Ask HN: Cross-platform framework to build a great Mac/Windows app?

Posted by kartickv on Wednesday July 06, 2016 @12:59AM
from the ask-hn dept.

I'm looking to build an app to sell in the Mac and Windows 10 app stores.

I'd like to use a cross-platform framework so that I can reuse all my code — UI, business logic, storage, everything. The framework needs to comply with the app store rules.

I know that you get the best UX by building the app from scratch twice, once using Cocoa Touch / Swift, and then again using UWP / C#. Is there an 80/20 solution where I get 80% of the benefit with 20% of the work?

Which widely used cross-platform framework gives me the best UX?

Electron?

I'm flexible with the programming language — JS, Java, C#, Ruby, Python or Swift.

( 5 comments | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Cross-platform framework to build a great Mac/Win... by tzm on Wednesday July 06, 2016 @01:41AM (#12041399)

For JavaScript, I use Tint2[1] or Electron[2]

[1] https://github.com/trueinteractions/tint2

[2] https://github.com/electron/electron

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Cross-platform framework to build a great Mac/Win... by InquisitorJax on Wednesday July 06, 2016 @02:23AM (#12041507)

If you want cross platform that compiles down to native - and gives you the option to extend with native-specific functionality - then you can't beat Xamarin - specifically Xamarin Forms. https://www.xamarin.com/forms

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Cross-platform framework to build a great Mac/Win... by kartickv on Wednesday July 06, 2016 @06:30AM (#12042205)

I forgot to mention — I would like to deploy it as a web site as well. So, it should be a web app, but deployable with a thin native shell in the Mac and Windows app stores as well.

What frameworks fit the bill?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Cross-platform framework to build a great Mac/Win... by kirankn on Wednesday July 06, 2016 @07:13AM (#12042332)

Electron (http://electron.atom.io/)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Cross-platform framework to build a great Mac/Win... by Hydraulix989 on Wednesday July 06, 2016 @01:14AM (#12041330)

For C++, I recommend wxWidgets.

[ Parent | on HN ]