Gartner Research

Assembling an Open-Source Mobile App Development Stack

Published: 11 March 2015

ID: G00273318

Analyst(s): Danny Brian

Summary

A mobile stack built with open-source components and Web technologies is enough for mainstream mobile app development needs. This research advises mobile application architects how to assemble a strong open-source development stack.

Table Of Contents

Analysis

  • What Makes Mobile Apps Not So Different?
  • What Makes Mobile Apps Different?
    • User Interface Design
    • Hardware Device Features
    • Content Residency and Data Streaming
    • Disconnected or Casually Connected Use and Battery Life
    • Notifications and Background Tasks
    • App Packaging and Distribution
  • A Piecemeal Open-Source Mobile Stack
    • User Interface: HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript
    • Hybrid Containers and Hardware Device Features
    • Connecting Apps to the Back End
    • Enabling Notifications
  • Development Tools and Workflow
    • User Interface Development
    • Hybrid Container Development
    • Back-End Development
    • Notifications Development
  • Strengths
  • Weaknesses

Guidance

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