Part 1:
What is App Development? An Overview
Part 2:
Is App development hard? How?
Part 3:
Should I outsource my App Development?
Part 1.
What is App Development?
An Overview
The design of computer applications for use on mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones, and smartwatches is referred to as software growth.
Mobile device features like cameras, motion, and position awareness can be used to develop new and innovative mobile-only applications for taxi and bike-sharing, for example. Users can download and install additional applications from Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Popular apps for searching, browsing, and social networking are typically preinstalled on mobile devices. Developers will want to learn how to code for both Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems because mobile apps are designed and developed for various operating systems.
Part 2.
Is App development hard? How?
Mobile development, particularly native development, is difficult. Although the tools and SDKs have vastly improved over time, the basics have remained constant. The inconsistency of mobile devices is the beginning of the problems.
Programming for these instruments is appealing since they provide a wide range of sensors and measurements. Also, you can use a range of network networking approaches in your applications.
Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing what condition these sensors or data links would be in when a consumer opens your app, so you'll need to apply extra logic to manage a wide range of scenarios. Data links are inherently transient and susceptible to failure.
If your software is entirely reliant on a network connection, you’ll have to deal with a lot of mitigation that you wouldn’t usually have to deal with in a web or laptop application. Apps can be run in the background at any time.
Your cache can be emptied due to a lack of storage space. Memory will run out, and your program will be unable to run. Batteries run out, and so on. Mobile phones are whizzing through space, sucking in sips of data and GPS when they can while slowly draining their batteries. It is a challenging world in which to develop software.
App design and layout problems still exist across a variety of screen sizes and orientations. The number of screen sizes available for Android is in the hundreds. When designing your user interface, take special care to ensure that your software runs smoothly on all of your target devices.
During this process, a slew of time-consuming bugs will appear. As new and improved versions of iOS and Android are launched, the apps will face much more significant challenges as the issue of supporting both new and old versions of the system arises.
Things that work well in one version could not work in the next. It can take a considerable amount of time to account for the variations, depending on your audience’s needs. Both the hardware and software versions of Android are highly fragmented.
There are over 11,000 different Android devices on the market right now, making the OS mix the most fragmented it’s ever been.
The SDKs are constantly improving, and they aim to offer developers versatility and independence while abstracting away the majority of the challenging material.
When it comes to using stuff like touch and swipe gestures, radio and accelerometer data, camera and video hardware, and so on, the price you pay for that independence is that you’re responsible for more of the job. And when data is involved, managing and transitioning between displays are difficult.
Anything that needs to be developed for your application takes much longer than when developing desktop or web applications. Many people have tried to create mobile apps using HTML and JavaScript or using tools like Appcelerator as a fast fix. Appcelerator is a JavaScript-based SDK for cross-platform application development that includes mobile test automation, crash detection, and performance monitoring, as well as mobile analytics.
Can I build an app myself or do I need a team?
It will take at least a year or two to develop a tangible, saleable product, even though you are a genius of a developer who can masterfully execute both coding and designing.
That’s because there’s an insane amount of detail to pay attention to. When it comes to actually release a product that’s worthy of consumer attention, particularly when consumers have access to over 3 billion other apps.
That is why you need a whole team. You need a team filled with experienced and innovative designers and developers and a few other people like project managers and QA analysts. You need the right people who understand your vision and are familiar with the territory you are operating in.
For starters, here are some people you might need on your app development project:
Visionary
Also called a project manager, strategist, or business consultant. They are the glue that holds all of the teams together and serves as the client’s key point of touch. Managers serve as a link between the desires of the client and the implementations of the production team.
The visionary encompasses various tasks while also capturing the primary role of the position: directing the entire project toward the vision of an ideal mobile app. To do so, they must be well-versed in management, development methodologies, mobile development, and the business sector targeted by the mobile project.
They must ensure that the app is consistent and that it corresponds to the consumer’s requests and suggestions.
A visionary is a leader who is responsible for:
The SDKs are constantly improving, and they aim to offer developers versatility and independence while abstracting away the majority of the challenging material.
When it comes to using stuff like touch and swipe gestures, radio and accelerometer data, camera and video hardware, and so on, the price you pay for that independence is that you’re responsible for more of the job. And when data is involved, managing and transitioning between displays are difficult.
Anything that needs to be developed for your application takes much longer than when developing desktop or web applications. Many people have tried to create mobile apps using HTML and JavaScript or using tools like Appcelerator as a fast fix. Appcelerator is a JavaScript-based SDK for cross-platform application development that includes mobile test automation, crash detection, and performance monitoring, as well as mobile analytics.
A visionary is a leader who is responsible for:
- have a solid technical background,
- have a good understanding of the business line,
- inspire, manage and lead human resources,
- possess a high sense of responsibility,
- be good at multitasking.
Designers
Experts in the mobile design must normally start with documentation. The team devises the app’s navigation mechanics and builds simple wireframes after processing the specifications. The app’s look and feel are then worked on, with designers replicating UI/UX for specific platforms or developing a stand-alone version for hybrid applications.
You may need two or more designers in your team, depending on the size and complexity of your app. They design the app’s interfaces, color palettes, and other graphical elements.
A typical design team should include the following people:
- Content Plannert
- Navigation Planner
- Visual Planner
- Strategis
Developers
Your app’s backbone is made up of developers. They bring even the most incredible features to life. Allowing a user to pick a picture of a house and display it in real-time is an example. They take completed UI/UX layouts and put them all together in an actual application.
Developers should have prior experience with the platform and its languages:
- Java for Android
- Swift for iOS
C# for Windows Phone Other skills will be needed for cross-platform mobile app development:
- HTML/CSS/JavaScript for PhoneGap and Cordova
- C# for Xamarin
- JavaScript for React Native
Quality Assurance Analysts
The first and most important audience for the final product is QA experts. They have the authority to determine whether a mobile app is ready to be presented to a consumer or released to the market while they are testing it. They should list all of the possible changes and demonstrate why they are essential.
Sales and Marketing Specialists
Without the efforts of the sales and marketing teams, all of the product delivery efforts will be for naught. Sales and marketing professionals transform a product into profit and consolidate the success of a massive teamwork. By communicating with consumers, collaborating on a product name, and designing promotional materials.
How much does it cost?
It isn’t easy to estimate the exact cost of mobile app growth. Simply because many factors affect the final cost of an app development project. As a result, we can only make an educated guess. There are many budget-forming variables for mobile app growth that will assist you in determining the cost of an app’s development.
The scope of features and software used and your chosen platform, and the position of your developers all influence the cost of outsourcing app creation. The longer it takes to develop an app, the more complicated it is. As a result, the construction would be more costly.
The following is a list that contribute to mobile app development costs:
- App functionality and purpose - what an app would be able to do for its users
- Mobile platforms and devices supported - if an app will be built for iOS only or will also have an Android version
- Integration points- the complexity of visual things heavily influences the cost of an app within it.
- Use of smartphone hardware features- if an app can use smartphone features including GPS navigation, NFC technology, motion co-processors, augmented reality technology, and other innovations in smartphones and tablet computers.
- Maintenance plan- when an app development project is completed, the app developers will almost certainly be required to provide technical support.
Having said that, we can apply some standard or average metrics for software development project costs to various types of applications.
Based on reports from many firms that have calculated these mobile app development costs based on consumer projects:
- Simple app development: $40,000 - $60,000
- Medium complexity app development: $61,000 - $120,000
- Complex app development: $120,000+
- Cost to hire app developers: $90,000/year
Part 3.
Should I outsource my App Development?
The best aspects outsourcing can bring to the table are diverse skills and a wealth of experience. Specialists with a variety of talents can be found in an organization that focuses on creating apps for various companies.
As a result, any questions can be confronted head-on, and concerns can be resolved quickly. On the other hand, Outsourcing appears to give you less personal autonomy since you are not in the same physical space as the team and, in some cases, also in the same time zone. As a result, communication problems arise.
Outsourcing software creation can also be less expensive than hiring your own team. Also, if you want to employ an outsourcing firm headquartered in another region. Even so, it would be less expensive than other in-house production options.
As for whether you should outsource mobile app development or not, here is a brief comparison to help you better decide.
Pros and Cons of Outsourcing App Development
Keep in mind that the type of development team or freelance programmer you need to recruit will be determined by the amount of work involved in developing your app. Both examples, however, may have similar or dissimilar advantages and disadvantages.
For a freelance app developer, these include:
Pros
cheaper than the majority of businesses
there are some really talented developers out there
save time by reducing meetings and simply testing stuff once in a while
Cons
platform and technology specializations are popular among freelance developers
there are no guarantees or safeguards in place to secure clients
communication and time management can be difficult with freelancers, particularly if they are in different time zones.
While for mobile app development companies, we have:
Pros
Immediately, a full team can be assembled.
All, including the cost and scope of work, has been formalized.
Diverse professionals are available to assist when needed and qualified.
The planning process is well-organized.
Cons
More expensive than freelance app developers who work on a freelance basis.
Companies can be less versatile than freelancers in their work.
When the production team performs something that differs from the client’s expectations, there is a chance of an expectation mismatch.
In the end, your decision will be based on the scope of work required, the type of app being developed, and your budget.
For a simple app, choosing to outsource app creation to freelance developers may be a good option. Freelancers are typically good at one or two items. If the features you need fall within the app developer’s area of specialization and level of expertise, you can save a lot of money.
Some freelancers partner with others, creating teams that are similar to those seen at outsourcing companies. You will need to look for developers, designers, and quality assurance specialists individually in this situation.
How to outsource your project
When your app is more complex, you should consider hiring a mobile app development company to support you. With a dedicated organization, you’ll have access to all of the specialists you’ll need. When developing a mobile app from the ground up, having a whole team is more beneficial.
A good outsourcing firm can provide additional analysis and business analytics. However, having your own distinct vision of your product is critical. It will be easier to select a service provider and set standards about what you want to offer at the end if you have a solid outline for your app.
When you work with freelance software developers rather than a corporation, the consistency of your outlines becomes even more critical. Due to a misunderstanding, you can receive an app that is entirely different from what you expected.
As a result, be as straightforward and concise as possible when discussing issues such as: What you want to accomplish with your app, what problem does it solve for its users, what features do you want in it, and so on.
Estimate your budget
The companies available to you will vary based on how much money you have to spend on the app. The disparity can be significant at times. Despite common belief, the price gap between freelance app developers and companies is not always significant. It is possible to find an outsourcing firm that will not break the bank while also providing a quality service.
Research App Developers
That fit your collection of requirements: experience, expertise, and so on, from thousands of mobile app development companies. Then there’s the issue of geography and connectivity. There are three types of construction companies, based on their proximity to you:
Onshore developers - are in the same country as you are. They’re usually the best to contact because they’re so close to you.
Nearshore companies - are in neighboring countries or, at the very least, on the same continent as you.
Offshore developers - are the ones that are concentrated the farthest away. Working with them can be difficult due to the time difference. Your developers may wake up before you do, and vice versa. This problem can be solved with good communication, but both parties will have to make compromises.
Examine the Developers
When looking at how to outsource app production, you’ll want to choose a place early on because it will affect how you communicate with developers. Hiring onshore app developers could be the best option for you. Meetings are simple, and phone calls are simple, but they could be more expensive than working with offshore developers.
Examine the portfolios of software development firms and freelancers alike. Examine the developers to see if they’ve already worked on similar applications or innovations. Suppose they have some kind of certification or real-world experience. This is critical if you want to create a high-quality app. Checking feedback and comments left by previous clients is another way to determine whether you can hire an app developer.
It’s ideal to narrow your list of potential hires down to about five options. This way, you won’t spend too much time contacting each company or mobile app developer for a quote and a consultation. Contact the remaining companies or individual developers. So you can ask your prospects for more information. Such as what they have been working on that is not in the portfolio.
Whether they can have references, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how they communicate. To make a well-informed decision, inquire about facts you haven’t found online.
Where to hire app developers
When your app is more complex, you should consider hiring a mobile app development company to support you. With a dedicated organization, you’ll have access to all of the specialists you’ll need. When developing a mobile app from the ground up, having a whole team is more beneficial.
Where to hire app developers When it comes to recruiting freelance developers, Upwork.com is the most well-known service of its kind. It offers a diverse range of specialists for various business needs, but it lacks processes for vetting and matching specialists to a client’s requirements. TopTal.com is another viable choice. It has vetting and matching processes, which makes it more trustworthy. However, it is more costly.
Clutch.co is the best place to look for an app development company if you’re looking to outsource development. You can also use search engines and Quora to generate a list of possibilities to narrow down. On Clutch, you’ll almost certainly always be searching for details about your choices.
Alternatively, you can search for developers in your area, post flyers, or use social media to spread the word. When you work with freelance software developers rather than a corporation, the consistency of your outlines becomes even more critical. Due to a misunderstanding, you can receive an app that is entirely different from what you expected.
As a result, be as straightforward and concise as possible when discussing issues such as: What you want to accomplish with your app, what problem does it solve for its users, what features do you want in it, and so on.
