Ionic App Development Over Other Frameworks: Is It Hyped?

With the advent of hybrid app development frameworks, it has become easier than ever to develop mobile apps using HTML, CSS and JavaScript instead of learning a new programming language like Objective-C or Java. This approach has been championed by Ionic framework, which provides wrappers around Cordova which lets the developer write native apps using web technologies.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at Ionic app development over other frameworks and compare it with other alternatives. Does it really have any merits over other frameworks like NativeScript? Let’s find out.

What is Ionic Framework?

Ionic Framework is an open-source SDK for developing cross-platform mobile apps with a native look and feel. The Ionic framework is developed with web technologies such as HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript to build apps on top of the Cordova plugin system.

One of the main advantages to using Ionic over other frameworks is its offline features, which let you write a normal web app that can work without network connectivity.

Apache Cordova and Angular Based

Developing with Ionic is really fast and easy because it provides built-in features, pre-integrated frameworks, and even tutorials. However, the difference between this type of development and other options is that Ionic is actually Apache Cordova and Angular based. That makes it a lot more difficult to scale to different browsers as opposed to a dedicated web app.

Benefits of using the Ionic Framework

The first and obvious benefit of using Ionic is its minimal set of coding requirements. Developers only need to code using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript rather than Android’s Java language or Apple’s Objective-C.

This makes learning Ionic the perfect choice for developers who want to bring mobile applications without a lot of programming experience.

Secondly, Ionic is completely open source and completely free, which means developers can use the framework as many times as they want with no license costs.

Let’s discuss the major benefits of Ionic app development

1) Single Codebase for Multiple Platforms

Ionic takes an HTML, CSS, and JavaScript-based approach to building mobile apps. With Ionic, developers can build a single codebase for multiple platforms without having to rely on native SDKs for each platform. Ionic is also quick to launch and runs in the browser, so you can get started building your app right away.

2) Built on AngularJS

The benefits of developing on Ionic is that the framework has been built from the ground up for mobile and supports HTML5 for high performance across all devices. The code base is lightweight, meaning you get a snappy app with fast loading time, and there are few bugs (if any).

Since Ionic leverages Web technologies it means that it's also fast to learn as it builds on skills from other popular web frameworks like Bootstrap.

3) Cordova Plugins

Cordova is a platform that allows you to develop hybrid apps and it has a growing library of third-party plugins for developers to take advantage of.

With over five thousand plugins currently available, there are many great options for Ionic developers. These Cordova Plugins make development easy, but some are more popular than others.

Tapping into this functionality allows you to save hours in the design phase and helps to quickly build out features in your app without reinventing the wheel.

4) High Performance

Apps built with the Ionic framework are typically high-performance applications that are supported on all mobile operating systems, whereas many other frameworks only support iOS and Android. The best part about this technology is that it can be extended to include additional functionality and design templates.

There is a large community of developers who build and contribute to these extensions and constantly update their libraries to the latest innovations from Google, Apple, Samsung and other key companies in the industry.

Disadvantages of the Ionic Framework

Security Concern

Any other framework comes with its own set of security concerns that Ionic does not, as it is merely a design package for CSS and HTML, relying on AngularJS to do the heavy lifting. Unlike React or VueJS, Ionic does not provide any templating engine which may lead to compromises in the event where injected JSON configuration is incorrect or when utilizing 3rd party components.

Speed Might Be an Issue

The most common complaint is performance. If a page takes more than a second to load on a mobile device, it's just not going to cut it in the market anymore. When scrolling through Ionic pages that are heavy with content, you'll notice delays and stuttering scrolling performance.

Many developers and even large-scale organizations are moving away from Ionic because of this performance issue.

Not Suitable for Gaming

Ionic is a hybrid framework and works really well for web applications, or products which are focused on a singular goal. If you're going to be using the application for navigation through multiple pages, or operating in social media feeds, Angular or React are better suited to meet your needs.

If you want to make an immersive app that will work on all devices without having to rewrite code at each platform juncture - Ionic could be just what you need.

Is it Worth Creating Apps with Ionic?

Mobile app development has become easier and more cost-effective than ever before. With the Ionic framework, you can create cross-platform mobile apps without spending a lot of time learning native languages like Java or Swift. Developers get to use front-end skills like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to develop their idea - creating an attractive end product that functions well on both Android and iOS devices.

Conclusion

The majority of the hype surrounding Ionic is based on its native performance. That said, there are a number of other merits to the framework which are worthy of noting. Some of those include an impressive UI framework and significant cross-platform functionality for just about every level developer.

Ultimately, if you're looking for a go-to development tool with cutting edge performance in the market, Ionic should be one of your top choices.