ThisThe video, voice, and chat apps have become an indispensable part of our lives, connecting us with friends, family, and colleagues from all corners of the globe. Did you know that as of 2021, over 3 billion people have used messaging apps? And with the increasing demand for real-time communication, it’s no surprise that the social networking app market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 22% from 2022 to 2028. However, building a video, voice, or chat app is not a simple task. It demands extensive preparation, creation, and—most vitally selection of the appropriate programming language. Selecting the most suitable programming language might be difficult as there are numerous options in the industry.
In this blog, we’ll delve into the world of programming languages and explore the best programming language for building video, voice, and chat applications.
Front-End vs Back-End Programming Languages
Front-end and back-end app programming languages are both essential in building a video, voice, and chat app, which requires both user interaction and data management.
This programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are necessary for creating the user interface (UI) of the application.
A video conferencing app, for example, requires a clean and intuitive interface that allows users to easily navigate the app’s features, access contacts, and send messages.
Front-end languages are also critical in enabling video and voice calls, as they facilitate the display of the video stream and audio controls. In addition, JavaScript is utilized to provide users with instant updates and notifications, ensuring that they stay up-to-date on any new messages or incoming call requests.
Whereas, back-end programming languages are responsible for managing the data and requests behind the scenes.
A chat app, for example, requires a database to store user data such as chat history, contacts, and preferences.
Back-end programming languages such as Python or PHP are used to handle data processing, server-side scripting, and API integration. They also provide a secure environment for user authentication and data encryption, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of user information.
When it comes to building a video chat app or voice chat app or audio chat app, the front-end programming language used can make all the difference in terms of user experience. However, the choice of language depends on the platform on which the app will be used, be it Android, iOS, or across multiple platforms.
Best Programming Language for Android App Development
When it comes to Android programming, developers have a choice between two official programming languages: Java and Kotlin.
Java
Ever since Android’s inception, Java has been the go-to app coding language for developers due to its widespread adoption and compatibility with multiple operating systems. In fact, most of the programming languages for Android are based on Java in some form or the other, making it a popular choice for building messaging apps.
Benefits:
- Java was specifically designed for app development, which means that it is not dependent on any specific hardware or software, making it applicable across most operating systems.
- Java is versatile and scalable, making it suitable for use across multiple platforms, including mobile devices, desktop computers, large-scale industry servers, and even the cloud.
- As an object-oriented language, Java is built to create modular components and reusable code, which makes app development faster, more efficient, and less prone to errors.
Kotlin
Since its release in 2016, Kotlin, a programming language, has gained widespread recognition and popularity among Android developers in a remarkably short amount of time. One reason for this is that, unlike Java, Kotlin supports both object-oriented and functional programming, making it an ideal choice for building messaging apps.
Benefits:
- It’s easier to read and write, reducing errors and bugs.
- It is null safe by default, meaning that developers can avoid the common issue of null pointer exceptions.
- Kotlin is interoperable with Java, which means that it can be used alongside Java code in an Android app without any errors or compatibility issues.
iOS Programming Languages
Developing a native chat app for iOS requires knowledge of the platform’s unique programming languages. When it comes to iOS, developers have two primary languages to choose from: Objective-C and Swift.
Objective-C
Objective-C, one of Apple’s oldest programming languages, is still a popular choice for iOS app development. It is similar to other programming languages like C++ and C#. However, it has added object-oriented features to the language, making it a powerful tool for developing iOS apps.
Benefits
- Supports older versions of iOS and is well-suited for universal projects
- Stable language that does not require frequent updates or new versions
- Well-tested with millions of lines of code written in Objective-C
- Object-oriented programming allows for modular and reusable code
Swift
Swift, which Apple revealed in 2014, has grown swiftly to be a well-liked option for iOS app development.
Benefits
- Simple syntax helps in faster development with fewer errors
- Huge and supportive community for an open source language
- Objective-C interoperability which helps in seamless integration with existing code
- Faster performance compared to Objective-C, leading to a smoother user experience
Web Programming Languages & Frameworks
Building a chat app for the web requires a different approach compared to developing one for Android or iOS. Listed below are a few choices available for web developers to choose from.
JavaScript
Despite being over 20 years old, JavaScript is a language that remains a fantastic choice to consider.
Benefits:
- It is widely supported by many browsers, making it browser-independent
- You can write code with ease without requiring a particular tool or program
- Finding resources and assistance for your project is simpler and quicker because of its enormous popularity.
React
React is a highly popular JavaScript framework that offers a component-based approach to building UIs. This feature allows developers to quickly create prototypes for web apps, aided by an extensive library of open-source React components like Material-UI. Additionally, React provides modern state management, which is necessary for building complex chat apps.
Benefits:
- The component architecture enables code reuse
- Developer support is plentiful
- Page loading time is reduced due to the access to “Virtual DOM”
- Seamless transition to mobile development with ReactNative
Angular
Angular is an excellent option for building a chat app on the web. Its standardized application structure provides consistency and clarity to your project. Just like React, Angular also has multiple libraries of ready-to-use UI components, making development faster and more efficient.
Benefits:
- Easy to learn and supported by a large developer community for support
- With typescript, a highly typed superset of JavaScript has been developed.
- Supported by Google, which adds significant credibility to the framework
- Supports Single Page Applications, enabling faster website transition
Vue
Vue.js is a flexible and accessible JavaScript video chat app framework that has a lower learning curve compared to React and Angular. It is also less opinionated, allowing developers more freedom in how they implement their projects.
Benefits
- Its limited package size leads to quicker load times.
- It has a large ecosystem of developer tools, which helps in faster development and scaffolding
- . It offers an extraordinary runtime performance.
The popular programming language to utilize
Choosing the right programming language for your chat app can be challenging, but there are some factors you need to consider making the decision easier.
If you only need to support either live video call for web or mobile app, focus on selecting the best language for that platform. Java or Kotlin are great for Android, while Objective-C or Swift are ideal for iOS.
However, if you need to support both platforms, JavaScript (React Native) may be the best choice.
It’s ideal to select the back-end programming language that you and your team are most familiar with. Although some languages may offer built-in benefits, familiarity with a language can help your team develop with speed and efficiency.
Remember to choose the programming languages that work best for your specific needs and your team’s expertise. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new languages, but keep in mind the importance of familiarity and ease of use for your team.
Conclusion
In conclusion, building a video, voice, and chat app can be a challenging task, but with the right programming language, it can become an enjoyable and exciting experience. The four programming languages we discussed—JavaScript, React, Angular, and Vue.js—all have their unique advantages, and the choice ultimately comes down to your preferences and requirements.
Whether you prefer a more established language with a vast developer community or a newer, lightweight option that’s easier to learn, there’s a language out there that’s perfect for you.
So go ahead and start building that app you’ve always dreamed of, and enjoy the process!