We’ve seen a million great app ideas cross our desks here at Newpath web. And we’ve helped create a bunch of them.
As top mobile app developers in Melbourne, we know how to transform your brilliant idea into a functional and engaging application, for both iOS and Android.
But one thing that stops potential clients from engaging further is a lack of understanding of the mobile application development process. The unique platforms, potential fragmentation and evolving forms mean that comparatively with website design, a mobile application can take a longer process.
We’ve recognised and understood this problem early and have made a number of adjustments to the way we develop an application. These changes are aimed at streamlining the process in order to save time without impacting on quality.
Simplified Wireframes
For expedited development processes, we utilise the concept of low-fidelity wireframes. Wireframing is essentially the blueprint of your future application, looking at every single landing page for the application and outlining functional elements, design aspects and other fundamental issues.
Most wireframes can be quite comprehensive in order to give developers exactly the information they require to build the app. However, streamlining the wireframe process leans on inherent developer knowledge of best practice design. Our developers have built countless apps; they know what users expect, and therefore don’t need it outlined.
When wireframing in this fashion, our designers aim to convey the abstract ideas of the app, including functionality, user experience and general design; the rest is up to the developer (with the client’s approval, of course).
Hybrid App Development
Most clients will come to us with an idea for an app, to be sold to a particular customer. While Android accounts for over 90% of all mobile operating system activity globally, iOS typically delivers clients more income from users, stemming from higher quality developments.
A number of clients will want to build for both, to satisfy both sides of this equation. However, for a streamlined process, we may work to develop a hybrid application solution. Typically, app development in this scenario would consist of building two distinct applications simultaneously. Of course, this takes additional time and resources.
Instead, by building a hybrid application, we can get more resources into one build for quick launch, before working to flesh out the application for each individual platform at a later date.
Make Use of Third Party Plugins
In the same way that website development can rely on third-party plugins to enhance the functionality of their website, applications can do the same thing. A number of large developers offer API functionality which can be rolled into other applications.
While most applications we work on will be 100% coded by our developers, for expedited processes, it is often more sensible to borrow particular functionality from other parties (specifically focusing on communications, typically).
These API plugins can dramatically enhance the end product, and can, of course, be appropriately replaced once the core product has launched.
Automated Security Testing
One of the most fundamental elements involved with application development is that of security testing. Mobile devices aren’t nearly as secure as computers, meaning that applications need to be thoroughly reviewed for any potential security breaches.
Of course, given enough time, we would perform manual testing alongside automated testing, aimed at providing a human touch to find and circumvent security protocols. However, in an expedited process, we simply can’t do both.
Relying on a speedier, automated security test, we can find just as many bugs as we would find through a manual search. And of course, once the app is launched, the sheer amount of user data can likely find many of the smaller bugs which can be resolved quickly.
Minimum Viable Product
Finally, sometimes in a fast development process, we might only work on the core functionality to get the application launched before working on the code after release to add additional features. Clients’ ideas might typically be wide-ranging and all-encompassing, with lots of bells and whistles. But this takes longer to build.
For a quicker development process, we may choose to focus just on core functionality: what do users want to do first and foremost with the application? Once it launches, we can then streamline development of additional features and push them to users through product updates.
The additional benefit of this is to appropriately identify user behaviour with the app in the wild, potentially highlighting missing functionality or non-functional user elements.
Work With Skilled Mobile App Developers
Our guys know what they are doing, regardless of whether you have an iPhone X or the original Samsung Galaxy S, and can build you the perfect application. Our top mobile app developers are keen to deliver the exact app that you want with the best process available to us, tailor specifically to your needs. For more information, visit our app development pages, or contact us today!
