Mobile App Development Tips for the Amateur Developer iPhone apps development has been made easier and more accessible since the release of Apple's Software Development Kit. However, there are a number of different platforms for which to develop mobile software and, given the pedantic nature of Apple's licensing laws (making the SDK only accessible via a Mac), it would be wise for any budding software developer to keep the options open. This serves as a generic guide, detailing what software development for any platform would entail.
1. Concept Any mobile application is based on an idea, and any idea is based on an initial concept. The concept need not be complex (in fact, it would probably be best if the concept was as simple as possible), but it should have the potential to be developed into something either functional, entertaining, or both, and to fill a need or want. An application, for instance, which displays a square box in the centre of the screen is neither functional nor entertaining, nor does it respond to a need. Whereas an application enabling a mobile device to be used as a barcode reader (such as the barcode app on Google's mobile device) is functional and may fill a need. Needless to say the latter would be more successful than the former. It is also at this point that the developer decides which platform their mobile application will be distributed on. 2. Research The avid developer of anything, not limited to software development, knows that project is carrying out the correct research. Research undertaken should be specific developed so, for example, researching the mating habits of zebras would have development of a social networking application. However, it would be useful for application to better understand wildlife.
the key to a successful to the application being little significance in the the development of an
Research also needs to be carried out on the market. Not all applications are all things to all men - that is, not all applications will appeal to everyone. A 'good housekeeping' application will hold probably hold little significance for a fourteen year old. Key questions to ask when researching the market are: •
Who will the product appeal to?
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Will the product appeal to enough people?
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Will the product be able to compete with whatever is out there, or is it completely unique?
The answers to these and other questions will provide the developer with a much better understanding of the market and equip them to do well. 3. Mock-up The 'mock-up' stage would involve the development of the initial concept. Here, 'mocking-up' the potential application would be visualising the look and feel of it, drawing concept diagrams and amalgamating all the research carried out. 4. Programming This would constitute the crux of the project. The developer would need to fully learn and understand the programming language used on the particular mobile platform, as each platform is different. For instance, Google's Android uses Java, whereas iPhone developers use Objective-C. 5. Testing Perhaps the most important stage is testing. Nobody likes, or buys, an application known to contain an unbearable amount of bugs. The testing phase should be run as general debugging and focus group testing. The former will eliminate any major bugs and the latter will give the developer a feel for how the application will perform in the real world. The amateur developer may even just invite their friends and family to test any potential application and provide feedback. 6. Release Once the developer is satisfied that the application is working well and will receive a warm response from users, they are able to release it. Different companies, sporting different mobile platforms will have different means of release. With Apple a developer can only upload an application via a Mac machine, using the official Software Development Kit. For Google Android developers, the process is much less restrictive. 7. Marketing The process of marketing should, in fact, be carried out throughout the development process. Marketing through a website, social networking sites and blogs should be the first port of call. The developer needs to be a skilled self-promoter, or at the very least know a skilled self-promoter. Building up a base of users who will potentially use the final application is essential to its success. If nobody knows about something then nobody will purchase it. Semaphore has vast experience in mobile apps development. Their range of services includes android app development, iPhone app development, iPad apps development, windows phone app development, windows mobile app development and many more.