Creating an app prototype will give you a significant advantage in these scenarios. 

When you create prototypes, it shows potential partners, investors, and stakeholders that you’re serious about the project. It also gives everyone an opportunity to see the look and feel of your software development project instead of just reading words on a page or hearing you talk.

This in-depth guide explains everything you need to know about mobile prototypes and how to make them. 

What is a Mobile App Prototype?

Mobile app prototypes are preliminary mock-ups that look and feel like real apps. App prototypes exhibit the app’s fundamental purpose and design but do not contain any functional code. 

App prototypes can come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are just basic sketches, while others are high-fidelity prototypes, interactive prototypes, or clickable prototypes. 

You can create different types of prototypes at each stage of the app design process. Your idea might start as a hand-drawn sketch on a piece of paper. These types of prototypes are crucial during the early brainstorming phases of app development, and they allow your design team to quickly iterate the ideas. 

Low-fidelity prototypes often transform into digital prototypes that showcase the app’s functionality. These prototypes display the app’s basic structure and big-picture vision.

Benefits of App Prototyping

There are lots of different advantages to prototyping in the development process. Let’s take a closer look at the top reasons why you should create a prototype:

• Fast Iterations — Even if you already have a clear vision of your app concept, prototypes let your team cycle through multiple drafts and versions of the idea before writing any code. This helps with quick iterations during the planning stages and even helps validate ideas.

• Improve Clarity — Prototypes help get your entire development team on the same page. They align the creative ideas with the designers, developers, project managers, and stakeholders. You can even use early prototypes to get quick feedback before proceeding with user testing or more advanced market research.

• Enhanced Selling — For those of you taking your app idea to an investor pitch in an effort to receive funding, a prototype will help you stand out. It’s tough for prospective investors to pour money into an idea without knowing what the final product will look like. In addition to selling your ideas to investors, you can also use a prototype for selling your idea to your board of directors or even prospective customers. 

• Low Risk — Creating a prototype gives you the opportunity to fail early with virtually no risk. During the prototyping process, you and your team may realize that the idea isn’t very practical and won’t turn out the way you initially envisioned. It’s much better to come to this realization at this stage when there’s very little investment in the project. 

How to Make a Mobile App Prototype

Now that you understand what a prototype is and why it’s so important, it’s time to create a prototype for your mobile app. Just follow these simple steps below to get started:

Define the Problem

The first step of creating an app prototype is similar to the first stage of making an app. You need to identify the problem that your app will solve. 

For some of you, this might seem fairly simple. But you’d be surprised how many people come up with an app idea just because it sounds cool—even though it’s actually not solving a problem or addressing a market need. 

If you’re going to pitch an app idea to investors, partners, or a board of directors, they’ll shoot it down immediately if it’s not meeting a market demand that solves a problem. 

Don’t try to skip or breeze through this process. Taking the time to clearly understand the goal and purpose of your app will become the foundation for every aspect of the development project.

Identify Key Functions

Now that you’ve figured out the problem, you need to come up with features that will address that problem. In short, you’re defining the app’s functionality.

You can start the brainstorming process by listing all potential features that the app could have. But then you’ll want to narrow the focus specifically to functions that serve as a core requirement for the app to work.

Don’t get carried away here. Yes, any app “could” have certain functions. But ask yourself—does it really need this function for the app to work?

If the answer is no, then you can skip it now for the prototyping phase. You can always come back to this idea later on down the line. Stick with a maximum of five key features and design your prototype around that functionality before you worry about all the screens.

Sketch Your Ideas

Now it’s time to take your ideas and put them on paper. This step is the earliest part of the design process and doesn’t require a prototyping tool just yet.

You can draw your initial sketches and UI elements with a pen and paper. 

Take the primary functions from the previous step and start to think about the user experience. How will the user interfaces look when real users want to complete a task using the app?

If you’re stuck, you can always look to existing apps for inspiration. Borrowing ideas from other successful apps on the market can really help mold and shape your sketches. 

These sketches aren’t supposed to have advanced animations or act as a working prototype. You just want to create a fluid UI for your first prototype that will eventually transform into something more tangible throughout the process. 

Use Your Sketch to Create a Wireframe

Now you can take your sketch and bring it to the next level by creating digital assets. Start with a low-fidelity wireframing tool to speed up the process.

Many people confuse wireframes with prototypes. While the two terms are related, they’re actually very different.

Wireframes will contain the basic layout and structure of the app, which is something you’ll need to create a prototype. But a prototype is much more advanced. 

The best prototypes show more attention to detail in terms of design and visuals. Some prototypes are even clickable and interactive. You can think of the wireframe as your bare-bones structure of the prototype at its most basic level. 

Turn Your Wireframe Into a Mobile App Prototype

As mentioned above, prototypes essentially turn wireframes into something more advanced. You’ll definitely want to use a prototyping tool to help you with this step, and we’ll discuss some options to consider shortly. 

While your wireframes can be sent to your team members for feedback, the target audience of a prototype is a bit different. Prototypes are better for sharing with executives, decision-makers, investors, or even potential customers. 

The idea of a prototype is to make the app feel real for anyone who might have a vested interest in the project. You can also hand a prototype off to your developers, so they have a better sense of what they’re building toward. 

I like to think of the prototype as a way to bring the wireframes to life. You’re adding legs and giving the wireframe some personality when you create a prototype. 

While a wireframe might just be used internally, a prototype is something that you can show off. You can add it to your website or even share it on social media as a way to build hype for your app and start promoting it before launch. 

Best Prototyping Tools For Mobile Apps

Creating an app prototype is easier when you’re using a prototyping tool. While there are various tools on the market that seemingly offer similar solutions, the following five options are a good place to start your search:

Figma

Figma is branded as a collaborative interface design solution. It’s a web-based graphics editor and prototyping tool that’s an industry favorite amongst the design community. 

This tool is really useful during the early stages of app development when you’re working collaboratively with a team for brainstorming. You can take advantage of its online whiteboard for workshopping ideas before bringing them to life with a prototype. 

Then you can take those ideas and have them at your fingertips as you bring the design work from ideation to execution. 

Figma even offers a free prototyping tool that you can use to design a mobile app. 

Moqups

Moqups is an all-in-one platform for wireframes, UI design, and prototypes. This prototyping tool has been used by more than two million people to create a prototype. 

The platform comes with out-of-the-box stencils for different use cases and design elements. This includes mobile app design for both iOS and Android. 

You can use an extensive list of fonts and styling options to bring your mockups to life and easily drag and drop images to the prototype to fit your branding. 

Plans for solo users start at just $13 per month. 

BuildFire

BuildFire is an app-building platform and app development service under one roof. It’s not actually a prototyping tool in the traditional sense, but you can still use BuildFire to create a prototype.

Here’s how. 

BuildFire Plus is our all-inclusive design and development service. Our team can take your idea and turn it into a reality through each step of the process, including pre-launch and post-launch initiatives.

During these early stages, we’ll create a wireframe and eventually turn that wireframe into a prototype before we start building anything. This service is ideal for anyone who would rather pass off the app development responsibilities to a trusted development partner. 

You’ll have the opportunity to review the wireframes and prototypes before any development begins, ensuring everyone is on the same page before the app gets built. 

Justinmind

Justinmind is a free prototyping tool and UI design platform for mobile and web apps. 

You can use it to transform your wireframes into a fully interactive prototype. 

Unlike some of the other tools on our list, Justinmind is not a web-based solution. You do need to download software to your computer to use Justinmind to make a prototype. It’s available for both macOS and Windows machines. 

The basic plan is free forever, and premium subscriptions for advanced interaction and design start at $9 per user per month. 

Proto.io

Proto.io is one of the most popular tools on the market for creating an app prototype. 

It was initially built to work on mobile devices, but the platform has since expanded to a web-based version that still supports any mobile app prototype initiative. 

What really makes this tool stand out from the crowd is its simplicity. It’s trusted by entrepreneurs, marketers, project managers, entrepreneurs, and UX designers. If you have a great idea and want to create a mobile app prototype, Proto.io makes it possible.

It’s a bit pricey compared to similar tools. There’s no free forever plan, and the entry-level package starts at $29 per month. 

You can save up to 20% by committing to an annual contract, and you can try Proto.io with a 15-day free trial. 

Final Thoughts on Mobile App Prototypes

Creating a prototype is a crucial step in the early stages of app development. 

You can make a prototype on your own by following the steps in this guide and using one of the prototyping tools on the list above.

Alternatively, you can reach out to BuildFire and let us create a prototype for you. 

The post What is an App Prototype? appeared first on Buildfire.

These coding mistakes can lead to all kinds of problems that can ultimately affect the user experience and sometimes impact the core functionality of your app. 

That’s why debugging is such a crucial part of the software development lifecycle as various tests are being run. Eliminating bugs is crucial for all applications—not just mobile apps running on an iOS device. App debugging is equally as important for Android apps, web apps, macOS, and any other type of software.

But this guide is going to specifically focus on Apple. You’ll learn exactly how to use a debugger to test and debug your code. Let’s dive in.

What’s Involved With the iOS App Debugging Process

iOS debugging all starts with finding the right tools to help you out. Manually trying to go through your code to look for errors isn’t realistic, efficient, or scalable. You just need to configure your debugging tools for different iOS versions and devices.

Xcode is one of the best ways to develop, test, and debug apps. Apple created this IDE (integrated development environment) specifically for developing and troubleshooting iOS apps, so it comes with plenty of built-in solutions to assist with the process. 

You can debug your app on a live device, like an iPhone or iPad, or use a simulator on your Mac to test the codebase. 

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect during a typical debugging process:

• Setting up your project to test
• Configuring your debugging tools
• Setting a breakpoint for testing
• Use a running application with a breakpoint
• Find the bugs and fix the issues

We’ll expand on these concepts in greater detail below.

Debugging an iOS App With Xcode

As previously mentioned, Xcode is Apple’s official IDE. To learn more about Xcode and how it works, check out our beginner’s tutorial on how to code Xcode for more information.

If you’re using Xcode to create an app for the App Store, it only makes sense to handle your app debugging directly in this platform. Once the platform has been set to run within the app while testing, the navigator lets you look through everything to check the current state of the app for testing and debugging. 

Here’s a glimpse of Xcode’s debug navigator, source code editor, and debug area in action.

This will ultimately give you insights into more than just code errors. You can use the navigator to see information on resource consumption, app performance, and other things that might impact the iOS device.

Setting the Breakpoint

Setting the breakpoint is a critical step in the iOS debugging process. This is another instance where using the right developer tools will make your life easier. 

Every iOS developer needs to understand how this works, which we’ll discuss in greater detail below.

What Are Breakpoints in Xcode?

Breakpoints in Xcode make it possible to pause your app when you’re running the debugger. This allows you to inspect different variables as you’re trying to isolate and locate bugs, crashes, and other errors. 

Adding a breakpoint in Xcode is easy. Just navigate to the line within your code where you want the execution to pause. Then click the line number to set the breakpoint.

You can drag it up, down, or away from the gutter to remove it completely. Selecting the breakpoint icon in your toolbar debugger will activate or deactivate all of the breakpoints in your source editor. 

If you have several breakpoints across multiple source code files, you can use the breakpoint navigator to manage all of them in one place.

From here, you can:

• Navigate to a breakpoint in the source editor
• Remove a breakpoint from the code
• Enable breakpoints
• Disable breakpoints
• Find frequently used breakpoints
• Specify conditions for pausing the app

How Do Breakpoints Work in Xcode?

Breakpoints work by patching the code you’re executing with specific instructions to trigger an event. When you run an exception breakpoint in Xcode, the default will break on C++ and Objective C—pausing the app during the debugging process and taking you to where the problem lies in your code. 

Once you accept the defaults, you can re-run the app and force the error. The debugger should highlight the code that’s causing the problem, so you can isolate and fix any issues.

Can You Debug iOS Apps On An iPhone?

You can debug iOS apps directly on an iPhone. You just need to connect the iPhone to your Mac with Xcode installed, and configure all of the permissions to run the app on a real device instead of on a simulator. 

Here’s a quick summary of iOS debugging on an iPhone:

• Connect your iPhone to your Mac.
• Open Xcode and navigate to the Run Destination Menu on the toolbar.
• Select the connected iPhone when prompted to choose a device.
• Xcode will automatically install the app and attach the debugger.

If there are any problems with your code, you’ll see error messages and warnings in your Xcode issue navigator. 

What Are the Benefits of Debugging an App?

Using Xcode to debug your iOS app is a critical part of the testing stage. It has a direct impact on the success of your app and its usability. Some of the key benefits include:

• Saves time and money during the development process.
• Developers use troubleshooting opportunities to learn from mistakes in their code.
• When apps are tested at different stages of development, you can identify errors before the release.
• Using a debugger improves the quality of your app for users to enjoy.
• Apps with a smooth UX have a chance to generate more revenue.

Don’t take shortcuts during the debugging stage. It’s important for you to take this seriously to truly get the benefits listed above. 

Conclusion

I hope this tutorial on how to debug an app provided some clarity for you as you’re going through this process. Whether you’re creating an app for Apple or Android, debugging is an essential stage in the app development lifecycle. 

If you’re still a bit intimidated by native app development and debugging on your own, BuildFire might be the perfect solution for you.

You can use BuildFire’s no-code app builder to make an app without writing a single line of code—meaning no debugging is necessary. Alternatively, you can go with the full-service app development route and let us build the app for you. We’ll handle everything, so you can be free to work on other aspects of your business.

The post How to Debug an iOS App appeared first on Buildfire.

So before you push release an iPhone app, iPad app, or Mac application to the Apple App Store, you must ensure that it actually runs and functions the way it’s intended. If you don’t have an iOS device, then you can use an iOS simulator or emulator as an alternative option. 

This in-depth guide will explain everything you need to know about iOS simulators and how they work. More specifically, we’ll focus on using simulators for testing and debugging during app development.

What is an iOS App Simulator?

iOS app simulators mimic applications that run on an iOS device. These tools allow you to start and run iOS apps without an iPhone or iPad—accessing the app from your web browser, Mac, or Windows computer instead. 

The terms “simulator” and “emulator” are often used in the same context. But these tools are not interchangeable.

Simulators create an environment that replicates the configurations and behavior of a real device. Emulators duplicate the software and hardware features of the real device. While simulators mimic the basic behavior of a virtual environment, they don’t actually follow all the rules of that particular environment. 

Some iOS app simulators double as emulators, or vice versa. But this is not always the case. 

There are two main use cases for iOS simulators—testing apps without an iOS device or accessing iOS apps without an iOS device. The first scenario is primarily used by developers, and the latter is leveraged by end-users. 

Let’s say a developer is creating an iOS application but doesn’t have a real iPhone to test it on. They can use an app simulator as an alternative option. Or maybe a general user wants to access an iOS app like Facebook or Whatsapp from a Windows device—some simulators make this possible.  

Popular iOS App Simulators

There are lots of different options on the market for running iOS simulators. Here are some of the most popular tools to consider for iOS app simulators and emulators. Depending on your desired use case and available device, some of these tools will likely be better than others for your specific needs.

Appetize.io

Appetize is one of the simplest iOS app simulators on the market. It’s trusted by big-name companies like Shopify, Intuit, The Washington Post, DoorDash, and more. 

What makes Appetize stand out from the crowd is its versatility. It doubles as a simulator and emulator for both iOS and Android. Appetize supports app testing, customer support, previews, and other use cases. 

As a web-based tool, Appetize is really user-friendly. No downloads or installations are required. Simply upload the application to the Appetize.io website, or leverage their API to use the simulator directly within your preferred IDE. 

Whether you’re a solo developer or a large organization, Appetize has a plan for everyone. Packages start at $40 per month for the entry-level plan and go all the way up to $2,000 per month for the enterprise version. 

iPadian

iPadian is just an iOS simulator. It does not function as an emulator like some of the other tools in this category. 

You can use iPadian to mimic the in-app experience of an iPhone or iPad from a Windows device or PC. Starting at just $25, it’s one of the most affordable solutions on the market for iOS simulations. This likely explains its popularity. iPadian has been downloaded more than ten million times and has one million daily active users. 

Most people that use iPadian aren’t developers or testers. They’re simply looking for a way to access iOS apps without a real device, and iPadian gets the job done. 

With that said, this tool does have some restrictions. It does not connect to the Apple App Store and does not support iMessaging functionality. 

BuildFire is a no-code app builder for iOS and Android. Trusted to create more than 10,000+ mobile apps, BuildFire is the most powerful and versatile app maker on the market today. 

What makes BuildFire so unique is its versatility. As a no-code solution, anyone can use this web-based platform to create an app without any coding knowledge or technical skills. But BuildFire is also developer-friendly, meaning those with coding skills can use the BuildFire SDK to create custom functionality for an app. There’s truly nothing else like this on the market today.

Within BuildFire’s DIY app builder, there’s a built-in emulator that you can access while you’re building the app. This allows you to see what certain features and functions will look like as you’re building directly from your web browser. 

The emulator is fully interactive, so you can click and run app functions the same way you would from a real device. When you’re finished creating your app, the team at BuildFire will even get your app published on the App Store for you. 

Start for free with a 14-day trial. 

Smartface

Smartface offers an in-browser app simulator and emulator for iOS and Android. The cool part about this tool is that you can run iOS apps without macOS. It works on Macs, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, and any operating system. 

You can use Smartface to run and test a wide range of different iOS versions and devices, including new and older versions of iPhones, iPads, and Android smartphones. All of these are available directly from your web browser without any downloads or installations.

Smartface also has diverse compatibility with different frameworks, including Cordova, Java, React Native, Ionic, Swift, Objective-C, Kotlin, and more. 

Unlike other web-based iOS simulators, you can’t just start using Smartface immediately. They require you to request a demo for access, so it’s not on-demand. 

How Does Xcode Work With Testing an iOS App?

Xcode is Apple’s official IDE (integrated development environment) for building, testing, and debugging iOS applications. As an iOS developer using native development, you can use the iOS simulator in Xcode to test your app without using a third-party tool. 

This simulator is easily accessible from your Xcode project. 

We have a more in-depth guide on how to test your iPhone app using Xcode. But here’s a quick summary of those steps:

• Open your Xcode project.
• Navigate to the run destination menu in the toolbar.
• Select how you’re going to test the app (iOS simulator or real device).
• If you want to test using a real iOS device, that device must be plugged into a computer that’s running Xcode.
• If you’re testing using the built-in simulator, simply select the simulators of a device family (iPhone X, iPhone SE, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, etc.).
• Xcode will automatically flag any errors and bugs during the simulation.

Xcode is great for running simulations if you’re already developing an app within that IDE. Otherwise, it doesn’t really make sense to use it for this purpose. 

What Are The Advantages of Using an iOS App Simulator?

There are several benefits to using iOS app simulators. Here are key advantages:

• You can use iOS app simulators for debugging and testing.
• Simulators run fast since they only mirror the software, as opposed to running the full software.
• Simulators make it easy to spot errors and issues within your code.
• You run apps built for iPhones and iPads without an actual iOS device.
• Many iOS simulators are free and open source.
• Simulators can be connected to an IDE during the early development stages.
• Most developers and testers don’t have access to every single iOS device with different screen sizes, resolutions, and older iOS versions.
• Some simulators work for iOS and Android apps without needing to plug in any hardware.

What Are The Disadvantages of Using an iOS App Simulator?

While using a simulated device to test and run a mobile app can be useful, it’s not always perfect. Here are some potential drawbacks to consider as you’re going through this process. 

• You can’t replicate the actual conditions of a real device, like battery consumption, restricted memory, etc. 
• Simulators don’t take into consideration the full experience of using a physical iOS device, including the visual experience and app speed.
• Results from different simulators might vary, and the speed is typically unrealistic due to low graphic load times that don’t function the same as a working app.
• You can’t accurately replicate certain functions like push notifications or SMS messaging from the app using a simulator. 
• App simulations may run differently than how it would normally run in a natural environment on a real device.
• You can’t access native features like an iPhone camera or natural gestures (scroll, zoom, tap, pinch and zoom, etc.).

Conclusion

iOS simulators are really versatile. They’re mostly used for testing iOS apps, tvOS apps, and watchOS apps without actually running the app on a real device. 

If you’re using Xcode to create your app, you can take advantage of the built-in simulator within that IDE. Just understand that an iPhone simulator will always have some limitations and restrictions and is not a replacement for app testing on a real device. 

For those of you still in the pre-development stages, you can bypass running simulations altogether. BuildFire’s interactive emulator is an easy way to see the look and feel of your app while you’re creating it and adding new features directly from your browser.

Alternatively, you take advantage of BuildFire Plus and let our team create an app for you. This is a no-hassle solution, and you won’t have to worry about any testing, debugging, or updates—we’ll handle everything on your behalf.  

The post What is an iOS App Simulator and How Does it Work? appeared first on Buildfire.

While it might be a great premise, you need to figure out how you’ll get it to market. Building apps takes more than just an idea.

So, what’s the first step in mobile app development? It depends.

Some of you might want to create your first app alone. But you don’t know how to code an app or have any programming skills, for that matter. Is it even possible to create apps if you lack the basics of coding language? Do you need to start with an app for beginners?

Here’s the honest truth.

If you want to learn how to code an app, it’s going to be hard. But you can definitely learn to code your first app in less than 30 days.

You can use these skills to create your own app and even other apps down the road. Like most things worth learning, the more you dedicate yourself, the faster your results will be.

What is Mobile App Development?

Mobile app development is the process of creating software applications for mobile devices. 

The roots of application development stem from traditional software development (like software for computers). But apps for smartphones and tablets are made to utilize the built-in features and hardware of mobile devices. This includes cameras, GPS, Bluetooth, and more.

In terms of programming language, creating an app for users on mobile is different from creating software for computers. With that said, a web development background can make it easier to code a mobile app.

The mobile app industry is booming, and apps are expected to generate over $935 billion in revenue by 2023. The fast-growing mobile trends have made it attractive for businesses and entrepreneurs to build apps for such a wide range of use cases.

Can You Code an App Yourself?

You can definitely code an app yourself. In fact, you can do this without any required professional learning. Lots of people self-teach themselves to code and get a solid foundation in programming from open source projects. 

With that said, it all depends on your goal. If you want to learn to code, then going through active development steps, testing a list of functions, and getting your feet wet with a new programming environment is fine.

But if you want to create an app for real users, using an app maker or DIY app builder is the recommended route. These make it possible to build an app without learning Python, C++, or other languages. 

Using an app maker allows anyone to create an app from scratch—no coding or app development skills are required. 

Coding an App For iOS

iOS apps are for Apple stores. 

Xcode is the original IDE (integrated development environment) for iOS and Mac applications. Swift is Apple’s newest programming language, and you can use it to code an iOS app in Xcode. But both of these were developed by Apple, and each one holds the same core fundamentals of coding an app for iOS.  

Coding an App For Android

Android development is a completely separate process from iOS development. So if you want to create an app for both platforms, you need to code two apps from scratch (unless you’re using a no-code app maker).

Android has fewer restrictions than Apple for coding. But it’s still very technical. To code an app for Android, you’ll need to use Android Studio—the official IDE for Android development. 

The Best Tools To Help You Code an App

Using an app-building tool speeds up the coding process. It lowers the barrier to entry into app development, and beginners won’t need to learn a programming language. Some of you may want to rely on app building sites, while others may prefer low-code/no-code development platforms.

Here are some options to consider:

BuildFire

BuildFire is the most powerful app maker for iOS and Android. It doesn’t require any advanced concepts, coding skills, or technical knowledge.

You can use BuildFire to create an app from scratch without writing a single line of code. Everything is managed in a web-based dashboard that’s really easy to use. Just start with a template, add your features, and customize the content. 

What makes BuildFire unique compared to other app builders is its limitless functionality. If there’s a custom function you want that isn’t available in the feature marketplace, the BuildFire team can create it for you.

It’s the perfect option for anyone who wants to get their feet wet with no code development. Try it for free with a 14-day trial.

React Native

React Native is an open source Javascript framework. The tool is made for creating web apps, iOS apps, Android apps, Windows applications, TV applications, and more. 

This is technically a hybrid platform, meaning you can create an application using the same language and source code for multiple deployments. But it does have lots of native features (hence the name).

Unlike an app builder, React Native does require coding skills and programming knowledge. You can potentially re-use a block of code or helper functions to speed up the learning process, but you still need to learn how to code.

Xamarin

Xamarin is another open-source application building platform. The company is owned by Microsoft, and it allows developers to leverage the .NET body of functions to create apps for Android, iOS, smart TVs, wearables, and more. 

Similar to React Native, Xamarin does require coding skills and programming knowledge. This means that you’ll need to learn the .NET concepts and C# language to create apps using this tool. But you won’t need to create multiple versions of your app for iOS and Android.

Sencha

Sencha is a cross-platform tool for application design and development. But unlike other tools on this list, Sencha is a better option for web apps as opposed to iOS and Android mobile apps. 

It’s also a popular choice for developers that want to test data-intensive web applications. 

6 Basics Steps to Create an App

All app projects follow the same basic path. Beginner developers can follow these app idea tips and steps below to get started. Even a single person with no coding skills can follow this formula and bring their app ideas to life if they’re using the right tools.

1. Coming Up With an Idea

Some of you might already have an app idea. Others might need to brainstorm for app ideas. 

Regardless of your situation, you need to come up with the core concepts of your mobile application before you can proceed. A blank project can be intimidating. But moving forward is much easier when you have a path to follow.

• Are you creating a brand new app concept?
• Is your app solving a problem or pain point?
• Does the app improve your business or extend an existing service?

These are some good questions to ask yourself during the creative process.

If you need some inspiration to stand out from the crowd, we have a list of creative business ideas for women that’s a great brainstorming resource for aspiring entrepreneurs.

2. Understanding Your Market

Your app is likely going to enter a competitive market, regardless of the app type or industry. You must take the time to identify a target market and see how you’re going to carve out a market share based on differentiation. 

Do you have massive competitors like Amazon and Walmart? Or are you competing with smaller niche apps?

Reference the app stores to see what apps in your category have the most downloads and take a look at those app reviews as well

3. Wireframes and Design

Design mockups and wireframes are crucial to the app-building process. 

There are plenty of online graphic design tools you can use for a wireframe. Balsamiq and Figma are two popular options. You can also use tools like Photoshop or Sketch. 

The first version of your wireframe can even start as a handwritten doodle on paper.

4. Prototyping Your Idea

Prototypes bring your app to life. The purpose of a prototype is to demonstrate the app’s function and design, but without any functional code. So you’re not quite putting learning into practice just yet with any coding skills.

Most prototypes are high-fidelity digital versions of the app that are clickable. This gives you a chance to see the user interfaces before the app actually gets built.

There should be a distinct difference between the wireframes and prototypes. Wireframes are the initial skeleton, while prototypes are meant to show more visual representation.

5. User Testing

Building an app with user feedback throughout the development process is crucial for success. You don’t need to wait until the app is done to start your QA process and get actual user feedback.

But before the final deployment, you need to send the app to actual users before the app goes live for download. This is the best way to identify bugs and any UX/UI issues. 

It’s in your best interest to have a large enough user testing group, so the user feedback isn’t limited to an isolated area.

6. Publishing and Marketing

The most successful applications have an app marketing plan in place prior to launch. Start promoting the app early, so users are eager to download it once it’s available.

Don’t forget to budget for marketing during the initial planning stages. Your app could be amazing, but it’s useless if nobody knows about it.

There are plenty of ways to market your app. You can run PPC campaigns, focus on app store optimization (ASO), promote on social media, drive traffic to your website, promote via forums—the list goes on and on.   

How Long Does it Take to Make an App?

Apps can be built in 30 days, three months, six months, or sometimes longer than a year. It all depends on the type of app and its complexities.

As a beginner, you can use an app maker to get to market quickly without learning a programming language, hiring app developers, or working with app designers.

But if you’re coding an app from scratch on your own, it will take a bit longer. Take advantage of app management tools for your project. This will ensure you’re meeting deadlines and keep everyone on track.

If your app is going to have user profiles, use GPS, have user messaging features, store credit card information, and things like that, then it would take longer to develop compared to a basic calculator app.

Submitting to Google Play and App Store

Pushing the app to users is the final part of your app development journey. To do this, you need to make it available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

With BuildFire, we’ll take care of the publishing process on your behalf. Just let us know when the app is done, and we’ll get it live on both stores.

This is such a valuable service because getting apps published on your own can be tricky for beginners. The Apple App Store and Google Play Store each have different publishing rules and guidelines that must be followed.

Here’s a quick overview of those requirements and nuances:

Google Play

• Sign up for Play App Signing
• Compress your app so the file size is 150 MB or less
• Set proper versioning
• Prepare promotional materials
• Upload assets

You can view more information here about publishing on Android Studio.

App Store

• Complete app information and metadata
• Enable backend services
• Review Apple’s guidelines to ensure your app complies
• Choose a category
• Provide an active demo

Generally speaking, Apple’s requirements are stricter than Google. So you must follow the instructions closely or you’ll risk getting rejected. Here are the full App Store Review Guidelines.

Final Thoughts

Building an app isn’t an overnight process. But app creation is a highly profitable business venture that can benefit existing companies and startups alike. 

Learning to code is a valuable skill. But it takes time. Using an app builder is a better alternative if your goal is to launch an app for real users and business purposes. Not only does this speed up the development timeline, but it also saves you money.

Sign up for BuildFire today and start your 14-day free trial—no coding required. 

The post Getting Started: Coding an App appeared first on Buildfire.

It’s easy for this process to get derailed if you don’t have the right plan—and proper planning all starts with project management. 

But there are several different project management methodologies and frameworks to choose from. Some work well for mobile apps and software product development, while others aren’t so useful. 

If you’re building an app and you’re not sure what project management method is the best, then you’ve come to the right place. I put this guide together based on years of first-hand experience managing project teams—specifically in the mobile app and software space. 

Best Project Management Methodologies For Software and Apps

A quick Google search will yield dozens of project management methods. Exactly how many project management methodologies are there? It depends on who you ask. 

You’ll see terms like agile, scrum, waterfall, kanban, lean—the list goes on and on. There are even hybrid management methods, like scrumban, agilefall, and more. Between the different methodologies and specific frameworks within those methods, it’s easy to get confused. 

Rather than wasting time explaining every project management methodology under the sun, we’re going to focus specifically on the methods for app development. 

The following sections will teach you more about each method, how it’s used, and why it works so well for software teams.

Agile Project Management

The agile project management methodology prioritizes maximum value against the business goals within an allowable time and budget. This method empowers team members and supports the constant delivery of value to the project.

As an iterative approach to completing a project, agile management promotes velocity and adaptability. 

In short, the agile methodology is flexible. Rather than following a linear path from start to finish, different incremental steps and iterations are delivered in shorter bursts. This allows for maximum flexibility, as things can change throughout the project life cycle. 

Agile project management is comprised of multiple stages—requirements, design, development, testing, deployment, and review.  

These stages help reduce and mitigate potential risks, which is crucial for app development.

Instead of looking at an app from start to finish, the project is broken down into shorter cycles, usually about two or three weeks each. Your project team will follow these stages for each cycle, which has constant testing and review throughout. 

Agile works well for client and stakeholder collaboration, as the results of each iteration will be reported back to the stakeholders. This allows them to have more control over the development process.

For example, let’s say you’re building an enterprise app with an in-house software team. Rather than just telling them what you want and waiting for the finished project, agile project management empowers you to be involved throughout the process. 

Some of the top advantages of agile project management for app development include:

• Ability to fix bugs after each stage
• Easy to make quick changes throughout the development project
• Constant collaboration with clients and stakeholders
• Breaks the project up into multiple stages
• Prioritizes budgets and timelines

The biggest drawback of agile PM is working with a difficult stakeholder. If they’re unable to review things after each sprint, it can push back your initial timeline and drag things out longer than they need to be. 

Agile project management requires a bit more planning from the start as well. The project manager needs to identify the top priorities of the software that should be handled first. 

Scrum Project Management

Scrum is a project management methodology that follows the same core values and principles as agile. So you’ll want to keep those agile concepts in mind if you’re using this method.

All work gets completed in short cycles, called sprints. Scrum teams meet on a daily basis to quickly discuss the current tasks they’re working on and any obstacles they’re facing. 

Daily scrums are also known as stand-up meetings. The idea here is that the meeting is so short that nobody has to sit down. Even if your software team is working remotely, it’s important that you stick to the daily scrum. 

Another crucial component of scrum is the product backlog. This is essentially a list of prioritized tasks that must be completed. These product goals are broken down into sprint backlogs, and ultimately turned into increments when they can be marked as “done.”

Kanban boards are useful for managing these backlogs. It allows everyone on your team to clearly see what’s being worked on, what’s been completed, and what needs to get done—all in real-time. 

In addition to the daily scrum, there are several other meetings that help make scrum project management so effective for software teams. 

• Sprint Planning —  The tasks of highest priority are defined before each sprint. Product owners or stakeholders explain the backlog to the software team, removing all ambiguities. The team communicates how much work they can get done within the allowed timeframe. Sprint goals and sprint backlogs are created by the end of the meeting.

• Daily Scrum — Held every day, usually for 15 minutes max. Each team member will quickly explain what they accomplished yesterday, what they’re working on today, and define any roadblocks or bottlenecks they’re faced with. 

• Sprint Review — This meeting is held after each sprint to determine what’s been achieved in the past few weeks. The product performance is also measured against the goals that were initially defined during the sprint planning stage. 

• Spring Retrospective — What went right and what went wrong during the sprint? This meeting allows teams to reflect on what they’ve accomplished and prepare for future sprints. 

Overall, this methodology works great for mobile app development due to its flexibility. The constant meetings and communication keep everyone on the same page.

By breaking the work down into tasks for completion during sprints, it allows your team to work quickly and complete the app in stages. 

Other advantages of scrum project management for software development include:

• Ambiguities are removed during meetings
• All tasks and completion of tasks are clearly organized
• Responsibilities are clearly divided
• Any roadblocks or obstacles are identified immediately 
• Quick releases keep teams motivated and satisfy stakeholders

Scrum project management doesn’t work well if the team isn’t committed. It’s easy for things to get off track, especially if the backlogs pile up and teams are expected to complete work in an unrealistic amount of time. 

This methodology works best with small teams. Some members might be annoyed by the daily meetings, but it’s important to hold them regularly and ensure everyone stays on task. The scrum master needs to be a problem-solver to complete successful projects.

Extreme Programming (XP) Project Management

As the name implies, extreme programming is another ideal solution for app development. It’s agile framework designed specifically for producing high-quality software.

Of all of the agile frameworks, XP has the most specific use case with principles for software development. The stages of XP typically include:

1. Planning
2. Managing
3. Designing
4. Coding
5. Testing

Here’s a visual overview of the extreme programming lifecycle:

There are five core values of extreme programming, which each contribute to the framework’s success for app development:

• Communication — Team members must transfer knowledge to each other. Visual tools like whiteboards or other drawing mechanisms can be extremely helpful as teams explain ideas and concepts to each other. 

• Simplicity — Avoid waste at all costs. Keeping the system and design as clean as possible makes it much easier to maintain the software, provide support, and fix bugs down the road. Focus only on what you know right now, without trying to predict the future. 

• Feedback — Teams must get constant and immediate feedback about their effort. This helps everyone identify areas where they can improve, and continue doing what works well. Feedback loops also allow you to adjust the final product product going forward.

• Courage — Software teams must have the courage to accept feedback, even if it’s difficult to swallow. They also need the courage to stop doing something that isn’t working, and move forward trying something else. If there’s an issue or problem, team members must have the courage to speak up. All of this helps improve the team’s efficiency, even if these decisions can be uncomfortable. 

• Respect — Respect ties all of these values together. It’s impossible for software teams to provide feedback and speak up in certain scenarios without respecting each other. XP relies so heavily on constant communication that respect needs to be a priority. 

Again, XP is specific to software development. It can be challenging to implement with inexperienced developers. The methodology doesn’t always work if teams are working together for the first time, as they may not be comfortable communicating with full transparency. 

Waterfall Project Management

The waterfall methodology is the simplest way to plan any project. It’s not necessarily the most common methodology for app development, but it can work well for basic apps. 

It’s also worth noting that the waterfall project management methodology is arguably the easiest to implement. So if you’re a new project manager and just getting your feet wet managing teams, this could system can help you build confidence.

Following a sequential order of steps is the primary concept of the waterfall method. Tasks flow in order, and one step must be completed before the next one starts.

Just like a waterfall, everything flows down—you can’t turn around and go back upstream. 

It’s easy for teams to understand the waterfall process because everything is straightforward. But it doesn’t work well with larger teams.

Waterfall project management doesn’t typically work for complex projects because the framework isn’t very adaptive. It doesn’t allow for changes throughout the development project, and many developers find it pretty limiting.

With that said, there are definitely scenarios where the waterfall project management methodology is perfect for app development.

Let’s say you’re building an app on a no-code development platform, like BuildFire. If you’re doing this on your own without a dedicated software team, the waterfall method will work fine. It’s not like you can work on two things simultaneously anyways—you’re just one person. So the waterfall method will keep you on track and give you a clear list of sequential steps to follow as you’re creating an app from scratch. 

Kanban Project Management

Kanban project management is another simple concept to grasp, and the methodology can be used for a wide range of projects—including software. 

This methodology gives you and your team a visual overview of the tasks associated with completing the app. Deliverables are typically categorized into three basic categories—to-do, in progress, and done.

It’s common for kanban boards to be used in other types of project management methodologies. For example, we briefly touched on this earlier when discussing scrum. Lots of scrum teams use kanban boards to manage sprints. 

While kanban isn’t quite as technical as some of the other project management methodologies, it’s still trusted by software teams.

Even Jira Software, one of the best project management tools for software development, has kanban project functionality. 

The project manager here is responsible for assigning tasks to different team members on the board. Then each person will move the tasks to the “done” column upon completion. 

Kanban also works well for managing bugs post-launch. As new bugs are reported, a new task or card can be generated in your to-do backlog. Then developers can clearly see what needs to be fixed, and move those cards from in-progress to done. 

The downside of using kanban alone is that there isn’t a great way to prioritize deliverables. You can assign due dates or use a color-coding system for priority. But the methodology itself doesn’t have those types of principles built in. Kanban also doesn’t support dependencies between tasks. 

Conclusion — What’s the Right Project Management Methodology For You?

So, what’s the best project management methodology for app development? It depends. 

Most software teams tend to use an agile framework, as these are more flexible than some of the traditional project management and rigid PM methods. Some of you might decide to use a combination of these options. For example, scrum project management using kanban boards to track sprints is a popular option. 
In addition to finding the best project management method for your app, you also need to have the right team in place to execute development. So download our free ebook on building an expert mobile app development team.

The post Project Management Methodologies For Mobile App Development appeared first on Buildfire.

I’ve been a software engineer for 20+ years. Throughout my career, I’ve built five different startups. When I first started as an app developer, there were only two choices—Java and Objective-C.

Basically, you had two options with these. You could build your own app for Android with one and iOS for the other. That’s it.

But today, there are a lot more options out there that you can explore if you want to learn how to make an app. These ways range from very technical to not that technical at all.

I created this guide to show you the five different ways to build an app from scratch.

But before we dive in, I just want to take a moment to explain how I categorized these five different methods to create your own app.

One of the metrics I used was how technical you need to be in order to create an app. One end of the spectrum is a hardcore developer, and the other end is someone who is just savvy and knows how to use the Internet. The other metric I used was how flexible or rigid the solution would be for how to make an app.

For example, you could have an app development tool that’s extremely flexible; however, you need to be very technical in order to use it. Or you could have a tool that you don’t need to know how to code at all, but there might be some limitations on what you can do with it.

I’ll show you a graph with both of these metrics for each way to make an app. This will give you a visual representation of where the method falls on the spectrum. Let’s dive in!

Mobile App Development Method #1: Low-Level Coding

With low-level coding, the difficulty is pretty high. To make an app using this method, you need to be a specialized developer that understands programming languages.

But the flexibility is very high with low-level coding as well.

So there are definitely pros and cons to this option.

For the majority of the population, the biggest downside is that you have to be a developer to create an app from scratch with low-level coding—and a pretty good developer at that.

But the good side here is that the flexibility is at a maximum.

This is the best option if you’re trying to develop an augmented reality app or a game where the frame rate down to the millisecond is extremely important. Low-level coding is so flexible. Another good reason to use this method is if you’re dealing with specific hardware on a device that’s not mainstream.

Low-level coding will be the most time consuming app development process and the most expensive way to build an app, but you get the most control out of it.

Mobile App Development Method #2: Hybrid Apps

Hybrid app development usually relies on web technology, called Javascript.

This allows you to build once and deploy it on multiple platforms. So if you’re learning how to make a hybrid app, you’ll just code everything one time, and it will work on both iOS, Android, and potentially other platforms as well.

Examples of hybrid app development tools include Titanium from Appcelerator, Cordova on PhoneGap, Ionic, and React Native.

This method is really good when you want one set of developers, and you want to just develop everything once—then go straight to market with iOS and Android.

The difficulty here is low to medium. You don’t have to be as specialized as a developer like you would with low-level coding. Web developers can build hybrid apps because they know Javascript.

The flexibility level here is still very flexible. Here’s where hybrid apps fall on our graph:

Since you’re using Javascript to run the app, there will be a small performance hit that you need to take into consideration.

However, with today’s hardware and Internet speeds, that performance metric is shrinking dramatically. There are very popular hybrid apps out there that are UI intensive. One example is PBS Kids, which was made on Cordova. It performs extremely well.

You’ll just want to make sure that you reassess these metrics every couple of years. The dynamics of phones and network speeds will be different over time.

But as much as everyone used to learn how to make an app with low-level coding in the beginning, they are leaning more towards hybrid apps now. The main reason for doing so is the business side of app development. You can save a lot of time and money going hybrid vs. fully native development.

Mobile App Development Method #3: Rapid App Development (RAD)

The third way to create an app is with rapid app development tools—RAD for short.

There are RAD tools out there like OutSystems, Kinvey, and Kony. These allow you to make a mobile application using an intuitive interface.

Usually, rapid app development platforms claim that you don’t have to be too technical at all to use them.

However, if you want to do anything significant with your project, you sort of have to lean toward technical. You won’t have to be as technical as you would to create a hybrid app. But it’s around the medium level.

Here’s what I mean. You’ll have to know what you’re doing from a technical perspective, but you won’t have to learn how to code everything from scratch to build on these platforms.

So essentially, rapid app development allows you to go to market faster (hence the name) because there is a lot of pre-built functionality.

There are some drawbacks to rapid app development as well. Aside from the need to be somewhat technical in order to do anything significant, you’re also limited by the platform you’re using. You can only use whatever that platform has to offer in terms of functionality.

You’ll just be configuring their tools and options in a way that works for you.

These are great if you’re building apps internally for some type of internal process or maybe an app for your employees. It’s fine to use RAD if you don’t mind maintaining it yourself or paying someone to maintain it for you.

Mobile App Development Method #4: Cookie Cutter Apps

What’s a cookie cutter app? You might be familiar with some of these tools that are on the market today. A couple of popular ones include BiznessApps and GoodBarber.

With cookie cutter app builders, it’s really just one app that you’re configuring to make it look different from one deployment to another. What do I mean by this?

Cookie cutter app builders usually have a beautify app design. They have a highly intuitive user interface. You can turn settings on and off in the app to configure the app on your own. They make it easy for you to swap out images and text with your own content.

But at its core, a cookie cutter app is really just one set of functionality on a template that you’re turning on and off to make the app your own. So you can’t really take an app idea to the next level.

The difficulty level is pretty low here. Unfortunately, the flexibility is pretty low too.

This is a good option if your app is just a hobby. Or maybe you want to learn how to make an app for something that’s just “nice to have” as opposed to something that’s critical to your business. The user experience will ultimately suffer with the limited functionality.

If you just want to get to market quickly with an MVP and keep your budget really low, this is a good solution. You’ll be able to maintain everything yourself too.

However, the downside of using this app development method is that you’re probably going to reach a ceiling at some point when it comes to the functionality of your app.

There are certain things that you’ll eventually want to do, and the platform just won’t allow it. You’ll basically be waiting for the platform to catch up to your needs.

So if you don’t see your mobile app growing to the point where you’ll outgrow the platform, then these cookie cutter apps could be a good solution for your situation.

Mobile App Development Method #5: BuildFire

BuildFire is in a quadrant of its own.

As the CTO and a partner at BuildFire, I’m obviously a little biased here. I know the platform really well. But I still want to be honest and give you the pros and cons.

My partners and I built this app builder because we recognized that this quadrant was completely empty, and nobody was addressing it. We saw the need and built a solution.

BuildFire allows people with no technical skills to build for iOS apps and Android apps using our extensive marketplace that has a plethora of features that can be added in.

It’s also open to the app developer community, so they are constantly adding in more features.

Here’s one of the major differences between BuildFire and other app development platforms on the market today. If you feel that there’s a unique functionality to you and your app or a piece of functionality that hasn’t been developed yet, you can get your own developers to create it using the BuildFire SDK. They can build the functionality in a way that’s similar to hybrid apps without limiting your app ideas.

You can also use BuildFire to access native device APIs like bluetooth, ibeacon, cameras, and more.

Alternatively, you can contact BuildFire and take advantage of its white-glove services. The BuildFire developers can create this custom functionality for you.

As I already mentioned, I’m obviously a little biased here. But in the spirit of being fair, I’ll explain situations when BuildFire would not be the best solution for creating a mobile app.

If you’re trying to make an augmented reality app, BuildFire probably isn’t for you, at least right now. That might change in the coming years.

If you’re trying to create a first-person shooter game or develop the next Angry Birds, this won’t be the most ideal solution for you either.

Could you do it? Absolutely. I’m not saying that the capabilities aren’t there. But professionally speaking, you’re better off going with low-level development and using Swift or Java to build your app in those scenarios.

However, everybody else out there who wants to go to market quickly and wants the platform to scale with their needs, BuildFire is an extremely powerful platform.

BuildFire allows you to utilize the app building portion as well as the backend infrastructure. So you can reduce your ongoing development costs dramatically.

Once complete, you can launch your app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store simultaneously with the help of BuildFire’s team. These native apps can be downloaded by real users worldwide with Apple iPhones and Android devices. 

BuildFire’s pricing is very affordable too. The platform has been used to create 10,000+ apps, including apps for small businesses.

What’s the Best Way to Make a Mobile App?

Now that we’ve gone through the five different app development methods, it’s time to answer everyone’s burning question—which one is the best for a new app?

Realistically speaking, there is no one right answer here. The method you choose depends on your specific needs. The best way to create an app for me might not be the best way for you or your business.

It all depends on your technical skill level and how much flexibility you need to have. Here’s a quick recap of the five methods we discussed above:

Low Level Coding — Extremely technical but highly flexible. This app development method is costly and time consuming, but you can do just about anything with it.

Hybrid App Development — You develop the app once and deploy it to many platforms using technology like Javascript. It’s still pretty technical, but your flexibility is a bit lower compared to low-level coding.

It’s good for people who really want control of their platform and don’t want to outsource everything. With hybrid apps, you can bring everything in-house and not necessarily utilize a particular service out there.

Rapid App Development (RAD) — Great option for those of you who don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. It’s not too technical, but you can’t be afraid to dig in a little bit and do some work to manage it yourself.

RAD is a good solution for internal uses in cases when you’re not worried too much about UI, performance, and things of that nature. It could get pricey, depending on the platform you’re using. But those platforms will likely have an infrastructure that will aid you and a service layer that can build things for you.

Cookie Cutter Apps — These app makers are a really good solution if the app is just a hobby, and you’re trying to keep your budget as low as possible. Not recommended for apps that are mission critical to your business. If you just want to get an app out there quickly and you’re not worried about functionality, cookie cutters are usually beautiful and cheap.

BuildFire — This method allows you to create an app from scratch with no technical skills whatsoever. Even if you have technical skills, you can use BuildFire to do whatever you want with your app with limitless customization. Alternatively, you have BuildFire developers build something for you.

It also has a backend infrastructure that you can utilize. This solution ensures that you won’t have to deal with database servers, security, compliance, and things of that nature. BuildFire takes care of all of that for you.

BuildFire is the best option for people who really want to hit the ground running. The platform will save you time and money. You won’t be boxed into a platform when your needs grow. It’s great because it allows your developers or their internal developers to expand the app to make anything you want.

Conclusion

Want to learn how to make an app? Before you get started, you need to choose the best app development method. There are five main options to consider.

Choose the method that fits your technical skill level and needs of your app. It all depends on how flexible you need the solution to be and how technical you are. An app building platform will be the best option for most of you.

I hope this guide clearly explained all of the app development options. You can use it to choose what’s right for you and your business.

If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out and let me know. Good luck!

The post The 5 Ways to Build a Mobile App appeared first on Buildfire.

When I first started out, there were very specific ways that apps had to be developed (like Objective-C and Java). There weren’t really many choices available.

But today, you have plenty of options. There are templates, components, frameworks, hybrid apps—lots to consider. How can you decide what’s right for you? 

Before you start any new app development project, there are certain factors that must be taken into consideration. This is especially important for those of you who don’t have any experience with mobile app development, and arguably more important for anyone who has had a bad building experience in the past. 

As someone who has been through this process countless times, I always have this conversation with my clients before we start building anything—I try to drill this into their minds. 

I’ve identified the five most important things to consider before you start mobile app development. I’ll go over all of the different options at your disposal to ensure that you select what’s right for your business and project. 

Consideration #1 — Platforms to Support

This is the first thing you need to figure out from the beginning. 

What platforms will your app be available on? Obviously, you’ll want to put primary emphasis on Android and iOS, since these are the two most dominant. 

Globally, Android reigns supreme. The research displayed in this chart says it all:

But here in the US, it’s much closer to a 50/50 split. In fact, iOS controls 44.8% of the US market share, according to PCMag. Either way, you’re going to want to build an app for both.

However, you’ll also need to consider the devices that your apps will be used on—in addition to the platform itself. 

Each operating system has smartphones and tablets. Android tablets and iPads are not the same. This information will sort of give you a different dynamic of how you build your app since the specs and dynamics of each device is different. For example, devices with larger screens might not have as many limitations as a smaller smartphone. 

You should also be thinking about PWAs—progressive web apps.

More and more people are going to be accessing your mobile app and the web from their smartphones. PWAs offer an easier barrier to entry for whenever someone is exploring your product.

Another advantage of building a PWA is the ability for people to stumble upon your app via Google search. 

If someone is browsing on their phone and searching for something on Google, a PWA will allow them to enter your app directly from the browser. They can engage with it, either fully or partially, depending on how it’s built. 

While they’re trying it out, you can give them a prompt offering a more native experience, which would require a download. This is definitely something that you’ll want to think about and consider.

Consideration #2 — Mobile App Development Team

What team do you want to build your app? Most people don’t realize that they need more team members than they initially anticipated. That’s one of the reasons why software development is expensive.  

As we said before, we need to build an app for both iOS and Android. These apps will be written in two different languages. So you’ll need an iOS developer and an Android developer. 

You might find a developer that can actually do both, but I would advise against that. Why?

If you have one person building two apps, it will just end up taking double the time. Alternatively, you can have two separate developers working on it simultaneously. It will cost you the same amount of money, but you’ll get to market much faster as they work in parallel to each other. 

In addition to the two platform-specific developers, you’ll also need a full stack web developer.

Even if you opt-out of the PWA route, you still need to host your app data somewhere in the cloud. What does this mean?

Unless your app is something super simple, like a calculator that only requires a quick function and nothing else, you’ll need to make sure that your data resides in a secure and scalable location in the cloud.

A calculator or a flashlight app doesn’t have data that needs to be saved anywhere. There’s no communication between users or anything like that. But most apps will be much more complex than that.

For example, when your users register after downloading the app, where do their usernames and passwords go? It doesn’t stay on the devices. Everything is stored on a database somewhere in the cloud. When users communicate with each other, give you ratings, and when you release new updates, all of this is hosted in an infrastructure in the cloud. 

So you’ll need a full stack web developer to create this infrastructure that you need with the API so that your mobile app can access the data. 

You’ll also need a designer on your team to make sure everything looks good. 

Eye candy is the biggest selling point for most apps. It’s not necessarily always about the app functionality. If it looks pretty, it will engage with your user-base, which is extremely important—especially in such a competitive landscape. 

Your app development team needs a QA person as well. Their responsibility is to make sure that the software is properly tested. They run testing on multiple browsers, devices, and operating systems. Whether it’s the backend infrastructure or the app functionality itself, the QA has to cover all of your bases. 

Last, but certainly not least, your team needs a project manager. You can do this yourself or hire someone else. The project manager ensures that the team is hitting their deadlines, oversees the entire project, and holds everyone accountable.

So in the end, your team will be at least six people—three developers (iOS, Android, web), a designer, QA person, and a project manager. 

Consideration #3 — Infrastructure 

You’ll also need to consider where your app is being hosted. 

We’ve already established the fact that a member of your team needs to build this infrastructure. However, they’re probably not going to do it on some servers in your office; unless, of course, you’re still living back in the 1990s (but I do not recommend that). 

What you need to do is partner up with a hosting service that can host your app and its infrastructure. 

• Security
• Scalability
• Reliability

These are the three most important components to look for when searching for the right hosting service to meet the needs of your app. 

Consideration #4 — Existing Services

This piggybacks off of my last point. Why would you build servers in your office if you can just use an existing service to host your app? It makes no sense.

That’s not the only thing you can leverage. There are plenty of other existing services that are currently out there. Use those to your advantage when you’re building an app. 

For example, there are already cloud servers out there that you can integrate with. There are analytical servers, push notification servers, authentication servers, and more—all of which already exist. You can just integrate them with your app.

So before you go out and try to build these services and solutions from scratch, make sure you shop around to see if there is a service that already exists. This will save you money and time; it’s much easier than reinventing the wheel. 

Consideration #5 — Existing Tools

In addition to existing services that you can leverage, there are also existing mobile app development tools. Make sure you consider all of the tools available at your disposal before you start building anything. 

Just like we talked about with the existing services providers—shop around before you begin.

There are lots of tools out there that will help you build an app from scratch. From templates to components and designs, all of this stuff is out there. You can just purchase the tools and use them on your own. 

This will drastically speed up the app development process and give you more time to focus on the business logic that makes your app different from others on the market. 

Hybrid App Development

Another thing to consider within this category is a hybrid mobile app development platform. These services allow you to write code once, and the app will work for iOS, Android, and PWAs.

You won’t have to hire three different developers to develop three different apps. 

So one app won’t be leading while the other two just follow. With traditional app development, it’s common for a new feature to get released on iOS, and then a month later it’s released on Android. Then another month passes before it’s released on the PWA. 

With hybrid app development, you just develop it once, and it’s out there. 

Now, you may ask yourself why everyone isn’t working on a hybrid app. The truth of the matter is this; it’s not the best option for all apps. If you’re developing the next augmented reality app or something that needs a really high frame rate, like a game, hybrid apps won’t be ideal. But it will still work if you choose to do so. 

Rapid App Development (RAD)

The last toolset that you’ll want to consider using is rapid app development. 

These are tools that are a step above hybrid apps and give you the ability to quickly develop an all-in-one single IDE (integrated developer environment).

This allows you to build systems rapidly (as the name implies), host them, and get everything to market as fast as possible. 

There are lots of systems out there that provide this type of mobile app development platform. But to me, BuildFire is going to be your best option. Why?

It has tons of out of the box functionality that you can use, without having to code anything whatsoever. 

Plus, if you want something very specific to your use case and need custom development, you can get your developers to work on it using code that they already know. 

If you compare this to other mobile app development platforms out there, you’ll see that they just don’t stack up. While other solutions might be good, you still need to learn them first before you’re able to actually build anything. Other tools don’t really have out of the box functionality either. Those platforms are more like rapid app development tools that you still need to be a developer to work on.

So make sure that you find the existing tool that’s best for you and your situation. 

Conclusion

Starting a mobile app development project is exciting. While it can be tempting to just dive right in, there are certain things that must be taken into consideration first. 

Before you begin, remember these quick points and pro tips:

• What platform do you want to support?
• What will the team look like that’s going to build your app?
• Are there services that already exist today, so you don’t have to build everything from scratch?
• Make sure you have an infrastructure to back everything up—partner with a hosting company that can scale with you.
• Look for existing toolsets that will help you get your app to market much faster.

From templates to components and rapid app development tools like BuildFire, make sure you take a good look at all of your options to see what’s right for you and your company. 

Instead of doing extra, unnecessary, and expensive work to build every component of your app from scratch, leveraging tools at your disposal will be much easier. It will keep your costs down and ensure that your app is built as fast as possible.

I hope you found this information helpful. Continue to use this as a resource if you’re thinking about building a mobile app. Good luck with your next development endeavor!

The post 5 Things to Consider BEFORE Building Your App appeared first on Buildfire.

The longer an app takes to build, the more it will cost.

If you’ve started pricing out different options for development, you’re probably starting to realize that this process isn’t cheap.

There’s no one size fits all answer for an app development timeline.

Every app is unique, and there are lots of different factors that will impact how long it takes.

We’ll go into more detail about those elements shortly.

For the most part, it will take roughly six months to develop an app.

If you’re lucky, and I mean very lucky, it could be done in about four months.

I’ve seen it done.

But I’ve also seen apps take 12 or even 18 months to build.

It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

You’ve got to weigh your options.

On the one hand, you want the app to get built fast. That will keep costs down and get your app to market faster so you can ultimately start making money.

After all, that’s the whole point of this, right?

But if you rush through the development process, it could end up costing you more money in the long run.

You don’t want to cut corners.

However, being too much of a perfectionist can stretch the development stages too long, which can bleed your pockets dry.

That’s definitely not something you want either.

So it’s important to find a middle ground between those two ends of the spectrum.

A word of warning – while you’re mileage may vary, there are always ways that you can gauge how long it will take to build your app before it launches.

I’ll go over the factors that impact your development timeline.

As an industry expert who has lots of experience building apps, I’ve narrowed down the most important elements that you need to consider to plan a realistic timetable.

After you read through this guide, you’ll have a much better idea of how long it will take to build your app.

Quality

You’ve got to make sure that the quality of your app doesn’t suffer based on your timeline.

That’s why it’s super important that you start with a realistic goal.

Don’t start over promising something and end up under delivering on that promise.

The quality will suffer.

Here’s what I mean.

Let’s say you have a business and you’re planning to launch an app to enhance the customer experience and generate new revenue streams.

Great idea.

But if you’re starting the mobile app development on January 1st, don’t start telling your customers that it will be available for download by March 1st.

That’s a big mistake.

Quality takes time.

Good apps take time.

That’s the reality of this situation. However, what constitutes “good” is often on a sliding scale.

If you’re going to try and pump an app out in a couple of months, the quality will suffer.

With that said, there are certain scenarios where it’s reasonable to have a development period that can be greatly accelerated.

This is much more reasonable if you’re just trying to create a proof of concept or a minimum viable product (MVP).

In this case, you can definitely expect to have a shorter development timeline.

It’s also reasonable to expect a shorter timeline if your is simple.

I’m referring to basic apps that don’t need complex coding and in-depth features.

On the flip side, if you’re trying to develop an app that’s super complicated, you can expect it to take a while longer.

But I’ll go into greater detail on the functionality of your app a little later.

For now, let’s get back to quality.

With simple apps and MVPs, the quality generally won’t suffer by accelerating the development period.

That’s just because there’s not a whole lot to it.

Here’s a reasonable analogy to illustrate my point.

Imagine that you’re building a house.

It doesn’t have to be a mansion, but it’s going to be average size with a few bedrooms and bathrooms.

Building it won’t happen overnight.

I mean you can try, but the quality will obviously suffer.

But now let’s say you want to build a small shed or a dog house in your yard.

The shed (MVP) can definitely be built in one day and still be a quality product.

So think of your app development the same way.

Who develops your app will also impact the quality.

I’ll talk about the developer options later on and how that relates to your timeline as well.

Size Matters

As we just saw with the house analogy, the size of your project will impact the length of development.

Here’s a look at the average file size for different apps based on their category on the iOS platform.

For the most part, the app categories toward the top of this chart are more complex.

So as a result, they will take longer to build.

Take a look at the categories at the bottom of this chart, like utilities, for example.

What’s a utility on your phone that you might use?

A calculator?

Well, something that like that is really simple to develop so the size isn’t very large.

There are four main factors that impact the size of your app and contribute to the length of development.

• Scope
• Depth
• Features
• Purpose

Here’s what you need to know about each one of these elements.

Scope

The scope of your app refers to its outreach.

So for example, is your app for small neighborhood school PTA?

Or is it intended for a multinational corporation that has to link to hundreds of backend APIs?

You can see how the difference between these two examples would impact the size.

Furthermore, the scope also has to do with the screen sizes that need to be supported and the platforms targeted.

So if your app is going to be launched on the Google Play Store, it will need to support the screen sizes for all of the various Android phones and tablets.

With that said, addressing the screen size during development isn’t too complicated.

A much harder decision is focusing on the platform.

Which should you develop for first? Android or iOS?

While that may be a conversation for another day, your answer will affect the size.

Based on this data, you can clearly see that iOS apps are significantly larger than Android apps.

So that’s something else that you can keep in mind when you’re trying to determine the scope of your development.

Depth

The depth of your app has to do with the user accessibility.

Do you want users to access it only when it’s necessary?

Or will they constantly need interactivity and new features?

So if the app will only be used infrequently and for the same basic purpose each time the user opens it up, the development won’t take as long.

But if you’re trying to build something that needs constant user interaction to deliver the best experience, you can expect to pay more and have a longer wait until you can launch it.

Features

The features typically piggyback off of the depth.

Development time is directly connected to the complexity of your features.

If your app is going to use common plugins, it will be easier for a developer to install them and it take less time.

But this process will take much longer for those of you that need completely customized features built.

The user experience will impact the features as well.

Here’s what I mean.

Does every user see the same interface when they access your app?

Apps that require unique user profiles and customized logins have more in-depth features.

Typically, those apps also have other complex features like updates in real time.

Let’s look at an example of an app built for finding taxis in the UAE, with functions similar to Uber.

Think about how many features need to be developed for something so complex like this.

They’ve got to connect drivers with riders using real time GPS tracking.

Every user needs to have their own unique profile.

This app also requires a secure way to store and process payment information.

And these are all just the basics.

There’s so much more that goes into building an app with features like this.

The depth will also require constant updates.

In short, if you’re trying to develop something with similar features it’s going to fall on the later end of the average timeline.

Purpose of the app

All apps start as an idea.

But you’ve got to make sure that idea translates into a clear purpose of your app.

Who is it benefiting?

Why would someone use this?

How is this app making life faster or easier for the user?

If your answers are all over the place, it’s going to be difficult to find a clear purpose.

Looking back at the example we just discussed about the UAE taxi app.

Trying to add features that make the app double as a social media platform is unnecessary and conflicts with the clear purpose.

Or say you’re building an app that provides users with up to date sports scores. You wouldn’t need to add features like GPS or games.

That just complicates things, and it has nothing to do with the clear purpose.

If your purpose isn’t well defined before you start development, you’ll turn what was one a simple app into something that’s a bloated monstrosity.

Not only will it take you forever to develop, but it will also become a sinkhole for your money.

So stick to just one idea and run with it.

Dolla dolla bills y’all

As I’ve been hinting at this entire time, the longer your development takes, the more money it’s going to cost you.

This isn’t always a bad thing.

Like we’ve also seen, sometimes it’s necessary to spend more money based on how complex your features are.

Money talks.

You’ve got to start with a budget.

Your budget needs to be reasonable and realistic.

Don’t try and build the next Snapchat or Instagram with a $10,000 budget.

Do the research and get an appropriate idea of how much each phase of your development will cost you.

The last thing you want to happen is to get through 70% of development and run out of money.

Believe it or not, I’ve seen it happen many times.

This is not a situation that you want to find yourself in.

Now you’ve got a half finished product that’s absolutely useless and no way to get your money back.

But here’s something else I want to stress to make myself clear.

More money is not always the solution to development.

While your budget needs to be reasonable, having a budget that’s too high won’t always help you out either.

Then you may feel the need to spend it on unnecessary things like adding more developers or throwing money at features you don’t need.

This will just end up causing more problems than solutions.

There is a lot to be said about fighting through adversity.

A focused approach with an accurate budget can save you money as well as time in the long run.

Who builds it

The person or people who build your app is a critical factor in terms of your timeline.

You can find a freelance developer, small development shop, or large development agency if you want to outsource it.

Or you could build it yourself.

Sure, you could build an app on your own and probably for not too much money.

But you get what you pay for.

Even if you’re saving some money, you won’t be saving much time.

How long do you think it will take you to learn how to code, develop, test, correct, redevelop, and publish your app?

I’ll give you a hint – it’s a long time.

Professional development teams get the job done.

Just make sure that if you go through a third party to build your app that they will partner with you.

You want these people to understand your business.

That way they can develop an app that truly meets your goals and stays aligned with your strategy.

Working with a professional developer who can act as a strategic partner will greatly benefit your final product.

In my experience, I’ve found that it’s easier to accomplish this type of relationship if you’re working with smaller app development agencies.

You just need to find a developer that feels right for you and can put forth their best effort.

Don’t think of it as extra spending. Instead, think of it as investing.

But working with a developer that’s too small isn’t always the best solution either.

If they have too many clients, they won’t be efficiently able to manage their time.

That means that your development timeline will go on much longer than it needs to.

Managing expectations (conclusion)

The bottom line is this – good apps take time.

That’s the reality.

Time is money.

You’ve got to recognize that the longer your app takes to develop, the more it’s going to cost you.

There are lots of factors that can help you determine a realistic development timeline for your unique situation.

Quality and size are two of the biggest elements that impact the time.

You’ve got to budget yourself accordingly so you can afford the features that are related to the basic purpose of your app.

Who builds your app will also play a major role in your launch timeline.

Knowing what you want, what you’re getting into, and how you plan to get there will help make this process go faster and more efficiently.

Hopefully, this article has enlightened you with the realistic issues regarding app development timelines.

If you have any questions about development, the BuildFire Pro Services team has answers.

What unique features of your app do you think will take the longest amount of time to develop?

The post Mobile App Development Timeline: A Realistic Perspective appeared first on Buildfire.

One of those decisions is choosing which operating system you’re going to launch on.

You have to decide between the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

It’s not an easy choice.

Why?

Well, for starters, Android and iOS app users behave differently.

So if you launch on the wrong platform, you could be neglecting your primary target audience.

If only there were a solution that didn’t force you to choose.

Spoiler alert – there is.

But we’ll get to that later.

For now, we’ll operate under the assumption that you’re building a native app.

In this case, you’ll have to pick between Apple and Android. But iOS and Android app development are very different.

Here’s why.

The code for native apps doesn’t work on both platforms.

If you want to have an app that’s available in both stores, you’ll need to develop two different ones from scratch in order to meet the requirements for each operations system.

It’s a long and expensive process.

Trust me, I know from experience.

But with experience also comes knowledge.

I’m here to share expertise with you so that you can make an informed decision before you dive head first into the wrong operating system.

I’ll even show you a way that allows you to launch on both platforms simultaneously.

Here’s what you need to know.

First, I’ll break down all of the factors that you need to consider before you finalize a decision between iOS and Android apps.

Feature sets

The features are related to the basic functions of your app.

What exactly is the purpose of your app?

The answer to this question will depend on the code that gets written for development.

Apple – iOS App Development

Apple is restricted to a closed ecosystem.

A closed ecosystem means that Apple regulates entrance to use their platform.

All of the content is restricted to specific iOS devices that are supported by that ecosystem.

This means that iOS developers must use Apple’s features, and there are a lot of them.

The advantage to developing your app on a closed ecosystem like Apple’s means that there’s more control and stability.

But with that said, there will be more restrictions for the developer.

From the user perspective, purchasing a device that operates on a closed ecosystem means that it will have a higher price point.

So in general, Apple devices are more expensive than Android devices.

This gives you some more insight about the user, but we’ll get into that in greater detail shortly.

Android App Development

Android operates on an open source ecosystem. This makes it easier for Android developers to build an Android app.

This allows for tons of modifications as well as lots of functionality.

Open source platforms are less secure.

So sometimes updates get blocked by mobile network operators.

Android has an open platform to encourage developer innovation.

You can get Android’s source code for free and port it to your app’s hardware.

This means you won’t have to jump through as many hoops to develop your app on the Android system because there are less restrictions.

How to make money

The purpose of every mobile application is to make money, right?

If that’s not your primary goal, you’ll probably need to reevaluate your decision to build an app in the first place.

So how do you plan to make money?

Here are a few of the most common business models.

• Subscriptions
• In-app purchases
• Advertisements
• Pay per download

Depending on which strategy (or strategies) you decide to implement can impact your decision for developing on Apple or Android.

Apple

If you’re going to charge users to download your app, you should develop on Apple first.

Take a look at the distribution of free vs. paid apps between Apple and Android.

As you can see from the graph, there is a clear difference between the two platforms.

So if you’re going to charge for downloads, the Apple App Store is the place to do it.

That’s because those users are used to seeing more paid apps and less free apps when they’re searching for something to download.

Whereas Android users don’t see as many apps that require payment to download.

So if they see yours, they’ll probably consider just finding another one that has similar functions and is offered for free.

Just know that if you’re going to charge Apple users to download your app, it’s going to be an expensive strategy.

You’ll have a much higher customer acquisition cost than if you offered it for free.

But with that in mind, you’ll also make more money all at once.

Your users will be more engaged as well.

If they’re willing to pay for it, that means they probably won’t abandon it.

Android

If you’re going to make money off of advertisements and in-app purchases, then you should build on Android first.

Just don’t expect your in-app purchases to be too significant.

You’re going to get less money per purchase, but that’s spread over way more people.

Android users dominate the market share.

I’ll show you some more specific numbers when we talk about the different types of people using your app in a little bit.

The advantage of releasing your app for free on the Android platform is that you’ll be able to get more downloads.

But your users may not be as engaged since they’re not investing anything into the download.

So the key to this strategy is coming up with a way to get money from people who use the app the most.

Charge for app upgrades and premium services to enhance their experience.

Release cycles

Here’s something that developers don’t always think about right away when they’re trying to figure out which platform is better for their business.

You’ve got to consider which software version your users are using within their respective platforms.

Obviously, your app needs to be written in code that’s compatible for with the most up to date software versions.

But there’s a major difference between Apple and Android devices here.

Apple

The majority of Apple users are running their device on the most current version.

In fact, 95% of Apple users have one of the two latest operating systems installed on their devices.

This makes programming and development easier because you can estimate what your app is going to be able to do.

You’ll just need to be prepared to come up with more updates to optimize the user experience based on the software they’re using.

But for the most part, you won’t need to worry about software from a few years ago.

Android

Android users are not all up to date on the most current operating platform.

Since these users are all over the place, you might have to develop for older versions that are out of date

Oreo and Nougat are the two most recent versions of the Android software.

Less than 20% of users are operating on these systems.

This makes your development process more complicated since you have to accommodate such a wide range of versions.

Tablet usages

When people think about building mobile applications, they immediately think of cell phones.

But you’ve got to take tablets into consideration as well.

Look at how tablet ownership has been trending.

Over a stretch of five years in the United States, we saw a 42% increase in tablets owned.

That number is continuing to rise.

So you need to keep tablets in mind when you’re developing your app.

Apple

Most people like to use iPads because they are user friendly.

These tablets are sleek and easy to use.

They are a popular choice for young children as well as older generations.

The users who use Apple tablets will watch movies, play games, or spend time doing other fun activities.

Android

On the other hand, people who own Android tablets are more technical.

They may be using these devices to work on a project or own one because they use it for their job.

Overall, Apple tablets seem to dominate Android.

You may even see some people who have an Android phone but use an iPad tablet.

But iPhone users are much more loyal to Apple’s tablets and other devices.

You’re way less likely to see an iPhone user with an Android tablet than an Android smartphone user with an iPad.

Enterprise adoption

Remember when Blackberry used to dominate the workplace market?

It seemed like everyone wearing a suit and holding a briefcase had a Blackberry in their hand as well.

But those days are over.

Apple

Apple devices are known to be more secure.

We discussed this earlier when we talked about their closed ecosystem.

That’s why you’ll see major corporations like IBM partnering with Apple for their corporate devices.

But with increased security comes fewer features.

Android

Since Android is open source, it’s less secure.

But with that said, there are way more devices and even more features.

Apple users have to get an iPhone or iPad to access your mobile app.

While there may be different versions of those devices, you can’t compare that to the number of devices that operate on the Android platform.

That’s probably another reason why Android dominates the global market share.

Why there are two platforms

To avoid any confusion, let’s start with the basics.

Apple devices run on iOS software and Google devices run on Android’s operating system.

On a global scale, Android dominates the market share.

But in the United States, it’s closer to an even split.

Apple users access the mobile store through their iPhones and iPads.

While Android users have more options with phones like the Google Pixel, HTC, Samsung Galaxy, as well as more phones and various tablets.

The variety of devices may explain why Android has more users across the world.

But that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your development and launch strategy.

It all comes down to the primary function of your app and your company’s target market.

Mobile apps are a business.

This statement holds true whether you’re building a new app from scratch or launching one to improve your existing company.

But running a business, or in this case, a mobile app, means you’ve got to have a marketing strategy.

It’s much easier for those of you who already have a business with an existing customer base.

Look to those customers to tell you which operating system they prefer.

If you’ve never built an app before I know what you may be thinking.

Why can’t I just develop both?

Well, in theory, you can. But it’s going to cost you a lot of money.

If you’ve got a minimum of a few hundred thousand dollars to spare and up to a year of time to invest, you can probably build two native apps at the same time.

But for everyone else out there you’ll have to choose between Apple, Android, or the third (and probably most reasonable) option.

When to develop for Apple first

You’ve got to find some common connections between your customers and the behavior of Apple users.

So do some research.

For example, men spend more money on Apple products than women.

The graph shows that there is a significant difference between the two genders in this category.

Does that mean you should develop your app for Apple first if your company’s primary target market is men?

Not necessarily.

I included this graphic for a reason because it’s a perfect example of misleading information.

While the research may be interesting, it doesn’t necessarily translate to your marketing strategy.

I do lots of consulting with companies and see this mistake all the time.

Someone on their marketing team comes across something like this and starts making assumptions.

Don’t jump to conclusions.

This research just says that men spend more on Apple products. It doesn’t say that more men have Apple devices than women.

In reality, it’s the opposite.

There’s a greater chance of a woman having an iPhone than a man.

But 5% isn’t enough of a significant difference to develop your marketing strategy around.

Plus, this doesn’t account for tablets.

You need to dig deeper.

What about annual income?

On average, users who have an Apple device make 40% more each year than Android users.

So if you’ve got a company that targets a wealthier demographic, the iOS platform may be a better place for you to start.

In addition to their economic status, Apple users also:

• Have more engagement
• Spend more money per app
• Have higher educational degrees

These are some valuable pieces of information that you can use to your advantage when making this decision.

Here’s something else to consider.

95% of Apple mobile users are running their devices on iOS 10 or iOS 11, which are the two latest software versions.

You want to make sure that your app is running smoothly and fully optimized at all times.

So iOS development isn’t a bad idea for your company if you have the ability to make constant updates for your app in order to keep up with Apple’s latest software requirements.

When else is the best to develop your app for Apple first?

If you have lots of time and money.

Despite everything else we’ve just covered about iOS users and how their behavior is related to your company, that’s the reality of the situation.

Developing an app for Apple is expensive.

It’s also going to take a really long time complete the process.

Once it’s built and your app finally launches, it will continue to cost you lots of money.

Regular maintenance isn’t cheap either.

Plus you’ll need to pay for third party subscriptions, server space, and other hidden expenses associated with development and maintenance.

Large corporations can afford this, but these costs aren’t reasonable for the average person.

When to develop for Android first

As we just discussed, there are definitely some circumstances where it makes sense to develop on the iOS platform first.

Well, the same holds true for Android.

While statistically speaking, Apple users may have more money and higher education, Android users just completely dominate global web traffic from mobile devices.

So the chances are higher that you can find your target market somewhere within this group.

But saying that you can’t go wrong by developing on Android first would be an overstatement.

As I said earlier, the split between Android and Apple is closer to 50/50 in the United States.

So if you have an American business and you’re building an app to enhance the customer experience, Android won’t always be the clear winner.

But here’s a scenario when it will be.

Do you plan on using push notifications to keep users engaged?

It’s a great strategy to drive sales and increase ROI.

3.48% of Android users open push notifications, while only 1.77% of push notifications get opened on Apple devices.

Android users are also more likely to opt-in to receive additional notifications.

So if this is part of your marketing strategy when it comes to targeting users after they’ve already downloaded the app, I’d lean towards starting with Android.

Here’s something else to consider when it comes to your marketing strategy.

Before you can entice users with push notifications, you’ll need to get them to download your app in the first place.

What’s your budget for cost per install (CPI)?

Well, the average CPI for Android is nearly half the cost of iOS apps.

So not only will you have a larger audience to reach, but it’s cheaper to get those people to download your app as well.

But those downloads won’t necessarily translate to money, depending on your business.

Android users are less likely to make an in-app purchase than Apple users.

So that’s not good news for ecommerce apps or for those of you who plan to offer paid apps.

However, if you have a great strategy set in place for mobile ads, developing on Android first could benefit you.

That’s the leading source of revenue for the Android platform.

Due to the points that we just talked about, it’s more expensive for you to develop a long term customer relationship on Android.

But even though that cost is higher, you have a better chance of getting more long term customers, simply because there are so much more Android users out there.

Remember earlier when we talked about how Apple users stay up to date on their operating software?

Well, here’s how Google stacks up.

Less than 20% of Android devices are running on Nougat and Oreo, which are the two latest operating systems that were released.

You will obviously still need to make changes and improvements to your app after it launches.

But you won’t need to do this in order to keep up with new regulations based on the most recent Android operating system.

You’ll just need to make sure that your app is compatible with older versions of the Android software as well.

It’s also easier for your app to get approved on the Google Play Store.

Basically, it’s a quick process that just makes sure you’re not violating any of the policies.

The approval process is automated and mainly focuses on violations such as spyware, malware, copyright infringement, and sexual content.

It’s a much more lenient approval compared to the iOS App Store.

Similar to Apple, if you’re going to develop on Android first, you need lots of time and money.

Actually, you’ll need even more money.

The Android development process costs 30% more than Apple.

It takes a long time too.

So if you’re in a financial position where you can afford to tie up the majority of your funds in development for the next year, go ahead.

But this isn’t realistic for all startups and small businesses.

There’s a third way: hybrid app

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of having to choose between Apple or Android development, building a hybrid app is the solution.

Hybrid development allows you to develop on both operating systems at the same time.

They get built using HTML5 and JavaScript on the web.

One of the best parts of a hybrid app is that it doesn’t require any complicated coding skills.

Anyone can do it.

Since you can build these without code, it’s not necessary to hire an app developer.

This cuts down on costs tremendously.

It also significantly speeds up the process.

You won’t need to wait a year to launch your app like you would through native development.

It’s all about finding the right platform to customize your hybrid app on the web.

I know that I’m a little biased, but I highly recommend BuildFire’s system.

Look at how affordable the pricing options are.

Now compare these numbers to the quotes you got from various app developer agencies.

There’s really no comparison.

What you pay for a month using BuildFire would barely cover an hour of work from a developer.

Cross platform apps are ideal for people who don’t want to choose between iOS and Android.

You can launch your app on both operating systems simultaneously without having to build two separate apps.

It’s also the best option for people who can’t reasonably afford native development costs and want their app available for users to download as fast as possible.

Final Thoughts on Android and iOS Development

So, which is the best operating system to build on first?

It depends.

There are certain scenarios that favor Apple, like if you’re targeting an American audience with higher education and a substantial annual income.

But there are circumstances where Android development makes more sense too.

Like if your target market is global and you’re planning to drive sales through ads instead of in-app purchases.

Both of these platforms have one thing in common. Mobile app development isn’t always easy.

It’s going to take a long time to develop your app, and it’s going to cost a ton of money.

Not everyone has unlimited time and funds.

That’s why hybrid apps are the solution.

Services like BuildFire can help you build your app without worrying about the operating system.

It’s less expensive, faster to build, and easier to maintain.

This will help you focus on the user experience and get more customers on both the iOS and Android platforms.

Will you develop on Apple, Android, or decide to build both simultaneously with hybrid development?

The post IOS vs Android: Which Should You Build Your Mobile App on First appeared first on Buildfire.

Our phones are now an integral part of our lives and we’re more mobile than ever. One of the most recent US Mobile App Reports from comScore indicates that:

• We now spend 50% of our digital media time in smartphone apps
• Time spent in mobile apps absolutely dominates over mobile web
• We most often only access 20 or fewer apps in a month, but we position them on our screens in a way that makes them easily accessible

And what’s even more interesting is the fact that our choice of smartphone and mobile platform can speak volumes about our behavior, habits, and even personality.

This post will help you understand the different context your app may face between iOS and Android users. It will also show you why you may want to measure your app’s success differently because of this.

Let’s go!

But first, the basics on smartphone users and the mobile OS market share

Let’s begin by covering some basics on the mobile operating systems market. Android devices and Apple devices combined make up over 97% of the mobile OS global market share. And as of August 2017, Android smartphones take up almost exactly two thirds (64%) of those! 

Because of its broad price range and a lower entry-level price point, Android has the largest global share in lower income areas and developing nations. It holds an advantage over Apple in emerging markets such as Asia and Africa.

Apple, however, dominates the profit share despite Google’s global dominance of market share because the average iOS user is more active that the average Android user.

They offer different capabilities

While these two operating systems dominate the percentage of smartphones sold across the globe, there are several key differences between Android and iOS that affect user experience at its foundation and the choices we make when we engage with either of them.

Apple is incredibly strict when it comes to app submissions, push notifications, rules and timelines, and they push operating system updates to users to ensure consistent experience for them.

On another hand, Android apps and app listings can be updated without a human review. They are also fragmented across various phone manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, HTC and Motorola, which gives a customizable experience to the end user.

Now, both of these scenarios come with benefits and disadvantages, and if you ask the users of either iOS or Android, they will tell you it’s exactly what they want. Apple users are usually loyal to the consistent experience across all their devices and any updates that come along, while Android users vouch for the freedom and customizability their devices provide.

This just goes to show that, while all smartphones are similar in their core purpose, each user sees their own smartphone in a unique way.

Android vs. iOS Users: Differences in core demographics

As mentioned earlier, Android currently has the largest global platform share compared to the iOS market share, with a particular prominence in lower income areas and developing nations. Comparatively, iOS users typically have higher income, higher education levels, more engagement, and spend more per app. Of course, that doesn’t mean that those who have those same characteristics won’t own an Android device and will only use iOS devices. Instead, this data is simply indicative of the general Android population.

Men are slightly more likely to be iOS users than women. Android seems to be the most common platform among all age groups, but its edge over iOS was a bit smaller in the 65+ age bracket.

While the age and gender differences of users between platforms probably aren’t significant enough to influence a platform decision for an app, income and location definitely shouldn’t be neglected. As you’ll see below, this can impact actions like in-app purchases and paid subscriptions, which plays a huge role for a business model that relies on such behavior!

Does personality play a role?

Believe it or not, we apparently choose our smartphones based on how introverted or extroverted we are! According to a study, Android users are less extroverted than iPhone users, and they are perceived to have greater levels of honesty and humility.

Android users are also more likely to prefer saving their money and to say they tend to follow, while their iOS counterparts prefer spending their money and they’re more likely to say they tend to lead.

However, I wouldn’t be too concerned about the personality differences when it comes to the platform choice for an app; every user is unique in a much more granular way than a study can show. As long as you focus on your app’s goal and your user’s intent, you’re good to go!

The approach to technology

According to a poll conducted by Hunch.com, iOS users are more likely to be early adopters and to have first used the internet before 1992. They also seem to be loyal to Apple, as they are more than 100% more likely to own a Mac computer compared to Android users.

On the other side of the spectrum, Android users seem to be late adopters and they are less likely to backup their computer. They prefer a full-featured device at the expense of its appearance, and they are more likely to use Yahoo Mail as opposed to owning an email domain associated with work or their website.

Push notifications behavior

It’s fascinating to see that even actions like reacting to push notifications vary so much between Android and iOS users. This will help you benchmark your open rates better based on the device your user is on!

About 3.5% of Android users open push notifications, while just under 1.8% iOS users open them. One of the reasons for this discrepancy may be the fact that push notifications on Android stay visible on the lock screen until the user actions on them. On an iPhone, they disappear after the first screen unlock.

There’s a chance that this exact difference in features causes iOS users to open push notifications quicker. It only takes an average of 7 minutes for an iOS user to respond to a push notification, compared to 48 minutes for Android user. This may indicate a higher quality of interaction when it comes to Apple users.

Acquisition, in-app engagement and retention

Liftoff released an interesting set of data that covers the cost necessary to acquire a mobile user who subscribes to a paid service, as well as the post-install engagement activity.

This data is segmented based on whether the app main goal was registration, reservation, purchase, in-app purchase, or a subscription. Here’s how the cost per acquisition varies between iOS and Android:

(source: Liftoff 2016 Mobile Index)

When it comes to user engagement after installing the app, iOS outperforms Android in all the mentioned categories, except for the registrations, where Android has a narrow advantage:

(source: Liftoff 2016 Mobile Index)

On average, iPhone users engage with their smartphone apps for nine more hours in a given month than Android users.

iPhone owners are sometimes described as smartphone “power users” and tend to engage with more content on average. On another hand, the Android platform has a greater number of media users in each category.

This means you may want to consider whether audience size or engagement is the more important determinant of success for your app. Which one means more to you: a higher number of users, or the users that engage more? A lot will depend on the goal you set for your mobile app.

Consumer spend and mCommerce

As I mentioned earlier, there seems to be a gap between the purchase power of an average iPhone user compared to an Android user.

The median iPhone app user earns $85,000 per year, which is 40% more than the median Android phone user with an annual income of $61,000. And even though Android has far more downloads than iOS, iPhone users spend twice as much as their Android counterparts. Also, in Q1 of 2017, iOS spending jumped 45% year-on-year, while Android’s grew 40%.

The average in-app shopping check is four times higher for an iOS user! If you’d want to develop a mobile shopping app, iOS development would make all the sense. However, Android users love digital utility apps like launchers, anti-virus apps and performance boosters, and they are ready to pay for those and spend on them 5 times more than iOS users.

iPhone owners are also more likely to make purchases on their phones on a regular basis. These are important considerations for both retail app developers and those seeking to monetize via paid apps or in-app purchase. Mobile ads are the main source of revenue generation in Android apps.

Loyalty to a specific platform

When compared to the Google Android user base, iOS users are more loyal and have more spending power. As I touched on briefly earlier, Android users love the openness of the platform and they like to customize their device, while iOS users like to keep their devices straightforward and spend more time on trying out various apps.

It seems that iPhone owners tend to think very highly of their devices, and are likely to remain iPhone users over time as a result of that. And while the percentage of highly satisfied Android owners is fairly high – 48% – it is quite below the 62% of iPhone owners that feel the same about their smartphone.

When to choose which one

With the growth of both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, the ideal development path you can take is hybrid development for both platforms. The majority of apps can work perfectly across both, and it’s easier to build that way upfront, instead of building for one app store and adding the other one over time.

If you’re set on choosing one platform over the other, however, keep the following in mind:

• Developing for Android makes sense if your target audience is significantly focused on Android, as well as when you’re focusing on customizing Android user experience and adding to the personalization power that Android has
• iOS first makes sense when your goals align with the consumer spend, high in-app engagement and loyalty that makes iPhone users valuable; Apple has also reduced approval times and the time to market is working to your benefit

Hopefully, this data gave you some insight into your current and/or future app audience. With some significant differences that we covered, you can now look at your engagement rates, in-app behavior and your success measurement with more insight into what lies behind your user’s actions.

Which differences do you find the most relevant to your current or future app development? Let us know!

The post iPhone Users vs. Android Users: How Do They Behave Differently? appeared first on Buildfire.