Android or iOS, Which is Easier From Programmers' Perspective?

Android Pros

• It can be developed in Eclipse (which is a nice and well documented IDE with good intellisense), using the Android SDK (which is also very well documented) and Java.
• Android transitions very nicely, especially for those with a C++ background.
• There is no approval process in order for apps to be published. This enables app developers to get their apps on Google Play without much delay.

Android Cons

• It does not have a good Design Mode for apps.
• The fact that Android devices can be very distinct from each other makes it difficult for users to accommodate all of them in layouts.

IOS Pros

• It has an interface builder that allows app developers to view layouts without having to compile the code.
• All devices are standard, which means that iPads and iPhones have known dimensions. This makes creation of layouts much easier.
• It has a superb way of looking up methods and functions while coding.

IOS cons

• Unlike Android that requires Java and C/C++ intelligence, iOS requires Objective-C Syntax, which is a bit different and requires more time to get used to.
• The way that iOS intellisense work is quite different from the way most IDEs work, i.e. it is less intelligent.
• Although developers can work with just the Mac IDE (otherwise known as XCode), the interface builder is a separate program that allows the user to graphically drag and drop elements. Working with both programs can be somehow confusing.
• The process of provisioning devices and publishing apps can turn out to be quite extensive.

Provided that Android holds a solid 50% share of the entire mobile market, one may assume that app developers are overwhelmingly interested in creating content for Google Play store. However, if you take a look at Apple and Google’s App Stores, you will find a very different scenario. Apple’s iOS remains the first choice for many app developers. The number of highly essential Android exclusives is comparatively low compared to the amount of must-have apps that are available on both platforms.

Another major concern for Google is the increase in amount of top-class iOS-only downloads. Most people might wonder why this is the case, while android seems to offer a better opportunity for app developers to make cash. One of the key points to note is that customers on iOS are more likely to spend money compared to those on Android. Android’s open nature has contributed to excessive cases of piracy, which has considerably lowered the number of paying customers. These two points alone explain why app developers prefer Apple over Google. As much as Android provides a larger user base, it doesn’t facilitate as much returns on the developers’ efforts as Apple does.

IOS has its share of drawbacks, of course. According to developers at TechAhead, There are those areas in which Android provides a superior experience to iOS. While it’s much easier to get your app on devices and far easier to publish your apps on Google Play Store, it’s a little bit complicated when it comes to doing the same on Apple’s app store. This is because the App Store review process is usually inconsistent and unpredictable. With Android, users have fewer restrictions on what their apps are allowed to do, and there are more inter-app integration possibilities. However, this is a double-edged sword as it can give way to malware. It is important to note that what one app developer may perceive to be the better platform may not comply with another developer’s point of view.