UNIT – II

NATIVE APP DEVELOPMENT USING JAVA

What is a Native App?
• A native app only runs on a specific mobile operating system. It won’t run on other mobile operating
systems. So, for example, if you develop a native app for iOS, you’d do the development in the Xcode
environment using Swift. For Android, developers commonly use Android Studio and Java.
• Native apps can normally access all the functionality of the chosen device easily. You can run them
without error on the device if developed properly.
• However, this comes with a trade-off. If you want your app to run on iOS and Android, you will have to
develop the app twice, once for each operating system. This can make the development process both
slower and more expensive.
• Many companies will develop their app for a single operating system when they choose the native route.
If the app is successful in that environment, they will then go back and recreate it for other operating
systems.
• Native mobile app development involves building apps for specific mobile operating systems. Users can
then access them from dedicated app stores (the App Store or Google Play). Both Apple and Google
provide app developers with their own development tools, interface elements, and software
development kits (SDKs).
• Native apps can take full advantage of the device's features like camera, vibration and GPS. After the
download, they are shown as an icon on the home screen of the mobile device. When it comes to
installation, native applications are typically installed directly on a user's mobile device.
• This grants them access to device-specific functions like the camera, microphone, GPS and other
hardware features. Moreover, they can also store data on the device and seamlessly communicate with
other native apps on the same platform.
What are examples of native apps?
• Instagram - a social media app that allows you to share photos and videos with your followers.
• Facebook - a popular social network app that lets you connect with your friends, share updates.
• Google Maps - a navigation app that provides you access to detailed maps, real-time traffic updates and turn-by-turn directions.
• Spotify - a music streaming app that allows you to immerse yourself in an extensive range of songs, create playlists and discover new
music.
• WhatsApp - a messaging app that enables you to send texts, make video calls and share media files in real-time.
• Uber - a ride booking app that allows you to connect with drivers, enabling you to request & pay for rides.
• Snapchat - a multimedia messaging app that enables you to send photos and videos that get removed after being viewed.
• Evernote - an app that allows you to create and organize digital notes, memos and to-do lists.
• Candy Crush Saga - a popular mobile game that entices you with its challenge of matching colorful candies to complete levels.
 SCENARIOS TO CREATE NATIVE APP
• Creating a native app can be a suitable choice for various scenarios, depending on the
specific requirements and goals of the project. Here are some scenarios were developing a native app
is often preferred:
▪ Performance-Critical Applications: When the app requires high performance,
responsiveness, and smooth animations, a native app can fully leverage the device's
hardware and software capabilities to deliver the best user experience. Examples include graphics-
intensive games, real-time communication apps, and video editing applications.
▪ Utilizing Device Features: If the app needs to access and utilize device-specific features extensively,
such as GPS for location-based services, camera for photo/video processing, or Bluetooth for IoT
applications, a native app is the way to go.
▪ Offline Functionality: For apps that need to function offline or in areas with limited connectivity,
native apps can store data locally and allow users to interact with the app even when not connected
to the internet.
▪ Platform-Specific User Experience: If you want to provide a seamless and platform- specific
user experience to cater to the preferences and habits of users on different platforms
(iOS and Android), native app development is the ideal choice.
▪ App Store Distribution: If your app's success depends on widespread distribution and easy
discoverability, publishing it on app stores like Google Play Store and Apple App Store as a native
app can greatly improve its visibility and accessibility.
▪ Security and Data Protection: Native apps can implement security measures more
effectively, ensuring the protection of sensitive user data and complying with platform- specific
security guidelines.
▪ Complex Business Applications: Enterprise-grade applications often require integration with
complex backend systems, and native apps can offer robust APIs and libraries to facilitate this
integration.
▪ High Interactivity and Rich User Interface: If your app demands a high level of
interactivity and a rich user interface with custom animations and transitions, native
development provides greater control over these aspects.
It's important to note that while native apps offer many benefits, they come with higher development
costs and longer timelines, especially if you plan to support multiple platforms. In some cases, cross-
platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter may also be considered as alternatives, striking
a balance between native performance and development efficiency. The choice of development approach
should be based on a careful evaluation of the project's specific needs and resources.
 BENEFITS OF NATIVE MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT
• Offline usability: Because the app is completely downloaded on the device, an internet connection
is not necessarily needed. Depending on the functionality of the app, the user can use the app without
any internet connection.
• Native Apps Have the Best Performance: With native mobile app development, the app is created and
optimized for a specific platform. As a result, the app demonstrates an extremely high level of
performance. Native apps are very fast and responsive because they are built for a specific operating
system and are compiled using the platform’s core programming language and APIs. As users navigate
through a native mobile app, the contents and visual elements are already stored on their phone. This
results in quick load times.
• Native Apps Are More Secure: Developing a native mobile app is a great way to guarantee your users
reliable data protection. Native apps can enhance the security of your user’s data. They have access to
platform-specific built-in security features.
• Native Apps Are More Interactive: Native mobile apps run more smoothly, especially when it comes
to user input and output. These types of apps inherit their devices’ OS interfaces, which makes them
look and feel like an integrated part of the device.
• Superior user experience: Because native apps are created for a specific operating system, they can
stick to guidelines that enhance and align the user experience with the operating system. As a result,
the flow of the app is more natural.
• Fast and responsive experience: With native apps, users are offered the fastest, most reliable, and
most responsive experience, which is absolutely a competitive edge over their web counterparts. This
can be explained by the fact that native apps are built for a particular platform, leading to their
accelerated speed and higher performance.
• Easily tap into wider device functionality: Native app features allow users to easily access their
camera, compass, microphone, accelerometer, and swipe gestures for specific purposes.
• Allow matching app UI/UX to platform conventions: Building a native app for your business is an
effective way to please your users as you can match the app’s various UI/UX to the platform
conventions.
• Availability across the app store: Most of the highly downloaded applications in the app store are
native apps. This can in turn help businesses get more customers on board. Just by focusing on
marketing efforts to make their app showcase perfectly when users conduct their search, businesses
can enjoy huge benefits from their native applications.
• Native Apps Allow Developers to Access the Full Feature Set of Devices: Since native apps are
developed for their particular platform, they take full advantage of the software and the operating
 systems’ features. These apps can directly access the hardware of the device, such as the GPS, camera,
microphone, etc. That means they offer faster execution, which ultimately results in better user
experience.
CONS OF NATIVE APP
• Long download process: Native apps must first be downloaded from the app store. This involves
several steps: Open the app store, search for an app, install the app, open the app, etc. At each of these
steps, users can leave the conversion funnel.
• No flexibility: Native apps are developed platform-specific. The developers have little flexibility due
to the specific requirements of the target platform.
• Development cost and Time: Native apps require separate development for each platform (iOS and
Android), which can increase development costs and timelines significantly. Maintaining two
codebases can also lead to higher ongoing development and maintenance expenses. The
maintenance costs of a native application are also relatively high, accounting for 15-20% of the
development costs.
• Platform Dependence: Native apps are specific to a particular platform (iOS or Android). This means
that separate codebases are needed to target different platforms, which may limit the app's reach to a
broader audience.
• App Store Approval Process: Publishing native apps on app stores like Google Play Store and Apple
App Store requires adherence to strict guidelines and approval processes, which can introduce
delays and rejections.
• Skill Set Requirements: Developing native apps requires developers with platform- specific
expertise. For example, iOS apps may require knowledge of Swift or Objective-C, while Android apps
may need expertise in Java or Kotlin. Finding developers with diverse skill sets can be challenging.
• Updates and Maintenance: Native apps need to be regularly updated and maintained to stay
compatible with the latest OS versions and devices. This continuous effort may increase costs.
• Distribution Limitations: Native apps can only be distributed through official app stores or sideloaded
through specific procedures. This can be a disadvantage if the app needs to be distributed outside app
stores or to a limited audience.
• User Adoption Barrier: Users need to download and install native apps on their devices, which may
act as a barrier to adoption compared to web apps that can be accessed directly through a browser.
• Cross-Platform Challenges: If the goal is to support multiple platforms, developers may face
challenges in achieving full consistency and leveraging all native capabilities across different operating
systems.
To mitigate some of these drawbacks, businesses and developers often consider alternative approaches,
such as cross-platform development frameworks (e.g., React Native, Flutter, Xamarin) or hybrid app
development, which combine web technologies with native components. The choice between native,
cross-platform, or hybrid development depends on the specific project requirements, budget, and long-
term goals.
NATIVE MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT TOOLS

✓ Mobile app development software that helps to make the application development process easier. It
provides various IDEs, code-free developments, templates, API, data synchronization, and analytics.
✓ Native mobile app development tools are especially recommended when someone wants to create an
app that is intended to work on only one platform. The following native application development
tools will help you to build mobile apps for Android and iOS platforms. This way, you can publish native
applications on their respective app stores.
✓ A native development tool is a software which allows developers to create applications for use in a
single particular system family, platform or device, like Android, iOS, or Windows.
✓ Native mobile app development tools can help you create specialized apps that operate with ease and
high quality, and can take advantage of all features on their designated platform.
✓ A native app is specially made and coded for a specific mobile platform in its native programming
language, these being:
• iOS (Objective-C or Swift)
• Android (Java or Kotlin)
• Windows Phone (C#)
There are different guidelines for each of these platforms and developers need to stick to them as they differ
in typography, graphic styles, gestures, visual effects, data entry and more.
Native Android App Development Tools
• You can develop native Android apps in the Java, Kotlin, Scala, and C++ programming languages. Google
provides you with advanced Android development tools, such as:
✓ Android SDK bundled with Android Studio, the official IDE Android
✓ Command line tools for Windows, Mac, and Linux
✓ Firebase, a comprehensive mobile development platform
✓ Android Jetpack, a collection of pre-made Android components
• Apart from Google’s in-house tools, there are also many third-party solutions you can use for Android
development. You can create Android apps on both PCs and Macs. When your native Android app is
done, you need to submit it to the Google Play app store where users can download or buy it.
1) Android Studio
Android Studio is an Android development Software built by Google. Its implementation editor is very
useful for Android developers. Android studio provides shortcuts for coding and designing and its layout
designer makes it very easy to use, which helps reduce time spent on coding. Android studio also
provides drag and drop features to design the layout of your projects. Not only fast, but it also offers
tools to develop apps for all types of Android mobile phones. This ensures that you build a highly
productive and efficient app to work on.
Website: www.developer.android.com/studio
2) IntelliJ IDEA is a native mobile application development tool that focuses on enhancing the
productivity of app developers. It is for the JVM language and helps developers in code completion,
static code analysis, refactoring, and self-managing all the tasks. It is a multi-platform IDE, making
it easier for you to develop native mobile apps on different platforms, such as Windows and macOS.
Also, it supports various languages, including Java, Kotlin, and Scala, that you can compile into the
JVM bytecode.
Android SDK ensures you build the best Android apps using IntelliJ IDEA. You can configure Android
SDK, which has a collection of tools and libraries. All these helps to provide a smooth process in
developing Android applications.

Working on android studio

Step 1 - System Requirements
You will be delighted, to know that you can start your Android application development on either of the
following operating systems −
• Microsoft® Windows® 10/8/7/Vista/2003 (32 or 64-bit)
• Mac® OS X® 10.8.5 or higher, up to 10.9 (Mavericks)
Second point is that all the required tools to develop Android applications are open source and can be
downloaded from the Web. Following is the list of software's you will need before you start your Android
application programming.
• Java JDK5 or later version
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6
• Android Studio
Step 2 - Setup Android Studio
Android Studio is the official IDE for android application development. It works based on IntelliJ IDEA,
You can download the latest version of android studio from Android Studio 2.2 Download, If you are new
to installing Android Studio on windows, you will find a file, which is named as android-studio-bundle-
 143.3101438-windows.exe. So just download and run on windows machine according to android studio
wizard guideline. If you are installing Android Studio on Mac or Linux, You can download the latest
version from Android Studio Mac Download, or Android Studio Linux Download, check the instructions
provided along with the downloaded file for Mac OS and Linux.
Installation
• So let's launch Android Studio.exe, Make sure before launch Android Studio, Our Machine should require
installed Java JDK. To install Java JDK, take a reference of Android environment setup.
• Once you launched Android Studio, it’s time to mention JDK7 path or later version in android studio
installer.

Above the image initiating JDK to android SDK.

• Need to check the components, which are required to create applications, above the image has
selected Android Studio, Android SDK, Android Virtual Machine and performance(Intel chip).
• Need to specify the location of local machine path for Android studio and Android SDK, above the image
has taken default location of windows 8.1 x64 bit architecture.
• Need to specify the ram space for Android emulator by default it would take 512MB of local machine
RAM.
• At final stage, it would extract SDK packages into our local machine, it would take a while time to finish
the task and would take 2626MB of Hard disk space. After done all above steps perfectly, you must get
finish button and it going to be open android studio project with Welcome to android studio message
as shown above.
• You can start your application development by calling start a new android studio project. in a new
installation frame should ask Application name, package information and location of the project.
• After entered application name, it going to be called select the form factors your application runs on,
here need to specify Minimum SDK.

The next level of installation should contain selecting the activity to mobile, it specifies the default layout
for Applications. At the final stage it going to be open development tool to write the application code.

Step 3 - Create Android Virtual Device

To test your Android applications, you will need a virtual Android device. So before we start writing our
code, let us create an Android virtual device. Launch Android AVD Manager Clicking AVD_Manager icon
as shown below.
After Click on a virtual device icon, it going to be shown by default virtual devices which are present on
your SDK, or else need to create a virtual device by clicking Create new Virtual device button.

If your AVD is created successfully it means your environment is ready for Android application
development. If you like, you can close this window using top-right cross button. Better you re-start your
machine and once you are done with this last step, you are ready to proceed for your first Android
example but before that we will see few more important concepts related to Android Application
Development.
Hello Word Example
Before Writing a Hello word code, you must know about XML tags. To write hello word code, you should
redirect to App>res>layout>Activity_main.xml

To show hello word, we need to call text view with layout ( about text view and layout, you must take
references at Relative Layout and Text View ).
 <RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin" tools:context=".MainActivity">
<TextView android:text="hello_world"
android:layout_width="550dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
</RelativeLayout>
Need to run the program by clicking Run>Run App or else need to call shift+f10key. Finally, result should
be placed at Virtual devices as shown below.

Native IOS App Development Tools

• You can create native iOS apps in Objective-C or Swift. Unlike Android, the iOS operating system has
closed source code, created exclusively for Apple’s hardware. So, you need a Mac device to develop
native mobile apps for the iOS platform. Apple has many excellent tools and resources you can use for
iOS development, such as:
✓ iOS SDK integrated with the Cocoa Touch UI framework
✓ XCode, the official IDE for iOS development
✓ Swift Playgrounds, a learning platform for Swift development
✓ TestFlight, a beta testing app iOS also has a remarkable third-party ecosystem with well-known
developer tools such as Jetbrains or CodeRunner.
• As mentioned above, the App Store’s review guidelines are quite strict. They can reject your iOS app
for numerous reasons, from poor performance to security issues to lack of valuable content.
Working on XCode
• Xcode introduces a new way to design and build software. Swift is an innovative new programming
language for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch and, when combined with Xcode tools, makes programming a
delightfully live experience. Live rendering within Interface Builder displays your hand-written UI code
within the design canvas, instantly reflecting changes you type in code. Xcode includes everything
developers need to create applications for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.
• Xcode provides developers a unified workflow for user interface design, coding, testing, and debugging.
Website: www.developer.apple.com/xcode
What is Xcode and Why is it Essential?

✓ Xcode is Apple’s native integrated development environment (IDE) that is available to Apple users for
free. It serves as a one-stop solution for designing, developing, and publishing applications across
various Apple platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS.
✓ Furthermore, Xcode supports a wide range of programming languages, such as Swift, Objective-C,
Objective-C++, C, C++, Java, Python, and more.
✓ One of Xcode’s most significant roles is as the official tool for creating and submitting applications to
the Apple App Store. This means that any developer looking to publish an app on Apple’s platform
must use Xcode. The importance of Xcode in iOS app development lies in its role as the primary and
officially supported IDE for Apple’s ecosystem.
✓ It provides developers with the necessary tools and resources to create high-quality, native
applications that can reach millions of users through the App Store.

How to get started with Xcode?

To get started with Xcode, you’ll need to install it, set up your development environment, and become
familiar with its features. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do just that:

1. Basic Requirements:

Ensure that your Mac meets the basic requirements for running Xcode, which typically include:

• A Mac running macOS 11 or later.

• At least 4GB of RAM (8GB or more recommended).
• A minimum of 8GB of free storage space, as Xcode requires a significant amount of storage.

2. Install Xcode:You can install Xcode from the Mac App Store or download it from the Apple Developer
website. Here are the steps:

– Via Mac App Store:

• Open the App Store application.

• Sign in with your Apple ID.
• Search for “Xcode” in the App Store.
• Click the “Get” button to download and install Xcode.
– Via Apple Developer Website:

• If you have an Apple Developer account, you can download Xcode from the Apple Developer
website.
• Go to the Apple Developer website (developer.apple.com) and sign in with your developer account.
• Navigate to the “Downloads” section and find Xcode. Download the latest version available.

3. Install Xcode’s Command Line Tools:

Xcode’s Command Line Tools are essential for software development. Install theses tools by following
these steps:

• Open the Terminal application on your Mac.

• Run the command xcode-select –install.
• A prompt will appear, asking if you want to install the Command Line Tools. Click “Install” to begin
the download and installation process.
• You will receive a confirmation message as soon as you complete the installation.
• You can verify the installation status by running xcode-select -p in the Terminal.
• Additionally, make sure to select Command Line Tools from Xcode’s preferences (Settings ->
Locations).

4. Create a New Project:

• Open Xcode → Click on “File” in the menu bar and select “New” > “Project.”
• Choose a template that matches your project type, such as “iOS App,” “macOS App,” or others.
• Follow the wizard to configure your project settings, including its name, organization, and other
details.

5. Develop Your App:

• Xcode provides a user-friendly interface for coding, designing user interfaces, and testing your
app. Write your code using Swift, Objective-C, or other supported languages.
• Design your app’s user interface using Interface Builder or SwiftUI.
• Use Xcode’s debugging and testing tools to find and fix issues in your code.

6. Build and Run:

• After writing code, you can build and run your app on the iOS Simulator or a physical device.
• Click the “Run” button (a play icon) in Xcode to compile and launch your app.
 7. Learn and Explore:

• Xcode offers a wide range of features, including documentation, code snippets, and tutorials.
• Explore Xcode’s documentation and online resources to learn more about iOS/macOS
development.

Advantages of Xcode

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Xcode provides a comprehensive IDE that includes a
code editor, debugging tools, interface builder, and other development utilities in one package.
• Swift and Objective-C Support: Xcode supports multiple programming languages, including Swift
and Objective-C, which are the primary languages for iOS and macOS app development. Developers
have the flexibility to choose the language that best suits their project.
• Interface Builder: Xcode’s Interface Builder makes it easy to design user interfaces visually. You can
drag and drop UI elements, set constraints, and preview how your app will look on different Apple
devices.
• Performance Analysis: Xcode includes powerful performance analysis tools that help developers
identify bottlenecks, memory leaks, and other performance issues in their apps. This can lead to
improved app responsiveness and efficiency.
• iOS Simulator: Xcode provides an iOS Simulator that allows developers to test their apps on virtual
iOS devices. This is especially useful for testing on various screen sizes and device configurations
without needing physical hardware.

Disadvantages of Xcode

• Platform Limitation: Xcode is exclusive to macOS, which means you can only develop iOS, macOS,
watchOS, and tvOS apps on a Mac. This limitation can be a barrier for developers who prefer other
operating systems.
• Steep Learning Curve: While Xcode offers a wealth of features, it can be complex for beginners.
Learning to navigate its interface and mastering all its tools may take time and effort.
• Resource Intensive: Xcode can be resource-intensive, especially for larger projects. It requires a Mac
with a decent amount of RAM and storage space. This can be a drawback for developers with older or
less powerful Macs.
 APP DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS
What is a Mobile App Framework?
• Mobile App Development Framework is a library that offers the required fundamental structure to create
mobile applications for a specific environment.
• It is a software creation platform that includes tools and software, compilers, debugging tools, and
programming interfaces, among other things.
• In short, it acts as a layout to support mobile app development. There are various advantages of Mobile
App Development frameworks such as cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and many more. These frameworks
provide a structure for developers to follow, so they don’t have to start from scratch, saving time and
effort.
• Modern-day mobile app development frameworks provide several built-in benefits, like speed,
effectiveness, and a bug-free atmosphere. The framework uses pre-built elements, including compilers,
debugging tools, and toolkit, to display the application on the target device using the company’s code.
• Using the expertise of a reputable mobile app development company may help the firm create mobile
applications which are quick, reactive, and provide excellent user interactions.
• The use of mobile app development platforms speeds up and simplifies the app creation procedure.
Types of Mobile App Frameworks

1.Native Development Frameworks: These frameworks are platform-specific, allowing developers to

build apps for a single platform using the platform’s native language and tools. Examples include:
• iOS Development (Swift/Objective-C): For Apple devices, Swift and Objective-C are used for
native iOS app development.
• Android Development (Java/Kotlin): For Android, Java and Kotlin are the primary languages for
building native apps.
2. Cross-Platform Development Frameworks: These frameworks enable dexvelopers to create apps for
multiple platforms using a single codebase. Examples include:
 • React Native: Developed by Facebook, React Native allows developers to build mobile apps for iOS
and Android using JavaScript and React. It’s used by companies like Facebook, Instagram, and
Airbnb.
• Flutter: Created by Google, Flutter is another cross-platform framework using Dart, and it’s known
for building beautiful, natively compiled applications. Apps like Alibaba and Google Ads have been
developed using Flutter.
3. Hybrid Mobile App Development Frameworks: Hybrid mobile app development frameworks
combine native and web technologies, usually relying on web views to render content within a native app.
Examples include:
• Apache Cordova (PhoneGap): It allows developers to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build cross-
platform apps. Adobe PhoneGap is a popular variation.
• Ionic: Built on top of Cordova, Ionic provides a UI framework and tools for building hybrid apps.
4. Game Development Frameworks: These frameworks are specialized for creating mobile games.
Examples include:
• Unity: It’s a versatile game engine that supports mobile platforms like iOS and Android. Games
like “Pokémon GO” and “Super Mario Run” were built using Unity.
NATIVE APP DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
• Native apps are the highest-quality applications in respect of both aesthetics and functionality.
However, native application development is more expensive. Furthermore, achieving the highest
customer engagement might be difficult due to the variety of platforms and devices available.
• When financial constraints and a large number of customers are the primary goals, an application
development firm may choose hybrid or cross-platform application development technologies.
iOS Development (Swift/Objective-C)
• The top two programming languages popularly used by iOS developers are Swift and Objective -C.

OBJECTIVE-C OVERVIEW

• The Objective-C programming language is an object-oriented language used to develop various

apps and software, including iOS and OS X. It’s a superset of the C programming language, meaning
it can do everything C can.
• One of the main benefits of Objective-C is its ability to dynamically load code, meaning you can use
it to create small, lightweight programs or large, complex programs.
• The Objective-C programming language was invented in the 1980s by Brad Cox and Tom Love. They
both had prior knowledge of Smalltalk while at ITT Corporation's Programming Technology Center,
which further equipped them to develop Objective-C.
• After creating the Objective-C programming language with class libraries, Cox and Love created the
PPI, which they intended to use to aid the commercialization of their product. NeXT took over the
Objective-C operation from StepStone and used it until Apple acquired it in 1996.

Features of Objective-C

• Data hiding. The Objective-C programming language uses data hiding as its safety feature,
significantly protecting data from unwanted access. The data hiding safety feature aids in the
prevention of deliberate or accidental changes to the program and ensures that data access is
restricted.
• Encapsulation. With the encapsulation feature on Objective-C, programmers find it easier to
limit other users from having direct access to the state values of every object variable. This
Objective-C feature further makes it easy to hide data, adapt to new requirements, and flexibly
set variables as either write-only or read.
• Inheritance. As a user of Objective-C, you may want to create classes while having an existing
one. Besides creating classes, the inheritance feature enables you to reuse code, autonomously
prolong the original program using accessible classes and interfaces, and design a modification
while preserving the same features.
• Fast program. The wish of every software developer is to engage in coding without any
unnecessary delay from the programming software or language in use. With the fast program
feature of Objective-C, you can have this wish granted as the programming language's design
helps make programming more efficient and quicker.
• Polymorphism. The polymorphism feature of the Objective-C programming language enables
users to access different objects through the same interface. The polymorphism feature has two
types: static and dynamic.

Advantages of Objective-C

• Simple and efficient. The core grammar used to build the Objective-C language is fairly
straightforward to learn. The nature of Objective-C programming language makes it easy to
understand and facilitates a programmer's ability to rebuild or develop a new application. It’s
no wonder Objective-C is frequently used as an introductory language to teach programming to
students.
• An abundance of tools. Due to its over 30 years of use, Objective-C has a wealth of tools. These
include the Xcode and Cocoa framework provided by NeXT, third-party contributors, and Apple.
 These numerous tools play a remarkable role in the smooth running of Apple's operating system
and in making developers feel more comfortable using it.
• Compatible with virtually any available version of iOS. Compared with Swift, which can only
work with iOS produced in recent times, the Objective-C programming language is more
compatible with nearly all versions of iOS. This compatibility is due to its long years of existence
and usage in producing many Apple applications.
• Ability to extend. The Objective-C programming language was designed so a program can be
extended quickly and easily. As a result, programmers can easily add new functions to existing
software with just a few alterations, if any.
• Function-rich libraries. Objective-C designers equipped the programming language with a
sizable collection of libraries with many built-in features that make programming simpler.
Opportunities are also made for programmers to develop their user -designed features and
include them in the library.

Disadvantages of Objective-C

• Time-consuming. Compared with modern programming languages like Swift, Objective -C takes
more time to program. The time-consuming factor of Objective-C code can, in turn, cost
programmers more and delay the launching of their software applications.
• Syntax is complicated and tedious. Compared to other modern programming languages like
Swift, whose syntax resembles plain modern English, Objective -C's syntax is more tedious and
difficult to write.

SWIFT OVERVIEW

• Swift is a programming language developed by Apple. It was first announced in 2014 and released
to the public in 2015.
• Swift is easy to read and write and more resilient to errors than other languages. It is an open -
source language and can be used on many different platforms. It is compatible with Objective -C
and can be used to develop software for iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and Linux.

Swift features

Swift, an advanced development on C-based codes, has some distinguishing features that make it
easier to read and write. A few of Swift's features include a powerful error handling system, generics
that are easy to use, a fast and concise iteration over a range of collections, a functional programming
pattern, tuples, multiple return values, and power flow control.
• Automatic memory management system. With Swift’s Automatic Reference Counting (ARC)
feature that automatically handles memory management, a programmer does not have to waste
time and effort thinking about the memory a project takes.
• Swift is easy to learn. Swift’s features make it one of the easiest codes to learn, even for people
without coding experience. Swift also has a playground where beginners can easily and
independently learn how to use Swift.
• Concise code syntax. Swift has a concise code syntax that enables developers to perform much
with few codes. It reduces the number of codes required for repetitive statements and string
manipulation.
• Swift is fast. Swift has an optimized compiler that generates faster code across the board and
relieves you of the burden and stress of bookkeeping.
• Safe programming language. The Swift programming language reduces the possibility of
making an error. Swift also eliminates tendencies of bugs by triggering a runtime crash that
compels programmers to fix the issue immediately.

Swift advantages

• Swift is fast. Swift's simple and direct syntax makes it over two times faster than Objective -C.
Unlike Objective-C, Swift has new features that enable coders to have a swift and seamless
coding experience.
• Swift has an Automatic Reference Counting feature. The ARC feature helps programmers
manage an app's memory usage, which protects programmers from wasting time.
• Swift's codes are easy to read and write. Swift algorithms are easy to read and write, similar
to Java, JavaScript, and other C languages. Swift is a modern programming language with a
relatively simplified and concise syntax.
• Swift has an open-source community. An open-source community is a community of people
who come together to build projects and share ideas about their common area of interest. Swift
has a publicly accessible open-source community where you can learn new ideas about Swift.
• Swift offers playgrounds. Swift has an interactive playgrounds application you can download
on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to learn how to use the Swift algorithm and codes. Use these
playgrounds to accelerate your learning of Swift programming, even as a beginner.
• Swift is safe and less prone to error. Swift is designed in such a way that it eliminates classes
of unsafe code. It has a compiler feature that makes code writing safer and prevents a series of
runtime crashes in your apps.
Swift disadvantages

• The language is still new. Unlike Objective C, which has existed since the 1980s, Swift is a new
language created in 2014. Swift is a new programming language and undergoes frequent
updates, making it incompatible with previous iOS versions.
• Backward compatibility issues. Backward compatibility refers to a software feature that
allows new updates to work with interfaces and data from earlier system versions. Swift evolves,
making new versions of Swift incompatible with older versions of the iOS operating system.
Swift supports projects that run on iOS7 and macOS 10.9 or higher, thus driving developers who
need to maintain or build apps for older versions to use Objective -C.
• Interoperability with third-party tools and IDEs. Due to constant updates and Swift’s lack of
backward compatibility, finding third-party tools and Integrated Development Environment
(IDE) that communicate and function with Swift isn’t easy. You can, however, use IDEs like Atom,
App code, and Swift libraries for Swift.

Which to use?

• There are many reasons to choose Swift over Objective C. For starters, Swift is easier to read and
write than Objective-C. Swift also has a more concise syntax that makes it easier to understand
code at a glance.
• In addition, Swift is more type-safe than Objective-C, meaning that it is less likely to produce
unexpected results due to type mismatches. A type-safe option like Swift can make code more
reliable and easier to debug.
• Swift has better memory management features than Objective-C, which can help improve
performance. It uses lazy initialization, reducing memory usage since unused variables do not
initialize—making it faster, easier to read and write, and safer.

Android Development (Java/Kotlin)

Kotlin for Android
• Android mobile development has been Kotlin-first since Google I/O in 2019. Over 50% of professional
Android developers use Kotlin as their primary language, while only 30% use Java as their main
language. 70% of developers whose primary language is Kotlin say that Kotlin makes them more
productive. Many startups and Fortune 500 companies have already developed Android applications
using Kotlin, see the list on the Google website for Android developers.
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is a general-purpose, statically typed, and open-source programming language. It runs on JVM and
can be used anywhere Java is used today. It can be used to develop Android apps, server-side apps and
much more.
Benefits of Kotlin:
• Less code combined with greater readability. Spend less time writing your code and working to
understand the code of others.
• Fewer common errors. Apps built with Kotlin are 20% less likely to crash based on Google's
internal data.
• Kotlin support in Jetpack libraries. Jetpack Compose is Android's recommended modern toolkit
for building native UI in Kotlin.
• Support for multiplatform development. Kotlin Multiplatform allows development for not only
Android but also iOS, backend, and web applications. Some Jetpack libraries are already
multiplatform. Compose Multiplatform, JetBrains' declarative UI framework based on Kotlin and
Jetpack Compose, makes it possible to share UIs across platforms – iOS, Android, desktop, and web.
• Mature language and environment. Since its creation in 2011, Kotlin has developed continuously,
not only as a language but as a whole ecosystem with robust tooling. Now it's seamlessly integrated
into Android Studio and is actively used by many companies for developing Android applications.
• Interoperability with Java. You can use Kotlin along with the Java programming language in your
applications without needing to migrate all your code to Kotlin.
• Easy learning. Kotlin is very easy to learn, especially for Java developers.
• Big community. Kotlin has great support and many contributions from the community, which is
growing all over the world. Over 95% of the top thousand Android apps use Kotlin.
• Open-Source. Kotlin’s open-source status allows developers to access its source code without
purchasing a license or paying fees. This makes it easy for anyone to use and adapt the language as
needed for their application requirements.
 • Easier, Flexible Android Development. Supporting code sharing between platforms, Kotlin makes
developing apps across multiple Android operating systems, like Marshmallow and Nougat, more
efficient.
• Speed. Kotlin is a highly secure language designed to prevent errors that can cause security issues.
Kotlin’s compiler provides early feedback on potential vulnerabilities as you type, making it easier to
spot and fix problems before they become a security risk.
• Great IDE Support. It also offers excellent IDE support, enabling developers to easily work
with IntelliJ IDEA, Android Studio and Eclipse and other development environments. IDE support also
makes it easy for developers to create and maintain projects without learning new tools or software.
Kotlin’s detailed documentation further helps developers get up to speed quickly and provides plenty
of references for troubleshooting common problems.
• Integration with Third-Party Libraries and Frameworks. Integration with third-party libraries
and frameworks is one of the most critical aspects of developing an Android app. The language also
supports various popular Android app development frameworks such as Dagger, Retrofit and RxJava.
App development with Java
• Java has long been one of the most popular programming languages used in Android app development, and
it has helped developers create a wide range of applications, tools, and games. Java is a computer coding
language developed by Sun Microsystems in the 1990s and subsequently acquired by Oracle.
• Java is a multi-purpose coding language with many influences, including C++ and C. Java and similar
languages, such as Python and Rust, are built on the same set of concepts.
• The way the Java program is structured means object-oriented programming. These can be modular
elements such as “classes,” which provide a coherent experience.
• Java is a simple language to learn because it is “platform-independent.” Java has many features (simple,
portable, platform-independent, secure, and so on) that set it apart from other scripting languages.
• Various organizations widely use Java, including Amazon, Netflix, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Application development with Java
To be an effective Android developer, it’s necessary to be well-versed in some areas. The following is a suggested
road map, which you may use to get the most out of your time.
• Core Java
The following are the foundations you must master before getting into Android application development.
Concentrate on learning object-oriented programming concepts to break down your program into
components and develop reusable code. Java is the most popular scripting language, with many applications
designed to run on all platforms. You may break it down into six parts and focus on learning one after the
other:
 o Java Collections
o Java Syntax
o Java Multithreading
o Exception Handling
o OOP
o Input/Output Streams

• Testing Libraries
Libraries save you time. They allow you to utilize commonly used functionalities without coding them from
the ground up. With the help of libraries like JUnit and PowerMock Mockito, you may write short bits of Java
code to test your Android applications. These are particularly useful for Test-Driven Development (TDD)
since creating tests before writing your application’s code causes development to speed up.
• Android SDK (Software Development Kit)
The SDK is a software development kit (SDK) that consists of everything you’ll need to develop your product,
including documentation, libraries, code samples, and procedures. The SDK also includes emulators for
Android, allowing you to test your code on an actual Android device.
• SQL: A database is a structured data collection that enables applications to save data in tables and retrieve
it as needed, depending on conditions. The final Java application development jigsaw component is
Structured Query Language (SQL). There are many versions of SQL, but the most frequently used on Android
devices is SQLite.
Role of Java in Android App Development
• Java plays an important role in development of Android applications because business logic is written
in Java. The role of Java in android development by taking a look at the features of Java which makes it
popular language for the Android development.
• Platform Independent : Java is platform independent, it means that Java code can run on any platform.
It doesn’t require the source code on that machine at which platform, where it will be executed. A class
file (.class file) can be executed on any platform i.e. Windows, Linux, Mac etc.
• Secure: It is secure because of using the classes and objects and does not support the pointer and any
other keyword to manage the memory manually which reduces the chances of unwanted interference
in the application. For memory management, it uses the Garbage Collector which remove the objects
which are not in use for a long time.
• Object-oriented: Java is an object-oriented language which is a big reason for using this language for
application development.
• Interface: We can say that it is a type of container which contains the abstract methods. It provides the
facility to use the methods which declaration is already done and we can use them according to our
need.
• Inheritance: Inheritance provides ease to the developer to develop the applications. By using
inheritance, you can use basic methods without defining it in the program by extending the class. It is
simple also because multiple inheritance is not allowed in Java which reduces the complexity.
• Multithreading: It allows you to do the tasks on multiple threads instead of a single thread which
reduce the chances of crash your app. If a single thread is there, then the load increases on that activity
and it results into crash of the app. It provides built-in class which facilitates us to work easily with
multiple threads named AsyncTask.
Many more reasons are there which makes Java important and mostly used. To develop Android
application, it plays a very important role. All basic concepts of Java are used in development. Use of
concepts of advance Java provides amazing features in our application.
You can Recently a new official language is declared named Kotlin which is also very much similar as
Java. To learn Kotlin also, you should have a sound knowledge of core Java. So, we have seen that
knowledge of Java is must of Android development and its role is indispensable in app development.
Getting started with creating Android applications
Step 1: Download Android Studio
To create applications, you’ll need a development environment. Google recommends using Android Studio as
an official IDE (Integrated Development Environment), making it a good choice.
It comes with a complete package of development tools, such as APK Analyzer, Visual Layout Editor, Fast
Emulator, Intelligent Code Editor, Real-time profiler, etc. Download Android Studio and your Android app
development toolbox is complete.
Step 2: Configure Android Studio
The installation process for Android Studio is straightforward. To begin, you may stick to the default settings —
customizations can be added later. It is crucial to note that Android Studio requires Java Development Kit. Open
JDK is significant to anyone who is just getting started. Install it from Oracle’s website if you do not already have
JDK on your laptop. Follow simple installation instructions if necessary.
Step 3: Launch new Android project
A project is a collection of everything you’ll need to get your Android app off the ground, up, and operating. A
project consists of your workspace, source code, assets, test code, and other related settings. An Android Studio
project is where all the action is. After completing your development process, all project materials are compiled
into an APK (Android Package Kit). Select your project name carefully since it will become the name that
appears in Google Play.
Step 4: Creating your Android app
You’ve completed all of the preliminary work to create your first Android app using Java, and you’re ready to
put everything together.