perplatform

Perplatform is a term used in software development to describe an approach that emphasizes creating platform-specific components and code paths for each target platform, rather than relying on a single shared codebase that runs across platforms. The goal is to tailor implementation to the capabilities, conventions, and constraints of each platform.

In perplatform development, the architecture is typically modular, with platform-specific modules that implement the same interface. A unifying layer or build system then selects the appropriate module at build time or runtime. Common techniques include conditional compilation, plugin-based adapters, and separate release pipelines for each platform. This approach allows developers to optimize for performance and user experience on each target environment.

Perplatform practices are common in contexts such as mobile development, where separate iOS and Android modules may be maintained, or desktop applications that require distinct Windows, macOS, or Linux components. Web applications may also adopt perplatform patterns when experiences must differ by browser, device, or capability. Perplatform is often contrasted with cross-platform or hybrid strategies that aim to maximize code reuse across platforms.

Advantages of perplatform include better performance, deeper access to platform APIs, and greater alignment with platform-specific user expectations and accessibility conventions. Drawbacks can include higher maintenance costs, duplicated logic or UI components, and increased testing and release complexity. In practice, teams choose perplatform when platform differences are substantial enough to justify separate implementations, balancing the benefits against the added overhead.