Creating Android applications is a necessity for businesses and an advantage for IT professionals. Globally, Android is a top performer in the mobile operating system market.

However, it is also true that there is increasing competition in the developing world today. And in this scenario, it is important to know other programming languages beyond Java, which allow you to develop apps for both Android and iOS.

Environments for creating Android applications

Developing Android apps without resorting to Java is possible and we will show you in this list of 6 programming environments. Here we go.

NativeScript

The application is available for Android.

NativeScript is an open-source development environment for creating applications, with Angular, Vue.js, TypeScript, or JavaScript. The main advantage of this programming environment is native performance. You only have to define it once and NativeScript will adapt to run everywhere, adapting the UI of specific devices and screens.

Another of its advantages is its scalability. You’ll have access to the Android APIs, but you’ll be able to reuse the Android SDK, as well as find free add-ons or templates at the NativeScript Marketplace.

Plus, if you start programming Android apps with NativeScript, you’ll find it’s easy to learn. You will be able to apply the knowledge you already have in JavaScript and CSS, but in addition, you will have at your disposal a large number of resources, tutorials, examples, and a strong user community with which you can get started sooner than you think.

React Native

React Native is a framework developed by Facebook that allows you to create applications using JavaScript. This is something that was already allowed by others like Cordova, but with the difference that with React Native the apps are rendered using the native views, while in Cordova they run inside a web view.

React Native has access to the Android APIs, so the user experience and performance is similar to that of a native application. Another advantage is the ease of viewing changes simply by saving. Thanks to JavaScript, React Native allows you to iterate quickly, without having to wait for native compilations to finish.

Without a doubt, this framework is a safe bet, as it has the support of Facebook but, above all, a large community of users. In 2018, React Native had the second-highest number of contributions to the GitHub repositories.

Ionic

Ionic is an open-source framework for developing hybrid applications, combining Html5, CSS, and Javascript. Free and open-source, Ionic offers a library of mobile-optimized UI components, gestures, and tools for creating fast highly interactive applications.

Ionic 5, the latest version of the framework, is designed for fast performance on any device. With it, you can create fast, optimized apps that integrate the best-recommended practices. In addition, Ionic makes it easy to access native functionality via JavaScript. You have at your disposal a library of native plugins to access geolocation, Bluetooth or camera without great complexities.

Xamarin

Xamarin is a development environment created by Microsoft that allows you to create applications. It is free and is integrated into Visual Studio.

Xamarin allows you to create a native application that ensures a good user experience, which is essential for any app. Besides, in case you need to develop a multiplatform application you can do it with Xamarin.

On the other hand, the C# language is easier to learn than other programming languages. So if Java isn’t your forte, Xamarin may be the best solution for creating quality applications.

Kotlin

Kotlin is a static typing programming language that runs on the Java virtual machine. In Kotlin you can do more with less code, which translates into a lower probability of errors.

Another advantage of Kotlin is that it is much more secure than Java, and the code is easier to understand when read by someone else. In addition, the compiler helps to detect errors in the compilation, which helps to reduce possible errors. All this makes Kotlin a safe and reliable alternative to Java.

Flutter

Flutter is a Google SDK designed to create mobile, web, and desktop applications from a single code base. Its programming language is Dart and it is characterized by the fact that it allows a fast development thanks to the Hot Reload functionality. With it, changes can be made without having to stop and start the application, making programming more effective by reducing waiting times.

This framework allows us to create functionalities quickly, with native user experience. Without a doubt, it is one of the SDKs with the most projection, since everything points to the fact that it will be the one with which the new Android devices will be developed.

Do you need to develop an Android app?

In this article, we have given you some ideas for creating Android applications, which require different development skills.