As developers, one of the most crucial decisions you must make when planning to develop an app is choosing the right technology. Selecting the appropriate development tool can be stressful—choosing the wrong one might result in an app that doesn’t meet your (or your client's) expectations.
Let’s say you need to build a mobile application, specifically one that is available for Android systems. What do you choose? Do you pick REACT? Or do you go for Android SDK? How do you determine which one is the best choice? To save you some time, we’ve taken on the task of researching this for you and helping you decide. But be prepared, because if you think this will be an easy comparison between these two toolkits, you’re very mistaken.
Toolkits vs. JavaScript Libraries
Comparing Android SDK with React may seem unfair when you realize you’re comparing a software development toolkit with an open-source JavaScript library. Sure, they both serve the same purpose, but they do so in different ways.
To put it simply, Android SDK is a comprehensive software development kit full of necessary tools to create an Android mobile application. On the other hand, React is a JavaScript library. React is extremely useful when developing applications, as it helps you create user interfaces and design views for every page or stage of your app. However, when compared to Android SDK, React isn’t the strongest competitor. Yes, they can both be used to develop Android apps, but not on the same level.
This is where React Native comes in. React Native is quite similar to ReactJS, with the main difference being that one is an open-source library, and the other is a framework. So, for the purposes of this discussion, we’ll focus primarily on React Native.
What Android SDK Can (and Cannot) Do
As mentioned earlier, Android SDK is essentially a toolkit that provides developers with everything they need to create applications for Android platforms. We’ll explore the specifics of what this toolkit includes shortly, but for now, it’s important to note that every time Google releases a new version of Android (e.g., Lollipop, KitKat), they also release a new Android SDK version. This means that every new version of the Android operating system comes with its own toolkit for developers.
Why does Google do this?
It’s simple: to ensure that engineers and developers can continue to create mobile apps that incorporate the latest features. In other words, they do this to keep YOU and your code up to date.
If you’re wondering whether this toolkit is compatible with your current development platform (or computer, to put it plainly), it is. The toolkit and everything it comes with functions on all platforms, including Windows, macOS, and even Linux.
Let’s take a deeper look into the features and characteristics of Android SDK and how it can help you create and develop a robust mobile application.
What Does the Android SDK Include?
As mentioned earlier, this toolkit includes everything you could possibly need to create a mobile app for Android, such as:
- Sample source codes
- Libraries
- An emulator
- Documentation regarding Android APIs
- A debugger
- Free tutorials to help you build your mobile app
It’s worth noting that this toolkit functions independently, though it’s recommended to integrate it with a development environment and plugins (specifically Android ones) to enhance the development experience.
Some benefits of Android SDK include:
- It’s free: Google offers this toolkit to anyone who visits the Android App Developer website and downloads it directly from the official source.
- It’s open-source: This is a significant advantage, as it allows software developers and engineers to share useful technologies, enabling others to further customize and simplify their development experience.
- It’s easy to handle: While some programming expertise is required to manage all the features included in the SDK, it’s still a relatively easy-to-use tool—not too complicated or difficult to navigate.
The Truth About React Native
Now that we’ve discussed Android SDK, let’s talk a bit about React Native. First, we recommend checking out our comprehensive report on this technology, which covers what it is, how it works, and the benefits it offers. The same goes for ReactJS; we also have a detailed report on that technology, which you can review to fully understand the differences between React and React Native.
That being said, React Native is a framework—specifically, a JavaScript framework that allows you to create real native applications that work seamlessly on Android (or any mobile system, for that matter). Keep in mind that a native application is one specifically designed for a particular platform—in this case, Android. This means you can build original, native apps that will function just as well as if you were creating them with Android SDK.
What Does React Native Include?
React Native isn’t a toolkit, but rather a framework that works with JavaScript. As such, you’ll have access to JavaScript programming, native building blocks, and other features that make it easier to code your app.
However, the true value of React Native doesn’t lie in what it includes, but rather in what you can do with it and how you can implement it in your software development process.
Some benefits of React Native include:
- Create a native app: With React Native, you can develop a legitimate mobile application that is identical to any other app made with an SDK.
- Access the benefits of web development: The great thing about React Native is that it’s very similar to ReactJS, meaning you still get all the benefits and power of working with React, but for mobile apps.
- Create apps that work on both Android and iOS: Perhaps the best feature of React Native is that you can create apps for either platform, and they will perform equally well.
So, Which One is Better?
To sum up our comparison, the best tool for creating an Android mobile application depends on two factors: what you’re looking to create and your level of expertise.
Both Android SDK and React Native are relatively easy to use, though Android SDK does require a certain level of programming expertise to fully leverage all the features and benefits it offers. If you want to create an app that can run on both iOS and Android, then React Native might be the better choice, as it allows developers to create mobile apps for both platforms.
Ultimately, you’re looking at two of the strongest mobile software development tools available. It’s just a matter of choosing which one best fits your project and moving forward with confidence.
