With over 3.5 billion smartphone users globally, the growth of mobile app development companies is unquestionably strong and expanding. Statistics are continually increasing, with no signs of slowing down. On mobile, people spend more than half of their time on digital media. Mobile apps account for about 90 percent of smartphone users’ screen time. In 2022, app revenue is expected to reach $693 billion. The figures are inspiring for anyone who wants to create or grow an app.
Since Steve Jobs created the first version of an app in 1983, app development has existed. As technology has evolved, so has app development to streamline business processes. Due to the constant emergence of newer technologies, mobile app consulting is helping businesses to create software designed to take advantage of mobile devices’ specific capabilities and hardware. Bluetooth, NFC, gyro sensors, GPS, and cameras are all standard features in modern smartphones. They could be used for augmented and virtual reality, as well as barcode scanning and other tasks. The whole spectrum of smartphone functionalities should be utilized by mobile apps, which is trickier said than done.
WHAT IS APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT?
The process of developing computer software or a set of programs to accomplish the many functions that an organization requires is known as application development. Applications assist organizations automate operations and boosting productivity by doing everything from calculating monthly budgets to arranging sales reports. Developers must consider a multitude of factors while building an app, including screen size, settings, and hardware specifications. Each aspect of a mobile app must work together to produce a user interface that is quick, clear, and simple to use. Collecting requirements, developing prototypes, verification, implementation, and integration are all processes in the app development process.
APP DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE
1. Make a plan
Completing a business analysis and developing a mobile strategy is part of the first stage. In most cases, a business analyst, marketer, and project manager are engaged.
2. Technical
A technological writer is in charge of describing all technical information and needs in this stage.
3. Creating a prototype
The sketch, wireframes, and app skins are all generated during the prototyping phase. A UX/UI designer is usually in charge of this.
4. Research and development
Developers perform the front-end and back-end coding portions at this phase.5.
5. Quality
In the quality assurance stage, the app’s technical requirements are checked and the device’s capacity is examined to guarantee that it functions properly.
6. Publication
The software is then uploaded to the app store. As for upgrades, new releases, and new issues become available, maintenance is offered on a continuous basis.
APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES
- Native Mobile Applications
Native mobile app development entails creating apps for specific mobile operating systems, which users can download from specialized app stores such as the App Store or Google Play. If you want to make an app for iOS, you’ll need to use the programming languages Objective-C or Swift. On the other hand, Java and Kotlin are the preferred languages for developing Android apps. Apple and Google both offer their own set of development tools, UI components, and SDKs to app developers. Most businesses will engage in native mobile app development due to the numerous advantages it provides over other kinds of applications such as hybrid or web.
- Cross-Platform Mobile Applications
Throughout the last decade, cross-platform app development has become increasingly popular. Developers may create code once and have it run on all platforms, notably iOS, Android, and Windows, thanks to cross-platform technologies. This means that, rather than writing new code for each platform, app developers may reuse existing code.
This saves time and eliminates the need for repetitive tasks. Businesses can also save money by developing cross-platform apps. Instead of using multiple technologies and tools to support all platforms, companies now simply have to make a single investment to produce an app. End consumers gain from consistency when cross-platform app development is implemented. Regardless of the user, the app must look like that for all devices.
- Hybrid Mobile Applications
HTML5 apps wrapped in native wrappers are hybrid apps. HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript are used to create this kind of app. Using wrapper technology, it is subsequently built into native Android, iOS, or other mobile platforms. To put it another way, hybrid apps are online pages that have been encased in a mobile app using WebView. Hybrid apps are a mix of native and mobile applications. The best thing about such applications is that they can take advantage of any device’s characteristics and have built-in functionality. Hybrid apps rely on HTML delivered in a browser integrated within the app for the web app component. Developers used cross-platform frameworks such as Ionic, Xamarin, React, and Sencha to create hybrid apps.
- Progressive Web Applications
A progressive web app is a website that looks and functions like an android smartphone, notebook, tablet, or desktop computer. PWA development is a collection of best software development practices for making a web application behave like a mobile or desktop app. PWAs work similarly to mobile apps in that they provide text alerts and have a home screen icon. Progressive web applications are simpler and faster than standard mobile apps, and they can be accessed via a URL.
Web applications are optimized by progressive web app developers because they give app-like navigation and rich visual content. This is accomplished through the use of service workers, which are javascript files that allow for app execution and data storage while the user is offline. By developing PWAs, developers and businesses can bridge the gap between web and native experiences, which can sometimes lead to a time-consuming, discouraging, or unreliable user experience.
There are numerous advantages to using progressive web app technology in the building of an application, but there are also some disadvantages to consider. The fundamental advantage of PWA architecture is that it is largely platform agnostic. This means that an app may be created with a single codebase and distributed across several platforms. While Google and Microsoft seek to develop and promote PWAs, Apple doesn’t really appear to be interested in following their lead. Despite the fact that Safari currently supports PWAs, the functionality is restricted, and consumers are unable to take advantage of all of the technology’s advantages.
