What is crossplatform?

Cross‑platform refers to software that can run on multiple operating systems or device types (like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS) without needing a separate codebase for each. In other words, you write the program once and it works everywhere, or with only minor adjustments.

Let's break it down

  • Operating systems: The platforms you target (e.g., Windows, Android).
  • Devices: Phones, tablets, desktops, wearables, etc.
  • Languages & tools: Frameworks such as React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, or Electron let you write code in one language (JavaScript, Dart, C#, etc.) and compile or bundle it for many platforms.
  • Abstraction layer: The framework provides a bridge that translates your code into the native calls each platform understands.

Why does it matter?

  • Cost‑effective: One development team can create one product instead of many separate ones.
  • Faster time‑to‑market: Updates and new features are rolled out to all platforms at once.
  • Consistent experience: Users get a similar look and feel no matter what device they use, strengthening brand identity.
  • Easier maintenance: Bugs are fixed in one place, reducing duplicated work.

Where is it used?

  • Mobile apps: Instagram’s early versions used React Native; many new apps are built with Flutter.
  • Desktop software: Visual Studio Code and Slack run on Windows, macOS, and Linux via Electron.
  • Web‑based tools: Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) act like native apps on any browser‑enabled device.
  • Games: Unity lets developers publish the same game to consoles, PCs, and mobile phones.
  • IoT devices: Some embedded platforms share a common codebase to run on different hardware.

Good things about it

  • Code reuse: Write once, run many times, saving development effort.
  • Lower hiring needs: Teams can focus on a single language or framework.
  • Rapid prototyping: Quickly test ideas across platforms.
  • Unified updates: Deploy a single patch that reaches all users.
  • Broader audience: Reach users on their preferred device without extra work.

Not-so-good things

  • Performance limits: Cross‑platform apps may run slower than fully native ones, especially for graphics‑intensive tasks.
  • Access to native features: Some platform‑specific APIs are harder to reach or require extra plugins.
  • Larger file size: Bundling runtime libraries (e.g., Electron) can make apps bigger.
  • Platform quirks: UI conventions differ; a “one size fits all” design may feel out of place on some devices.
  • Learning curve: Developers must understand both the framework and the underlying native platforms to troubleshoot issues.