Noteworthy Programming languages to Consider for Blockchain App Development!

Blockchain app development is gaining momentum at a fast pace and this trend is here to stay. Blockchain solutions have proven their worth as game-changers in almost every industry vertical. Here are some interesting stats on Blockchain adoption as researched by the online portal DEMANDSAGE:

• As of January 2023, more than 85 million global users had Bitcoin block explorer Blockchain wallets.
• As recorded in January 2023, the average Bitcoin transactions executed in one single day were between 291015 and 205314.
• By the year 2024, the global expenditure on Blockchain apps and solutions will reach $19 billion

Developing a disruptive Blockchain application or solution is a lucrative option for entrepreneurs and investors. However, businesses planning to build a Blockchain solution should understand the basics of Blockchain programming before jump-starting their project or proceeding to hire Blockchain app development services. This post discusses the offerings of the top Blockchain programming languages. After reading this post you will be able to figure out which language would be the best fit for your Blockchain use case.

Top Programming languages for Blockchain Development

 

Solidity

Solidity is an object-oriented Blockchain programming language specifically designed to create smart contracts and decentralized applications that run on the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine). Ethereum is a massive computing platform based on Blockchain; its ecosystem is one of the most crucial components of Blockchain app development. The creators of Ethereum have developed Solidity and provide active support to this high-level programming language for fulfilling their in-platform requirements. Influenced by other programming languages like Java, JavaScript, Python, and C++; Solidity has proved its worth as one of the best languages for writing smart contracts.

Features

Solidity is flexible, stable, and promises a good accuracy rate. It comes with numerous disruptive features like variadic return and static typing. It supports concepts such as user-defined functions, inheritance properties, and libraries. Solidity comes with an easy learning curve and enables access to tools like debuggers, JS infrastructures, etc. Solidity has several type-safe functions due to the presence of ABI (Application Binary Interface).

Use Cases

Solidity is used for developing Ethereum smart contracts and Chainlink smart contracts. Chainlink is a decentralized Oracle network used for on-chain as well as off-chain Blockchain computations. Another use case of Solidity is the compound protocol on Ethereum Blockchain. This is an autonomous interest rate protocol involving algorithms. Solidity is also used for developing Uniswap. Uniswap is a decentralized crypto trading platform involving a network of decentralized finance apps governed by a community.

Python

Python is one of the most popular Blockchain programming languages. Its robust nature and versatility speed up the development time. Python has a simple English-like syntax that reduces the lines of coding and so, is a perfect pick for newbie coders. Python programming suits both approaches – scripting, and base. It is a high-level language that can be effortlessly integrated with other programming languages like Java, C++, etc. It functions on various platforms including Mac, Linux, Windows, and Raspberry.

Features

Python is object-oriented, easy to code, and extensively portable. It offers strong open-source language support, OOP support, rapid prototyping, access to a dynamic architecture, and dynamic memory allocation. The availability of multiple online resources like libraries, plugins, and development manuals facilitates Blockchain app development; developers get the solution to almost every issue faced during Blockchain projects. Libraries like Numba speeds up coding without compromising on crucial factors like security and performance. Python fares better in performing complicated mathematical operations and handling Big data as compared to most other programming languages.

Use Cases

It is used to write smart context for Hyperledger Fabric, NEO contracts, Steemit, and develop cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin.

Java

This is a popular platform-independent Blockchain programming language that is widely used for developing decentralized applications and smart contracts. The language is derived from C-Syntax and functions on the WORA (Write Once Run Anywhere) concept. Its ubiquitous nature allows one to use Java for almost every web system. As such, the code written by programmers is highly portable and can be run on every device that has JVM (Java Virtual Machine).

Features

Java’s offerings are manifold. Its Portability makes it an apt choice for Blockchain development projects. Java comes with an extensive API (Application Programming Interface), that includes multiple Java classes, packages, and interfaces. Owing to its multi-threaded nature, you utilize the CPU to the fullest. It’s a developer-friendly language and can support heavy APIs like object-oriented programming based on its class. Java offers adequate libraries and simplifies the process of memory cleaning. Using Java’s security manager, you can define access rules for a specific class; this minimizes the chances of security vulnerabilities. Java’s programming is based on Java Virtual Machine and is not dependent on any specific system-based infrastructure. Hence, its capabilities are not limited by a device’s architecture and it can handle a huge number of users on a Blockchain network simultaneously.

Use Cases

The use case examples include creating Blockchains on platforms like Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, NEO, IOTA, etc.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a popular web language and is pre-installed in most PCs and so, it becomes easy to build Blockchain solutions with JS.

Features

JavaScript is a lightweight, object-oriented, and prototype-based scripting language that provides support for functional programming. JS can easily handle asynchronous actions and the communications taking place between nodes. It comes with a wide range of tools and libraries that facilitate Blockchain app development.

Use Cases

Using JavaScript, Blockchain app developers can connect an app’s front end to Ethereum’s network and smart contracts. JS is has also been used in Hyperledger Fabric.

PHP

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is an open-source and object-oriented programming language that can be used to develop Blockchain solutions of various complexity levels. The language is straightforward and simple and offers an easy learning curve.

Features

PHP is platform-independent and powered by the Zend Engine; so, it can be written on a wide variety of OSs. It offers a highly configurable library that comes in handy for developers. Its interactive pages enable one to sail through complex requirements. PHP has a built-in database connection module; this reduces the hassles and speeds up the development time during web development projects.

Use Cases

PHP is used for smart contract development.

Go

This Google-developed language has gained traction as one of the top Blockchain programming languages. Go is an open-source and statically typed language. It offers benefits like speed, user-friendliness, flexibility, and scalability that make it suitable for Blockchain development.

Features

Go comes with a powerful library containing functions & packages. It provides organized syntaxes. It enables you to run multiple processes simultaneously without compromising on memory resources. Despite being a static language, Go gives developers a feel of being dynamic.

Use Cases

Go-Ethereum (Ethereum-based project written in Go) and GO-Hyperledger Fabric.

Ruby

Ruby is a high-level and general-purpose programming language that comes with cross-platform compatibility. This open-source language is developer-friendly and focuses on simplicity and high productivity. It can be installed in Windows & POSIX and can be connected to Oracle, MySQL, Sybase, and DB2.

Features

Ruby is a multi-paradigm language that has exceptional memory allocation abilities. It is an interpreted and scripting language. The feature of multiple-language adaptability makes Ruby a good choice for Blockchain app development.

Use Cases

Ruby allows developers to program Blockchain solutions using third-party plugins and APIs.

Rholang

Rholang is newer as compared to other Blockchain programming languages. It comes with an easy-to-understand syntax. It is reliable, speedy, and user-friendly and provides high accuracy levels. Rholang employs a functional programming approach instead of an object-oriented programming approach.

Use Cases

Blockchain experts have used Rholang for developing smart contracts and other high-end Blockchain-based projects.

Simplicity

This programming language minimizes the low-level understanding of cryptocurrencies. Simplicity is reliable and offers the security of funds, an offering that provides it an edge over many other Blockchain programming languages.  is in harmony with the “Elements platform” of Blockstream. It is a viable option for creating sophisticated and secured smart contracts in Blockchain environments.

Use Cases

Simplicity is compatible with the Blockchain-based platform Ethereum. It reduces the complex functionality of the Bitcoin Script by enabling a low-level understanding of the Bitcoin Script. It’s a good option for coding smart contracts.

SQL

SQL (Structured Query Language) is one of the most recent Blockchain programming languages. You can use it for creating secure and effective solutions. This is an IBM-created language. It facilitates communication with databases like SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL. Users can utilize SQL to store data queries and also manipulate and raise those queries.

Use Cases

Aergo is an important use case of Blockchain development in SQL. It is a Blockchain project that offers ready-to-use solutions to companies that work with technologies like Coinstack or Blocko. You can also use SQL for developing robust business-centric smart contracts.

CX

CX is one of the most sought-after Blockchain programming languages that can function as a contractual digital intermediary.

Features

Its features include a simplified error control process and access to pointers, arrays, and propelled cuts. CX enables developers to effortlessly manipulate programs and apply vectors, pointers, forced reductions, etc.

Use Cases

CX when integrated with the programming language Go, gives businesses an escape from critical issues like discretionary code execution steps. CX integrates well with Open Graphics Library (OpenGL). Blockchain developers have leveraged this integration to gain advantages regarding GPU capacity.

C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language. You can use it for creating a wide variety of applications like finance solutions, AR/VR apps, 3D gaming apps, etc. It is a robust, flexible, & object-oriented programming language that is capable of managing resource-intensive apps smoothly. It’s a multi-paradigm language and follows the OOPs technique. This language is developer-friendly and offers ease of usage. C++ is one of those Blockchain programming languages that promises a faster execution time.

Features

Its offerings include efficient memory control, function overloading, and effective CPU management. C++ can effortlessly run parallel and non-parallel threads. It can isolate the code for different data structures as well. The capability of run-time polymorphism results in improved app performance. Its data-hiding capability strengthens the security quotient. There’s also the option for moving semantics to copy data productively.

Use Cases

Blockchain experts have used C++ for developing smart contracts on the EOS Blockchain and developing cryptocurrencies such as Stellar, Litecoin, Bitcoin, EOS, and Ripple.

C#

C# is an open-source and object-oriented programming language created by Microsoft. It happens to be one of the most popular Blockchain programming languages. We can use it to build scalable applications with .NET compatibility. C# is a great pick for crafting powerful codes with cross-platform compatibility.

Features

C# is an Extensible Markup language and can function as a support for distributed systems. With this language, programmers can create highly portable codes that run on a wide variety of hardware and OSs including Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, etc. The assembly control feature makes it easier for developers to handle issues like version control. The OOPs feature in C# helps in optimizing the performance of Blockchain solutions and apps.

Use Cases

One use case example of C# is in NEO. Here, experts have used it in combination with other programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, Java, & Go. Stratis is another use case of C#. This is a Blockchain-as-a-service providing platform powered by Microsoft. IOTA, an open-source distributed ledger and cryptocurrency, is another use case example.

Vyper

Vyper is one of the newest Blockchain programming languages. It is compatible with EVM and its syntax is similar to that of Python 3’s. You can use Vyper as an alternative to the popular Blockchain programming language Solidity.

Features

Vyper comes with an exceptional control structure that enables handling security challenges more effectively. Its other offerings include modifiers, recursive calling, etc.

Use Cases

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) uses Vyper and we also use it to develop smart contracts.

Concluding Views:

All the aforementioned Blockchain programming languages come with distinct offerings and are suitable for specific use cases. You need to pick the language based on your use case requirements. A thorough knowledge of the offerings of these languages will help you to make the right decision while choosing the tech stacks for your Blockchain project. A good understanding of these programming languages will also prove beneficial when you’re discussing tech stack selection, with the Blockchain App Development Company to whom you’ve outsourced your project.

Significant Tools and Platforms to consider for IoT App Development!

IoT application development is growing in leaps and bounds. Diverse industries like manufacturing, healthcare, transportation & logistics, oil & gas, and the water industry, are heavily investing in IoT for architecting data-intensive applications with advanced analytics. Some examples of modern-day IoT solutions include smart homes, fleet management solutions, traffic monitoring systems, remote healthcare solutions, speed monitoring solutions, etc.

Developing an amazing IoT solution is a great idea to consider for investors and entrepreneurs. However, before starting your IoT development project, you need to be well-versed in the technical requirements. One of the crucial prerequisites of an IoT project includes using the best-suited IoT tools and platforms. These tools and platforms play an important role in bridging the gap between IoT devices and data networks. They also help in displaying real-time data, storing huge data sets, managing devices’ boards, integrating back-office systems, and much more.

So, in this blog, we will provide detailed insights into some of the popular tools and platforms used for IoT app solutions. A quick read will give you a clear idea of which tools and platforms to consider for your specific IoT use case.

Noteworthy Tools and Platforms for IoT App Development!

Microsoft Azure IoT

Microsoft’s Azure IoT Suite is a collection of several cloud services:

• IoT Hub
• Machine Learning
• Power BI
• Stream Analytics
• Notification Hubs

This is a comprehensive platform meant for connecting and managing various IoT assets using various cloud services. It also helps in securing IoT applications. Its features include data tracking, system shadowing, identity registration, and a set of rules engines. Besides, Azure IoT Suite is a great option for serving all types of business domains.

IBM Watson

This is one of the leading cloud-based platforms that excel in IoT app development. It is a well-designed platform used for secure data transmission, remote device control, cloud capacity for storage of high amounts of data, real-time data analysis, high-security features, risk management, etc. Along with IoT, IBM Watson also supports Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain services.

Cisco IoT Cloud Connect

Cisco focuses on providing a safe IoT platform to its clients for connecting various devices present at diverse geographical locations. Its IoT application development platform-Cisco IoT Cloud Connect supports functions like the below:

• data analysis
• app enablement
• network connectivity
• tasks management and automation
• broad customization of IoT apps
• several adaptability openings
• voice and information correspondence

This platform assists power management, smart cities, industrial automation, transportation systems, and more.

Google Cloud

Google Cloud is an appropriately handled and combined provider of IoT services. It supports the handling of several IoT devices connected anywhere around the world and also helps in end-to-end IoT development. It comes with a highly advanced tool for getting real-time data and analytics. Furthermore, Google Cloud comes with functionalities like high security, business process optimization, cloud services, completely managed infrastructure, etc.

Zetta

Zetta is an API-based platform that makes use of Node.js. It is a complete toolkit employed for the creation of HTTP APIs for devices. This platform integrates REST APIs, WebSockets for developing data-intensive applications. The prominent features that Zetta offers are mentioned below:

• Runs on the cloud, on a PC, and also on some limited development boards.
• Runs on the cloud, on a PC, and also on some limited development boards.
• Converts any device to an API
• Allows IoT developers to assemble device apps, cloud apps, as well as smartphone apps in one place.
• Helps control sensors, controllers, actuators, etc. by featuring an easy interface and the necessary programming language.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon Web Services or AWS is another renowned IoT app development platform available in the market. It is an exclusive framework platform that requires fewer efforts in the cloud. IoT app developers find this platform highly versatile and adaptable. Also, it is a cost-efficient platform, due to which it is one of the favorite choices of a host of global-level business enterprises.

Besides, the IoT Device Management of AWS supports easy connection and expansion of the devices. Also, the administration ensures safe and flexible execution of the results. These include monitoring, refreshing, and investigating the usability of the device.

SAP

This IoT app development platform helps in the remote monitoring and management of all the devices related to your IoT project. These remote devices like sensors, actuators, etc. can be connected either directly or with the use of a cloud application. It comes with a robust analytical ability that helps to sort out, make ready, and pay attention to the data collected from IoT devices such as sensors, meters, controllers, etc. With its latest updates, SAP enables using the IoT data for creating and combining AI applications.

Salesforce IoT

Salesforce IoT is a US-based platform. It is also a highly adaptable IoT application development platform and aims at opening IoT data for all users. This platform helps one to develop customizable IoT App Development Solutions connected to any gadget and represent its data for additional usage. Also, the “client first” approach of Salesforce is the reason that this platform is popular and stands out from its competitors.

Additional IoT Development Platforms

• Arduino: It is an open-source prototyping platform and is a great option for both- IoT software and hardware development
• HP Enterprise Universal: This is a highly scalable, versatile, and modular IoT application development platform that offers secure monetization, precise data assessment, cross-vertical operations, etc.
• Oracle IoT: This platform is known in different areas like enterprise software, cloud computing, database management, etc. for IoT solutions
• Kaa: It is a highly expandable and flexible IoT app development platform with features like data visualization, configuration management, data processing, etc.
• Particle.io: This is a comprehensive platform that offers IoT Rules Engineer, Device Cloud, Device OS, etc.
• ThingsBoard: It helps in device management, data processing, project visualization, etc., and ensures minimum time-to-market for the projects. Innumerable devices can be connected and measured with IoT protocols like MQTT, HTTP, etc.

Key Takeaways:

Needless to say, IoT technology is here to stay. Connected devices and smart data analytics are already transforming the world in ways never thought of before. You can even integrate IoT with other emerging technologies like Blockchain to obtain unimaginable outcomes. However, without the right set of tools and platforms, it isn’t really possible to design outstanding modern-age IoT solutions. The aforesaid IoT development tools and platforms will prove enormously beneficial for IoT projects. If you lack sound technical expertise, it’s advisable to partner with an experienced company offering productive IoT App Development Services.

Google Cloud IoT core Services to be Discontinued from August 2023: Consequences & Advice to Users!

The tech giant Google has officially declared: “Google Cloud IoT Core services” will be discontinued from 16th August 2023! Users will be able to access the IoT core Device Manager’s APIs only till 15th August 2023. From 16th August 2023, no device can be connected to Google Cloud IoT Core MQQT as well as the HTTP bridges. All the existing connections are going to shut down beyond that date.”

Ever since this announcement made the headlines, there are several questions that crop up in our minds. Two of the most crucial questions are: How is it going to affect the Google Cloud Core IoT users? What is the best piece of advice for the existing users?

Well, users have no other option than to migrate to other alternative IoT Core services. In this regard, Google has advised that users can seek assistance from the Google Cloud account manager if they have any queries regarding migration. But, the decision-making and execution are quite challenging for Google Core IoT users. This post discusses the Google IoT core verdict in detail and provides advice to users regarding migration to alternative IoT Core services.

Google IoT Core Services: An Overview

IoT Core service was started by Google Cloud in the year 2017. It is a fully managed service that promises high-grade security. Users can effortlessly connect, ingest, and manage data from innumerable devices that are dispersed globally. Thereafter, users can use the Google Cloud Platform for ingesting data and get this data processed further.

This service aimed to simplify the task of data exchange between a firm’s cloud-based environment and connected devices. With IoT Core, companies could define the configuration settings of their connected devices that were newly deployed. IoT Core, when integrated with other Google Cloud services, forms a complete solution that helped companies to boost their operational efficiency. This solution enables users to collect data, process it, and then, analyse the data. Thereafter, the IoT data gets visualized in real-time.

Reasons why Google decided to deprecate IoT Core Services

As a reason for this big decision, the Google team stated that its network partners could serve IoT consumers better as these IoT Core service providers specialize in delivering advanced IoT apps and services.

But, there are rumours that Google was finding it challenging to compete with its two big competitors offering similar services. Google Cloud’s key competitors in this arena are Microsoft and AWS (Amazon Web Services). Microsoft’s Azure comes with IoT Hub while AWS provides IoT Core service.

Unlike its competitors, Google Cloud IoT Core has failed to comply with the standard security protocols of the modern day. Google was also unable to effectively update its Cloud IoT Core services with the latest features. It has been noticed that only a few updates were rolled out since the launch of this service in 2017. As such, Google Cloud IoT Core came across problems like the lack of innovation in the IoT Cloud domain and lower consumer adoption of their services as compared to its hyper-scale Cloud IoT Core service-providing competitors.

Alternative to Google IoT Core Services

Check out the alternative services that Google IoT Core users may opt for.

Microsoft Azure IoT Hub

This Cloud-based service is an excellent option for secure and scalable IoT device and data management. Bidirectional messaging communication takes place between IoT devices. The data contained in cloud IoT devices get processed in real-time via ‘Azure Functions’ and ‘Azure Stream Analytics.’ Users enjoy secure and rapid access to IoT devices across the globe due to the global availability of Azure IoT Hub. The platform ensures top-grade security as the communication between the Cloud and IoT devices takes place via a ‘per-device authentication’ protocol and highly encrypted communication channels are used. Azure Functions and Azure Stream Analytics process IoT devices’ data in real time. The platform can be integrated with other Microsoft Azure services including Azure Time Series Insights, Azure Machine Learning, and Azure Maps.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS IoT Core is a managed Cloud service. It allows effortless interaction between users’ connected devices and Cloud apps or other devices. Take a look at the key offerings. APIs and SDKs are available for several programming languages. Users can manage connected devices while ensuring security and scalability. A secure messaging service (message broker) is there; it’s for communication between Cloud and IoT devices.

“Device shadows,” represent a device’s state virtually, allowing interaction between devices in the offline mode. “Rules engine” defines rules for routing messages between the Cloud and other devices and automatically executes those rules. AWS IoT Core can be integrated with other AWS services like Amazon Kinesis, Amazon S3, and AWS Lambda to facilitate the development of end-to-end IoT products. This service also offers secure authorization and authentication of services, devices, and users.

AWS Greengrass

This is an edge computing platform using which a device can run AWS Lambda functions locally. It also enables one to sync the device data with the Cloud. AWS Greengrass offers APIs that help IoT App Developers to design apps that will function locally on Greengrass-enabled devices. Greengrass-enabled devices can be run on local applications and communicate with other IoT devices. The platform provides security features to secure the communication happening between the cloud and IoT devices. It organizes resources and devices for tasks like management and deployment. Users can discover resources and devices on the local Cloud network and manage their Cloud connection.

IBM Watson IoT Platform

This is a cloud-based platform for registering IoT devices. It also manages and updates IoT devices and data. IBM Watson IoT Platform combines IoT with other technologies like AI, industrial robotics, or digital twins for asset optimization and modernizing industry operations. It integrates IoT data with Machine Learning algorithms for gaining real-time insights. Some of the key offerings are predictive maintenance and telematics abilities, vehicle speed management capabilities, and equipment failure prediction. This platform can also be integrated with other IBM services and also third-party services.

ThingsBoard

This is an open-source IoT platform that facilitates managing devices, collecting IoT data, processing the data, and visualizing it. It supports on-premise as well as Cloud deployments. Rich server-side APIs are used to offer a secure way of monitoring, provisioning, and controlling IoT entities. ThingsBoard allows defining relations between various entities like devices, assets, customers, etc. effortlessly.

ThingsBoard establishes IoT device connectivity through industry-grade protocols for IoT applications and services like HTTP, CoAP, and MQTT. This platform comes with offerings like quality performance, and scalability. It also ensures fault tolerance and users are least likely to lose their data.

Ubidots

This is a Cloud-based IoT platform that is ideal for small-scale and medium-sized businesses as it promises Cloud software at affordable rates. The platform merges the data of physical sensors with digital data analytics for IoT development projects. Ubidots comes with loads of offerings that simplify the business tasks of optimization and environment management. Some examples include user management tools, a synthetic variable machine to compute & retrieve data, global events & variables, a complex & conditional ‘Events Engine,’ Organizational Tokens, UbiParsers, and many more.

Migrating from Google IoT Core Services to a New Service: Advice

Analysis & Considerations

Thoroughly evaluate the aspects of your Google Cloud IoT Core usage to figure out which are the specific services that are essential for your use case requirement. Then, you’ll understand what functionalities to look for in the new service. The new service you pick should also be scalable and compatible with your existing IoT devices and ecosystem. Do not forget to check the security offerings of the new IoT Core service and the expenses you need to incur.

Migration Process

Now it’s time to prepare your IoT devices for migration. Update the firmware of the devices for supporting the new service, if required. Then, set up the new IoT Core service. Create new devices, configure any integration that is necessary, and set up the access control mechanism.

Export all your data from Google IoT core to the new service. Thereafter, thoroughly test the newly-created setup to check that the service is functioning as expected and your IoT devices are able to accurately communicate with the new IoT Core service. Now, migrate your devices to the new service by decommissioning the setup of Google IoT core.

Closing Thoughts:

Google Cloud IoT core users have multiple alternative IoT Core service options to choose from. However, one needs to pick the new service provider wisely after weighing all the offerings and checking whether those offerings are best suited for their specific IoT use case. Also, the migration process should be carried out properly following all standard protocols for smooth and successful execution. You must strictly adhere to the practices mentioned in the documentation offered by Google as well as the new service provider to avoid any errors.

If you lack technical expertise, you might end up messing up the migration process, leading to costly rework. So, I would recommend you seek assistance from a professional IoT App Development Company that would advise you on selecting the most suitable alternative to IoT Core service based on the unique requirements of your IoT solution. Professional services will also provide you with a dedicated team of technical resources who will help you execute the migration process correctly and as per standard practices.

Significant AngularJS Tools for Web App Development!

 

AngularJS is a structural framework extensively used for designing dynamic single-page web applications. Based on JavaScript, this framework also provides extended support for HTML5. AngularJS is a perfect pick when the performance and the user experience of the apps are the top priority. Owing to the myriad benefits it offers, some Tech veterans and expert Angular.js app developers have even termed this framework as a web app synthesizing powerhouse. As a result, this disruptive framework is highly in demand for web app development.

 

But, for developing a quality application, AngularJS tools play an important role. Without the right set of AngularJS development tools, this framework can’t really deliver the best results. These tools ease the development process by helping developers to build attractive and professional templates. So, before starting the development, it is advisable to have knowledge of these tools.

 

This blog outlines a short curated list of some of the most well-known AngularJS tools available in the market for building web apps. Let’s dive in deeper.

 

Popular AngularJS Tools for Architecting Creative Web Apps

 

 

Karma

 

This tool primarily focuses on the testing part. It offers an ideal testing environment for Angular app developers as it comes with rich features like mobile handset support, real browser implementation, etc. Thus, developers can test the apps on real devices and real browsers. This testing flexibility ensures that the final website will be quite flawless.

 

WebStorm

 

WebStorm is a tool that comes with one of the best and smartest code editors that extends substantial support to Node.js, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, etc. along with their progressive successors. WebStorm is also known to be the best AngularJS IDE. It works well with most new-age technologies, making it a flexible tool. Another important feature of this tool is that it comes with a live editor which enables the developers to view the changes in the code instantly.

 

Angular Material

 

More than a tool, it is a UI component library consisting of approximately 30 UI components and services. The UI components are easily accessible, reusable, and well-tested for web app development. It offers features like browser portability, graceful degradation, and device independence which are fundamental design parameters and enables the development of outstanding websites. Right from creating simple buttons on the website or features that hover around, Angular Material supports everything.

 

Jasmine

 

It is a behavior-driven testing tool and doesn’t depend on DOM, browsers, or other JavaScript frameworks. This AngularJS development tool suits any project where JavaScript runs and also for any project that is built on Node.js.

 

Angular UI Bootstrap

 

This tool is created on top of Bootstrap- a well-known front-end framework. It is best known for the flexibility of customization it provides during web app development. It allows developers to utilize a host of components with dependencies like Bootstrap CSS, Angular Js, Angular- Touch, Angular- Animate, etc.

 

NG-Inspector

 

It is the browser extension for Safari, Firefox, and Chrome. It acts as an inspector pane that helps developers understand the AngularJS apps and create and debug them. Also, with the use of Controllers and Directives, this tool easily identifies and displays every scope.

 

Sublime Text

 

In case the developers are looking for an easy alternative rather than hectic coding, Sublime Text is the apt solution. It is known to be the best text code editor which is preferred by a large number of Angular app developers worldwide as it makes coding less tedious and more fun.

 

Angularjs UI

 

This AngularJS development tool is nothing but a collection of UI components. It consists of utility directives that aid in the speedy development of web apps. It utilizes raw directives like ui-map, ui-router, ui-calendar, etc. instead of widgets. It is quite easy to use, lightweight, flexible, and back-end agnostic.

 

Generator Angular

 

This is another tool that enables faster development that too with a few terminal commands. It allows the developers to set up any project quickly with sensible defaults. The devices can automatically generate a development server, frameworks, units, views, directives, and many more.

 

Code Orchestra

 

It is a front-end development tool utilized for both- development and testing purposes. It allows the Angular developers to write the code in real-time. As the code is modified and saved, the changes are instantly updated on the working app with the use of a special protocol. Also, this tool supports any IDE.

 

Angular Kickstart

 

As the name suggests, this tool is considered the best fit for SPA development. It has a scalable build system for making the development and testing a cakewalk. This tool helps in maintaining the consistency of the project structure and helps one to effortlessly create a fully optimized production release.

 

Few other AngularJS Tools

 

• Rectangular: It is a tool that needs minimum client code and simplifies common GET, DELETE, POST, and UPDATES requests. It best suits Web Apps that consume data from a RESTful API.
• Protractor: This is an open-source framework that allows developers to perform end-to-end testing for Angular and AngularJS development projects. It is built on WebDriver. This tool is also used for writing regression tests for web applications.
• Videogular: As the name indicates, this Angular.js app development tool is nothing but an HTML5-based video player that enables the developers to easily include multimedia elements and videos in the apps.
• Djangular: This is a reusable tool that offers enhanced app integration with AngularJS.
• Mean: It’s a perfect and simple boilerplate that comes with configured and pre-bundled modules like Passport, Mongoose, etc. Mean is used for the creation of apps in MongoDB, Express, Node.js, etc.
• Suave UI:  This tool utilizes CSS definitions like Form Elements, Grids, Colored Buttons, etc. Its services and directives help in the quick and efficient development of various web-based user interfaces.
• Mocha.js: It is a feature-rich JS test framework that runs on node.js and the browser. It is quite flexible with accuracy in terms of mapping and reporting.
• AngularFire: This tool comes with features like 3-way data binding and flexible API that ease the development. It enables the easy creation of the backend of an Angular app.
• Angular Deckgrid: It is a lightweight grid where the directive makes use of a CSS file for any visual representation and doesn’t rely on it.
• Angular GetText:  This tool is considered a super easy translation support tool. Using this tool, one just needs to type the text in English and mark it for translation. The tool takes care of it once marked for translation.

 

Final Verdict:

 

If you are an Angularjs development company or an Angular app developer thinking of using AngularJS for your web app development project, the aforesaid tools will be great to start with. These Angular.js mobile app development tools will together aid in several functions like front-end development, testing, code generation, etc. These AngularJS development tools will also enable you to leverage text editor, IDE editor, modules, Grid tools, extensions, elite libraries, and more. They will facilitate smooth and easy-going development of creating your web app.

Benefits and Shortcomings of The React Native Framework!

 

Why does every next-gen organization want to leverage mobility solutions today? That’s because mobile apps have become the fast-track solution to influence audiences. So, every company wants a dedicated mobile app.

 

But real confusion arises when it comes to the choice of the right framework for mobile app development. As there are a vast number of competent frameworks available in the market, selecting the right framework becomes challenging.

 

What if there exists a promising framework that helps to design top-quality apps with fewer resources?

 

The Facebook-created React Native framework is the perfect solution for such a requirement. React Native app development is preferred by several big players in the market like Facebook, UberEats, Delivery.com, Skype, Bloomberg, Instagram, Vogue, Tesla, etc. to name a few. React Native app developers use JavaScript and JSX to create iOS and Android native apps. The framework offers native layout components that facilitate the creation of convincing UIs that are pretty much similar to native apps.

 

Reusability of components, sharable code repository, and, the “Learn once, write anything” objective, have already made React Native a winning choice for cross-platform app development. So, if you are going to build your next app with this framework or going to hire a React Native app development company for your project, this blog will help you to make an informed decision. Here’s a list of some noteworthy pros and cons of the React Native framework.

 

Pros of Using React Native for Your Mobile App

 

 

Time and Cost-Effective Solution

 

React Native app development allows the re-usability of the code i.e. the same code is being used for both Android and iOS platforms. As JavaScript is used for development, it allows React Native app developers to use the same codebase not only for mobile platforms but also for React web applications. This makes the job smoother, faster, and easier for developers. Targeting multiple operating systems with one code reduces the coding time by 30-35% approximately. A single team can code for multiple platforms. As a result, team size is reduced and the project becomes manageable.

 

React Native has ‘ready-to-apply’ components. So, instead of writing the code from scratch, the React Native app developers can use these components and save their efforts. All these factors boost cost-effectiveness. The app can be launched in the market at the earliest, improving the time-to-market.

 

Modular Architecture

 

The React Native framework has a modular architecture. It allows the developers to segregate the functions of the code into blocks called modules. These modules are interchangeable and free and they can be reused for web and mobile APIs. As a result, React Native mobile app development becomes flexible, and updating apps becomes extremely easy.

 

Native App-Like Performance

 

This framework uses native modules and native controls, which enhances the app’s performance considerably. React Native applications render their user interface using native APIs. As such, the performance of these apps is quite native-like.

 

Growing Community Support

 

React Native is an open-source framework and anyone can contribute to its growth. This community of talented and experienced React Native app developers helps anyone and everyone who needs a piece of advice on an issue. It has active support from GitHub and Facebook. Facebook itself uses this framework and the team constantly works to introduce new features, functionalities, and React framework libraries as well. Also, companies like Microsoft, Callstack, Infinite Red, Software Mansion, etc. have contributed to the React Native framework.

 

Good Reliability and Stability

 

Despite being a new framework comparatively, React Native is much more stable and reliable. It has simplified data binding due to which child elements do not affect the parent data. So, if a developer changes any object, s/he would need to modify its state and then accordingly apply the updates, letting only allowed components to be upgraded.

 

‘Hot-Reload’ Feature

 

This is another precious feature of the React Native framework. If a developer makes changes in the code or tweaks the UI, it immediately reflects in the apps, like a live preview even if the apps are running. The developer does not need to rebuild the app for every small change made in the code. This functionality enables the implementation of feedback faster and reduces the wait time.

 

Third-Party Plugin Support

 

Third-party plugins are usually not considered to be secure and so, the developers face challenges while using them. The React Native framework, on the other hand, has many third-party libraries that are quite flexible and can be used swiftly. Also, there are pragmatic interfaces in React Native having customization options.

 

Simplified User Interface

 

React Native looks more like a JavaScript library and not a framework, where the user interfaces are simplified and platform-specific. So, the apps designed in React Native are more responsive and have a smoother feel.

 

Declarative Coding Style

 

The declarative coding style in React Native simplifies the coding process and coding paradigms which makes the development understandable. The code can be easily read and understood, simply by looking at it.

 

Cons Of using React Native for App Development

 

Small Collection of Components

 

React Native is still in its infancy. Though it has ‘ready-made’ components to use, the collection is small. Some of the components may even not meet the expected standards, as they aren’t developed by official developers. This limits the developers to create simple basic apps. For developing an app with custom native-like features, one might have to maintain 3 codebases - react native, iOS, and Android.

 

Memory Management

 

React Native is based on JavaScript and is not suited for apps that are computationally intensive. In terms of memory usage and management, float computations are handled inefficiently and the speed and performance are significantly degraded.

 

Need For Native Developers

 

To solve some of the issues in React Native, native modules are required. However, implementing them requires expertise in Java/ Swift/Objective-C and detailed knowledge of a specific platform. So, we can’t deny that occasionally, some help from native developers may be needed. This could be an issue for small enterprises or start-ups.

 

Lacks The Security Robustness

 

Being an open-source framework the security robustness of React Native may get affected. While creating data-sensitive apps like banking or financial apps, experts advise that this framework should not be used as it is based on JavaScript which is known for its instability.

 

Isn’t Ideal for All Business Requirements

 

React Native is known for saving time and money, however, it may not suit every business requirement. At times, when complex features are required to be used in the apps, React Native may not be the apt choice.

 

Key Takeaways:

 

React Native has been one of the most sought-after frameworks for mobile app development. Though it has its downfalls like every other framework, its advantages surpass the downfalls. Also, the huge React community growing at a fast pace is highly likely to develop more efficient and advanced components and functionalities, making it one of the best frameworks.