Cross-platform Integration in Legacy Mobile Apps for Code Reuse and Reduced Development Efforts

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.