Abstract:
In the ever-evolving landscape of business app development, companies face the challenge
of whether to update their existing apps, originally built using native methods, to
a hybrid approach. Many organizations hesitate due to concerns about disrupting Business
as Usual (BAU) operations and the potential impact on current implementations.
This study delves into the feasibility and benefits of integrating hybrid methodologies
into existing native apps. It highlights advantages such as reduced development time,
cross-platform code reuse, and hybrid apps’ performance nearing that of native apps.
The study highlights several advantages, such as shortened development cycles, the
ability to reuse code across multiple platforms, and the performance of hybrid apps
approaching that of native ones. It examines both traditional Android and iOS platforms,
as well as modern frameworks like Flutter and React-Native, which facilitate
iterative development. To tackle the challenge of updating existing applications, the
study introduces innovative solutions like Flutter Add-to-app, which allows the smooth
integration of new Flutter features into legacy apps. Furthermore, the research explains
the Method Channels and Native Modules in implementing new functionalities in the
old implementation, and the Platform Views for establishing native views on a hybrid
app. All these solutions assist in targeting the flexibility solutions by leveraging the
existing legacy capabilities. The research outlines the procedure for separating it and
adopting a hybrid approach without much effect on a business chain. By offering detailed
analysis and practical advice, this study supports Small & Medium Enterprises
in managing the complexities of app updates, fostering a flexible and faster development
process while maintaining agile practices.
