Building an app is exciting, but deciding which platforms to target can feel overwhelming: should you stick to mobile, focus on the web, or tackle both?
Here's the thing: in today's world, your audience is scattered across devices. Some are glued to their phones, while others prefer the comfort of their laptop screens. Developing apps for multiple platforms is a must-have if you want to meet people where they are.
The good news is that you don't need to double the work for double the reach. By using modern tools like Next.js for web and React Native with Expo for mobile, you can build apps for both platforms with a single, shared codebase.
Even better, by creating a shared React library and setting up a monorepo with Turborepo, you streamline everything. It's like having one well-organized closet instead of two messy ones; fewer headaches, faster progress.
This cross-platform approach saves time and opens doors.
Whether your users are on Android, iOS, or their browser of choice, you're ready for them. And in a world where speed and scalability can make or break a startup, that kind of efficiency is priceless.
When you build apps using a unified cross-platform approach, the benefits ripple across every stage of development. First, there's cost efficiency. By leveraging a shared codebase, like using Next.js for the web and React Native with Expo for mobile, you significantly reduce development expenses compared to building separate native apps. That's a big deal, especially when budgets are tight.
With a unified codebase, you'll dramatically speed up development time, meaning your app gets to market faster. And in a fast-moving startup world, timing matters.
Launching quickly lets you test ideas, gather feedback, and adapt before competitors catch up.
Maintenance gets a lot easier too. Imagine updating your app or fixing a bug in one place and seeing those changes reflected everywhere, on iOS, Android, and web platforms alike. No more juggling separate updates or worrying about inconsistent functionality.
Then there's the user experience. With shared components and design systems, your app feels cohesive, no matter where users access it. Whether someone taps away on their smartphone or navigates via desktop, they'll see the same polished and intuitive interface.
And let's not forget reach. Supporting multiple platforms means tapping into a broader audience, more users, more opportunities, more revenue potential.
It's about meeting people where they are, and it makes a tremendous difference.
With tools like Turborepo for monorepo setups and shared React libraries, organization becomes a breeze. Everything's in one place, making teamwork and collaboration smoother. Efficiency and smart planning go hand in hand.
Choosing the right frameworks and tools is one of the most important decisions you'll make when developing a multi-platform app. The good news is that choosing the right combination of frameworks can save you time, money, and plenty of headaches.
Take React Native, for example. It's a go-to choice for mobile app development, letting you write a single codebase for both iOS and Android.
Want to make the process even smoother? Add Expo, which builds on React Native with managed workflows, over-the-air updates, and easy access to device features like cameras and GPS.
For web development, Next.js is a top contender. It's built for speed and flexibility, with features like server-side rendering and static site generation that make web apps faster and more SEO-friendly. It's perfect for creating dynamic, high-performing web experiences.
React Native and Expo give you access to mobile device features via JavaScript. Next.js focuses on integrating web APIs and optimizing server-side functionality. They create a powerful combination for cross-platform development.
To identify the best tools for your app, start with the basics:
If you're looking to streamline even further, consider a monorepo setup with tools like Turborepo. This approach lets you manage your Next.js web app and React Native + Expo mobile app in one organized codebase.
Pair that with a shared React library, and you've got a toolkit that allows you to reuse components and business logic across platforms effortlessly.
Whether you're building a sleek mobile app, a dynamic web app, or both, the right frameworks can make your vision a reality, without doubling your workload.
It's all about working smarter, not harder.
When it comes to managing both web and mobile apps, organization is everything. A monorepo, a single repository that houses multiple projects, makes a major difference.
Imagine having your Next.js web app and React Native mobile app (with Expo) all under one roof. You stay in one repo. Shared code stays right where you need it. Everything is together, exactly where it should be.
The magic really happens when you introduce a shared React library. This setup allows you to reuse components and hooks seamlessly between your web and mobile apps. You can build a button or navigation pattern once and apply it everywhere.
It saves you time and ensures a consistent look and feel across platforms, which your users will appreciate.
Now, let's talk tools. Turborepo makes setting up and managing a monorepo ridiculously efficient. It helps you handle dependencies, coordinate builds, and streamline shared code workflows.
Think of it as the glue that keeps your system running smoothly. Plus, with everything in one place, version control becomes a breeze; you can easily manage updates without needing to track changes across multiple repos or worry about any app falling behind.
This structure is a win for maintenance and scalability too. Over time, creating a foundation that grows with your business becomes the real focus.
And that's where the real payoff is.
Sharing code between web and mobile platforms makes development significantly more efficient, but it comes with its quirks.
What works best is setting up a monorepo. Using a tool like Turborepo, you can house your Next.js web app and React Native mobile app (with Expo) in one neat, organized codebase. All your code lives in one central hub for everything.
At the heart of this setup is a shared React library. Think of it as your go-to toolkit for reusable logic and UI components. Buttons, modals, even complex business logic; they live here, ready to be used across both platforms.
You save time, maintain consistency, and reduce the chance of bugs creeping in.
Of course, there's a catch: platform-specific differences. HTML on the web and native elements on mobile each have their unique requirements. To handle this, introduce abstraction layers or conditional code to smooth out the rough edges. It's like creating a translator between two languages, tricky at first, but necessary for seamless functionality.
Dependencies can also get messy. Ensure every dependency works harmoniously across web and mobile, and don't skip dependency testing.
A build pipeline is your best friend here, helping you catch incompatibilities early.
Testing? That's non-negotiable. Use matrix-based testing to validate your code on every platform and device. It's a bit of extra effort upfront, but it spares you the headache of breaking changes later.
With a solid monorepo, a shared library, and a focus on compatibility, you're set up for success.
It's all about building smarter, keeping your codebase as clean and efficient as possible.
Secrets and environment variables play a crucial role in app development, even if they aren’t the most glamorous part of the process, why? Because no one wants sensitive data accidentally exposed, or worse, stolen. Managing them safely is non-negotiable, especially when you're developing apps for multiple platforms.
For starters, keep secrets out of your codebase. During local development, store them in .env files and add them to .gitignore. This prevents them from being tracked in version control.
When it's time to deploy, use environment-specific configuration files like .env.production to keep things organized and secure.
Different platforms have different rules. For example, in Next.js web apps, you can prefix public environment variables with NEXT_PUBLIC_ for client-side access while keeping sensitive ones strictly server-side. Mobile apps introduce a new set of constraints. If you're using React Native with Expo, define secrets in app.config.js and avoid hardcoding anything sensitive.
You can also explore our Best Practices for Securing Your Next.js App for comprehensive strategies on safeguarding environment variables and more.
Here's where things get next-level: injecting secrets securely at build time. With a monorepo setup powered by Turborepo, you can streamline this process across both web and mobile apps, ensuring consistency and reducing manual errors.
It's like having a single control center for your entire app ecosystem.
Secrets play an important role at runtime, too. Use secure storage solutions like Keychain for iOS or Keystore for Android to keep them safe. And always encrypt sensitive data, both in transit and at rest.
It's a simple step that goes a long way in protecting your users.
Don't forget about your CI/CD pipelines. Automate secret management with tools built for the job and apply strict access controls. Only the processes that truly need access should get it.
With the right tools and practices, managing secrets doesn't have to be a headache, and your app stays secure every step of the way.
And there you have it. Developing apps for multiple platforms can be efficient and streamlined, without doubling your workload or complicating your process.
By leveraging tools like Next.js for web and React Native with Expo for mobile, you can streamline development with a shared codebase. A monorepo setup with Turborepo ties it all together, making your web and mobile apps easier to build, scale, and maintain, all while keeping your code clean and organized.
We've highlighted the power of automation, shared libraries, and consistent testing, which matter greatly for long-term scalability. These strategies not only reduce headaches but also empower you to adapt quickly, add features with ease, and deliver a polished user experience across every platform.
Working smarter helps turn your vision into reality.
If you've got an app idea and want to see it take shape quickly, without worrying about the technical complexity, NextBuild can help. Whether you're aiming for web, mobile, or both, we specialize in building powerful, scalable MVPs that bring your ideas to life in just weeks.
If you're ready to begin, let’s talk about bringing your app idea to life.
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