Platform Development Environment
Each of the platforms for mobile applications also has an integrated development environment, which provides tools to allow a developer to write, test and deploy applications into the target platform environment.
The following table summarizes the elements in each of the development environments.
Programming language | Debuggers available | Emulator available | Integrated development environment available | Cross-platform deployment | Installer packaging options | Development tool cost | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5app | HTML, CSS, JavaScript | Yes, use Chrome/Safari then debug on device over the air | Can use native platform emulators but not generally needed | Cloud-based IDE | iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, BlackBerry | Not required. Code is loaded by custom native app for each platform | Free |
AnyPresence | Back-end server code: Ruby, Java; Front-end code: Objective C, Java, Javascript | Yes, multiple debugger options available depending on code | Yes, Native platform emulators | Cloud-based app designer, any preferred IDE for editing code outside of platform | Yes, native iOS, native Android and HTML5 | The native distribution format of each platform and option to install the back-end on premise | Developer and Enterprise tiers available |
Adobe AIR | Action Script, 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 |
alcheMo | Java | Debugger integrated in Visual Studio, Eclipse or XCode | Emulator is available in corresponding IDE | Visual Studio, Eclipse, XCode | Android, BREW, iOS (iPhone), Windows Mobile | The native distribution format of each platform | Commercial licenses available |
Android | Java but portions of code can be in C, C++ | Debugger integrated in Eclipse, standalone debugging monitor available | Yes | Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, Project Kenai Android plugin for NetBeans | Android only, because of Dalvik VM, March 2009 | apk | Free, IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition - Free |
AppFurnace | JavaScript | Yes | Yes, emulate within web IDE and test live on device. | Cloud Based IDE | Android and iOS | The native distribution format of each platform | Free to use, test and demo. Costs to publish an app. |
Application Craft | JavaScript, HTML5, CSS | Yes | Yes, Emulator used is Ripple | Cloud Based IDE | All platforms: Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Bada, WebOS, Symbian. Mobile, Desktop and Tablet | Cloud/ browser based | Free to use a limited version with advertisements in the application, paid options with more features and no advertisements available |
Appcelerator | JavaScript | Yes, in Titanium Studio, currently in beta. | Emulator is available using 3rd party tools | Internal SDK | Android, iPhone; BlackBerry planned | The native distribution format of each platform | Apache 2.0 license, commercial licenses available |
Appception | HTML5, CSS, JavaScript | Yes | Yes | Cloud-based IDE | Android, iOS | The native distribution format of each platform | Free and Commercial licenses available |
AppNRG | No coding Required, Graphical Drag and Drop, extend functionality with CSS, HTML, JavaScript. | Yes | Cloud-based IDE | Android, iOS, and HTML5 Mobile Websites | The native distribution format of each platform | Free, Commercial, and White Label Reseller licenses available | |
appMobi | HTML5 (JavaScript, CSS3, HTML5) | Yes, XDK (Google Chrome App Store) | Yes, In XDK | Integrates with developer's preferred tool (VS, Notepad ++, VI) | iOS, Android, HTML5 Web Apps, HTML5 Hybrid Apps | The native distribution format of each platform | No Charge |
Aqua | C, C++, JavaScript | Yes | Yes | Visual Studio, XCode, Eclipse | Android, BlackBerry Playbook, iOS, Palm/webOS, Samsung bada, Windows Mobile 6.x, Windows Desktop | The native distribution format of each platform | Free & commercial licenses available |
Basic4android | Visual Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Android | apk | Commercial licenses available |
BatteryTech | C, C++ | Yes | Native Platform Emulators (iOS, Android...) | Eclipse, Visual Studio, XCode | Android, iOS (iPhone), Windows, OSX | 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 |
Blueprint | XML routed through Yahoo Mobile servers and displayed in native browsers | None beyond a schema check | N/A, translates to web or mobile as needed | N/A, any XML editor | N/A, translates to web or mobile as needed | Combined config upload at Yahoo with self-hosted dynamic XML | Any XML editor |
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. |
Brightcove App Cloud | JavaScript, HTML, CSS | Yes any Web development debuggers | Yes, both online emulator and Brightcove App Cloud Workshop native emulator. | Any IDE | Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, Amazon App Store | The native distribution format of each platform | Core edition (includes cloud-based compilation of submission-ready binaries) is free; paid accounts offer enhanced online-content and support services. |
Canappi | mdsl, easy to learn programming language dedicated to mobile solutions, from which iOS, Android, ... code is generated | Native Platform Debuggers (iOS, Android...) | Native Platform Emulators (iOS, Android...) | Eclipse, with mdsl plugin, Apple Interface Builder and Balsamiq for graphical UI design | iOS, Android. Design tools like Interface Builder can be used in a cross-platform way. You create your GUI once in Interface Builder you generate code for all platform, all resolutions from a single file. | Native deployment for each platform | Free & commercial licenses available |
CellSDK | C# | Yes | Yes | Visual Studio and MonoDevelop | Android, iOS and Windows Phone | The native distribution format of the platform | Free and commercial licenses available |
Celsius | Java | Yes | Yes | Eclipse | Java ME, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Symbian, Windows Mobile | The native distribution format of each platform of a Java binary | Commercial licenses available |
CloudPact | HTML, CSS, JavaScript | Yes | Yes | Web based IDE both on Cloud and as downloadable version | Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Mobile | OTA deployment or the native distribution format of each platform | Free limited trial and Enterprise plans available |
CodenameOne | Java | Yes | Yes | Netbeans, Eclipse | iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android, BlackBerry, WIN7, J2ME | The native distribution format of each platform | Free and Open Source + paid cloud services |
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 |
CoStore | Web-based drag-and-drop | N/A | Yes | Web-based app builder | iOS, Android, HTML5 | Native deployment for each platform or web-based | Free unlimited trial; commercial licenses available for deployment |
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 |
DragonFireSDK | C, C++ | Yes | Yes | Visual Studio | iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch | Native Over-The-Air deployment. | Commercial licenses available |
Eqela | Eqela language, can be combined with C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Java and Javascript | Yes, native platform debuggers | Native platform emulators | Eqela Live, Eclipse plug-in | All compiled in native language: Windows (Win32), Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, Mac OS X, Linux, Igelle, Android (all versions), HTML5/Javascript, Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), Blackberry/Java, Blackberry/QNX (Playbook, BB10), Symbian OS | The native distribution format of each platform | Commercial licenses available. Eqela Live available for trial and evaluation. |
FeedHenry | HTML, CSS, JavaScript | Yes | Yes | Studio includes full IDE and Eclipse Plug-in | Apple iPhone & iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, Blackberry, Nokia WRT. | The native distribution format of each platform | Free, Professional and Enterprise Plans available |
Fivespark | Web-based point and click | N/A | Preview in desktop browser | Web-based app builder | Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows Phone 7 plus other modern mobile browsers | HTML5 OTA | Free for development |
Frozen Digit Technologies Pvt Ltd | iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry | Yes | Yes, utilizes Native Platform Emulators( iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile/Phone 7) | Netbeans, Eclipse-based | Yes. Design and Develop full OS-native, hybrid applications. Includes Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Java ME/ J2ME, Windows Phone 7. Mobile web browser support (WML through to device-optimized HTML5) | The native distribution format of each platform | Related dev fees applicable |
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 |
Gideros Mobile | Lua | No | Yes | Proprietary IDE | iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android | The native distribution format of each platform | Free & commercial licenses available |
IBM Worklight | Choice of standard HTML5, CSS and JavaScript, native languages or a combination of both | Yes | Bundled with the IDE as well as device SDK integration | Eclipse-based plug-in | Yes, supports Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows Phone 7, as well as modern mobile browsers for web apps | The native distribution format of each platform | Free evaluation version, commercial licenses available |
iOS SDK | Objective-C | 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 |
IwGame Engine | C/C++ | Visual Studio / XCode debuggers | Yes, via the Marmalade SDK simulator | Visual Studio / XCode | The native distribution format of each platform | Engine is free and open source, uses the Marmalade SDK - | |
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 |
jeMbe | HTML, CSS, js | Yes | "run" since 1.0.5 to test and debug the app. No real emulator | No. | iOS, android (on March 2012) | The native distribution format of each platform | No. |
JMango | JMango | N/A | N/A | JMango Flash IDE | Java ME, Android, Bada, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Mobile 6, Windows Phone 7 | The native distribution format of each platform | Free |
July Systems Mi™ Platform | Java, HTML, Groovy, FreeMarker, Java Script | Yes | Yes | IDE – Eclipse with GUI Editor | iOS, Android, Blackberry, WP7, Mobile Web, HTML5, QT | Native distribution format for each platform | Commercial licenses available |
Kony | Graphical Drag and Drop | Yes | Yes, utilizes Native Platform Emulators( iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7) | Eclipse-based | Yes. Support for full OS-native, hybrid, and wrapper applications. Includes Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Java ME, Palm/webOS, Symbian, Windows Phone 7. Mobile web browser support (WML through to device-optimized HTML5) | The native distribution format of each platform | Commercial licenses available |
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 |
LocalClick Partners | Graphical Drag and Drop, HTML, CSS | Yes | Yes | Cloud-based IDE | iOS, Android, HTML5 Web Apps, HTML5 Hybrid Apps | Native Over-The-Air deployment. | Free & commercial licenses available. White-label & turnkey mobile app business opportunity |
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 if 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 |
Metismo | Java | Yes | Yes | 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 | The native distribution format of each platform | Commercial licenses available |
Microbrowser based | XHTML (WAP 2.0), WML (WAP 1.2) | Yes | Many | Many | Basic page rendering with per page customizations for different browsers | N/A | Free |
MobileFrame | Graphical Drag and Drop, also supports C, C++, C#, Asp.NET, HTML, JavaScript and others | Yes, via built in simulator | Yes | MobileFrame Desktop | Yes, supports iOS ( 3.0 and higher) 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, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows (Server 2000 / XP and Higher) | The native distribution format of each platform and also Cloud/browser based | Commercial licenses available |
mobileFX Studio 7 | J2me, Java, HTML5, JavaScript | Yes, WTK for J2me, Integration with Chrome V8 Debugger for JavaScript | Yes, WTK and BlackBerry SDK for J2me, WebKit Browsers, iPhone, iPad and Android devices for HTML5/JavaScript | mobileFX Studio 7 (Windows XP, Windows 7) | PhoneGap platforms and native compilers for J2me (BlackBerry, NOKIA S40/S60, SE JP7/8, Motorola, Samsung, LG, etc.) | OTA (SMS), Bluetooth (OBEX), OTA (Hosting), QRCode-to-mobile | Free |
MobileNationHQ | Visual paradigm/javascript | N/A | N/A instant cloud-based deployment | Integrated SaaS environment | Android, iPhone | N/A | Free and Commercial 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 |
Mobiletech | FRAME SDK Platform: HTML5, HTML, VML, CSS, Javascript | Use Chrome/Safari/Firefox user agents then debug on device | Native platform emulators can be used, but not necessary | java based development environments | Android, BlackBerry, Nintendo DS, iOS (iPhone/iPad), Palm/webOS, Sony PSP, Samsung bada, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 7, iOS | Not required. Device detection determines code to deliver. | Free and Commercial licenses available |
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 | |
Moscrif | JavaScript | N/A | Bundled with Moscrif SDK | Internal SDK (Mono based) | All native: Android, iOS (iPhone), Samsung bada, Symbian, Windows Mobile | The native distribution format of each platform | Free & commercial licenses available |
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 |
MOWARES | Web-based drag-and-drop | N/A | Yes | Web-based app builder | iOS and Android | Native deployment for each platform | Commercial licenses available |
NeoMAD | Java | Yes | Uses 3rd party emulators | Eclipse and Netbeans plugin | Java ME, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, iOS (iPhone) and Samsung bada coming soon | The native distribution format of each platform | Commercial licenses available |
.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 |
NME | 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 |
NS BASIC/App Studio | Visual Basic | Yes | No, Test in Chrome or Safari Browser | Proprietary IDE | iPhone, iPad, iPad Touch, Android 2.1+ | Java Web App or native deployment using Phonegap | Evaluation Version & Commercial Licenses available |
OpenMEAP | HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript | Native Platform Debuggers (iOS, Android, BlackBerry) | Native Platform Emulators (iOS, Android, BlackBerry) | xCode and Eclipse | iPhone, Android, BlackBerry | The native distribution format of each platform | LGPL v3 license |
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 |
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 |
Particle SDK | Java, ActionScript | Yes | Yes | Eclipse plugin with GUI editor | Android, BlackBerry, iOS, webOS, and Windows Phone 7 mobile devices plus Flash, HTML5 web apps | The native distribution format of each platform | Currently in free beta. Commercial license will be available. |
PhoneGap | 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 |
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 PalmOS | Sis deployment with py2sis or can use Python Runtime | Free |
Qt SDK | C++, QML | Yes | Yes | Qt Creator | Symbian platform, Maemo, MeeGo, Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | The native distribution format of each platform | Free & commercial licenses available |
RareWire - App Creation Studio | XML | Yes | Free emulator. Download and install on device. | Cloud Based IDE | iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android (coming soon) | The native distribution format of each platform | Free to use, test and demo. Costs to publish an app. |
Resco MobileForms Toolkit | C# | Yes | Yes | Visual Studio | Windows Mobile (Pocket PC), Windows CE, Android, iOS, Smartphone | 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 |
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 |
Service2Media | HTML, Lua, JavaScript | Yes | Yes | M2Active App Lifecycle Platform | iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android,BlackBerry,WP7, Symbian, J2ME | Native Runtime apps open standards HTML5 or other languages | License |
Smartface Platform | Drag-and-drop tools and action editing | No, not needed | Yes | Smartface Designer | Yes: Android, BlackBerry, J2ME, Symbian S60 | The native distribution format of each platform | Community 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. |
Symbian | C++ | Yes | Free Emulator | Many choices | Compile per target | SIS deployment | Commercial and free tools available |
Tiggzi Mobile App Builder | Web-based, visual editor, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery Mobile, PhoneGap | Yes, in special debug window | No need, test right in browser or device | Web-based, can also export to Eclipse or Maven project | Mobile Web (HTML/JS/CSS), iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 | The native distribution format of each platform or mobile Web (HTML/JS/CSS) | Free and paid monthly subscriptions for development, hosting options available |
TotalCross | Java | Yes | Yes | Eclipse, TKN Mobile Studio for TotalCross | Android, BlackBerry, iOS (iPhone, iPad), Palm OS, Windows Mobile. Windows Phone 7, Symbian planned | The native distribution format of each platform (cab, jad, apk, pdb/prc, deb) | SDK is open source and free for desktop development. VM for target devices must be licensed |
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, XBOX360, 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. |
ViziApps | WYSIWYG, Graphical Drag and Drop | N/A | Test right in browser or device | Online design studio | Android and iOS devices, Windows Phone 7 planned | N/A | Free to design, test and demo app. Costs to publish an app. Free to update apps. |
WebMobi | WYSIWYG, Graphical Drag and Drop, JavaScript, Nodejs | N/A | Web-based drag-and-drop | Web-based, Mobile enterprise application platform | iOS, Android, Blackberry,Windows Phone, HTML5 | Native deployment for each platform or web-based | Free trial; business and enterprise licenses available |
WebORB Integration Server | C#, VB.NET, Java, PHP, ActionScript, JavaScript, Objective-C, XML | Yes | Uses emulator for corresponding mobile SDKs | Works with Eclipse, Visual Studio, intelliJ IDEA and Amethyst IDE | Android, iOS (iPhone/iPad), BlackBerry Playbook, Windows Phone7 | The native distribution format of each platform | Free development licenses; Free and Commercial deployment licenses |
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 |
WinDev Mobile | WLanguage | Yes | Yes | WinDev Mobile, Android DSK | Android, Windows Mobile | OTA deployment, apk, CAB files, ActiveSync | Commercial licenses available |
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 FU, 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 | Yes | Free emulator, also bundled with IDE | 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.
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