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Kendo UI Survey of 5,000 Developers Reveals HTML5 Trumps Native as Top Choice for Cross-Platform Development
[February 26, 2013]

Kendo UI Survey of 5,000 Developers Reveals HTML5 Trumps Native as Top Choice for Cross-Platform Development


WALTHAM, Mass. --(Business Wire)--

Kendo UI, a division of Telerik, today announced results from its new Global Developer Survey in which more than 5,000 developers, CIOs and technology executives weighed in on HTML5, actual adoption versus hype, and platform preferences. Findings reveal new developer priorities in building apps, trends evolving in the Native vs. HTML5 debate, and preferences for existing and emerging mobile platforms. Survey results show HTML5 beating out Native SDKs as the preferred choice for developers across the board, regardless of company size. New HTML5-centric platforms Windows 8 and Chrome OS are capturing developer interest in 2013, while BlackBerry (News - Alert) 10 and Tizen OS struggle to find favor.

The full report can be downloaded at http://www.kendoui.com/surveys/global-developer-survey-2013.aspx. Key findings include:

  • Fifty percent (50%) of those surveyed developed a variety of apps in 2012 using HTML5, and 9 out of 10 plan to use HTML5 in 2013.
  • Only 15% of the more than 5,000 surveyed would use "Native-only."
  • Developers ranked BlackBerry and Apple iOS as the more difficult platforms to work with for app development.
  • Windows 8 and Android (News - Alert) win out with developers for ease-of-use, with Windows 8 being favored over Android for ease-of-use by almost 2:1.
  • Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Native app builders spend time re-developing the same app/feature for multiple platforms instead of innovating new apps or new features.
  • Windows 8 (66%) and Chrome OS (47%) are the most interesting new operating systems; BlackBerry 10 (13%) and Tizen OS (8%) are the least popular among survey respondents.
  • Eighty-seven percent (87%) use HTML5 to build desktop websites/web apps, followed by mobile websites (53%).

"There have been many predictions around what the future for HTML5 will or will not be for app development -- especially in mobile," said Todd Anglin, Executive Vice President, Cross Platform Tools & Services, Telerik. "To put some solid evidence around the widely varying opinions, we surveyed developers and IT executives using HTML5 technology, and heard across the board that there is growing adoption and interest in HTML5 for desktop, mobile web and hybrid apps. This confirmation helps us keep pace with the sea of change happening, so we can continue supporting the needs of our customers and the developer community."

HTML5 continues advance

Building on the original Fall 2012 Kendo UI Global Developer Survey: HTML5 Adoption Fact or Fiction, this latest survey aims to separate HTML5 hype from reality. There is broad agreement that native apps offer the most access to underlying device performance and capabilities, but is also the most costly and time-consuming approach toapp development for multiple platforms. It is also generally accepted that using HTML5 to develop mobile apps is less costly and more flexible, and as our survey demonstrates, it is a preference that is being rapidly and widely adopted throughout the developer community.



  • The hype around HTML5 is beginning to be tempered by reality. Only 24% of respondents think HTML5 has been over hyped and, of the 5,000 survey respondents, a mere 15% would leverage pure Native development. A whopping 70% of respondents noted the adoption of HTML5 as their first choice.
  • Company size, from global enterprise to start-up, has no impact on preferred approach for developing apps that support multiple platforms. A pure HTML5 (browser) approach (36%), followed by hybrid app development (32%), was the preference across the board.
  • HTML5 remains very important to developers' jobs. At the time of the fall survey, 82% of developers felt HTML5 would be important to their jobs within the next 12 months. Fast forward to this most recent survey, 62% reported being currently in active development and 33% of respondents are planning development initiatives before the end of 2013.
  • Desktop and mobile websites prevail over mobile apps when it comes to developers' platform focus, in a 60/40 split between desktop and mobile technologies. However, a telling majority of respondents agree that HTML5 is usable for building mobile apps (78%) and that HTML5 is important for all developers building apps (68%).

Surprising shifts in platform preferences

While iOS and Android remain the two most popular mobile platforms amongst consumers, developers are singing a slightly different tune. BlackBerry and Apple (News - Alert) iOS were considered the most difficult platforms for app development, further portending BlackBerry's multi-faceted market challenges. Interestingly, while much talk about the new Windows OS has been downbeat, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 is sparking developer interest, beating out Android almost 2:1 for ease-of-use.


  • Sixty-four percent (64%) of developers consider BlackBerry to be the most difficult platform for app development, with Apple iOS coming in second at 59%
  • Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 retain honeymoon developer love, with 47% and 43% respectively, calling the platforms easy to work with, compared to Android's 26%.
  • Developers show a trending "middle ground" approach to building for multiple platforms; Native apps are coupled with HTML5 "catch all" apps to address other platforms. However, only 15% choose a Native only approach.

BlackBerry slips even further while the new kids on the block attract developers

The new findings show developers interest in the new wave of mobile platforms hitting the market in 2013. Windows 8 came out on top, garnering interest from 66% of respondents, with a high level of interest also in Google's Chrome OS at 47% and Mozilla's (News - Alert) Firefox OS at 36%. Developer interest in BlackBerry 10 and Tizen OS is particularly low, at 13% and 8% respectively.

Findings represent largest global developer community surveyed

Kendo UI surveyed more than 5,000 software developers and technology executives in the period between January 9th and January 28th of 2013. Respondents were a mix of developers (72%), CIOs/Technology Executives (20%), and others, representing start-ups (29%) and enterprises (20%), with a majority of respondents coming from the Small and Medium Business (SMB) world (51%). The survey spanned the world, with 31% of respondents from North America, 35% from Europe, and 23% from Asia Pacific.

A complete breakdown of these trends and a more detailed analysis is available online. To access the Kendo UI Global Developer Survey, please visit: http://www.kendoui.com/surveys/global-developer-survey-2013.aspx.

About Kendo UI

Kendo UI is a complete solution for JavaScript and HTML5 developers that provides web and mobile developers with all of the necessary components for building HTML5 and JavaScript mobile apps and sites. Based on jQuery, Kendo UI delivers a rich UI for the web, HTML5-powered data visualizations, and tools for building native mobile apps with HTML5. The leading-edge framework delivers everything in a unified, compact package, backed by industry leading professional support. For more information about Kendo UI, please visit www.kendoui.com or follow @KendoUI on twitter.

About Telerik

Telerik is a market-leading provider of end-to-end solutions for application development, software testing, agile project management, reporting, and content management across all major development platforms. Telerik's award-winning software development products enable enterprises and organizations of every size to generate tangible productivity gains, reduce time-to-market, and stay on time and under budget. With tens of thousands of users in more than 90 countries around the world, Telerik's customers include numerous Fortune 2000 companies, academic institutions, governments, and non-profit organizations. For additional information about Telerik, please visit www.telerik.com or follow @telerik on Twitter (News - Alert).


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