appcelerator vs phonegap vs native XCode speed-to-market

Question

Titanium claims it can do the same app on average 70% faster than native XCode.

What's been everyone else's experience in terms of difference in speed of development （between native XCode and PhoneGap or titanium) ?

Let's say an app like Kik Messenger or Badoo ....

Typically, a good XCode developer can do it in 4-5 weeks, assuming graphics and backend are in place.

What would it take for an experienced Titanium (HTML5) person to achieve this? (roughly)

Answer 1

Time to market depends on quality of specifications, process and people, much more than the underlying technology or framework.

Coding a real application with Appcelerator Titanium is not that easy, and runtime performances are SLOWER than native code because it's using a javascript engine as a bridge. Especially with a big TableView, it's much more slower, and the feeling is just not the same. But once you have purged the memory leaks, the feeling is nevertheless incredibly better than with HTML5.

You should be interested in Titanium or PhoneGap(now known as Cordova) if you plan to distribute your application on other devices or if you really don't like Objective C.

If not, keep it with the Native Xcode.

I would add that Cordova will not make any UI, but let you access camera, accelerometer or GPS with javascript inside HTML5 code. You would probably use Sencha Touch or jqueryMobile with Cordova.

Answer 2

In my experience, if the app is not a simple template app then you would be better advised to create a native app for each platform.

As Rob says, trying to overcome the lowest-common denominator situation and overcoming limitations in cross-platform "solutions" usually means it takes longer to code than doing it natively in the first place.

You might even hit a problem which causes you to abandon ship and start from scratch as native apps. So if you decide to go a PhoneGap or Titanium route then make sure you research fully before starting and that you won't have future requirements not covered by them.

Answer 3

If you are an iOS developer and you are developing it only for iOS device, then it is better to code using XCode. If you are more into Javascript and developing for both android and iOS then you should use Titanium or Phonegap. Between Titanium and Phonegap, I found it easier to code using Titanium(and yes fast as well). But I am not sure how much worth is using Titanium. http://usingimho.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/why-you-should-stay-away-from-appcelerators-titanium/