Why Cross-Platform Development Is Essential for Caribbean Teams
Caribbean development teams are typically small. A company with two to five developers cannot afford to maintain separate codebases for iOS, Android, and web. Cross-platform development — writing shared code that runs on multiple platforms — is not just a convenience for Caribbean teams; it is an economic necessity. The question is not whether to share code across platforms but how to do it effectively while maintaining quality on each platform.
The cross-platform landscape has matured significantly. Early approaches like PhoneGap and Cordova wrapped web views in native shells, producing apps that looked and felt like mobile websites. Modern frameworks like React Native, Flutter, and Kotlin Multiplatform share application logic while rendering native or high-fidelity UI components, producing experiences that are virtually indistinguishable from fully native apps.
Choosing Your Cross-Platform Strategy
The right strategy depends on what you are sharing and what you are keeping platform-specific. At one extreme, a Progressive Web App shares everything — one codebase serves all platforms through the browser. This maximizes code reuse but limits access to native device features. At the other extreme, Kotlin Multiplatform shares only business logic while keeping the UI fully native, maximizing platform fidelity but requiring separate UI development for each platform. React Native and Flutter sit in the middle, sharing both logic and UI while allowing platform-specific customization where needed.
Code Sharing Between Mobile and Web
For Caribbean businesses that need both a mobile app and a web application, the ability to share code between the two is particularly valuable. React Native for Web allows React Native components to render in a browser, enabling a single codebase for mobile and web. Next.js with React Native Web is an increasingly popular combination. Flutter also supports web deployment, though its web performance and SEO capabilities are still maturing compared to traditional web frameworks.
Managing Platform Differences
Cross-platform does not mean ignoring platform conventions. iOS users expect specific navigation patterns, gestures, and visual styles that differ from Android conventions. Your shared codebase should handle these differences gracefully. Use platform-specific code paths for navigation structure, use platform-appropriate icons and typography, and respect each platform's design guidelines for interactive elements. Users should feel that your app belongs on their platform, not that it was designed for a different one and ported over.
Testing Across Platforms and Devices
Cross-platform development does not reduce your testing burden — it changes its nature. You need to test on both iOS and Android devices, on different screen sizes, on different OS versions, and on the budget devices common in the Caribbean market. Establish a device testing matrix that includes the most popular devices in your target market. Use cloud testing services like BrowserStack or AWS Device Farm to supplement your physical device collection. Automated testing with tools like Detox or Appium catches regression bugs across platforms without manual effort.
