The evolution of IT-cross platform solutions

Cross-platform refers to a software’s capability to run identically on different platforms. As networks become increasingly better at linking machines of different types, the evolution of IT cross-platform solutions will accelerate even further.

This article explains why IT cross-platform software will continue evolving in the foreseeable future, what challenges you’re bound to encounter in terms of development, and how cross-platform has developed over the last few years.

Reasons that IT cross-platform software will keep improving

Cross-platform app development has seen a spike in popularity among mobile technology businesses in recent years due to the app development market’s ongoing expansion. According to a statistical prediction for 2022, the global app market would generate about $437 billion in revenue. The digital, mobile culture that people have adopted creates a number of opportunities for industries to capitalize on the ability to turn the mobile device into a flexible workstation.

However, before this can be accomplished, the appropriate infrastructure needs to be in place to guarantee that users have the optimized and fluid experience that they get on their Windows computers, iPhones, Android phones, and Chromebooks as well. So now, more than ever, it is important for all applications—particularly those on Windows platforms—to work well on all different platforms and the different operating systems that they use. This is not easy.

The language codes that an OS implements define and restrict the applications, products, and services that someone can run on their device and the ease with which they do so. Therefore, it is crucial for the producer of a digital product to be able to see how their product works on a different platform, in the native language that it uses. A cross-platform solution is key to this.

Challenges with developing IT cross-platform software

Although cross- platform adoption can be inevitable for most companies, the path to developing cross-platform software isn’t a walk in the park.Have a look at some of the challenges you’re bound to encounter when you develop cross-platform software.

Testing difficulties

Compared to native applications, cross- platform applications are more difficult to test because different operating systems have certain nuances. For instance, you’re bound to encounter certain behaviors in Windows that don’t manifest in other platforms.

These nuances can make it more challenging to do cross -platform development since it’s more difficult to carry out certain tests like, say, integration testing, which entails testing how an application interacts with other programs. The way your application interacts with other programs in Windows can change once you run it on, say, macOS, Linux, or Android.

Feature limitations

In striving to achieve a common look and feel for your application across different platforms, you may be forced to settle for the least common denominator feature- set. As a result, your application’s feature set can turn out to be limited.

That’s because some features might be dependent on components that are found only in a particular OS but absent in other OSs. If you try to maximize the potential of your application in a particular OS and add features that the particular OS supports, chances are those features won’t work in another OS.

Unsupported package formats

Different platforms support different package formats. For example, Windows uses MSI; Linux uses RPM, DEB, TAR, TGZ, and GZip;, macOS uses DMG; and so on. You can’t run an installer using a particular package format on a platform that doesn’t support that format. For example, you can’t run an MSI installer on a MacBook.

These are some of the challenges you’re bound to encounter when adopting a cross-platform strategy. Yet, many organizations are willing to take on those challenges due to the substantial benefits gained from adopting this type of strategy.

Evolution of IT-cross platform development

Implementing measures to favor a system where cross- platform developmen is commonplace greatly benefits the business on many different levels. Apart from ensuring a product that delivers on all platforms, proving that the product works on these platforms could lead to companies implementing a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, which could potentially cut costs.

Moreover, optimizing for cross-platform development will enhance business agility. This is especially true when it comes to mobiles, wher iOS and Android phones are vying to the clear-cut market leader. That spot is becoming increasingly more coveted and lucrative in the IT industry.

As competition within the IT industry continues to intensify, every edge a company can get may prove to be a winning one. With a cross-platform solution, though, the benefits are so bright and so clear that it is quickly becoming unthinkable not to implement this technique.

Keep up with the constant evolution of IT cross-platform solutions with Parallels RAS

Parallels® RAS is an advanced cross-platform solution that enables you to host Windows applications on servers in a centralized location such as a data center or a public cloud. Known as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), this solution then enables your users to access those applications remotely from their endpoint devices.

With Parallels RAS, you can run full-featured Windows applications on any device, regardless of platform. It doesn’t matter if your users are using macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS devices, they’ll all be able to run Windows applications on their devices with no feature limitations.

Applications delivered by Parallels RAS don’t run on your endpoint devices locally. All processing and storage are carried out on the server side. Consequently, you don’t need to install those applications on your endpoint devices either. This eliminates the issue of unsupported package formats altogether.

These capabilities allow organizations to support remote and hybrid work environments using a cost-efficient, highly secure, and easy-to-use cross-platform solution. With Parallels RAS, you can provide remote and hybrid workers access to full-featured Windows applications, while you manage their sessions effortlessly from a single pane of glass.

Would you like to give this highly advanced cross-platform solution a test run?

Get a 30-day trial of Parallels RAS now!