If you shoot this question on to me, I would shoot it back to developers who would probably side-step the issue by suggesting that it depends on individual circumstances and related matters. However, this is a departure from last year’s views, when 94% of developers voted for HTML5 (Cross-platform code). Surprisingly enough, today 40% of developers start building native and then switch to HTML5 while 32% start building cross-platform and then switching to native.   What really has happened, according to Todd Angling, an EVP at cross-platform development toolmaker Telerik is that “Developers ….. are quickly realizing that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution for their mobile development process and that the choice between native and hybrid approaches is dependant on business needs, developer skill, development timeline and miscellaneous other factors.”

Studies, however, reveal that there has been a slight increment in the number of developers who prefer HTML5 instead of native, while 41% of them choose cross-platform apps instead of native apps, a situation showing a 5% rise when compared to that of January 2013. Simultaneously, there has been a substantial drop in the number of developers who concentrated on building pure native apps (around 8% from 15% recorded earlier). Researchers, meanwhile have observed that as of now, most developers carry on using hybrid development processes, along with some native apps built with HTML code, as also just about hybrid apps that has native components with shared, cross-platform components while others built in pure cross-platform code.   However, the burning question today is whether HTML5 that has the capacity to build app-like interactivity into a web-native format is enterprise-ready now?

Well, the answer, as per Telerik’s survey is that one third of developers agree that it is, while a quarter argue that it would probably be within the next 12 months. The rest of the developers, according to the survey report also agree that HTML5 will be enterprise-ready after a year, save and except a few who believe it will never happen at all!Interestingly enough, on closer questioning, around 91 % of responders stated that they are currently developing with HTML, but with higher number of projects ongoing on desktop than mobile. A large number of developers also agreed that HTML5 shows the way to go multi-platform, at the same time having the facility of becoming web-native.

It may not be out of place to mention here that Steve Jobs never wanted native apps on the iPhone, always preferring web-apps. The picture, nevertheless, has undergone a sea change following the launch of the iOS app store, while the gargantuan success of Google Play indicates a tremendous interest in native apps in general, not just on iPhone alone.  As of now, developers are not so keen on any particular platform, but choosing to focus more on meeting the needs of individual project.

In conclusion, I may be permitted to quote what Todd Angling had said  on this issue, “When considered in context, we’re seeing plenty of cases where hybrid is the right choice for a given app, and others where native still makes the most sense. What developers need, then, are tools that can help them be effective, regardless of the chosen approach.