If you’re looking to build a brand-new application from the bottom up, you better be ready to invest in a great deal of work hours and labor. To avoid this situation, developers now use a wide range of software platforms, tools, and libraries, to build applications faster than ever.
If you’re not sure third-party software will work for your app development, read on.
This article breaks down the pros and cons and provides a quick overview of what to expect.
Before dissecting the pros and cons of third-party software, it’s important to have a clear definition of what we mean as it applies to app development.
When referring to application development, third-party software is any program you can reuse for a specific purpose but developed by another company than the one using the program. The programs come in a variety of forms, but the most common are:
No matter what the detractors may say, app developers can use 3rd-party software to your benefit. It can significantly reduce the costs of a project, increase the quality, and streamline the entire development process. Here are the positive notes you should consider:
When using third-party software, developers don’t have to spend a vast amount of time writing code from scratch. Features like logins, chat support, and more can be easily integrated into the app. This frees up developers to not only work faster, but also focus on the key features that will make your app unique.
Not only do third-party solutions speed up the development process, they can also reduce your costs significantly. You could pay a monthly fee, upfront fee, or get it for free.
But they’re cheaper than the high up-front cost for building a feature from scratch. Even if you pay a monthly fee for using a program—like a set number of messages on a chat software—it can help you to spread costs over time instead of a bulk payment up front.
If your developers a platform in the the app development process, then they’re most likely using tried and tested software.
Even if it’s too advanced for your app, they often help build better applications overall. In this scenario, you’re getting more for your money, and the app will be easier to maintain.
Obviously, developers may have constraints when using third-party programs. Each program has it’s own code that’s created for a solution. This means that your developers will be adapting the base code to fit your needs. But there is a limit to how much they can do without driving your costs up. If you want a custom solution, be prepared to wait and pay for it though!
Unfortunately, you’re attached to the third-party software provider when using their solution. This means that any updates to their program could cause instability in your application. It’s essential that you only use third-party programs for elements of your application that are not part of the core code.
It’s generally cheaper to use third-party software. But being tied to your software provider also comes with another risk: they can raise their cost. This applies mainly to programs with a monthly fee. But it’s another reason you shouldn’t use third-party apps for core features. If they raise, the cost, you can always switch out non-essential third-party programs.
The pros and cons of using 3rd-party software are pretty cut and dry. Regardless, it’s essential to review each one and consider whether it works best for what you need your app to accomplish. Here are some key questions to think about when reviewing third-party apps:
Does the third-party app have security? - Different companies have different security needs.
Before you go with a third-party program, be sure that it has the security features you require and is in compliance with any regulations specific to your industry.
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