Mobile application development

Mobile application development is a term used to denote the act or process by which application software is developed for handheld devices, such as personal digital assistants, enterprise digital assistants or mobile phones. These applications can be pre-installed on phones during manufacturing platforms, or delivered as web applications using server-side or client-side processing (e.g. JavaScript) to provide an "application-like" experience within a Web browser. Application software developers also have to consider a lengthy array of screen sizes, hardware specifications and configurations because of intense competition in mobile software and changes within each of the platforms. Mobile app development has been steadily growing, both in terms of revenues and jobs created. A 2013 analyst report estimates there are 529,000 direct App Economy jobs within the EU 28 members, 60% of which are mobile app developers.

As part of the development process, Mobile User Interface (UI) Design is also an essential in the creation of mobile apps. Mobile UI considers constraints & contexts, screen, input and mobility as outlines for design. The user is often the focus of interaction with their device, and the interface entails components of both hardware and software. User input allows for the users to manipulate a system, and device's output allows the system to indicate the effects of the users' manipulation. Mobile UI design constraints include limited attention and form factors, such as a mobile device's screen size for a user's hand(s). Mobile UI contexts signal cues from user activity, such as location and scheduling that can be shown from user interactions within a mobile application. Overall, mobile UI design's goal is primarily for an understandable, user-friendly interface. The UI of mobile apps should: consider users' limited attention, minimize keystrokes, and be task-oriented with a minimum set of functions. This functionality is supported by Mobile enterprise application platforms or Integrated development environments (IDEs).

Mobile UIs, or front-ends, rely on mobile back-ends to support access to enterprise systems. The mobile back-end facilitates data routing, security, authentication, authorization, working off-line, and service orchestration. This functionality is supported by a mix of middleware components including mobile app servers, Mobile Backend as a service (MBaaS), and SOA infrastructure.

Platform

The platform organizations need to develop, deploy and manage mobile apps is made from many components, and tools allow a developer to write, test and deploy applications into the target platform environment.

Front-end development tools

Front-end development tools are focused on the user interface and user experience (UI/UX) and provide the following capabilities:

• UI design tools
• SDKs to access device features
• Cross-platform accommodations/support

Available tools are listed below.

Platform	Programming language	Debuggers available	Emulator available	Integrated development environment available	Cross-platform deployment	Installer packaging options	Development tool cost
Altova MobileTogether	Visual programming to design the user interface and functional programming using the standardized XQuery/XPath	Yes, integrated simulation tool	Yes	Windows-based MobileTogether Designer	Android, iOS, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, HTML5 Browser Based Client	The native distribution format of each platform	Free
Android	Java but portions of code can be in C, C++	Debugger integrated in Eclipse, standalone debugging monitor available	Yes	Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, Android Studio, Project Kenai Android plugin for NetBeans	Android only, because of Dalvik VM, March 2009	apk	Free, IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition - Free
App Inventor for Android	Visual blocks-based programming language, with Interface designer	Limited debugging tools built into IDE	Yes	Web-based interface designer, with connection to Java web-start program for blocks programming	Android devices	apk	free
Appception	HTML, CSS, JavaScript	Yes	Yes	Cloud-based IDE	Android, iOS	The native distribution format of each platform	Free and Commercial Licenses available
Appcelerator	JavaScript	Yes, in Titanium Studio.	Emulator is available using native emulators	Titanium Studio based on Eclipse	Android, iPhone; BlackBerry, Tizen, mobile web	The native distribution format of each platform	Free / Open Sourced Apache 2.0 licensed, commercial and enterprise licenses available
Appear IQ	Mobile Web Apps (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript), Native Apps Java, Objective-C, C#.NET/VB.NET for Windows Phone	Yes	Mobile simulator available	Any IDE	Android, iOS, Windows/Windows Phone	The native distribution format of each platform	Free to try, Commercial and Enterprise licenses available
Appery.io	HTML, JavaScript, CSS, jQueryMobile, PhoneGap	Yes. Using browser debug tooling	Yes. Browser-based, and native test app for iOS and Android	Cloud-based development platform	Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Mobile web	The native distribution format of each platform	Free & commercial plans available
AppSheet	No coding required. Data via spreadsheets	Yes, via application editor	Yes.	No coding required. Visual App Definition with spreadsheet data	Android, iOS, Web	The native distribution format of each platform and also cloud/browser based	Free. Up to 10 App users. Commercial licenses available
Basic4android	Visual Basic similar syntax	Yes	Emulator is available using native emulators	Proprietary IDE	Android	The native distribution format of each platform	Commercial licenses available
BlackBerry	Java	Debugger integrated in IDE	Yes	Eclipse, BlackBerry JDE	BlackBerry only, because of RIM API	alx, cod	Free
Codename One	Java	Yes	Yes	Eclipse, Netbeans	Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, J2ME	The native distribution format of each platform	Open Source GPLv2 and subscription-based build server
Convertigo Mobilizer MEAP	HTML, CSS, JavaScript	Yes Any web development debugger such as Chrome/Safari or Firefox	Yes Web-based emulator	Eclipse-based IDE, shipped as standalone or Eclipse Plugin	Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Mobile	The native distribution format of each platform	Open Source Affero GPL licence, free Community edition, or subscription-based Enterprise Editions
Corona SDK	Lua	Yes	Yes	Xcode	iOS, Android, NOOK Color	Native deployment for each platform	Free unlimited trial; commercial licenses available for deployment
DragonRAD	Visual drag & drop tiles	Yes	Uses 3rd party emulators	Proprietary IDE	Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile	OTA deployment	Free & commercial licenses available
DSI - Data Systems International, Inc.	DSI Application Studio - flowchart based tool designed for business analysts to build and deploy mobile applications	Yes	Yes	Proprietary IDE - Graphical drag and drop design studio	iOS 4+, Android 2.0+, Windows Mobile 6+, Blackberry 4.5+, Windows Desktop 7+	The native distribution format of each platform	Commercial licenses available
GeneXus for Mobile and Smart Devices	Knowledge Representation and Declarative Modeling for easy development, then code is automatically generated for each platform	No	Publish in the Cloud, test native in the device (No emulator required)	Proprietary IDE	Android, Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad), BlackBerry and even HTML5 if desired	The native distribution format of each platform and also Cloud/browser-based	Free to try, Commercial and Enterprise licenses available
GO!AppZone by Globo	HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript. Native-code plugins in Objective-C, Java, C#	Yes, IDE includes an HTML-based simulator with embedded debugging tools	Yes. Native testing app for Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows Phone/8.x/RT	Yes, GO!AppZone Studio	Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows Phone/8.x/RT	The native distribution format of each platform	Free; Free cloud-based compilation; Free MBaaS instance for testing
HP Anywhere	HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript	Yes, Mobile Browser Simulator	Yes, use browser-based Emulator	Eclipse Plugin, Eclipse Based Stand-alone, IntelliJ IDEA Plugin, Any IDE using command-line interface	iOS, Android, Windows 8 Desktop and Tablets, Mobile Web App, Desktop Browser Web Page	The native distribution format of each platform	Developer edition free, Commercial License for deployment
IBM MobileFirst Studio	HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and Native SDK Languages w/ Native Worklight API	Yes, Mobile Browser Simulator or integration with Native SDK Debugger	Emulator is available using native emulators or Browser Simulator w/ Cordova Plugin	Eclipse Plugin, Eclipse Based Stand-alone	iOS, BlackBerry 6,7, & 10, Android, Windows Phone 7.5 & 8, Windows 8 Desktop and Tablets, Adobe AIR, Mobile Web App, Desktop Browser Web Page	The native distribution format of each platform	Developer edition free via Eclipse Marketplace, Commercial License for deployment
Intel XDK	HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and Node-Webkit back-end	Yes	Yes	Stand-alone, bundled with IDE	Android, iOS, Windows 8, Amazon, Facebook, Chrome, Nook, Firefox Marketplace and Tizen	The native distribution format of each platform	Free
iOS SDK	Objective-C, Swift	Debugger integrated in Xcode IDE	Bundled with iPhone SDK, integrated with Xcode IDE	Xcode, AppCode	iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch	Only via App Store, needs review and approval by Apple Inc.	Apple tools are free for an Intel-based Mac. Simulator testing is free, but installing on a device needs a fee for a developer signing key. AppCode - Commercial licenses available.
iOS SDK	Object Pascal	Debugger integrated in Xcode IDE	Included in Delphi XE2 professional or higher	Embarcadero Delphi XE2	iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch	Only via App Store, needs review and approval by Apple Inc.	Development requires Intel-based Mac besides the IDE on Windows. Design is on Windows, Compilation and deployment has to be done on Mac. Simulator testing is free, but installing on a device needs a fee for a developer signing key
Java ME	Java	Yes	Free emulator, Sun Java Wireless Toolkit, mpowerplayer	Eclipse, LMA NetBeans Mobility Pack	Yes although many VM implementations have device specific bugs necessitating separate builds	Jad/Jar packaging; PRC files under Palm OS	Free
Lazarus	Object Pascal	Yes, can debug in IDE via ActiveSync for Windows CE	Uses the emulators of the platforms	Lazarus IDE, including integrated GUI designer and debugger	Compiled language available for Windows CE, Linux-based devices, SymbianOS port in development	The native distribution format of each platform	Free
LambdaNative	Scheme	No	No, but can build and test on the localhost	Eclipse (software) (optional)	All native binaries: iOS, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, OpenBSD, OpenWrt	The native distribution format of each platform	Free (BSD license)
M2Active by Service2Media	Lua Java language originally from gaming industry	Yes, in M2Active IDE.	Native emulator are available	M2Active based on Eclipse	Android Phone & Tablet, iOS Phone and tablet; BlackBerry, Windows Phone, J2ME,	The native distribution format of each platform	Enterprise licenses available
Macromedia Flash Lite	ActionScript	Yes	Bundled with IDE	Macromedia Flash MX2004/8, Eclipse	Yes	SIS / CAB deployment or OTA/IR/Bluetooth SWF files	Varies, free but limited with MTASC
Marmalade	C, C++	Yes	Yes	Visual Studio, Xcode	All native: Android, BlackBerry, BREW, iOS (iPhone), Maemo, Palm/webOS, Samsung bada, Symbian, Windows Mobile 6.x and desktop, OSX	The native distribution format of each platform	Commercial licenses available
Meme IDE	MemeScript	Validation is provided in the problems view	Yes, Android emulator can be integrated	Eclipse RCP	Android, Windows Mobile	The native distribution format of each platform	Free for development
Mendix	HTML5, Java	Yes	Yes	Yes, The Mendix App Platform	All platforms, mobile apps are browser-based	Not applicable, Mendix is a Platform as a Service	Commercial licenses available
MobileFrame	WYSIWYG, visual drag-n-drop	Yes	Yes	Yes, the MobileFrame Desktop proprietary design studio, no coding required	Android, iOS, Windows, Windows Mobile, HTML5	OTA deployment, native distribution format of each platform, and cloud/browser based	Commercial and enterprise licenses available
MobiOne by Genuitec	HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, visual drag-n-drop	Yes	Yes	Use any Java IDE for back-end services, integrated MyEclipse soon	iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod), Android phones and tablets	OTA for device testing and native distribution format of each platform	Trial and Commercial licenses available (one time $99)
Mono for Android	C#	Yes	Yes	Visual Studio 2005 and MonoDevelop	Android	The native distribution format of the platform
MonoTouch	C#	Yes	Yes	Visual Studio 2005 and MonoDevelop	iOS	The native distribution format of the platform
MoSync	C, C++, Lua, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript	Yes	Yes	Eclipse, Visual Studio 2005 and later, MoBuild w/ text editors	Android, Java ME, Moblin, iOS (iPhone), Smartphone 2003, Symbian, Windows Mobile (Pocket PC), Blackberry (experimental)	SIS, CAB, JAD, JAR, APK, OTA deployment	Free, GPL 2.0, Free Indie Subscription; commercial subscription available
Mulberry	HTML5, CSS, JavaScript	Yes	No, 3rd party tools	No, 3rd party tools	Android, iOS, Mobile Web	The native distribution format of each platform, OTA deployment,	Free
Protogrid	No coding required. JavaScript can be used for Business Logic.	Yes. Using browser debug tooling.	Yes. Browser-based and iOS-Simulator.	Proprietary IDE	Web, iOS, Mobile Web	The native distribution format of each platform, OTA deployment	Trial and Commercial licenses available
NeoMAD	Java, XML	Yes	Emulator is available using native emulators	Eclipse Plugin, Eclipse Based Stand-alone	Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows Store Apps, Blackberry, J2ME	The native distribution format of each platform	Free & commercial licenses available
OpenPlug	ActionScript, XML	Yes	Yes	OpenPlug ELIPS plugin for Adobe Flash Builder	Android, iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch), Symbian, Windows Mobile	The native distribution format of each platform	Free & commercial licenses available
OpenMEAP	HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript	Debugger integrated in Eclipse and Xcode	Emulator is available using native emulators	Xcode, Eclipse	iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, BlackBerry	The native distribution format of each platform	Open Source LGPL license
OutSystems	OutSystems, CSS, JavaScript	Yes	Test directly in browser	OutSystems Service Studio	Andoid, iOS devices and WindowsPhone 7	NA	Free Community Edition for personal use, and subscription licensing for commercial use
Platino Game Engine	JavaScript	Yes, in Titanium Studio.	Emulator is available using native emulators	Titanium Studio based on Eclipse	Android, iPhone	The native distribution format of each platform	Free to try, $49.99 for a commercial license
PhoneGap & Apache Cordova	HTML, CSS, JavaScript	Yes	No, 3rd party tools	No, 3rd party tools	iPhone, Android, Tizen, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Symbian, Palm, Bada	The native distribution format of each platform	Apache 2
Qt SDK	C++, QML	Yes	Yes	Qt Creator	Symbian platform, Maemo, MeeGo, Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, Android (Technology Preview), iOS (Technology Preview)	The native distribution format of each platform	Free & commercial licenses available
Rhomobile	Ruby with HTML interface features compiled through an interpreter into native applications.	Yes	N/A, applications can run in Win32 runner, or in device emulators for supported platforms.	Xcode or Eclipse, on-demand RhoHub version includes full IDE	Yes, supports iOS (incl. 3.0) on iPhone and iPad, Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Mobile Windows 6.0 Standard, BlackBerry 4.6, 4.7, 5.0, 6.0 (BlackBerry 4.2 and 4.5 supported but database access is very slow on these devices), Symbian and Android 1.6 and higher	OTA deployment, iOS through App store, .SIS, .CAB, .APK, .COD	Rhodes is free and open source under the MIT License, RhoSync is under GPL or commercial, Commercial support available. Subscription for RhoHub
RubyMotion	Ruby	Yes	Yes	Any text editor. As an IDE, RubyMine.	iOS and Android	The native distribution format of the platform	RubyMotion is a commercial product.
Sencha Touch	HTML, CSS, JavaScript	Yes	Yes	Sencha Architect 2	iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, Kindle, BlackBerry, Bada	Web delivered, or hybrid via native shells for each platform	GPLv3, Free Commercial License, Paid OEM and Embedded Systems Licenses
Smartface	WYSIWYG design editor with JavaScript code editor	Yes	Yes	Smartface IDE and SDK	Yes: Android, iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Kindle, Gear, Google Glass	The native distribution format of each platform	Community license and commercial licenses available
Stencyl	Drag-and-drop editor based on MIT Scratch, Objective-C	Yes	Yes	Xcode	iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch)	The native distribution format of each platform.	Free and commercial development licenses.
TD Mobile	HTML5, High Level Event Actions, JavaScript, SAL .NET Compiler	Yes	Yes	TD Mobile IDE	Web-based apps available through mobile web browser	Web URL	Commercial licenses available, free deployment
Telerik Platform / Telerik AppBuilder	HTML5, CSS and Javascript	Yes	Test right in browser or device	In-browser client, desktop client, Visual Studio, Sublime Text or command-line interface (CLI)	Android, iOS, Windows phone	The native distribution format of each platform	Free to try, Commercial and Enterprise licenses available
Unity	C#, JavaScript, Boo, other .NET-based languages	Yes	Remote used to simulate device interaction before app is uploaded to the device.	Unity Editor, also works with Visual Studios and MonoDevelop.	Android, iOS (iPhone/iPad), PC, Mac, desktop browser, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii. BlackBerry Playbook, Nokia Symbian, Roku 2 and others available through company's Union program.	The native distribution format of each platform.	Free and commercial development licenses.
Verivo AppStudio	WYSIWYG, Graphical Drag and Drop, JavaScript, .NET-based languages	Yes	Test right in browser or device	Proprietary design studio	Android, iOS devices, Blackberry	The native distribution format of each platform.	Free development licenses; per-CPU deployment licenses
ViziApps	WYSIWYG, Graphical Drag and Drop	Yes	Test right in browser or device	Online design studio	Android and iOS devices, Windows Phone planned	The native distribution format of each platform.	Free to design, test and demo app. Costs to publish an app. Free to update apps.
WinDev Mobile	WLanguage	Yes	Yes	WinDev Mobile	iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, Windows Store Apps	The native distribution format of each platform	Free to try, Commercial and Enterprise licenses available
Zuznow	HTML, CSS, JavaScript , jQuery	Yes	Yes	Web development tools	iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android (Mobile and Tablet), Windows Phone, SmartTV	Mobile Web, PhoneGap	Free to try, Commercial and Enterprise licenses available

Back-end servers

Back-end tools pick up where the front-end tools leave off, and provide a set of reusable services that are centrally managed and controlled and provide the following capabilities:

• Integration with back-end systems
• User authentication/authorization
• Data services
• Reusable business logic

Available tools are listed below.

Platform	Programming language	Integrated development environment available	Cross-platform deployment	Deployment options	Development tool cost
Altova MobileTogether Server	Browser-based interface	NA	Server available for Windows, Linux, Mac OS. Supports mobile devices running Android, iOS, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, HTML5 Browser Based Client	On-prem, cloud, or hybrid	Commercial license based on the number of mobile devices required
AnyPresence	JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, and Native SDK Languages	Web-based designer, Use any IDE for client-side development	iOS, Android, Windows Phone 8, Java, Xamarin, Mobile Web, Desktop Web	On-prem, cloud, or hybrid	Commercial and enterprise licenses available
Backendless Platform	Java, Objective-C, Swift, Node.js, JavaScript, ActionScript(Flex),C# (.NET)	Use any front-end IDE for client-side development. Eclipse, IDEA or NetBeans for custom server-side logic development	iOS 3.0+, Android 2.0+, Windows Phone 7+, JavaScript, HTML5 Client, Flash Player (Flash/Flex)	On-premises and cloud	Free and commercial licenses available
GO!AppZone by Globo	JavaScript. Custom integrations connectors/server-side logic: C#, VB.NET	Yes, GO!AppZone Studio	Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows Phone/8.x/RT	On-prem, cloud or hybrid	Development tools are free. Commercial license or subscription required for deployment.
IBM MobileFirst Server	HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and Native SDK Languages w/ Native Worklight API	Eclipse Plugin, Eclipse Based Stand-alone	iOS, BlackBerry 6,7, & 10, Android, Windows Phone 7.5 & 8, Windows 8 Desktop and Tablets, Adobe AIR, Mobile Web App, Desktop Browser Web Page	On-prem	Developer edition free via Eclipse Marketplace, Commercial License for deployment
Kinvey	Java	NA	iOS 3+, Android 2.0+	Cloud	Commercial and enterprise licenses available
Kony	Javascript	Non-proprietary IDE	iOS 3+, Android 2.0+, Windows Mobile 6+, Blacberry 4.5+, Symbian, J2ME	On-prem	Commercial and enterprise licenses available
Kumulos	Java, Objective-C, Swift, Node.js, JavaScript, kScript, C# .NET	Use any front-end IDE for client-side development.	iOS 3.0+, Android 2.0+, Windows Phone 7+, JavaScript, HTML5, Blackberry, Unity .net Angular JS, LUA Corona, C#	Cloud	Free for up to 25 devices while in development. Fixed Monthly fee with fair use policy.
Magnet Systems	Java	Eclipse	?	On-prem	Commercial licenses available
Metismo	Java	Eclipse	Java ME, Android, BREW, BlackBerry, Nintendo DS, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Palm/webOS, Sony PSP, Samsung bada, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 7, Windows Desktop, OSX	On-prem	Commercial licenses available
MobileFrame	Proprietary, code-free interface	NA, MobileFrame Desktop	Android, iOS, Windows, Windows Mobile, HTML5 browser-based client	On-prem, cloud, or hybrid	Commercial and enterprise licenses available
Verivo Akula	Java	Use any front-end IDE	Android, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Windows Phone7	On-prem, cloud, or hybrid	Free development licenses; per-CPU deployment licenses
WebORB Integration Server	C#, VB.NET, Java, PHP, ActionScript, JavaScript, Objective-C, XML	Works with Eclipse, Visual Studio, intelliJ IDEA and Amethyst IDE	Android, iOS (iPhone/iPad), BlackBerry Playbook, Windows Phone7	On-prem	Free development licenses; Free and Commercial deployment licenses

Security add-on layers

With BYOD becoming the norm within more enterprises, IT departments often need stop-gap, tactical solutions that layer on top of existing apps, phones, and platform component. Features include

• App wrapping for security
• Data encryption
• Client actions
• Reporting and statistics

Platform	Programming language	Debuggers available	Emulator available	Integrated development environment available	Cross-platform deployment	Installer packaging options	Development tool cost

System software

There are many system-level components that are required to have a functioning platform for developing mobile apps.

Platform	Programming language	Debuggers available	Emulator available	Integrated development environment available	Cross-platform deployment	Installer packaging options	Development tool cost
Adobe AIR	ActionScript, HTML, CSS, JavaScript	Yes	Yes	Flash Builder, Flash Professional, IntelliJ IDEA	iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, BlackBerry	The native distribution format of each platform	Flash Builder, Flash Professional, IntelliJ IDEA - Commercial licenses available Adobe AIR SDK (command line tool) - Free
BREW	C; the APIs are provided in C with a C++ style interface	Debugger support for the native ARM target code. Can use Visual Studio to debug the x86 testing code	No Emulator for the target ARM code, has a simulator for the x86 testing code	Visual Studio 6.0, Visual Studio 2003 .NET, Visual Studio 2005	Compile for the specific BREW version available on the handset	OTA	Related dev fees typically needed for Brew App Certification - VeriSign annual fee for becoming a certified developer. Realview ARM compiler for BREW (the free GNU C/C++ is available, but with limited function and support). TRUE BREW testing fee for distributing the application.
Firefox OS	HTML5, CSS, JavaScript	Yes	No, but simulator available.	Firefox browser, Firebug	Web browser on other platform	Firefox Marketplace, Web URL	Development requires Mozilla Firefox and the simulator add-on
.NET Compact Framework	C#, VB.NET, Basic4ppc	Yes	Free emulator, source code available, also bundled with IDE	Visual Studio 2008, 2005, 2003, Basic4ppc IDE	Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Symbian-based devices via third party tools	OTA deployment, CAB files, ActiveSync	Most tools free, but commercial editions of Visual Studio needed for visual designers
OpenFL	Haxe (similar to Actionscript and Java)	Yes	Yes	IntelliJ IDEA, FlashDevelop	iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, BlackBerry Playbook, WebOS, HTML5, Flash, Windows (exe), Linux	The native distribution format of each platform	Free
Palm OS	C, C++, Pascal	Yes	OS 1.0 - 4.1: Free Emulator provided by PalmSource (Access); OS 5.0: - 5.4 Device-specific Simulators provided by Palm (palmOne)	Palm OS Development System (Eclipse), CodeWarrior, PocketStudio, HB++, Satellite Forms	Palm OS handhelds, or Windows Mobile with StyleTap emulator	PRC files, PalmSource Installer (.psi)	Free (POSE or GCC for Palm OS), or commercial (CodeWarrior), or various commercial rapid-development frameworks
Python	Python	Yes	Add-on to Nokia Emulator	Several, including plugins for Eclipse	Interpreted language available natively only on Nokia Series60 (and desktops) though ports exist to other mobile platforms, including Palm OS	Sis deployment with py2sis or can use Python Runtime	Free
Symbian	C++	Yes	Free Emulator	Many choices	Compile per target	SIS deployment	Commercial and free tools available
Tizen	Web-based: HTML5, CSS, JavaScript Native: C, C++	Yes	Free Emulator	Tizen SDK	Web-based app to be available on web browser	Tizen through App store, Web URL	Development requires Windows or Mac OS X or Ubuntu Desktop
Ubuntu Touch	Web-based: HTML5, CSS, JavaScript Native: QML, C, C++	Yes	Yes	Ubuntu SDK	HTML5 app to be available web browser.	Ubuntu Touch through App store, Web URL	Development requires Ubuntu Desktop 12.04 or higher, Free
webOS	JavaScript, CSS, HTML, C and C++ through the PDK	Yes	Free emulator	Eclipse	webOS, Palm only	OTA deployment, webOS through App store, Web URL, Precentral, .ipk	Free
Windows Mobile	C, C++	Yes	Free emulator (source code available), also bundled with IDE	Visual Studio 2010, 2008, 2005, eMbedded VC++ (free), Satellite Forms	Windows Mobile, Windows CE	OTA deployment, CAB files, ActiveSync	Free command-line tools or eMbedded VC++, or Visual Studio (Standard edition or better)
Windows Phone	C#, Visual Basic, C, C++	Yes	Free emulator, also bundled with IDE	Visual Studio 2012, Visual Studio 2010	Windows Phone	OTA deployment, XAP files

Criteria for selecting a development platform usually contains the target mobile platforms, existing infrastructure and development skills. When targeting more than one platform with cross-platform development it is also important to consider the impact of the tool on the user experience. Performance is another important criteria, as research on mobile applications indicates a strong correlation between application performance and user satisfaction. In addition to performance and other criteria, the availability of the technology and the project's requirement may drive the development between native and cross-platform environments. To aid the choice between native and cross-platform environments, some guidelines and benchmarks have been published. Typically, cross-platform environments are reusable across multiple platforms, leveraging a native container while using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the user interface. In contrast, native environments are targeted at one platform for each of those environments. For example, Apple iOS applications are developed using Xcode with Objective C and/or Swift, Android development is done in the Eclipse IDE with the ADT (Android Developer Tools) plugins, Windows and BlackBerry also have their own development environment.

Mobile application testing

Mobile applications are first tested within the development environment using emulators and later subjected to field testing. Emulators provide an inexpensive way to test applications on mobile phones to which developers may not have physical access. The following are examples of tools used for testing application across the most popular mobile operating systems.

• Google Android Emulator - Google Android Emulator is an Android emulator that is patched to run on a Windows PC as a standalone app, without having to download and install the complete and complex Android SDK. It can be installed and Android compatible apps can be tested on it.
• The official Android SDK Emulator - The official Android SDK Emulator includes a mobile device emulator which mimics all of the hardware and software features of a typical mobile device (without the calls).
• MobiOne - MobiOne Developer is a mobile Web IDE for Windows that helps developers to code, test, debug, package and deploy mobile Web applications to devices such as iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, and the Palm Pre.
• TestiPhone - TestiPhone is a web browser-based simulator for quickly testing iPhone web applications. This tool has been tested and works using Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2 and Safari 3.
• iPhoney - iPhoney gives a pixel-accurate web browsing environment and it is powered by Safari. It can be used while developing web sites for the iPhone. It is not an iPhone simulator but instead is designed for web developers who want to create 320 by 480 (or 480 by 320) websites for use with iPhone. iPhoney will only run on Mac OS X 10.4.7 or later.
• BlackBerry Simulator - There are a variety of official BlackBerry simulators available to emulate the functionality of actual BlackBerry products and test how the BlackBerry device software, screen, keyboard and trackwheel will work with application.
• Windows UI Automation - To test applications that use the Microsoft UI Automation technology, it requires Windows Automation API 3.0. It is pre-installed on Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and later versions of Windows. On other operating systems, you can install using Windows Update or download it from the Microsoft Web site.

Tools include

• eggPlant: A GUI-based automated test tool for mobile application across all operating systems and devices.
• Ranorex: Test automation tools for mobile, web and desktop apps.
• Testdroid: Real mobile devices and test automation tools for testing mobile and web apps.

Patents

There are many patents applications pending for new mobile phone apps. Most of these are in the technological fields of Business methods, Database management, Data transfer and Operator interface.

On May 31, 2011, Lodsys asserted two of its four patents: U.S. Patent No. 7,620,565 ("the '565 patent") on a "customer-based design module" and U.S. Patent No. 7,222,078 ("the '078 patent") on "Methods and Systems for Gathering Information from Units of a Commodity Across a Network." against the following application developers:

• Combay
• Iconfactory
• Illusion Labs
• Shovelmate
• Quickoffice
• Richard Shinderman of Brooklyn, New York
• Wulven Game Studios of Hanoi, Vietnam

See also

• List of digital distribution platforms for mobile devices
• List of mobile software distribution platforms
• Lazy User Model
• Mobile application management
• Mobile App Server
• Mobile Backend as a service
• Mobile business intelligence
• Mobile computing
• Mobile Device Testing
• Mobile enterprise application platform
• Mobile games
• Mobile interaction
• Mobile Marketing
• Multi-channel app development
• MoSoSo, Mobile Social Software
• On-Device Portal
• WURFL and WALL
• JQuery Mobile
• HTML5