Re:Ask HN: Should we go with mobile or web app first?
by Nextgrid on Friday June 19, 2020 @07:14AM
(#23573211)
Web.
You need a backend even if you only need an app, and adding a web UI to an API-only backend isn't that difficult.
It will also allow you to reach every device (desktop, tablet, mobile, etc) regardless of operating system or platform, where as mobile needs a single codebase per platform (no, React Native is not a silver bullet and you'll still have platform-specific quirks).
Developing a website is also easier than a mobile app, so you'll spend less time, effort and money on it than on mobile apps.
You need a backend even if you only need an app, and adding a web UI to an API-only backend isn't that difficult.
It will also allow you to reach every device (desktop, tablet, mobile, etc) regardless of operating system or platform, where as mobile needs a single codebase per platform (no, React Native is not a silver bullet and you'll still have platform-specific quirks).
Developing a website is also easier than a mobile app, so you'll spend less time, effort and money on it than on mobile apps.