Mobile App Development Process

In recent days, there has been an excellent development in mobile applications, aiming to ensure an increase in the level of effectiveness efficiency. The mobile apps are designed as a computer program or software application that runs on a mobile device that includes phones, tablets, watches, or smart TVs.

The initial idea behind the mobile app was to ensure productivity assistance, including the emails calendar, among others. Apps are usually downloaded from various platforms, including the Play Store, App Store, among others. In this article, we shall consider the app development process.

The first step toward developing an application is defining a clear roadmap that will be followed to have a successful mobile app. For instance, it includes a clear enterprise mobility strategy that will make the application unique and achieve a critical objective. There is a need to identify the app users, research competition, and establish the goals and objectives. You will also determine the mobile platform for the app.

All the ideas behind the app will begin to take shape, and the actual project begins. It will entail defining the use of the cases and also capture vital functional requirements. It would then proceed to the identification of the roadmap, which includes prioritizing all the mobile app requirements. It will also need identification of the skills required for the app development. After this stage, we can say an approximate price.

At this stage, the most important thing is to design a capable and user experience app that will have joyful to use. We begin with the customer journey map to understand how our user would act. It's upon the app developers and designers to ensure the application features meet the objectives, and the users can interact and benefit from the app. At the end of this phase, the app should be user-friendly and guarantee intuitive users' experiences.

For instance, the two main aspects in this phase are the wireframes, mockups, and prototype, where the mockups will factor in high-fidelity designs and the app's visual design. On the other hand, the prototype will ensure there is a simulation of user experience. Wireframes are the first stage of visual design, and they only include the layout without colors, fonts, drawings, etc.

There are three integral parts of the app development: the backend/server technology, API(s), and the mobile app frontend. The Application Programming Interface (API) is a key protocol adopted for the communication between the app and a backend server. The mobile app frontend delivers the user's experience, ensuring there is effective coordination with the backend PI for managing data.

There is a need for adequate performance of quality assurance testing during the app development process. It ensures the app is stable and secure for the users. There is a need to prepare test cases which will address all the key aspect of the testing.

The final phase of the mobile application development is the app's submission in the app stores where the users can download and make use. It will include the Apple App Store for all iOS app and Google Play for all Android applications.

The application development lifecycle in the system engineering and information systems is commonly known as the SDLC. It's a clear process that is transparent in all the information system-related development, including the following:

‣ Review

At this stage, there is a conception of the idea in which the mobile application will be developed and, thus, ensure that the app that is developed meets the user's objective. It would require the application owners to analyze the main goals behind the application development.

‣ Analytics

Once the mobile application idea has been conceptualized, it needs more analysis to be done and ensure all the application functionality requirements have been identified and effectively analyzed to ensure they meet the application objective. This is usually done using Google Analytics, Firebase, Amplitude, or any other analytics service.

‣ Discussion

You will need to keep all stakeholders in meetings to ensure they are part of the mobile application development process. The stakeholders will include the employees, shareholders, and also management.

‣ Price Calculation

Developing an application would need the money, and therefore, it would be appropriate to ensure a practical cost calculation of the mobile app before embarking on the development. For instance, the average cost to develop an iOS app is about $28k, while for the Android app, it's $23k. In addition to that, the cost of hiring a US-based App developer, then it would require $107k/ year. However, we are based in CIS so that you can get the same quality for a lower price.

‣ Signing a contract

Once the application has been developed by the app developer and tested work effectively, the next step will be hand over the app and ensure there is useful signing by the team receiving the app.

‣ Support and maintenance

Each application should have a support system where users seek assistance when there is a query relating to the application. The support team should have clearly defined a framework under which they respond to query. After your support understands more about users' needs, you will want to make some changes to the app. This part of the application development process is called maintenance.

The mobile application development process is similar, but the main difference is derived from the tools and the platform vendors who let you distribute it. Here is an overview of the similarities between these two leading mobile operating systems.

The latest developments which have been adopted by Android promote one activity class and also the multiple fragments. On the other hand, iOS also embraces the main activity and therefore making them produce similar applications.

iOS has been known for its high-performance applications as compared to the Android version. Still, in recent days the Android has boosted its performance, making the two OS apps have the same level of experience quality, which ensures customer satisfaction.

When considering developing a mobile application with the consideration of Android vs. iOS, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of the two platforms and ensure that you choose the platform that suits you best. In addition to that, you can also find the budget, business idea, and time to the market as the key factors to consider.