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Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

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Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#31

Post by tracker1 »

Like most things, it depends... If you don't hate React, you may want to look into React Native, or Flutter so that you have a decent path to cross platform support. There's also Cordova/PhoneGap if you wanted to dip your toes more slowly.

If you're going all in, you'll probably be okay, but I'm nut sure how broad the audience will be longer term. It feels like the focus is going towards cross-platform (at least iOS + Android) as much as possible. There will always be a need for some custom glue to each respective platform even then though.

iOS isn't going anywhere, but Android is also here to stay, and a huge market share to ignore. Few businesses will fund two separate applications with distinct code bases if they can target both relatively well with a single code base. That's just my $.02

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#33

Post by jpttsn »

schlu wrote: post #16

In my opinion here are the pros: - iOS will be around a long time. - Big brands and startups are basically required to have an app in the App Store if they want to succeed. - Every year a new version comes out that requires developers to fix bugs and sometimes adopt new technology. Here are the cons: - Extremely difficult to build an indie business on iOS given that there is a single distribution channel that you don…

> Extremely difficult to build an indie business on iOS given that there is a single distribution channel that you don't control.

Would this imply it is easier to build an indie business on Android?

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#34

Post by deminature »

I made exactly this transition and don't regret it. Having a native debugger is hugely luxurious, and the Apple developer ecosystem is for the most part, an extremely nice walled garden. The platform is progressive and quick to deprecate legacy features, which keeps things interesting.

In my anecdotal experience however, frontend (React) and backend (Go, Java) devs are in much greater demand broadly across the market, rather than mobile devs.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#35

Post by tjpnz »

The mobile "web" is embracing native apps in a big way. It's difficult to go anywhere now without being pestered into installing an app - even if the site already has a perfectly usable mobile version. Worse still, some sites refuse to work at all or are severely limited. I don't particularly like the direction things are going in (despite having very few nice things to say about "modern" web frontend) but if I was in your situation I could certainly see myself going with iOS (or Android) from a salary perspective. Not sure how things are in Europe but I've noticed a lot of tech startups where I am in Tokyo skipping the web entirely in favour of apps.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#36

Post by [deleted] »

schlu wrote: post #16

In my opinion here are the pros: - iOS will be around a long time. - Big brands and startups are basically required to have an app in the App Store if they want to succeed. - Every year a new version comes out that requires developers to fix bugs and sometimes adopt new technology. Here are the cons: - Extremely difficult to build an indie business on iOS given that there is a single distribution channel that you don…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#37

Post by ptah »

schlu wrote: post #16

In my opinion here are the pros: - iOS will be around a long time. - Big brands and startups are basically required to have an app in the App Store if they want to succeed. - Every year a new version comes out that requires developers to fix bugs and sometimes adopt new technology. Here are the cons: - Extremely difficult to build an indie business on iOS given that there is a single distribution channel that you don…

> - Every year a new version comes out that requires developers to fix bugs and sometimes adopt new technology.

this is a huge bug in the ecosystem from a user perspective as you have to continue paying to keep your software working.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#38

Post by schlu »

jpttsn wrote: post #33
schlu wrote: post #16

In my opinion here are the pros: - iOS will be around a long time. - Big brands and startups are basically required to have an app in the App Store if they want to succeed. - Every year a new version comes out that requires developers to fix bugs and sometimes adopt new technology. Here are the cons: - Extremely difficult to build an indie business on iOS given that there is a single distribution channel that you don…

> Extremely difficult to build an indie business on iOS given that there is a single distribution channel that you don't control. Would this imply it is easier to build an indie business on Android?

I don't have any direct experience of building a business on Android. Last I heard iOS users spend more money on the App Store than Android users. I think this implies it is harder. I would think they are both pretty difficult probably in the same order of magnitude to each other.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#39

Post by schlu »

ptah wrote: post #37
schlu wrote: post #16

In my opinion here are the pros: - iOS will be around a long time. - Big brands and startups are basically required to have an app in the App Store if they want to succeed. - Every year a new version comes out that requires developers to fix bugs and sometimes adopt new technology. Here are the cons: - Extremely difficult to build an indie business on iOS given that there is a single distribution channel that you don…

> - Every year a new version comes out that requires developers to fix bugs and sometimes adopt new technology. this is a huge bug in the ecosystem from a user perspective as you have to continue paying to keep your software working.

I wish upgrades were easier on the iOS side, but in some instances users are demanding new features. Take for example split screen on the iPad. I takes time to figure out what your interface should look like in different dimensions. I am not sure what Apple could have done about that in advance.

Upgrades on the web take time and resources too. So I don't think this is unique to iOS.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth switching from web development to native iOS dev?

#40

Post by mamcx »

"switching" give the impression of let go the web. I say "adding".

I work freelance for more than 20+years and have done almost all: Windows Apps, Web Apps, Mobile (iOS, Android), Cloud, nosql, sql, utilities, etc.

Adding an extra to what you have make you stronger. Is a big plus for me to say "I know this and that and that...".

Of course, I have my preferences and strengths, but I can fit in almost any project.

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