Whether it is Android or iPhone app development, we always hear the developers using third-party libraries. We know that they use but whether they should or they should not is something still in mystery. Every Android or iPhone training program you see, the institutes have mentioned the training to use third party libraries. The students being unaware of the pros and cons learn whatever they get to learn at the training institutes they have picked. If you are a student who has enrolled for iPhone or Android training program and on the verge of learning integration of third-party libraries, let me help them make an informed decision. Here are some of the pros and cons of using third-party libraries for app development.

Pros of Using Third-party Libraries

1) Accelerates the Development Process

One of the major benefits of using third party libraries is that it saves a lot of time for the developer. Developers can ditch the development of the functionality that the library already offers and pay attention to more important things of like logic of the app. Reading and understanding the library might consume time but not as much as it will be needed in developing that functionality from scratch.

2) Modular Code Usage

Another benefit is that it motivates the developer to write and work with the modular code. The code of the library is separate from that of the app’s code which makes the communication across well- defined boundaries. On a contrary, if the developers develop a feature all by himself, it might be difficult to decouple it from the rest of the app code. A well-built library allows the developer to get a clean and more clear code.

3) Usage of Pre-Tested Code

Testing and bug fixing is another highlighting advantage of using a third party library in development. A famous library would have been used several times and bugs would be reported and the solution would have been given as well. Hence, using such libraries will ensure the quality and stability of the app.

Cons of Using Third-party Libraries

1) Memory Consumption

Using plenty of libraries can cause several issues and one of the most common ones is increasing the size of the app and hence a huge memory consumption. This can make the app slow and create performance issues therein as well.

2) Security Malfunctions

Using third-party libraries might raise some of the security concerns like vulnerabilities in the open source libraries. These are becoming the most favorite targets for hackers.

3) Support Issues

When the library is waved goodbye by its Author, it can create an issue for the app. This is most probably seen in Android platform where newer versions are released frequently. A library asks for continuous maintenance to make it compatible with the latest version of the SDK. In the case of non-maintenance, the library might not function properly on new devices.

Well, as a developer now you know what’s more important for you when you are developing an app. You have seen both the sides of using a third party library. Before deciding the best, implement both of them during your live project training during your Android or iPhone training to get to the tried and tested conclusion.

Stay tuned to the Developers Academy blog as next one is about, “ How can you choose the right library for your app development.”