ACCELERATING CROSS-PLATFORM MOBILE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MODULAR ARCHITECTURE: INSIGHTS FROM GOOGLE CHAT’S ARCHITECTURE OVERHAUL
Keywords:
Modular Architecture, Mobile Application Development, Cross-Platform Development, API Migration, Architecture Overhaul, Code Maintainability, Scalable Mobile Applications, Development Velocity, Enterprise Application Architecture, User Interface Redesign, Dependency Management, Team Scalability, Software Engineering Best PracticesAbstract
This article examines the impact of modular architecture in large-scale mobile application development, using Google Chat’s recent architectural and user interface overhaul as a case study. The project aimed to modernize the platform by restructuring its internal architecture and enhancing the user interface, while maintaining development agility across Android and iOS platforms. By implementing a modular design with clear separation of user interface, data management, and shared components, the project achieved significant improvements in development efficiency, scalability, and maintainability. Empirical evidence demonstrates that the adoption of modular architecture reduced API migration times from weeks to days, minimized cross-platform dependencies, and increased team productivity. Additionally, this paper outlines practical strategies for implementing modular design in enterprise-scale mobile applications, offering actionable insights into reducing maintenance overhead, accelerating feature delivery, and supporting independent platform development. These findings provide a framework for organizations seeking to manage the complexity of large-scale applications while fostering innovation and long-term sustainability.
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