A programming language is a set of formal rules by which code for applications is written. Now there are many languages ​​for mobile development, and the choice of a particular method depends on your goals and capabilities, operating system, type of application and requirements for it.

Knowing languages ​​for creating mobile applications is useful not only for developers, but also for customers who want to better understand the project processes and know which language to choose for their application. In this article, we will talk about the main programming languages ​​for iOS and Android mobile development.

Kotlin

Kotlin is a programming language recommended by Google for building Android applications. It was created to overcome the shortcomings of Java and is used to write code for almost all new Android applications. Kotlin has won the trust of programmers over the years and has become the industry standard in Android development.

Benefits:

• Allows you to get by with less code than Java. The smaller the text, the fewer errors it contains.
• Kotlin is interchangeable with Java, so different parts of the interface can be written in different languages, but still work great. This helps to create more efficient and high performing programs.
• Security. All syntax errors and bugs related to misuse of objects can be found and fixed at build time. This makes testing easier.
• Kotlin programs use Java frameworks and libraries.

Disadvantages:

• The build speed of a program often ranges from fast to very slow.
• It is not yet so widespread among developers, so there may be problems with finding specialists and solving non-standard bugs.

Java

Until 2018, it was the main language for creating applications for Android, but many developers continue to use it in 2021.

Java programming is used to develop cross-platform and hybrid interfaces, but in the latter two other languages ​​are involved in order to take into account the specifics of each OS.

Article: What is native and cross-platform development

Benefits:

• Natural code for Android. The OS itself is also partially written in Java, and the kernel is Linux and its own virtual machine Virtual Machine.
• Universal – runs on all platforms.
• Allows you to easily scale and update projects with object-oriented code. That is, the code here is easier to read, write and update, which speeds up all the processes.
• A large number of ready-made tools that are compatible with Java by default, which also increases the speed.

Disadvantages:

• Requires a lot of RAM.
• Paid upgrades for commercial use.

Objective C

Objective C began to be used in the 1980s. It was built on top of C and Smalltalk, and in 2008 Apple released the iPhone SDK 2.0, allowing you to create programs for iOS. At first it was considered an add-on to C, but when it was licensed by NextStep and Apple, Objective C became the official language of all iOS interfaces.

In 2014, the more powerful Swift was released, which took all the best from Objective-C, but was devoid of its shortcomings. Most programmers now choose Swift, but Objective C also retains its position as the classic way to write code on iOS.

Benefits:

• There is a lot of documentation out there that makes things easier.
• Compatible with Swift.

Disadvantages:

• Low performance compared to Swift.
• Complex syntax.

Swift

Swift is Apple’s programming language that can be used to build apps for iOS, Apple watch, and Apple TV. Swift not only took over all the advantages of Objective C, but also was endowed with new features that simplify the writing and implementation of code:

Benefits:

• High speed – reaches the level of C ++.
• Easy to read. Logically, it resembles English, and it also has a simple syntax and code.
• Increased security when compared to Objective C.
• A simplified way to fix errors in your code.
• Stability through libraries that automatically link to the updated version and link to the application.
• Provides secure memory management.

Disadvantages:

• It develops and changes, so work may slow down – you need to study and apply information about updates.
• Synchronization bridges with Objective C files slow down the build of the project.

Rust

Rust began in 2006 by developer Graydon Hoare, who wanted to combine the speed of C ++ with the robustness of Haskell. In 2009, Mozilla joined him, and a year later he was presented at the Mozilla Summit. Rust is now one of the most popular cross-platform developers.

Benefits:

• Safe synchronization with memory, avoiding segmentation errors and data leaks.
• Errors during compilation are immediately visible + suggestions for corrections are offered.
• Let’s compare in speed with C ++.
• Reliable API for networking using libraries.
• The system performs several calculations at once and ensures their interaction with each other.

Disadvantages:

• Relatively new and rapidly developing, so there is no suitable literature and no choice of specialists.
• A strict compiler that requires you to fill in a large amount of data yourself and slows down the development process.

FROM#

C # is an object-oriented language that was created by Windows and was used primarily for Windows Mobile, but more recently C # has learned to work on Mac, Linux, IoS, and Android. Due to its convenient syntax, strict structuring and a large number of libraries and tools, you can write different types of interfaces on it and solve any problems with less time and resources.

Pros:

• Windows pays special attention to support, regularly releases updates and detects bugs, so you can work with C # comfortably and quickly.
• Some organizations and individual developers can use the tools for free.
• Answers to almost all questions related to working in C # can be found on the Internet or professional communities.
• A large set of tools and facilities for working with C # allows you to use only one language.
• Automatic mode of cleaning memory from objects that are not used.
• Works correctly even when the product is upgraded to a new version.

Minuses:

• Works on almost all OS, but still the priority is based on the Windows platform.
• Free only for small firms, individual programmers, startups and students. For a large company, the purchase of a licensed version will be released in a large amount.

The choice of programming language depends on the OC, the application objectives, and the development method you choose.

At AppCraft studio, we develop native apps for iOS and Android. For 10 years we have collected more than 200 projects in our portfolio: corporate solutions, social networks, banking systems, instant messengers and e-commerce, and we are not planning to stop 🙂

In any project, we strive to create a working product that will solve customer problems and increase profits. If you want to develop a fast and functional mobile application – leave a request and we will contact you to discuss the details.