Skylark Team
With the continuous uprise in technology, it is imperative to embrace the significance ofthe mobile app development process for a tech-based company. The famous consumer data analytics company, Business wire, has launched a report in 2021 that the global mobile app development platform market is estimated to increase by $44.3 trillion by 2027.In comparison, another market research company indicates that the enterprise mobility management market will grow up to $11.96 billion by 2026.
Mobile App Development Methodology
The growth tendency invariably promotes the companies to deploy mobile apps development technology, but it is evident to be aware of the qualities of a skilled mobile app development company. To understand what is a mobile app development process, it is the making of downloadable software for mobile phones that is made for easy availability over app stores or elsewhere.
App development can be an extension to an in-use web-development project but is altogether a different process. It is possible to get a mobile application for almost any purpose, from gaming, social media, web apps, e-commerce portals, or other user-interactive services. So it is essential to choose an exceptional mobile app development company that is working exceptionally well in designing applications for the prominent platforms, Android and iOS.
Here is a systematic view of the mobile app development process, which stands ideal in obtaining a compelling & flawless layout of the required operation.
Step by Step Process: Mobile App Development
Irrespective of an application design for an Apple or an Android system, the below-given app development procedure is standard and versatile depending upon the requirement, and all popular mobile app development companies in Singapore follow it.
1. Base Plan:
The initial step in mobile app development is more of an intellectual process than working over technical aspects. It is everything about making deep analysis over multiple aspects & impacts the enterprise will fetch after the influx. It would be best to focus on some integral constants before moving further into the developmental stage.
- With a decision to have a mobile app, you must initially be ready with a niche. A trending mobile app idea is the key to the successful development of an application, as it stands with specific intention and objective motivation.
- Finding a compelling reason why you wish to get an app is also essential. The app idea could vary from providing a gaming or music solution, or the aim is to earn through advertisements while providing awareness and news bulletin to the user.
- Think of a catchy name, mainly if the motive is to monetize.
- You must understand the target audience with proper research about the demographics, age groups, gender, and OS platforms. The prospect can fetch such data outputs from reliable sources, which ultimately helps the application’s success among the users.
- If the app is meant for public usage with orientation in sales, it is advisable to learn about the rivals in the field. You can work with the development team to find out the loose points in other apps and create an innovative idea that would serve attractive users towards your app.
- Study about the app development platforms, and if there are budget constraints, you may opt for initially getting an app in either iOS & Android or plan to launch it on both platforms together.
- The team’s help determines the app development cost assessment in phases and plans accordingly with module structures.
- Begin with the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), a prototype of the actual design. It is a sample demonstration to generate user feedback and hence rectify or improvise.
NDA: Here is a crucial step in the mobile app development process where both the client & company should sign the contract Non-Disclosure Agreement on a priority. It is a formal acceptance among the parties to keep the confidentiality of the information shared and secure the uniqueness of the idea.
2. Application Layout:
Once you are ready with the idea of mobile application requirements and confident about the concept, it is time to move to the next step, application layout. The objective is to create a flawless and interactive user interface, which gives an unforgettable experience to the user.
The developers of User Interface and User Experience, who manage the UI/UX designs, work hard to achieve the primary goal of user satisfaction. The UI designers are well-trained developers and are a wise combination of knowledge with creativity. Incorporating data structure with the right color combination, buttons, page design, etc., is a vital part of a user-interactive app.
The composite prototype design is analyzed repeatedly using feedback data to remove the errors and provide a smooth experience to the uses. With technological transformation, Artificial Intelligence & Virtual Intelligence have paved their way in app development. It is decisive to find out how mobile app developers use AI & VI to increase user interaction.
Designing the application’s layout is a multi-step procedure and includes several parameters in the mobile app development process.
Architecture & Workflows: It is the process of assembling the data and other information in consideration of the product’s formulation. Pointing out the features and appearance of the app to the user along with functionality and performance is part of the process before generating workflows.
Wireframe: Wireframing is the method of outlining the detailed diagram of the project, which includes complete data flow design. It is about digitally drawing the program structure with all the possible constraints and figuring out the most effective format, which is pro-user.
Style Guide: it covers the pattern or a specific choice of fonts and colors that become a unique style of the app. Pre-setting a style format helps develop symbolic credibility, and at the same time, makes it easier for the developers to follow an approved design.
Prototype: The prototypes are an exact sample copy of the actual application, and the purpose is to get an idea about the final product. It is an efficient way of analyzing the achievement and improvisations needed. Adobe XD, Invision, Figma, Balsamiq, etc., are popular tools built specifically for creating prototypes.
3. Mobile Application Development Stage:
The development stage is indeed the base element of the mobile app development process. The incorporation of multiple sets of coding and programming is done with the help of dedicated developers to obtain the desired result. The project manager has to handle the scrum team or the programmers working over the project. Small pockets of modules are finalized with optimum design and architecture to form the desired output.
The development stage can be classified into three main steps: Backend/ Server technology, Frontend, and Application Programming Interface.
Backend or Server Technology: As the name suggests, it controls the backstage department where the system programmers work over the data and requirement analysis to create modules of an app. There are multiple tools &database structures like MySQL, MongoDB, etc., to interpret the data under the scope of the application and generate a logical structure.
Application Programming Interface (API): The objective of API is to create an interlinking interface between multiple functional programs. A most straightforward example of an API is using Google Play Store App on your mobile phone. Once you start scrolling, the information travels to the server via the internet and act as the programming, and then the data is retrieved back to the mobile screen to complete the action instantly. The scope of an API is infinite and eases app management and functionality.
Frontend Development: The concise, sophisticated pattern of modules provides a flawless interactive base to the users and can easily be understood as the face of the mobile app development process. Here is the frontend developers’ exercise to integrate codes with graphic designs to fetch out what is intended as the main screen actions.Swift & Objective C are supportive tools used by frontend developers to develop an iOS app, while an Android app in Kotlin and Java is preferred.
4. Application Testing:
It is necessary to create a credible software testing environment to extract the significant and minute technical glitches that are unknowingly present in the app design and structure. Application testing is an unavoidable part of the mobile app development process as the evaluation of features & functions is mandatory before availing the app for public use.
The testing phase of an application is performed by a group of departments or Quality Assurance (Q/A) team that handles specific categories from coding to functionality and from appearance to quality assurance. Since the goal is to find out the application troubles and rectify them followed by a re-test, it is not a time-bound process. Let us discuss the significant phases of app testing.
Functional Testing:
The testers in this department keep track of the page-wise features and functions of the application and record the technical issues that require rectification or re-designing. The procedure, in this case, is a bit more time-consuming since it deeply checks the application with potential data variation. System testing, which is complete testing, and Unit testing, which is sectional testing, are part of functional testing.
Performance Testing:
it is performed from the user’s perspective to examine the application’s efficiency. The testers check the inner functions, response time, and load handling along with the device compatibility and how it affects the other features like hardware and software of the installed device.
Interface Testing:
The application’s frontend design and graphics are tested for their smoothness and intuitive nature. It is tested to match the ideal conditions as well as the intended format.
Feasibility Testing:
Here, the purpose is to check the suitability of the application. The testers match the app’s features with the desired scope, and, if possible, the user can surf smoothly towards the goal. It is no use to build an e-commerce app if the product search and purchase becomes a long and confusing process.
Regression Testing:
it is a merger of multiple testing phases. After each modification step, the testers re-establishes the test cases to re-check the modified module for its working and incorporation with connecting sectors.
Security Testing:
Every other software or mobile application is vulnerable to virus attacks hacking. There are uncountable scenarios when the hackers attempt to snatch the app data and might otherwise sniff the payment sessions in-between. Hence it is justified to employ testers and tools to extract and fix the loopholes left out by chance.
Platform & Version Testing:
Mobile applications are built over iOS & Android platforms and should be regularly tested with every newer version and update. In addition to platforms, application performance also depends on the device on which it is downloaded, and that is why device-based testing is also crucial.
5. Application Launching:
Now that the app is created and tested over typical parameters to remove all the minimum or maximum disturbing elements, it is time to deploy it over the concerned platforms. It is the final stage of the mobile app development process, but you still need to fulfill some critical steps and carefully apply the pre-set laid out standards.
To begin with, whether you plan to launch the app over Apple Store or Google Play Store, or both, you initially need to create a developer’s account on the individual platform. While uploading the application, you should be ready with the app details such as title, description, keywords, and sufficient app screenshots to provide required information to the contemporary user.
The App Stores have strict guidelines that are mandatory to follow while creating the app; hence it is severely tested for security reasons before making it available for users.
6. Post Deployment Work:
App launching is never the last word of the discussion but is a continuous development process. Once the app is ready to download for users on the app stores, it must communicate with users and get helpful feedback. The developers record the feedbacks to improvise. You may get a genuine appreciation for motivation, while some criticize low performance or newborn faults.
Conclusion
The mobile app development process constitutes a combination of activities from generating an idea to app formation and finally launching it over the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. An excellent architectural and analytics team is assigned per the project peripherals, which work together to build an impeccable product. Skylark is among the leading mobile app development company in Singapore and connecting regions. It is working rigorously in maintaining customer trust with the applications, and solutions like Singapore Pools, NLB for Library, or OCBC Mobile Banking are some of the landmark performances.
An innovative company with an all-around experience and performance track record can effortlessly transform an app idea into successful endeavors. The list of mobile app development services by Skylark covers almost every sector and niche. Skylark’s effective mobility solutions comprise Travel & Transportation, Healthcare, Education, Retail, Finance, Wellness & Fitness, Business, Real State, Technology, Social Networks, Logistics, and Oil & Gas.
