Stages in building an App

For those with little experience in computer development, building a mobile Application might seem like an impossible task. However, like all manufacturing and creative processes, building an App can be broken down into manageable stages that are not too difficult to understand on their own. Sure, you might not have the expertise to execute each stage on your own, but through collaboration with companies like Worry Free mobile solutions, it really is possible to break into the rapidly growing field of mobile Application development. Let’s take a look at the stages below.

Plan

The first stage in the building of an App is planning. While all stages are very important, the planning stage could be described as the most important. During this phase, everything from the basic concept to the desired final implementation will be discussed and analyzed. In short, what will the application do for the user? What is the idea? How will it work? All of these things are addressed in the planning stage. Developers will also need to research the market and assess their competition and other similar Apps. There are significant trends in mobile Application development that have contributed to the success of countless Apps, so developers need to stay up to date. And, while developers shouldn’t “copy” an already existing App, they should emulate certain aspects.

Design

This is the stage where developers will construct the visual look and feel of theApp, also known as the user experience, or UX. First, it’s imperative to understand the requirements of the App, such as what it will do for the user. Then, designers think about the best way to achieve these goals, and how the App will interact with the user. Designers think about how to best arrange content on the screen, and then go about animating and creating everything from buttons to transitions using various computer programs. Designers are usually very creative visual artists, and they often have a background in traditional fine arts, but they also have to have a strong understanding of human interaction with technology in order to maximize the effectiveness of their creations. Design is a critical aspect of development that is often overlooked by amateur developers. While it is important to focus on functionality, the App will be virtually worthless if it is difficult to use or aesthetically displeasing.

Code

Coding might seem like the most intimidating part of mobile Application development, but it shouldn’t stop potential developers from moving forward with their ideas. There are many, many, computer languages that developers use to code applications. Most developers specialize in only a few languages in order to maximize their efficiency, so often the best method for someone with a great idea is to outsource the coding phase of the Appto specialists. There are many online marketplaces where programmers showcase their work and look for freelance job opportunities, so it shouldn’t be too hard for developers to find programmers that fit well within their team.

Test

After the programming is done, developers test the App, repeatedly. It’s imperative that there are no major issues or user experience flaws with an App when it launches. Like they say, first impressions are everything, so developers want to be sure that when it comes time to release their Application to the App store, it functions smoothly. Again, people usually outsource testing, mainly because the developer will be too attached to the project to objectively identify problems with the App. The project requires a fresh set of eyes.

Distribute

The final stage. There are a few things that developers consider before actually releasing their App, and sometimes they continue to make changes well into the App’s release. One main consideration is profitability. If the App is an original idea – that is, the developer thought of it himself or herself – then they will likely have incurred a lot of costs in development and will therefore need to find a way to make the App profitable. The first decision is whether or not to charge money for the App directly from the App store. How much should it cost to download? If it’s free, then usually the App will contain in-App purchases to generate income, a method that has recently increased in popularity. Of course, if the developer was contracted to create the App for an outside client, then it’s not the developer’s responsibility to make money since they were probably paid a flat rate to produce the App.