Technology

Building Native Apps With Angular NativeScript

Kirthika Selvaraj

February 8, 2024
Table of contents

Overview

Angular is one of the most popular JavaScript structural frameworks that developers use to develop Angular web and mobile applications. These days, developers heavily use it to develop native mobile apps by combining Angular with NativeScript. If we merge NativeScript with any of the JavaScript frameworks, the process of developing mobile applications becomes effortless and favorable for diverse platforms like Android and iOS.

In addition to it, this combination also helps to magnify the performance of the Angular mobile application. This is another reason why Angular mobile app development companies prefer and widely use it.

If you are wondering how to implement NativeScript for Angular mobile development, you must first understand the functioning of NativeScript. This guide will tell you how to build native apps with the help of NativeScript in Angular.

Combining NativeScript + Angular

You will be astonished to know that NativeScript generally doesn’t require Angular. But, it needs Angular to work better and fine. Once brought together, you can reuse the skills and code to generate high functioning native mobile applications without any web views.

Hence, many developers are looking forward to switching to mobile application development by making use of NativeScript. Let us begin by understanding both the technologies individually first.

Introduction to NativeScript

People refer to NativeScript as an open-source mobile application development framework. It works for several platforms executing Typescript and Angular native. Compared to the rest of the hybrid frameworks such as the Ionic and Phonegap, NativeScript is a brand new modern technology.

Moreover, NativeScript is not a web technology but a runtime framework. This is the reason your application will run efficiently and not like a mini-website.

Therefore, NativeScript is the appropriate choice for developing a mobile app with Angular for several applications. This makes it extremely convenient to create Android, windows programs, and iOS by applying this framework.

On the other hand, for WebView and implementing UI of the app like Cordova uses the rendering engine of the native platform for providing a completely native user experience.

Uses of NativeScript

Developers widely use NativeScript to develop applications for each of the chief and major domains. However, thanks to its native nature. Below are a few examples of NativeScript apps. These include,

  • Social networking sites and apps ( WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Qzone)
  • Geolocation apps ( Banjo, Field trip, Glimpse, Walk for a dog)
  • News app ( Reddit, SmartNews, Feedly, Buzzfeed)
  • Gaming apps ( Real Racing 3, Robot Unicorn Attack 2, Drop7, Crossy road)
  • Apps with live feeds ( Broadcast me, Livestream, Periscope, Streamnow)
  • Video and music streaming apps ( Deezer, Apple Music, iHeartRadio)
  • Chat apps ( Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, Snapchat, Messenger)

NativeScript Principal Offerings & Value Propositions

NativeScript eases the delivery of native user experience for a huge number of platforms. Meanwhile, it keeps the cross-platform development process the same as implementing the code base intact. This fully-equipped framework provides a JS-based virtual machine, a bridge module, as well as the runtime.

NativeScript does not need to use different languages such as swift or Objective-C for iOS and Java for Android. It gets the job done with the use of JavaScript. On the other hand, native app developers need to use several distinct languages for Android and iOS.

The JS virtual machine averts and executes the JavaScript code. Once determined, the bridge module interprets the calls to certain APIs on specific OS platforms, thereby providing the guest with precise results.

Therefore, this is an appropriate example of how both the native platforms like iOS and Android receive commands from the JavaScript framework.

The hybrid development approach for building apps for diverse platforms in connection with JS framework and NativeScript provides a native user experience precisely to each of the platforms.

The combination of NativeScript and Angular surpasses the Ionic and Angular native mix, for providing a unique and special user experience.

On the contrary, Ionic mixes are ready to use components for building a mobile app. But, NativeScript Angular is the ultimate amalgamation for delivering a thoroughly native user experience specific to the mobile OS platforms.

NativeScript: Prime Choice for Native Apps

NativeScript is an open-source framework that is used to build mobile apps with the help of JavaScript. With this, an individual can build mobile apps for several platforms including Android, iOS, and Windows.

Although NativeScript offers huge advantages, one of the best advantages is that you can provide an entire native user experience via mobile apps. This is because it makes use of the rendering engine of the native platform.

This is why, in today’s world, all the focus lies on utilizing NativeScript and not Ionic for developing a hybrid app with AngularJS.

NativeScript comes along with a JavaScript virtual machine, a runtime, and a bridge module. The JavaScript virtual machine executes and simplifies the JavaScript code. Once done, the bridge module interprets all calls to those calls that are platform-specific APIs. Then, it returns the outcome to the caller.

This further means that with the use of NativeScript, the developers can utilize JavaScript to command the native platform in place of using Objective-C for iOS or Java for Android.

If you are looking forward to building mobile apps with skills and reusable codes, you should opt for NativeScript development with Angular.

In case you are still in the dilemma of why you should choose NativeScript with Angular. We have some other news to inform you. Before NativeScript, developers used Ionic app development with Angular JS.

One can describe Ionic as one of the popular hybrid mobile app development platforms in the market. Then, developers combine it with AngularJS. But the question is, why not Ionic, and why only NativeScript?

Well, let us look into a quick comparison between the two.

NativeScript v/s Ionic

By now, you know that NativeScript and Ionic are the two most popular frameworks that are available in the market for frontend development.

Read on to have a look at their basic differences.

  • NativeScript uses a mix of JavaScript, a subset of CSS, and XML. On the other hand, Ionic uses a combination of JavaScript, a CSS subset, and HTML.
  • You can build extremely interactive apps with Ionic, whereas with NativeScript, you can build native apps for various platforms like iOS and Android.
  • The Ionic framework aims at building performance apps by utilizing the latest web technologies. On the other hand, NativeScript aims at building apps with the help of native UIs by utilizing a single codebase.
  • In NativeScript, you have access to any device component or API in direct connection with JavaScript. On the other hand, in the Ionic framework, you will require Apache Cordova plugins for accessing.
  • If you have a piece of knowledge in JavaScript, you can build a plugin for NativeScript. Whereas, in the case of Ionic, you need to know objective-C or java to develop apache Cordova plugins.
  • However, there is a continuous change in mobile app development trends. It keeps on altering and thus, nothing is different in cases of hybrid app development. With this, today there is a sudden shift from Ionic to NativeScript.
  • Most of the entrepreneurs opt for NativeScript development to build efficient apps with native UIs for businesses.

Advantages Of NativeScript For Mobile App Development

As NativeScript is gaining massive hype, it’s time to address some of the chief advantages that it offers. By using NativeScript for native mobile apps with Angular, you gain:

Brilliant native use experience

NativeScript delivers platform-specific performance as well as native user experience. It manages UI attributes as well, which looks strikingly intuitive and attractive. It executes native UIs in the absence of WebViews. In addition to it, this framework supports open customization options for various device screens.

Reusability of the codebase

This excellent Angular framework for mobile is enriched with a wide range of native mobile apps for both OS platforms. NativeScript permits the use of a single codebase to extend mobile apps across various OS platforms. The very same web-based code is reusable and can be utilized across diverse platforms with the help of Angular, Vue, React, or other JavaScript platforms.

Access native APIs

NativeScript permits to obtain native APIs for both Android and iOS platforms efficiently and easily. In addition to it, you can even use Android SDKs, CocoaPods, templates, and a host of various plugins and sample applications in order to make the UI and UX of your app perfect and accurate.

Inferior learning curve

It is more convenient and easy for all mobile app developers to opt for NativeScript. All that the programmer needs to know is a piece of basic knowledge. Some basic knowledge and a few web development expertise use Native UI markup, CSS, and JavaScript.

Remarkable global support

NativeScript is equipped with a backbone of NASDAQ: PRGS. This brand name holds many victorious IT projects and products. It even lends its hands by providing external support for numerous enterprises.

Source

NativeScript is open-source and comes free with the Apache 2 license.

What Is NativeScript Angular?

NativeScript Angular is basically meant for building native mobile apps with the help of Angular native. You do not need to learn or gain a piece of knowledge regarding a new framework to get started with the basics of the Angular native. You simply need to create or build an appealing cross-platform for your library on CocoaPods and NPM.

When you make use of these native platform APIs with typescript and JavaScript, it provides you the autonomy from writing a single line of code in Objective-C. Ever, or Java/Swift.

Key Benefits of Using Angular with NativeScript

If you have a piece of knowledge about JavaScript, it will then be extremely easy and convenient to build a flawless real-world application along with a native experience that isn’t just limited or restricted to the web. Angular native is entirely eliminated from browser APIs, thus making it attainable to plug the NativeScript rendering engine to depart from the browser, and execute its native mobile app with Angular.

Besides all the advantages that you achieve from NativeScript with Angular, there are few reasons why you should use them together. This is because,

Performance

If you use NativeScript along with Angular, you will be able to develop no-compromise mobile apps. This is possible when you mix and merge the features of AngularJS native UI. You can even personalize and set it with multiple screens and devices.

Structure of the application

Angular delivers all the features that are necessary and essential. This includes plumbing, creating high quality, and high maintainable NativeScript applications. Furthermore, it even enables you to reuse various Angular native concepts like data binding, routing, and dependency injection in order to develop native mobile applications.

Skill and reuse code

It is better to work smart and not hard! Therefore, make use of NativeScript in order to develop native app Angular for iOS and Android and typescript in order to develop native app Angular for the web. Later, you can even reuse the native iOS CocoaPod and JavaScript NPM modules directly in the NativeScript.

Angular ring

With time, we are getting involved in the huge Angular developer community. Over 1 million skilled, intelligent, and experienced developers are always at hand for help. They even offer reusability of code when executed directly to the NativeScript mobile applications.

If the developer has minimal knowledge in JavaScript, he/she knows that it should not be restricted to the web, so he can build applications for the real world. Moreover, Angular is completely decoupled coming to browser APIs.

In this method, you can eliminate the browser and plug-in the NativeScript rendering engine. This will thereby help you build native applications that run on the web as well.

Conclusion

In order to develop cross-platform development projects, you must ensure the optimum native user experience. There is no challenging solution other than bringing the assembled power and strength of NativeScript and Angular.

With this, the recent version of AngularJS has made it accessible to make it work even outside the web browser. The developers who developed NativeScript have now teamed up with google developers for the smooth functioning of Angular with NativeScript.

Moreover, AngularJS goes along with a structured path in order to build a JavaScript app. It provides a superior way to load views and modular pieces of code productively into the application.

This, therefore, requires fewer comprehension demands, fewer issues, less composition, and cleaner codes. Apart from this, it comes along with various features like routing, view orchestration, animation, dependency injections, and others.

If you wish to acquire a native UI, you simply need to opt for the mix of AngularJS and NativeScript. In fact, this will also help you to own a mobile app that is developed for both iOS and Android in relatively less amount of time.

In order to commence your NativeScript project development, be sure to hire Angular JS developers from a top-level development company. With this, you are all set with Angular native app development.

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