Application development platforms give developers a single environment that has all of the tools developers need to create software applications. Some platforms handle a variety of different application types (e.g., mobile, embedded, etc.) while others focus on a specific use case. Companies in need of a software application provide their developers with platforms like these to write, manage, and deploy applications. This process usually takes place entirely within a development or IT department but can occur throughout a small company or on an individual basis.
Application development platforms possess similar characteristics to integrated development environments (IDE), but they tend to be more robust in providing developers which a complete suite of development tools.
To qualify for inclusion in the Application Development Platforms category, a product must:
Provide software development capabilities through a text editor or a graphical user interface (GUI)
Expose a platform’s application programming interface (API) and allow for compiling, debugging, version control, platform-specific code suggestions, or code deployment
Possess front-end development tools for UI/UX creation, back-end development tools for data services, or both
Provide a software developer’s kit with additional tools for actions such as collaboration, debugging, or code analysis
