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Mobile app development refers to the process of developing applications for mobile devices such as cell phones or tablets. The market for mobile applications is constantly growing and nowadays it is almost surprising if a company or service does not offer an app.
In just a few years, we have become accustomed to using apps in all areas of our lives. Our cell phones are always within reach, so we can quickly and conveniently make bank transfers or order food on the go, pay, open the office door or book the next flight with our cell phones. Apps have become an integral part of our everyday lives. According to a representative survey, Germans have installed an average of 31 apps in 2023 compared to 25 in the previous year. App usage is also expected to increase in 2024.
On the subject of app development, we spoke to Bartek, who has been working at Vialutions for two years as a computer scientist specializing in app development.
Quote: “Developing apps is a lot of fun, every project is unique and interesting. The best feeling is when the app is available in the store and I can install it on my own phone knowing that I have created it.”
Mobile app development is not only about applications installed on the device itself, which are downloaded from the app store, but also responsive applications and web applications. The applications are divided into different types:
These applications are usually created using tools and programming languages that are supported by the manufacturer of the respective platforms, e.g. iOS from Apple or Android from Google. For iOS, for example, the code language Swift or Objective C is used, for Android Kotlin or Java. A native app is therefore developed for a specific operating system. Native apps offer the best possible performance and user experience for the respective operating system.
These apps are basically browser applications in a native guise. They are based on common web technologies, but are packaged as native apps in a webview container. Hybrid apps can be used both on mobile devices and in the browser. According to Bartek, this approach is less popular due to poorer performance, among other things. Access to native functions is also restricted.
From a technical perspective, web apps correspond to mobile websites that are accessed via a web browser. These are developed once and can be used with any operating system.
At Vialutions, we prefer to develop mobile apps with the Flutter framework.
With Flutter, apps can be developed cross-mobile, i.e. for iOS or Android as well as for other platforms and even for web applications and desktop apps (Windows client, MacOS app) on the basis of a common code base. This makes it possible to develop apps for different platforms in just one framework, which saves time and effort both during development itself and for future adaptations or extensions.
As a specialist in the development of individual software solutions and applications, our approach is agile. The advantage of this is that the customer is always closely involved in the development process, which increases the quality of the app and reduces effort and costs.
Do you have an idea for an app, ideally even with a business plan and marketing plan? Perfect. In the consulting and conception phase, we discuss the customer’s wishes and requirements in a joint workshop. The functionalities are clarified and questions such as Who should use my app? Which functions are necessary and which are nice to have? What type of application is best suited to my idea? Once these basics and questions have been clarified and both sides agree on the common path, the project can begin.
Whether a design has already been finalized or there is only a rough idea: the early involvement of UX/UI specialists is essential. This allows the app developer to concentrate on the functionality while also ensuring an optimal user experience. Design is even more important in the mobile environment: after all, the app has to look good on countless different devices, both in portrait and landscape format. Interesting insights can also arise when it comes to multilingualism, for example when a longer German translation of a very short English term suddenly no longer fits on the designed button.
You can read more about the importance of UX/UI in the interview with our specialist Iga.
In this phase, a click dummy is often created first, which visually shows the customer the way through the app. This enables a better mutual understanding of the project and can also make it easier to define the necessary functionalities. Start-ups often use the click dummy to illustrate their idea to potential investors.
The next step is the actual programming of the app or the enhancement of the click dummy with functionalities. As already described, there are various languages and approaches here, which we coordinate on a customer-specific basis.
Extensive testing is essential before the app is delivered. At Vialutions, an experienced and well-coordinated team of testers ensures that the app does what it is supposed to do. With the agile approach, the app is improved iteratively anyway, so that no major problems usually arise in this phase. You can find out more about software testing here.
Vialutions also provides App Store support. After all, the app does not get into the stores by itself. This process can sometimes be quite complicated. All apps are checked very carefully by Apple, Google and others on the basis of various guidelines. This can lead to pitfalls that an experienced app developer knows and avoids. It normally takes around a week for an uploaded app to be available.
The constant maintenance and updating of the application should not be left out of the project. In most cases, changes and enhancements are the result of user feedback and own ideas.
Bartek: “It’s really cool to see that the app I developed is being downloaded by more and more users. The positive reviews are great feedback for me.”
Depending on the size of the project, the entire app development process can sometimes be completed in just a few weeks, from the initial idea to outlining the functionalities, design and programming through to delivery. We are proud of our app projects such as the DoctoRead app, which makes it possible to translate specialist medical texts into simple, understandable language.
Do you have an idea for an app? Feel free to contact us!