I have great success using Kotlin Multiplatform to share code between iOS and Android. Have a look at my Android Jetpack Compose and iOS SwiftUI project sharing the common logic for a game https://github.com/SimonSchubert/Braincup
Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
11–20 of 123 posts
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#12D allows you to export an obj-c api. This won't help much on the android side, but would definitely help with talking to swift on the ios side.
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#13Just use JavaScript. Javascriptcore is a lightweight way to execute JavaScript on iOS and you can use V8 context or duktape on Android. This way you can also update code in your app without an app store update.
which is not allowed on iOS ...
Edit: Sorry for being unclear, was only referring to the updating JS on the fly and circumventing App Store part. Obviously (facepalm) ... ️
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#14C++ is first-class in Android via NDK. You can write directly to your app's memory from a C++ library without having go through FFI. I'm pretty sure it's the same for iOS but through a C ABI.
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#15C++.
It is part of both SDKs, you have direct support for mixed mode debugging on the IDEs.
No need of extra tooling.
On Android JNI is always going to be a pain, but at least with C++ Studio gives you an hand on accessing JNI APIs.
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#16Just use JavaScript. Javascriptcore is a lightweight way to execute JavaScript on iOS and you can use V8 context or duktape on Android. This way you can also update code in your app without an app store update.
which is not allowed on iOS ... Edit: Sorry for being unclear, was only referring to the updating JS on the fly and circumventing App Store part. Obviously (facepalm) ... ️
Which part isn't allowed? A project I worked on did this a few years ago.
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#17Good thread previously here on HN about code sharing between iOS and Android:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20695806
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#18Just use JavaScript. Javascriptcore is a lightweight way to execute JavaScript on iOS and you can use V8 context or duktape on Android. This way you can also update code in your app without an app store update.
which is not allowed on iOS ... Edit: Sorry for being unclear, was only referring to the updating JS on the fly and circumventing App Store part. Obviously (facepalm) ... ️
What specifically is not allowed? Microsoft provide CodePush as a service which allows you to push updated JavaScript bundles to Android and iOS apps.
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#19Just use JavaScript. Javascriptcore is a lightweight way to execute JavaScript on iOS and you can use V8 context or duktape on Android. This way you can also update code in your app without an app store update.
which is not allowed on iOS ... Edit: Sorry for being unclear, was only referring to the updating JS on the fly and circumventing App Store part. Obviously (facepalm) ... ️
It is totally allowed on iOS.
Perhaps your thinking about downloading such JS code at runtime from your servers, thus escaping Apple's control on the app, which was indeed forbidden (it is now ok as long as you don't drastically change the app)
Bundling JS in the app and running it has always been just fine.
Re: Ask HN: Best language to share code between an Android and iOS app?
#20C.