What is the Process of Developing a Top-ranking Mobile App By: Hidden Brains
: Web & Mobile App Development Company
The mobile app development process is a daunting task. If you thought building mobile apps is quick and easy like coming up with a few lines of code, quick testing, and submitting to an App Store, well you are sadly mistaken. Mobile apps development is an arduous process involving the entire lifecycle right from inception, idea validation, research, usability analysis, QA testing on devices of different dimensions & operating system versions, a full beta lifecycle, and deployment in the app store. In this Document, we will try to gain insights into the basics of mobile application development that will answer fundamental questions about the entire lifecycle.
Here is a quick view of what the mobile app development process looks like and the specialists involved at different stages. Planning Stage ● ● ●
Project Manager, Marketer, and Business Analyst, Owners Conduct business analysis and create a mobile strategy Technical documentation (covered by the technical writer) – Describing all tech requirements and details.
Prototyping ● ●
UX/UI designer Based on approval, create the sketch, wireframes, prototype, and final app skins upon approval.
Development ● ●
iOS, Android, or cross-platform developers Front-end and back-end segments of the coding
Quality Assurance ● ● ●
QA Engineers Perform continuously after each agile sprint is completed; followed by bug fixing. Evaluate device compatibility, interface, security, and more.
Publishing & Maintenance ●
Publish to the app store, updates releases, and app maintenance.
Inception, Research & Technical Stack Mobile apps have opened up a world of possibilities, taking ubiquity to the next level. There is a new way to interact with computing, the web, and connected infrastructure. In the inception stage, it is all about discovering the idea and nurturing and refining the idea. But, it is important to understand that not all ideas can be transformed into mobile applications. Before you take a plunge into the app development process, it is important to introspect and ask few fundamental questions. Competitive Edge– Are there similar competitor apps out there? If so, how is your mobile application a cut above the others? Value to Users – What value does your app offer to users? Form/Mobility – How this app works in different mobile forms leveraging technologies such as location awareness and more.
Wireframes and Storyboards Now with all research and analysis in place, it is time to give your application idea a structure or visual form with wireframes & storyboarding. This stage will allow you to give an idea of what features to include and what to give a miss. Remember, wireframing will save you costly mistakes in the future. You should also create a roadmap to establish the connections and context between each screen and the way users will navigate through the app. Keep these pointers in mind as you sketch: ● ● ●
Look for opportunities to incorporate your brand. Focus on the user experience. Consider the differences in the way people use a mobile app versus a mobile website.
UX/UI Design UI/UX plays an important role in implementing the features and functionality of the app. One of the most defining factors in the success of your application is creating an engaging user experience specific to the platform. It’s crucial to take into account all interface guidelines for the various platforms that the app will target. The app should give users a specific feel for different platforms. The design guidelines for each platform are very detailed and outlined specifically. Each OS and device has a specific way of switching within applications. ● ● ●
Apple – Human Interface Guidelines Android – Design Guidelines UWP – UWP Design basics
Developing Mobile Application The development phase kick starts very early. A prototype paves the way for functionality validation, assumptions, and giving a preview of the scope of the work. Mobile app development encompasses several steps and processes such as storage solutions, databases, APIs, and servers. This phase consists of two main parts: Front-end development – Client-side development, creating a front layer of presentation of the software for users to interact with. Back-end development – Server/database part of development, combining front-end of the mobile app with the data access part. If you have partnered with a mobile app development company, establish a timeline for deliverables before the project starts. Always glean through the app store guidelines so your app isn’t rejected during the review process.
QA, Testing & Stabilization Now that you have done the majority of hard work and have the app ready, it is still not over. You have reached a crucial stage of the app development lifecycle- QA & testing. Rigorously and meticulously test your application on different devices and different scenarios to iron out any technical bugs. Stabilization is the process of working out the bugs in your app and is most effective when it starts early within the development process to avoid costly mistakes. Typically, here is the pattern involved: Prototype, Alpha, Beta, and Release.
Launch & Distribution
Once the application has been stabilized, it’s time for launch & distribution on Apple’s AppStore and Google PlayStore. We hope this blog helps you with the basic outline of the mobile app development process to build winning apps.
Do you looking for mobile application development solutions? Hidden Brains is an Award-winning mobile app development company building high-performance, intuitive, secure, and best-in-class mobile applications. Website: www.hiddenbrains.com Email: biz@hiddenbrains.com Skype: hiddenbrains INDIA: +91-989-802-1433 USA: +1-323-908-3492 UK: +44 (0)20-7993-2188