TVML vs Custom App for Apple TVOS

Question

Are there any advantage of using TVML over custom App (media based App not a game) for Apple TVOS? From what I read from Apple\'s documentation I could not figure out any su

Answer 1

It is true that you have more flexibility with custom UIKit code. With enough time, you could potentially create an app that behaves similarly to a TVML/TVJS app...but why reinvent the wheel?

There are certain advantages to using TVML Templates, even if you are primarily a Swift/Obj-C developer.

1. TVML templates provide a familiar experience for the user. Have you ever used the Netflix TV app, or HBO GO, or iTunes? They all use TVML Templates and have a distinct look and feel to them. This cuts down drastically on design time.
2. Templates are incredibly easy to implement, even with very little JavaScript experience. Auto-layout is taken care of for you. Lazy loading images occurs automatically. The behavior of every UI element on the screen has already been taken care of by Apple.
3. The templates are structured yet customizable. Templates are plug and play, but you can still customize certain aspects of the UI elements Styles and Attributes
4. You can host your TVML/TVJS files on a web server. This allows you to make changes to your app without your user needing to download an update to your app.
5. You can mix and match TVML with custom UIKit. Want Custom behavior with UIKit sometimes, but for standard views, you'd prefer a template? Why choose? You can have BOTH in the same app. Check out my answer here that describes how: How To Mix UIKit and TVML Within One App

When in doubt, try it out! Mess around with the Catalog App from Apple and see if you like TVML templates. You might surprise yourself.