cross-platform frameworks work better when you feed the original code directly into them for seamless adaptation rather than using translation tools.
In conclusion, leveraging cross-platform tools to develop versions of the app from the existing Android code will allow Shania to make the app available on multiple platforms quickly, easily, and efficiently.