Evolving capabilities mitigate HTML5 development fears

Creating a successful program stems directly from the coding language that developers decide to use, but with all of the available options, it can be challenging to determine which to go with. Many organizations will take user devices into account and build the application natively, but this can result in substantial costs. With HTML5 widgets, decision makers can better address everyone's needs and significantly improve applications time to market.

As a relatively young technology, HTML5 has a lot to prove to users and so far, developers are approaching the code with some hesitation. According to a recent IDC report, HTML5 hasn't met expectations despite its considerable achievements. The mixed results stem from the fact that while HTML5 has the power to improve Internet programs, nothing can match the cross-capabilities that the code is believed to cover. HTML5 is touted as a cross-device, cross-platform solution that will work on any operating system and allow employees to have the same experience no matter what hardware they choose to leverage. This goal is substantially more difficult to attain, however.

"Even as HTML5 matures, it continues to suffer from a poverty of tooling and the shortage of advanced developer skills to support the full application development process," according to the report. "IDC does not expect an adequate developer skill set to evolve until the 2016 timeframe."

HTML5 continues to evolve
While HTML5 development may not be the primary choice for some organizations, others have taken more easily to the coding language and are exploring its potential. The fact that the mobile space is so fragmented makes it difficult to please all users and racks up considerable costs to build native programs. However, according to a recent industry survey, native software has less loyalty from its creators than HTML5, showing that the programming language is evolving into a more viable solution, App Developer Magazine reported. This comes on top of the fact that the average developer reinforces five device types. In addition, 70 percent of respondents are using the language more than they were in 2013, and 60 percent have chosen to leverage the technology and hybrid approaches for their primary applications.

"HTML5 is a thriving development technology solving hard problems for developers who are increasingly targeting a multi-device, multi-platform world," industry expert Michael Mullany stated. "HTML5 developers have higher loyalty to their chosen technology than native mobile developers and are focusing on that technology for their future work."