When you have an idea to build a mobile app or want to learn how to make a mobile app, you will encounter many questions, such as What to know before developing a mobile app? What is the lifecycle of a mobile app? What are the steps involved in creating an app? How do you create a mobile app from the ground up? How long does it take to create an app? & How can the mobile app development process be streamlined?
Our clients frequently ask us such queries. So we decided to produce a blog on the same topic that we could share with potential clients to assist them understand the app development workflow.
Table of Content:
#1 Project Requirements Meeting
Step-by-Step Mobile App Development Process
Here are nine stages to creating an app.
#1 Project Requirements Meeting
The first stage of the mobile app development process is to talk about your idea. It will allow you to understand the fundamentals of app development. This is usually what we expect when a client calls us.
What Do We Expect From You, Our Customers?
First, we need some basic information from you. Details such as those listed below.
What problem do you hope to solve with this app? What type of application do you want to create? Which is better, Android or iOS? How much money do you have set up for app development? What is the timetable for developing your app? Do you have any other apps that are similar to your app concept?
Digitalfren believes that “healthy conversations lead to trustworthy relationships for future ventures.” The more information we have about your proposal, the better we can assist you.
#2 Business Analysis and Prediction
We hold a kick-off meeting after the initial discussion and comprehension of your vision, where we decide on team members and make comments or proposals for your app development. Our meeting approach begins with QA involvement and test case availability.
Early involvement allows QA to better grasp your needs. Queries about the application flow are resolved right away.
After the requirement analysis and mobile app design are completed, QA begins the test case generation process. It necessitates 20% more labour than we had budgeted for testing. While writing test cases, we aim to cover all conceivable test scenarios.
We also prepare a test plan document to define the scope and objectives of the testing, although this is dependent on the project requirements. This enables us to produce an exact cost estimate for your app as well as a plausible concept of an actual mobile app or website.
We now make it official by signing the non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, after the test cases and cost estimation. Signing an NDA ensures that the information will be kept private between both parties. Let’s take a closer look at the procedure.
#3 NDA signing
Most businesses overlook this critical stage of app development. However, because this is a critical step in the development of a mobile app, we ensure that your concept is safe with us. It reduces the possibility of misconceptions or misinterpretation between the client and the app development business.
Following the completion of the project discussion and estimation, the next stage in mobile app development is to sign a project development agreement, which is required to work with Digitalfren.
We hold a kick-off meeting before beginning the development process. This meeting establishes the application developers and other project team members.
#4 Application Wireframing
Wireframing is one of the crucial Android Mobile App Development steps. To design a wireframe, it is essential to understand the project requirements thoroughly. Then, the communication methods (Slack, Skype, Basecamp) need to be understood.
Once the communication method is understood, the question of how much time will it take to design an app. The designing part is the most complex step of developing mobile apps. Before starting the development process, it is essential to finalize wireframing steps in mobile app development.
What exactly is a wireframe?
The wireframe can be thought of as a foundation for the application/website. It aids in understanding the system’s flow and provides a basic notion of how the system might function. The wireframe assists in precisely estimating the development timeline. It also aids designers in gaining an understanding of the system flow and generating perfect and accurate designs. The image below depicts an example of a wireframe.
What Is the Meaning of a Wireframe?
A wireframe enables you to create a comprehensive mobile app by bridging the gap between your initial concept and the final output.
For example, an app may have numerous functions, such as a chat feature. However, there are several other conversation formats, including one-on-one chat, group chat, and timeline management. That specific demand can be written down in wireframes, giving the stakeholder a concept of how the chat flow will work.
#5 UI/UX Design
The sample includes an app icon, a splash screen (the first screen), a log in or sign-up form, and a home page. We have prepared two UI/UX options for you. After receiving the samples, we wait for your comments before making any adjustments based on your preferences. This is only the first stage of application development.
Following final design clearance, we create a systematic mobile application development process flow to begin the process of making it a user-centric product utilising Flinto or Invision. We create an initial design of your entire app without writing a single line of code.
So far, we’ve just scratched the surface of the mobile app development process. To create a mobile app from scratch, though, you must have extensive understanding. You will learn 3 Tips to Design Highly Engaging Apps, 7 Steps to Design Innovative Mobile Apps, and UI to Improve User Experience by reading this eBook.
#6 Create Your Own Mobile Application from Scratch
Following the creation of app designs, mobile app developers get to work putting everything into motion. The project manager assigns tasks to the developers and develops the app step by step to meet the deadlines.
You should keep in mind that there are numerous app development languages available; nonetheless, you should always select the technology that best meets your mobile app development demands.
In addition, the process of developing a mobile app is divided into three stages.
Front end App Development : It is critical to create an interactive user interface for the front end. Even when the application is required to work without access to the internet, local data storage is required. It is proposed that a dynamic and engaging front-end be designed to make the mobile app useable for everyone. Only a proper combination of front end and back end will make an app interactive and usable in the end.
Defining Backend Development : Backend development improves the user experience of front-end apps. The mobile app backend includes database and server-side objects to support the functionality of your app.
API Integration : Request custom API development and integration and ensure that it functions properly for a given system. APIs enable the integration of programmes, data, and devices.
The progress of the app development and a detailed walkthrough of the developed app screens will be communicated using project management platforms such as Trello and Basecamp.
Creating a technology stack is also essential for creating a successful mobile app. The Android and iOS technology stacks are detailed in the tables below.
Designers and the QA team will be involved in the mobile application development process till it is completed. The section that follows contains detailed information regarding the app testing process.
Our developers created highly engaging mobile apps using front-end and back-end technologies, which resulted in remarkable success. Glovo, one of the mobile apps, is the most downloaded app in Spain, with over 30 million installations. Another app, TOR – VPN, was downloaded by over 100K people in less than a year. More information can be found in the next section.
#7 QA Testing
When you decide to create a new app, it is unavoidable that you will continue to test the app. It aids in keeping costs down while creating a high-quality software. The further you get into the mobile app development cycle, the more expensive it is to resolve the fault.
Our QA team always runs relevant test cases to ensure the app functions correctly, regardless of the type of mobile app.
Examine the distinction between functional and non-functional tests in the mobile app development process.
Functional Test : The app is evaluated against the client’s functional requirements/specifications using this type. It tests the user interface by providing the necessary input and expecting the correct output. In summary, all of the business’s user needs have been thoroughly tested.
Non-functional Test : It emphasises app software quality, particularly non-functional characteristics such as response speed, security, scalability, usability, and performance. It includes all tests that are not included in functional testing.
The programme is tested for usability, compatibility, interface compatibility, and performance. We have over 100 iOS and Android devices to check, locate, and resolve UI bugs. The devices vary in size, screen size, and operating system version.
Thus, this sort of testing assures that no functional faults are causing problems when the app is online and being used by app users.
QA sends a release notice with each build release to keep track of your mobile app testing phase. We develop and test concurrently in order to detect faults as early as possible. Parallel testing begins as soon as modules are created or a milestone is met.
First, we do unit and QA testing utilising a black-box testing method that is often used for functional and regression testing.
We release the programme to you after completing testing and making your application 100% bug-free and efficient from our end, which we call UTA (User Acceptance Testing).
#8 Launching Your Application
The App Store and Google Play Store have strict standards for making apps live, but we have much expertise in this area, and our experts assist our customers in getting their apps online. To far, we have successfully released over 4400 mobile apps with the assistance of our mobile app developers.
When you submit your software to the Apple software Store, it goes through a review process that can take anything from a few days to several weeks. It is determined by the quality of your software and how closely it adheres to the iOS development requirements. Aside from that, ensure that the mobile app testing is done correctly. If your programme requires a user log in, you must also submit a user account in addition to the developer account.
Android, unlike iOS, does not have a review mechanism. Within a few hours of submission, the app is available in the App Store. Once your app is live, our staff regularly watches and measures its success using mobile analytics tools. We also look into crash reports and other concerns submitted by users.
At Digitalfren we are constantly trying to be better and provide better for our clients, as a Mobile App Development Services Provider and Mobile App Development Company it is our goal to produce the best quality work that meet your every standard.
Looking for a Mobile App Builder? Contact us and book your first consultation today.