Creating the optimal coding approach for business needs

The look and feel of enterprise software has substantially changed over the years as development processes become more complex with additional considerations to address. With mobile devices on the rise in the workplace, many organizations have turned to native applications, among other methods, to meet employee needs and provide the most capable tools for success. However, the fragmentation of the mobile market has made native approaches a significant task to undertake, involving considerable time, effort and investment to truly match up to each device's requirements. With the amount of equipment, operating systems and features to cover, native methods can quickly become unfeasible for the agile business environment.

While native apps may have their downside, they also have a variety of benefits that they can offer to users. They can better utilize specific traits that are inherent in devices, such as the camera function, among others. The Web approach with HTML5 development can also provide unique advantages such as a code once, distribute as needed method. This will allow IT to only program the software once and enable it on a range of equipment without having to tweak the structure in the process. Both methods have their own supporters and their place in enterprise and consumer activities. The question then becomes how will organizations know which way will be most viable and beneficial for their needs. To find the answer to this, decision makers have to review their requirements along with what each option entails and determine what will be best for their situation.

Discovering the right path for app building
While there is no one correct way to create a program, there are plenty of issues that may emerge, especially if the users cannot operate effectively with the software. The Financial Brand contributor Christopher Rinaldi noted that organizations must understand the terminology - native apps leverage the specific language of an operating system, responsive design refers to the ability of a site to be viewed optimally on any device, a Web app is accessed through the browser and hybrid apps utilize both Web and native characteristics. While this can be a lot to consider, these elements will be crucial in how the business proceeds with their development projects. Web apps can provide a similar user-oriented experience as native apps by basing its preferences on device specifications. With the ability to respond to any device size and type, the Web app will provide an optimal employee interaction without breaking the budget in order to produce it.

"Native apps, mobile sites and hybrids apps are all viable options for the mobile marketplace, each offering some distinct pros and cons in performance, accessibility and cost," Rinaldi wrote.

App professionals focusing more on HTML5
Although HTML5 form is still a relatively young coding language, it has some capabilities that many other programs have not been able to meet. A study from the University of British Columbia, taken over a four year period from 2009 to 2012, discovered that HTML5 is quickly catching up to use of JavaScript and other major coding approaches. This development could stem from the fact that many app builders are understanding the importance of Web technologies and what they can offer to the business. Even though programmers are experiencing the growing pains associated with utilizing unfamiliar features, as they experiment with the technology, they will be able to create unique software and innovate employee processes.

"[T]he researchers found that since 2009, an increasing number of HTML5 questions have had to do with device detection and local storage, while more and more CSS questions are about the viewport meta tag, which is used to adjust the layout on mobile browsers," ITWorld reported. "These findings, the researchers argue, are strong evidence of the growing importance of Web technologies for mobile development."