Mobile application development: what it is, types, features and processes in 2024
Nowadays, betting on the mobile market is a business that many are entering. And no wonder, in the last decade little by little, the smartphone has established itself as the device most used and in demand by users.
Not only is it a totally useful device, but it can be carried with you anywhere comfortably.
So application development is designed for a very extensive market , in which you can take advantage according to the needs of consumers.
And understanding the reasons for this excessive growth of mobile applications is key to understanding where we are heading as a society.
Yes, mobile app development services is becoming more and more important and constantly growing, and in the next few minutes you will understand the reasons.
What is mobile application development?
The development of mobile applications is the computer process in which an application is created from scratch that will fulfill a specific function for the user, adapting to the characteristics of certain devices .
Because yes, depending on the complexity of the application, functions and the requirements necessary to reproduce it, there will be smartphones that will be suitable or not, for its installation.
However, in the current application market, the vast majority are adapted to, in turn, the largest number of smart devices possible. However, this may change with the passage of time and updates.
Going deeper, application development applies a set of skills and procedures in software writing (programming), and that applies to wireless and portable devices.
The history of mobile applications
When smartphones began to hit the market, the development of mobile applications was at such a basic point that each application had to be adapted according to the operating system and processor that each phone had.
Nowadays, it's crazy to think about, but the reason why it was so difficult to develop mobile applications years ago was because there were no dedicated languages or the existing code was almost non-existent. Therefore, there were no libraries in which source codes could be taken to use them in different projects.
However, with the rise, growth and demand that new smartphones began to have, the need to create base codes on which to base projects and then be able to reuse them so that they were compatible with other processors and devices, was increasingly greater. .
And this is how C#, JavaScript, and Swift are currently used for mobile application development. Programming languages that facilitate the task and are well combined, taking advantage of the characteristics of a mobile phone.
Features of mobile application development
Although there are applications dedicated to computers, and in fact, these were the first before mobile ones, with respect to mobile development, it continues to work through traditional code . However, the difference is that these applications seek to take advantage of the features, components and functions of the smartphone.
For example:
Camera : applications with special functions, such as filters, QR reading, translating texts into different languages, searching for objects on Google, etc.
Microphone : singing applications, audio modification, reading musical notes, ability to write text using audio, and many more functions.
Management apps : your personal data, such as email, can be associated with apps to offer services of all kinds: wallets, business management, locations, cloud storage, and much more from a single device.
In short, you can manage and use everything practically from your smartphone. That is the most important characteristic that must be met.
4 Types of mobile applications
There are various types of mobile applications for all kinds of needs or functions . It all depends on the developer and whatever their priority is, or what benefits they want to provide to the user in question.
1. Native applications
They are the most expensive type of applications of all, but also the most stable . And they offer a very large number of options, functions and customization depending on the device, whether Android or iOS.
That is, depending on the type of user and their OS, they will be able to download applications that are specifically for that OS. Offering you in this way options that other applications would not have because their customization layer is much lower.
This is achieved thanks to integrated development environments, also called IDEs, and of course, dedicated programming languages depending on whether it is Google Android or Apple iOS.
2. Hybrid applications
When it comes to profitability, hybrid applications are the order of the day . This, thanks to the fact that their development cost is much lower, in addition to the fact that they can be ready in less time.
However, they do not allow a level of customization or full use of functions as native applications do. It's a point to keep in mind if you like exclusive features and benefits.
On the other hand, they offer endless benefits for users of different operating systems. And that's the important thing, sometimes it's not about exclusivity, but rather that it really meets the needs of a large majority of users. And the main reason for the success and what most mobile applications are based on.
These applications are carried out through languages such as CSS, JavaScript and HTML.
3. Progressive web apps
Also known as Progressive Web Application (PWA), it is a web application that behaves like a mobile application . And you will ask yourself, in what sense? Well, you can basically do everything you do in an application.
A clear and simple effect is Facebook and Twitter, which, although they have mobile applications, offer the same possibilities in their desktop version. This is achieved thanks to Service Workers, which provides the operation of a common smartphone app.
Web applications that offer special services or functions such as: notifications, offline services, applications in their BETA state, are some of the characteristics that identify a progressive web application.
4. Bases or libraries
In themselves they do not constitute an application as such . It only represents the source code or base, which other programmers can use to create mobile applications.
The reason why these libraries exist is to facilitate application development , being able to take a stable code base and go from there to speed up the process. Very useful when trying to develop something new without having to write everything from scratch.
Mobile app development process
In order to create a mobile application, it is fair and necessary to carry out a prior analysis of conditions, requirements to be met, objectives and needs that must be satisfied. Without this, an application will have no real purpose, and therefore, will not have the planned success.
Step 1: Define the objective
This is key and the most important thing prior to development. What is the intention or purpose of the application ? What needs will it satisfy in users? Also, you should study whether there are other applications that are already doing the same thing you plan to develop, and if so, what the strengths and weaknesses of said application are.
This, with the intention that you can create a totally new product or service and solving those failures of other applications.
At the same time, you must also define who your target audience will be. That is, for whom is this application planned: children, adolescents, adults, the elderly?
In short, everything related to the premises of the project, its development and post-development.
Step 2: Establish who will be in charge of its development
Once your mobile application development services already has some proposed objectives, the time has come to establish who will be in charge of its development . It can be you, you can hire a freelance developer or a dedicated agency.
It all depends on what your needs are and whoever is in charge can meet each of the requirements and requests.
Here, it would also be ideal to define if you will need a marketing campaign to promote your application once it is ready. Especially in the beta version, when it is still possible to make the necessary modifications and suggestions provided by users.
Step 3: Make sure you offer a good user experience
Although your product is already defined with objectives to be met, it is necessary that when the user is finally able to use the application, their experience is pleasant .
Because?
It is of no use for your application to fulfill its mission if the process is arduous, complicated, elaborate and unintuitive. And on top of that it has errors or bugs coming from poor programming development, even worse.
Remember to take care of these details! You can make the difference between the project being successful or not.
Step 4: DevOps Development
With everything previously said clear, it is time to start developing. Whoever is going to be in charge of its development, it is necessary that they have a DevOps mentality.
And what is that? You will ask yourself…
DeVips is a work methodology that is being increasingly applied in the world of software development in general. This methodology is based on practices that seek to guarantee the best quality in the product to be developed. For example:
Use automatic processes
There are software and programs that facilitate the development of applications through automatic processes. This not only makes work easier, but also prevents human errors and allows work to be completed much sooner.
Therefore, whenever you can, use these processes in your development.
Cloud services
Cloud services are very useful due to their large storage capacity, in addition to the fact that you can store very large data and download it when required, even in future projects that do not have directly to do with the current one in development.
A tool that over the years becomes more important due to the need for storage space. Every day, applications weigh much more because their development is much more complex and with a much greater number of functions.
Use open source
Whenever it is possible to work with open source software or tools, it will be a great advantage for any development. Not only because it allows a large number of libraries that can be used to make your work easier, but it is also supported by an experienced community.
Teamwork
Regardless of whether it is you or a single programmer who is in charge of the project, it is necessary that there is good communication both with what you develop and with the material and/or libraries you use to develop.
And if it is a work team, communication is vital, both between them and with the client, since they work together, they know how the development process is going, what elements are missing, what others may be failing, and a long etc.
Communication is vital in every project, and mobile application development is no exception.
test test
It is not necessary for the application to be in its beta version or already “finished” so that errors or what needs to be improved are known. Tests must be carried out in each phase of application development, from its source code to everything else.
This will allow development to be much more efficient, and the product obtained will be of better quality, with good performance and an interface with a good user experience.
Step 5: BETA Version
Once all of the above has been applied, and with a project in its final phase, it is time to offer a BETA version, so that users can use it and make suggestions and recommendations.
This with the intention of finalizing the details and ensuring that the final product is what was expected and even more.
Once the test has been passed and all the details have been fixed, the application will be ready for its official dissemination and everyone's enjoyment.
Mobile application development is a very interesting world and highly in demand in the current market . Therefore, it is a very striking task for many technology lovers. And over time, the development will be renewed, so it is ideal to start now if this is your purpose.
Mobile application development services are very useful, practical, and are always constantly updated and innovative. The objective is to meet the needs of users, taking advantage of the characteristics of the mobile phone in question.