What does the contractor keep back when developing an android application?

Question

Mobile development

Hello! There was a need to develop a mobile application for android. The budget is small, so they turned to freelancers in a non-studio.
The essence of the application is a small CRM for security officers. Completely from scratch. We found a contractor, but he offers the following option:
1. Development of the server part in php (or node.js) - the main functionality
2. Development of not a mobile application, but a full-fledged site, with an andriod interface
3. Next, he suggests making a frame application (webview) , which will display the created site. Those. it offers a non-native app.
Based on this, the following questions:
1. Will it be possible to put such an application on the google market? Yes, the performer says that the .apk file will be output, but will they let it into the store?
2. The contractor also says that if the application succeeds, then "it will be possible to add api to the server part and write a native application without any problems." Will it turn out later that the entire server part will have to be rewritten, or will this server part suddenly turn out to be completely unnecessary?

Answer 1

Something either does not finish, or simply not experienced enough. The idea is initially good, but the proposed ways of implementation, of course, suffer.
1. Server-side development is good, but then you need to do an API-first project. So you will not spend money on improvements for the mobile application and will have the opportunity to develop dynamically. Here you will be helped by all sorts of OpenID Connect to provide users with access to the system.
2. The presence of the site depends on how this CRM should be used. If everyone should work for you only on the run, then you don’t really need it, but do you need to deal with management somewhere? Access and settings management.
3. They will miss such an application, where will they go. In addition, if you have limited access, then you can run in beta mode, giving access only to certain users.
You need to understand that webviews usually start up faster, but not to say that they really work conveniently - you won’t get many native chips.
If you listen a little, it’s easier will run by adjusting the plan.
I foreshadow a question about the Website and APIs in advance: Firstly, you can make a SPA application so that it works well, and secondly, you can also do all this with a server application. No problem

Answer 2

what your developer offers will be enough for you,
you can even get by with just a website + server
, such a web application will do everything you need
for such simple tasks as yours, this is an ideal solution
, if you wish, you can shove the client part into apk and ipa,
for example, with the help of phonegap
it will be the same the most convenient thing - a separate mob application, a
native application should be done only if you need to use the functionality that is only on the mob platform
, in your case, the functionality of the web application is enough