Application Development

Application development, also called app development, is the process of designing, creating, testing and deploying software applications for specific business, brand or user needs. It involves several phases, such as planning, designing, coding, testing and deployment. The deployment phase is the final phase that signals the functionality of the application. 

Key Aspects and Features of Application Development:

Purpose:

Applications are mostly designed to automate tasks, improve processes and provide solutions to various challenges faced by businesses or brands. 

Types

App development encompasses a wide range of software, such as web applications, mobile apps, desktop software and enterprise systems. 

Process:

The app development process usually follows a structured approach. This approach involves:

a) Requirements Gathering:

This involves defining specific features, functionalities, and user requirements of the application. 

b) Design: 

This involves creating the structure, layout, and user interface of the application. 

c) Coding/Development: 

This involves writing the code in order to fully implement the design. 

d) Testing: 

This involves testing the application to ensure that it functions correctly and meets the specified requirements and specifications.  

e) Deployment: 

After testing the application, the next phase is application deployment. This involves making the application available to users by uploading to servers or applicable platforms.

f) Maintenance: 

This is a technical process used to tackle bugs, update features and provide continuous support for the application. 

App Development Techniques:

App development is done using two major techniques or methodologies. They include:

a) Planned Development

This technique is a structured approach where requirements are fully defined upfront. 

b) Iterative Development (Agile) 

This app development technique is a more flexible approach where the application is developed incrementally with frequent releases and feedback. 

What is application development? 

Application development is defined as the art and science of creating software that solves problems, improves efficiency, and meets the needs of users or businesses. It is a technical process that begins with the gathering of requirements for a specific computer program, then designing, programming, testing, deployment and finally, maintenance. Computer programming may be as simple as an expense tracker to an advanced ERP system. 

What are the main steps in the application development process?

Step 1: Requirements gathering

This is the first step in any app development. The requirements of the process that need to be digitized should be gathered and business requirements collected. 

Step 2: Design

The next phase is the design phase, which involves outlining the complete architecture of the application. This includes user interface (UI) design, user experience (UX) design and technology stack selection. Designers and software architects align both the front end and the back end of the app in line with user or business needs and expectations. 

Step 3: Development

During the application development phase, software developers use programming languages, frameworks and other technical tools to create the application based on the design and plan. 

Step 4: Testing

Here the app is tested extensively for bugs and defects as well as for function, usability, security and performance.

Step 5: Deployment

Once testing is completed and quality assurance established, the next phase is the deployment. Apps may be deployed on web servers, mobile stores or other cloud environments where users can access them. 

Step 6: Maintenance

App maintenance is a key aspect of application development. Applications need to be periodically maintained and updated. This update, done by app developers, is targeted at bringing in new features based on user feedback, bug fixing and other security measures. 

Need Web Solutions?

What are the 5 main application development methodologies?

The five main app development methodologies are:

1) Waterfall

This methodology is done in a linear, sequential process, such that each step’s output feeds into the next, similar to a cascading waterfall. Once the project is deployed, the final software is available for users. This methodology is most suited for well-defined short-term projects.

2) Iterative

The iterative model allows development teams to build small parts of an app solution and make additions progressively, and test it with each new build. This model is flexible and is best suited for well-defined medium-term projects. In this case, the app may be made available for users while further developments continue in the background. 

3) V-model

The V-model has a verification phase for each step of the application development process and ensures that there is consistent validation across the flow. The model is similar to the waterfall model but comes with verification phases and is best suited for small-to-medium projects.  

4) Agile

The Agile model supports rapid application development by taking the best of the iterative model and adding a time component to it, so that a working piece of software can be quickly developed. This process allows smaller projects to be merged into builds and added to the base app and releases made weekly or monthly. 

5) Spiral

The Spiral model is mostly suited for projects that appear vague at the start and would need a lot of change during the building process. It promotes high flexibility and faster prototyping. The model is ideal for medium-to-long-term projects and works in iterative phases. 

Types of app development

There are different types depending on your business needs. 

What are the various types of application development?

This includes:

1) Web app development

2) Database app development

3) Rapid app development

4) Low-code app development

5) Mobile app development

6) No-code app development

7) Custom app development

8) IoT app development

9) Enterprise app development

Web application development

This involves the development of apps that are accessible through web browsers. Web apps are built and designed to function seamlessly across different platforms or form factors. Mobile app developers use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build web apps. A typical example of a web app is an online marketplace that allows users to buy or sell various products across different platforms. 

Database app development

This involves the development of database apps that provide software solutions with core capabilities for managing reports and retrieving database records for better data storage and organization. An example of a database application is Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software that enables businesses to store and manage customer information efficiently. 

Rapid app development

Rapid app development is a software development method that is focused on faster prototyping and iteration, with a focus on speeding up the application life cycle. This method uses tools or methodologies that enable or support faster app creation and publishing. 

Low-code app development

This method employs platforms that require minimal coding, and allows users with little or no technical skills to create sophisticated software programs. Visual development tools and prebuilt components are incorporated into these platforms to speed up app deployment.

Mobile application development

This involves the development of apps specifically for mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. The majority of mobile software applications are mostly published on an OS-specific native app store developed with Swift, as in the case of IOS for the Apple App Store, or developed with Kotlin in the case of Android, for Google Play. Cross-platform technology such as React Native is also used to develop some apps that are simultaneously deployed on different platforms. 

No-code app development

This method allows non-technical users to create stunning and functional applications using special tools. These tools allow users to build basic to semi-complex applications with the help of intuitive visual builders and pre-built components. While providing support for building simple project management solutions, the no-code method does not support building complex applications such as CRMs or ERPs.

Custom application development

Custom app development is used to develop bespoke solutions for specific business requirements, enabling the resulting product to have functionalities that are contextual and meet the specifications of the originating business unit. This method is mostly adopted when off-the-shelf application development does not solve a requirement.

IoT app development

This method is used to create applications for the Internet of Things, which act as the messenger between and controller of smart devices. Typical examples are mobile apps that allow users to control lighting around their homes or apps that support home security systems. 

Enterprise application development

This app development method is used to build enterprise software systems to manage complex processes that control the connection and organization of the actions/data of thousands of employees or customers. The solution requires implementation and integrations between multiple applications and databases with the resulting end-to-end systems. 

Importance of Apps to business growth:

How does an app contribute to business growth?

Apps contribute immensely to business growth and development as follows

1) Improved customer experience (CX)

Apps provide enhanced accessibility, capability and convenience to users and customers seeking products and services. Apps are able to communicate the status of an order/service with increased avenues to initiate support or feedback flows. Amazon, Uber, Alibaba and Jumia are some of the most popular BC2 apps that provide ecommerce solutions. These apps are easily downloadable in various platforms and app stores.  These apps are developed using advanced application development tools and techniques. 

2) Increased efficiency

Apps increase business efficiency by improving communication, streamlining processes and automating tedious tasks. They provide analytics tools that provide insights into business performance, and hence allow businesses to identify areas of improvement, create data-driven solutions and improve overall operations. Apps help to centralize data management, optimize workflows and reduce communication gaps through the use of collaborative features. 

3) Customized solutions

Apps provide customized solutions that align seamlessly with existing processes, improving efficiency and intuitiveness. They improve employee productivity and overall customer experience, and allow businesses to build competitive advantages as they make customized software systems implementation to align with their business needs.  Developers must implement application development with advanced features that provide businesses with advanced customization tools. 

4) Deeper analysis

Apps help businesses to generate critical data that can be analyzed to gain insights into process efficiency, customer behavior and feedback.  Businesses can use this information to improve overall processes, design and implement targeted campaigns in order to improve customer engagement and increase customer value and conversion. 

Need Web Solutions?

Differences between application development and software development. 

How is app development different from software development?

App development

This involves developing applications specific to platforms such as mobile operating systems or desktop environments. These applications are targeted at delivering a stunning user interface (UI) and satisfying user experience (UX) with the aim of developing tailored solutions with specific functionalities geared towards meeting the needs of the target audience or business requirements. 

Software development

This involves developing applications, system software, middleware, and diverse applications that run on multiple platforms, from desktop computers to embedded systems. Software development provides multiple distribution channels, such as physical media, online repositories or direct downloads. It has a broad spectrum of purposes that exceeds the scope of single applications. It is fair to say that application development is a key part of software development. 

Application development best practices

1) Have clear objectives such as app purpose, key modules and clear user profiles. 

2) Implement unit integration and user acceptance testing. 

3) Conduct proper research on the market fit and need of the solution to be developed

4) Ensure user interface and rewarding user experience design.

5) Implement robust security measures and undertake regular updates. 

6) Make proper documentation of code, API and architecture for future reference. 

7) Ensure your apps are operable and compatible across multiple platforms. 

Low-code/no-code vs traditional application development

How low-code is transforming app development

The low-code/no-code app development platform is used mostly by users who lack the requisite technical or programming skills to develop applications. The platform offers users opportunities to create both web and mobile apps to meet specific requirements or business needs.

This method helps users to develop both front-end and back-end systems such as dashboards. Low-code/no-code requires a strong understanding of the domain in which the app is developed, while traditional app development requires advanced coding and programming skills to implement design. 

Commonly Used Apps

Most businesses require one or a combination of these apps.

1) Utility apps

2) Travel Apps

3) Real estate Apps

4) Restaurant Apps

5) E-Commerce Apps (both single vendor and multiple vendors)

6) GPS Apps

7) Taxi Apps

8) Food /Delivery Apps

How to develop web applications

Website application development can be achieved using the following strategies. 

1) Plan the development by gathering relevant app requirements.

2) Implement intuitive web application design 

3) Design effective user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design

4) Put all things together and develop the application. 

5) Deploy the application for use. 

What skills are required for application development?

Knowledge of high-level programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby and PHP is critical for app development. You may also require knowledge of other markup languages such as HTML and CSS. 

Depending on the scope of the project and other requirements, you may also require additional skills such as C, C++ or C#.