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5 Ways to Streamline App Development

Author: Romy Toma-Catauta

The app market is booming. The building, deploying, and marketing of your app is a great investment — if you have the right tools and if after that, you promote your app on social media. For example, there are companies such as Growthoid.com user ratings that can help you increase the number of your social media followers. Thus, more and more people will find out about your recently launched app. 

Streamlining the app development process is about approaching the process with an open mind and a lot of research. 

Too many app developers today face structural and organizational challenges that prevent them from creating their best work. 

Here are five ways to streamline your app development processes:

1. Use agile principles

Building software can be quite a daunting endeavor. It’s important to have some of Agile’s best guiding principles to help you cut costs and improve your team’s effectiveness.

Additionally, getting the most out of your developers is much simpler with the agile method where constant communication and cooperation guarantees that everyone gets involved. The platform you choose to use will also greatly affect the app’s performance. 

Some important agile principles are:

  • Product-based progress 
  • Simplicity is paramount
  • The customer always comes first
  • Improvements are made each cycle (cyclical design vs waterfall or cascading design)

2. Choose a feature-loaded platform

There are several platforms like Ionic and BuildFire that make creating apps a simple process and take out a lot of the menial coding that would simply slow down development. 

Larger teams may be more willing to create from scratch but even though it is not recommended due to these services making life so much easier. 

Try platforms like:

  • Ionic
  • BuildFire
  • BuildBox
  • Android Studio
  • Xcode

3. Leverage UX consultancy

UX consultants are indispensable assets for any app development team as they can accurately assess the experience of the app as a whole. Unfortunately, there are many great ideas hidden behind a gauntlet of bad taste and poor execution. 

Avoiding these pitfalls is as simple as consulting with a UX professional who will give you the tips you need to make your app a truly enjoyable experience. 

UX consultants can help awesome mobile developers get:

  • Better screens
  • Optimized ease of use
  • Effective test cases

4. Tweak based on user feedback

Even though it may feel like an uncomfortable endeavor you should always be open to feedback and ask for it as much as possible. Feedback Is the only way companies know if they have developed a star or a dud. 

That is why it is so integral that you test your product’s vision and design before committing to a final product. 

App development teams that are open to tweaking will almost always find success because they will always be seeking improvement. 

Update your app continuously instead of holding on to an app shy of perfection:

5. Automate testing

Developers should also use their fair share of automation tools to get the job done in a great time and with incredible precision. Developers can use automated applications that will accurately assess the responsiveness of the app while testing their technical features. 

App developers now can test on-demand allowing for a constant cycle of testing and improving that will result in a perfect product and a highly skilled development team, which will help a business thrive. 

Developers can also use automation for some app-related technologies like marketing and organizing to make the entire experience less stressful without being less fulfilling.

One of the first things to pinpoint for improving the process is the management style of the app development team. If on small teams of developers the agile method works wonderfully as it helps developers feel connected and heard without the draconian overhead of constant management. 

Agile is much more focused on making the product the best that it can be for the client or market without sacrificing developers or losing ideas. 

Many app development teams will begin to steamroll ahead without much thought often leaving behind a slew of ideas that may have improved the product immensely. Using the agile method will also allow the product to flourish naturally as its development should respond to certain market changes or client demands. 

Applications are built on ideas and services that could genuinely help someone and no amount of tedium should stand in the way of a great idea. 

7 Best Platforms for Mobile App Developers and How to Optimize App Development

Author: Romy Toma-Catauta

But how do you build a mobile app efficiently and effectively these days? In this digital era, every app is completed against not only the market but also the incredible rate of change in healthcare organisations, in institutions and in many types of companies. Mobile app developers have to spend a great deal of time making their apps accessible and enjoyable, they need platforms that help expedite the development process.

Here are the best platforms for mobile app developers looking to cut down on development time and cost:

1. Ionic

Ionic is an HTML5 mobile app development framework. With Ionic, mobile apps are simply web pages converted into an “app shell.” For mobile developers, having multi-platform support is incredibly important. Through frameworks like Ionic and PhoneGap, mobile app developers can release hybrid apps with a native feel.

A mobile app developer can use HTML, CSS, and AngularJS, to create apps that are easily exported to Apple and Android. What’s most compelling: Ionic’s community edition is completely free.

2. Xojo

Xojo is an incredible developer tool that allows those with limited experience to create powerful and complex applications across Mac, Windows, Linux, and Mobile devices. Xojo prides itself on being the best at making the complex easily understood. 

It reads much like Visual Basic and uses simple commands to execute a myriad of tasks. The cross-platform object-oriented language allows developers to make their dream application once and then immediately export it to whatever platforms they want. Xojo gives developers the freedom and opportunity to produce whatever they want without the limitations of the market.

3. Buildbox

Buildbox is a drag-and-drop mobile app creator. No coding is required. Just a bit of design sense and some digital literacy, you can start building right out of the box (hence the name). 

Apt as the name may be, some mobile app developers may be disappointed that Buildbox is primarily used to create mobile games.

4. Unity

Unity is a powerful game engine with a lot of importable assets and frameworks. Unity does require some coding and a modicum of technical skill to leverage effectively. 

For mobile developers looking to create an immersive experience, Unity is one of the best platforms available.

5. ShoutEm

ShoutEm is an app development tool that erases the need for experienced coders or marketing expertise to build your first app. 

Their tools allow developers to build apps and market them within the same platform. Their goal is to make app development easier than ever so that more people may realize their dreams of building an app without the technical requirements of coding. 

6. Appery.io

Appery.io requires very little coding experience. With appery.io, you can create hybrid mobile apps (apps that are easily exported to Android and Apple devices). 

The backend of your app is provided within Appery.io’s infrastructure. Developers and entrepreneurs alike can drag-and-drop components, utilize Appery.io templates, and collaborate in the cloud. Best of all, the platform has a free trial version so you can begin developing on their platform before you make any financial decision. 

7. Appcelerator

Appcelerator is a mobile development company that primarily develops a cross-platform development tool called Titanium. 

Their goal is to not only provide a great cross-platform development tool but to also offer complex services in the background to help mobile apps stay current and functional. Appcelerator is a great service for those developers who want to find a truly all in one product.

Mobile app developers have more tools tailored to their applications than ever before whether you have experienced coders that can help you build you’re at scratch or with a framework like Ionic or Unity or you’re an entrepreneur with zero programming experience, there are many successful paths your development team can take.

With today’s technology, you can make your dream app a reality. Work on your idea, find a suitable platform, do your market research, and reach out to customers. With these tools and tips, you should be able to create a killer app in no time at all. 

6 Ways to Radically Optimize Mobile App Development

Optimizing mobile app development is all about opening communication lines, staying open to the pivot, and prioritizing your team members. A fast and efficient team is always going to bring the best results but only if major considerations are taken into account. 

The development principles are a great place to start. Your development team must have an agreed-upon style in which they can develop without hindrance or interruption. 

Here are six ways to radically optimize mobile app development for your team:

1. Adopt agile practices

Using the agile method will promote an environment of cooperation amongst the developers and will guarantee that each developer is heard and considered. The agile method concerns itself with the elasticity of a product’s development. 

Your mobile app can be optimized instantaneously by implementing a system that iterates upon the product so that it can always stay competitive. Once a firm development plan is in place then you will want to optimize the daily functions of the team. 

2. Make meetings quick

The first and most effective thing that your team can do is to make meetings quick and efficient. Meetings, by and large, can slow and hinder a development team by over corporatizing them. 

Instead, opt for mandatory meetings and for all other communication use Slack, Trello, or any service that grants instant messaging to your team members. 

3. Complete a market analysis

Once work properly begins on a webdesign, then you will want to complete comprehensive market research that includes customer questionnaires and focus groups. App development cannot begin in earnest until everyone knows what they are making and for which audience. 

Completing a complex market research plan will give your team a better understanding of the app’s identity and how it should be designed and also on how to grow an ecommerce business. Good market research will make the development process a breeze for you and your developers as they will have a clear picture of where they are going. 

4. Concentrate on one platform at a time

Concentrating on one platform at a time can also be very helpful for your team as they won’t have to consider each of the feature changes between the platform versions. There are a few platform options out there for mobile devices and deciding to focus on one platform at a time will dramatically simplify the development process. 

This will, in turn, make your mobile app a much more focused product that takes full advantage of a particular platform’s features. 

5. Integrate your development process these were ongoing marketing research

However, fully realizing your product entails doing constant market research throughout the development process. Maintaining a presence within your audience will guarantee that your mobile app comes to full fruition without missing anything that your customers want. 

Also, consistent market research will help your team with the design and flow of the app which will keep it competitive with the other similar apps on the app stores. Smart mobile app developers know that to keep a product interesting you must find out what interests others. Always designing to improve is a guaranteed way to find success with your app. 

6. Trust your team

One of the hardest things that any owner or manager can do is to trust somebody else with a decision that they don’t fully understand. It is in these times of trust and invention that some of the best mobile app ideas have come to pass whether you work in digital marketing agencies, technology companies or any other companies.

Open and considerate teamwork is the tool with which all apps are possible. A team that trusts one another is a team that is bound for incredible success and glory.

However, creating a successful app is always going to depend on how much you trust your team. Your development team is your greatest asset and they should be treated as such by always listening to their ideas and incorporating them into the decision, making the development process more effective. 

Ultimately, optimizing your mobile app development boils down to communication, write for us technology and cooperation, the cornerstones of a great business. By keeping the channels open and the ideas flowing you will be able to create the best apps that you are capable of making and then some.

How to Streamline Mobile Development Projects

Author: Romy Toma-Catauta

Mobile development can be an arduous and tedious process filled with potholes and pitfalls. Avoiding these obstacles is critical if you want your app to reach its successful end. 

There are a few strategies that you can employ to keep your hire the right team development team and keep it focused and working. Something that is usually glossed over by young app development companies is the method with which you will manage your teams. 

The agile principles, such as they are, provide an in-depth guide on how to develop successfully. After making numerous blunders and mistakes the agile creators understand that there were a few things that must happen for an app to be truly successful. 

Adopt agile principles

What makes an app agile? What makes a company lean? Is it diet and exercise? Unfortunately, not. Agile is a mindset that shapes how we develop software. Agile is about maximizing efficiency and effectiveness through continuous development and conversation.

More simply: agile is about getting things done and cutting out the excess fat. Develop software, review, improve the software. Rinse, wash, repeat. Software is developed in cycles (e.g. version 0.1, version 2.0, et cetera). Study the agile manifesto to learn more about how you can implement the methodology into your development processes.

Consider going remote

Fax machines, internet telephony, and email — oh my! We’re surrounded by communication tech. Want to assemble a team without taking out a loan on your home? Easy — go remote. With the power of the internet, any and everyone can collaborate.

Certain apps help tremendously with asynchronous communication. Namely, Slack and cloud-based project platforms like Trello. There are preselected pools of remote developers on freelancer websites and marketplaces.

Inject some passion into your project

All work and no play make Jack a very dull boy. A creepy line from a horror movie and a truism about mobile development. Without some passion and energy, your team is going to fall asleep at the keyboard. Keep them motivated by keeping the mission of your project alive.

What’s in it for the app developers? What do they want to make? How can you incorporate their feedback? These are all great questions to ask yourself as development chugs along.

Connect with users

To make the streamlined process amount to a successful product you will have to reach out to your audience and ask for their feedback and help. Consumers are more than willing to lend their opinion on your product and how it could be improved. This feedback will streamline your mobile development process by giving it a discrete set of goals. 

Don’t just connect with your developers — become friends with your customers. Building a brand is all about relationships. Level up your social stats by engaging with the community, asking intriguing questions, accepting developers to submit guest posts and commenting on constructive feedback. Mindless email marketing and trite tweets, begone. Real conversations with your customers, henceforth.

The agile principles focus on teamwork and open communication so that everyone stays informed and productive. Too often, businesses will throw traditional management at a new development team only to be hit with roadblock after roadblock. Avoiding these is imperative and can be accomplished rather quickly by using the agile method. 

What’s more, is that most of these great work can be accomplished online or over telephonic devices. Most companies have been toying with remote work for over three decades but with the internet powers of today, remote work has become a breeze. 

Explicitly, remote work is now more viable and better suited to the working conditions of today than any other form of employment. This saves the company money and saves the worker precious time that they can spend with their family. 

Co-working and cooperating are much simpler now with apps like Slack and Trello that make communicating a breeze. However, that is not to say that going remote will fix all of your problems but it could streamline development in a very real way. 

Streamlining development is also about getting your team members involved in a way that fuels them with passion. As a team leader. Always be involved and present during the development process to keep your developers engaged and productive.