How to Generate Mobile Apps from Ruby on Rails Web Apps with a Native Feel

Generating mobile apps from Ruby on Rails web applications can be accomplished through various approaches, each with its own set of advantages and trade-offs. This article explores several methods and tools to create mobile apps that not only serve your back-end Ruby on Rails application but also look and feel native. Let’s dive into the different options available and choose the best one for your project.

1. Using Hybrid Frameworks

React Native

Description:

A popular framework for building native apps using React, it allows you to create mobile applications for iOS and Android using JavaScript and React. React Native components translate to native widgets, providing a native look and feel.

Integration:

Use your Rails API to serve data to the React Native app. Libraries like Axios can be used for making API calls.

Native Feel:

React Native components translate to native widgets providing a native look and feel, enhancing both performance and user experience.

Ionic

Description:

A framework for building mobile apps using web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). It can also be integrated with Angular, React, or Vue.

Integration:

Similar to React Native, you can connect your Ionic app to your Rails backend via an API.

Native Feel:

Ionic provides UI components that mimic native app behaviors and styles, offering a comfortable transition for users from the web to mobile.

2. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web applications that can be accessed via a browser but provide a mobile app-like experience. They can be installed on mobile devices, work offline, and send push notifications, giving them a native-like feel.

Implementation:

Use Rails to serve a responsive web application and implement service workers and a web app manifest.

Native Feel:

PWAs offer a smooth user experience, allowing for an offline-first approach and push notifications, akin to native apps.

3. Native App Wrappers

Tools like Cordova or PhoneGap allow you to wrap your existing web app in a native container.

Description:

These tools package your web app (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) into a native app.

Integration:

Your Rails app would serve as the backend, and the frontend would remain a web app. However, it can access some native device features.

Native Feel:

While not as smooth as React Native, it still provides a substantial native feel and access to a wide range of device features.

4. API-First Approach

Description:

Consider building your Rails app as an API-first application. Use Rails to create a RESTful API or GraphQL that serves data to multiple frontends: web, mobile, etc.

Mobile Development:

Develop native mobile apps separately using Swift (iOS), or Kotlin (Android), or use a cross-platform solution like Flutter.

Native Feel:

Native development offers the best performance and user experience. However, it requires more development effort.

5. Using Flutter

Flutter

Description:

A UI toolkit from Google for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.

Integration:

Connect Flutter with your Rails backend via API calls.

Native Feel:

Flutter provides a rich set of pre-designed widgets that mimic native components, ensuring a consistent look and feel across different platforms.

Summary

To achieve a native look and feel for your mobile app built on a Ruby on Rails backend, consider using hybrid frameworks like React Native or Ionic or developing a PWA. For the best native experience, you can also create separate mobile apps using native development tools or Flutter while leveraging your Rails app as an API. Each approach has its pros and cons, so choose based on your project requirements, team expertise, and the desired user experience.

Conclusion:

Selecting the appropriate method for your project will depend on the specific needs and goals of your application. By carefully evaluating the options, you can ensure that your mobile app delivers a seamless and high-quality user experience, leveraging the strengths of both web and native development.