A Step-By-Step Guide To Mobile App Development

Mobile App Development
8 min read

Suppose one day you get a brain wave about a mobile application development idea that has the potential to become viral. How do you bring this mobile app idea to life as an eye-catching and functional app? Mobile app development services are the answer!  

You need to partner with the best mobile app development company to develop the best possible app for your idea. For that to happen, you first need to be able to communicate your opinion and help the hiring mobile app development company envision your idea. Only then can they develop it according to your vision!  

Great job

Your development partner will probably follow a fixed set of steps called a process. Let’s look at these steps and how they impact your app investment.  

Read More: Why Does Every Business Demand A Mobile App?

Mobile Application Development Steps

The process of developing a mobile application contains quite a few steps that are necessary because the process involves several different specialists, such as designers, developers, and testers. So, it only makes sense that the stages differ as well.  

1. Brainstorming

The brainstorming process is usually undertaken by clients way before the thought of mobile application development crops up. This process is mainly for the client to clarify details. This step is ever so important as it ensures the client has a clear understanding and image in their mind before proceeding to a development company. 

Everything from the theme to the storyline and game logic will be your responsibility, even if your development partner will offer you advice on the same.   

Thinking

2. Market Research

Next comes a stage of research that decides if your app is feasible and if it will make it or not. Most times, an app offering the same features as another successful app will not have a good chance on the market. 

Hence, you must ensure your app has some novel or improved feature list. We often think our idea is new or doesn’t exist yet. However, with several million apps on the market, there are great chances it may already be on one of the two respective app stores.  

Read More: Mental Health App Development: Cost & Features

Why Should You Carry Out Market Research

Wireframe Development 

A wireframe is simply a schematic that provides an idea of what the app should look like. This schematic is merely present to help the development partner understand which direction you expect the app to move. Based on this, the mobile app development agency can proceed to design and develop your app.  

Read More: Top Reasons to Hire Mobile App Development Company in India

3. Designing

The designing stage of a mobile app is a crucial part of the process. This is why your partner also needs to be a custom mobile app development company that has experience in mobile app design. A team of competent mobile app developers will suffice in designing your app and logo. 

A highly functional and valuable mobile app can quickly lose out on becoming an instant success just because it doesn’t look appealing! Users will critique every detail of your app, starting with the app icon! 

Mockup Development 

The mockup will be a highly detailed representation of what the final app should look like. The mockup is much more precise than the wireframe and gives your prospective app color and detail. Also, respective elements on the mockup screens have distinct characteristics, such as placement and button representation which were otherwise absent in the wireframes. 

Read More: How Much Does It Cost To Maintenance Of Mobile App?

Free Consultations

4. Development

Although mobile application development is a single step, it can be subdivided into shorter stages: back-end, API, and front-end development. Together, these steps unify your application and tie what users see, how they interact, and what response is given to them when using your app.   

a) Back-End Development 

Back-end technology, or server technology as it is commonly called, is responsible for ensuring your app is functional. That is, this data is transferred to and from by the commands the user puts in.  

b) Application Programming Interface

An API is capable of communicating with third-party services and products, thus helping your users receive access to the data they require. So, you can say that the API acts as a bridge between the back-end/server and the app’s front end.    

Read more: Key Stages Of The Mobile App Development Process

c) Front-End Development

The front-end development involves all the user interface aspects that tie the back end with what the user sees. So, the front end is responsible for representing the user’s requested data. Also, the front end influences what UX users follow. 

Coding

The front end and back end are constantly communicating with each other to ensure an application’s functionality matches whatever request the user puts forth. Without a front end, a back end would be useless. Without a back end, a front end would lack functionality altogether! 

Read More: Top 10 Mobile App Development Trends in 2023

5. QA (Testing)

Testing is a crucial part of mobile app development since this is where your app’s vulnerabilities are addressed and ironed out. Without this, you could end up releasing an application that functions poorly and risks your users’ data and safety. 

The testing phase is an extensive stage whose purpose is to weed out even the most minute or rarely observed bug or error. Or perhaps to identify a lack of support for a specific device. You will want your app to run on the highest number of different devices to increase your user base.  

Types of Mobile App Testing

Based on the testing phase, your app may display malfunctioning or have a bug or error in the code. These imperfections will have to be addressed by the team of developers before your app can move on to the next step. 

6. Beta Release 

It seems wasteful for a mobile app development company to develop a whole app without knowing the outcome. Or rather, you would feel pained at knowing your app could succeed if only you made one change! Luckily, there is a way to determine what would please prospective app users. 

A beta version is a watered-down version of your complete mobile application. Containing the essential features and is developed but not yet completely developed.

Read More: Why Mobile App Development Has a Bright Future?

Purposes of Beta Release 

  • To identify what additional features are necessary! 
  • Helps to identify viral features from rarely used ones? 
  • Test the market by finding out how many users the app attracts. 
  • Determine if your app will succeed or fail without investing the total amount.     

7. Complete Release

The final release should be carried out after all other stages are complete. Because only when your app looks appealing, functions optimally, and is bug-free does it have the most excellent chances of succeeding in a very competitive market! These will ensure that your app is compatible with and complies with Google or Apple app store rules.   

8. Post-Launch Actions

Don’t forget it doesn’t end there! Owning an app comes with the responsibility of maintaining it. That includes providing updates with new content and releasing updates with bug fixes. Because the moment your app becomes old or shows performance flaws, your user base will begin to shrink! 

Also, since mobile operating systems are constantly evolving, it won’t be long until it is updated. This goes for Android and iOS. To keep your app supported and capable of running on these platforms, you will need to release updated versions that support the platform and its latest version. 

Hire Mobile App Developers

End Note

A great mobile app idea is relatively useless if you don’t have the right mobile app development company by your side! You could be running your idea into the ground by getting the wrong partner.  

If you are looking for both iOS and Android app development, you will probably want a company that offers both these mobile app development services. Artoon Solutions has 14+ years of experience in mobile application development for either platform. 

Read More: A Thorough Guide on How to Choose A Mobile App Development Company

FAQs

What do you require to develop an app? 

You don’t need much to develop a mobile application. As an investor, all you need is a scope of work (SOW) detailing your idea and requirements, a good custom mobile app development company, and money to invest in making an appealing and fully functional app.   

How long does mobile app development take?

The time to develop a mobile application will fluctuate based on a few factors. The app’s complexity, features, mobile platform, and team size can all affect how long it will take to develop the mobile application. The process could take anywhere from a few months to a year if extremely complex.

How much does it cost to build a mobile application in India?

Of course, several factors affect mobile app development costs in India, but what are the general cost brackets? A mobile app development agency will charge anywhere between $30,000 to $200,000 to develop a mobile application from scratch, mainly depending on the requirements and resources it will involve.

arrow-img