At least a more significant percentage of people worldwide have their devices running on an android platform. However, it doesn’t implicate that Android platforms are the only ones supported on a range of devices. Many other platforms are available to provide end-users with outstanding unique experiences. Among the other platforms is iOS, which is a unique platform for Apple products such as iPhones. It is essential to note that the various platforms support different application architectures. Therefore, when designing an application for a given platform, it is necessary to confine the defined functionality on the same platform to the guidelines. Designing applications without considering the type of applications they will run on can bring usability problems to the end-users. In this piece, we will confine the process of developing an Android Application.
It is undebatable that there are many android applications with specific features and are designed to serve particular purposes. But what happens until the android application is ready for use on an android platform? Android acts as an excellent renown application in operating systems for mobile devices. The process of developing an android application is a summation of various essential stages. The stages are confined to designing a simple application and entail development, creation, designing, and post-development. Since the application is expected to have many potential users, developers have to ensure they develop an outstanding product that is good enough for use. Therefore, the entire process is robust and should be fail-proof. Before we explore the whole process of developing android applications, let us highlight some of the essential processes involved in creating powerful applications. Here are some of them:
Table of Contents
Android Application Development Process
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Conceptualization
The process of developing android applications can be rendered unsuccessful without the inclusion of the conceptualization stage. Through conceptualization, app developers can turn the application ideas into the application’s concrete base. It is, in fact, the first and most essential stage in developing android applications. Research is a crucial strategy while undertaking this stage. Developers and other critical members in the app development process are tasked with conducting extensive research, which is vital for understanding the postulated android application principles. Therefore, before exploring the next stage of app development, developers should first ensure a proper conceptualization of the set is done. More importantly, developers should put into concern the competitor’s positions. They can do that by analyzing competitors to establish some of the outstanding features to feature in the application. The inclusion of unique features is essential in making the application stand out from the rest.
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Feasibility assessment
The proper arrangement of the postulated application’s design components relies on a clear understanding of the application visuals. All these can be achieved through important development aspects like product sketches and, for our case, the tracing of the android application under development. The key idea here is to assess the feasibility of the application under development. Precisely, the feasibility area undertaken is technically-related to what the appellation can do. For the technical feasibility study’s success, developers must deeply explore data gained from the public through public API sourcing. With an infeasible original functionality of the intended application, there are greater chances of the associated team coming up with a different idea.
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The design
In almost every development process, you will never miss out on the design stage. Perhaps it speaks volumes of the most significant essence that follows this stage’s inclusion in developing android applications. Experts involved at this stage are usually UX and UI designers. UI designers are tasked with building the application’s persona while considering the user’s preferences concerning the current technologies. UX designers architect the interaction of different elements within the android application. Therefore, the design stage can entail multi-steps, where deriving clear visual perceptions and providing the final product’s abstract is critical.
Check: Hire UI designer India
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Development
It can be considered one of the most experimental stages in the entire process of android application development. At the development stage, developers and other team members ensure to build a working prototype of the android application to validate the functionality. Apart from functionality, the functional prototype’s development is essential in providing a clear view of the project scope and validating the assumptions related to the app development process. The development stage is broader, given that different applications have different features, areas, and serve various purposes. A complex application is likely to take extra time, while a simpler one is deemed to take a short period. Usually, applications with wider scopes are more often divided into modules to make app development more straightforward. Generally, the application’s core functionality is explored with programmers and developers digging deeper into light and field testing.
Check: Application development outsourcing
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Testing and deployment
Application testing is mostly done at earlier stages to eliminate bugs that can result in usability problems. The primary and critical components are thoroughly tested to ensure they meet the guidelines and postulations made at the initial stages. Also, testing is done to ensure the resourcefulness of the application’s functionality. Some of the critical areas tested at this stage include performance, compatibility, usability, among many more. After creating an application, it is expected of developers to launch them on various application stores. However, the application stores have a set of guidelines that govern the suitability of each android application. Therefore, developers have to stick to specific rules when deploying the application onto an application store. The deployment process should properly align according to the application store.
Check: Best automation testing tools
It is essential to understand that deploying an application onto any given application store isn’t the end of the game. After you have launched the android application, there is still more you have to undertake. The application’s launch will often bring about a great range of people downloading it for use. However, the number of downloads will significantly depend on the solutions the application provides. The critical point here is that you will often get feedback to improve the application or withdraw various non-essential features with many people using your app. Usually, the launch of the first version of the application is accompanied by future versions. It is done to address issues presented by the users through feedback. Furthermore, a future adjustment of the application is assured to incorporate newer features, updates, and much more.
In summary, developing android applications entails a few stages: creativity, the android application’s strategies, wireframing, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Ideation is a summary of all ideas developers or any other team member thinks of before the official development of the android application. It is advised that possible solutions should always accompany app development ideas. Therefore, if you think of developing any give application, you should also think of the underlying solutions the application is supposed to provide. To ensure the worthiness of this process, the team involved in developing the application should focus on identifying whether the application can solve a problem or not. The team should also establish several options the android application is capable of outdoing. Considering the two enhances the chances of turning your idea into reality.
Competitiveness is also worth to consider when developing an android application. There are greater chances that the app you are thinking of developing is part of many other applications serving similar purposes. Therefore, each application has to have a given strategy to stand out from the rest. So, in the entire process of android app development, development should always consider competitiveness as among the key factors, especially when the application is standard. The central idea is to examine what competitors focus on and adjust the application to compete and stand out from the rest.
Wireframes are also essential in the development of android applications. They are the blueprints of the applications. It is vital to providing the structure for the android application. Through wireframing, there is the inclusion of app tools and features for purposes of integration. Design, development, testing, deployment, and maintaining the Android application are also critical stages vital for making the entire process a success. Therefore, they should be conducted with significant considerations.
Check: Software testing outsourcing
Conclusion
Thousands of applications running on android platforms are always submitted to google stores. The submission of the stores’ applications doesn’t carry a more significant implication than their structure and functional importance. Developing applications should follow specific guidelines, strategies, and principles underlying the development process. In the article, we have explored some of the key stages in developing android applications. Right from defining the android application idea to the final launching of the application, developers are tasked with deeply exploring every step to ensure the end outcome is productive.
Therefore, any app developer destined to providing clients with android applications that meet expected features should stick to a specific guideline that highlights all of the stated steps. However, clients should also seek proficient and experienced app developers so that the outcome is an application that serves all the services needed. It ensures that end users have a wonderful and great time enjoying the available android application services.
Also check: Mobile app development cost in India | Android app developer cost
Hope you’ve understood the process of developing Android application. For more information contact Aalpha