Hello, Apple Developer Community,
In recent years, I've found myself increasingly concerned about the future of native ecosystems (iOS, Android), and I'd like to share my thoughts with you.
It seems that small startups and cost-conscious companies are increasingly opting for cross-platform technologies like React Native, Flutter, and WebView, aiming to reduce expenses and speed up development cycles. Even large companies are following this trend in many cases. While this approach may be efficient from a business perspective, can it truly match the quality of user experience (UX) provided by native interfaces? Personally, I don't believe it does.
There are undeniable advantages to cross-platform (or web-based) development, including rapid deployment and quick updates, as well as the ability to incorporate user feedback without going through a review process at every iteration. However, from my experience, once the initial version of a product has been somewhat stabilized, most companies tend to stick with cross-platform rather than transitioning to native development.
In South Korea, where I am based, interest in native development education and entry-level training is on the decline. Most students and educational institutions favor frontend or backend development, and even mobile development curricula often prioritize cross-platform approaches. If this trend continues, we may face a shortage of native developers in the long run, which could lead companies to fall back on cross-platform solutions. This cyclical trend raises questions about whether a career in native development will continue to hold its advantages.
On the surface, Apple appears invested in maintaining and expanding the native ecosystem. However, in practice, I feel that support for startups and smaller businesses trying to approach native development has been limited. I believe platform providers like Apple should place more focus on sustaining this ecosystem by providing practical, accessible support. (Perhaps including something as extreme as requiring a minimum percentage of native development?)
I'm curious to hear what other developers in the community, particularly those who work extensively with Apple platforms, think about this shift. I'd appreciate hearing a variety of perspectives on this topic. Thank you.