The principles and tools involved in developing mobile applications

BuildFire, an app development platform, reports that the average smartphone user interacts with 10 apps per day and 30 per month. Between the two biggest app stores, there are now millions of apps available for download: Apple App Store (1.96 million) and Google Play Store (2.87 million). Plus, in 2024 alone, mobile apps are expected to generate over $935 billion in revenue.

Evidently, it’s big business. Computer science specialists with the skills and expertise to create successful mobile apps – that are highly engaging, agile, user-friendly, fully functional, scalable, and focused on user needs – are, naturally, in great demand. None of which is possible without a thorough understanding of the key principles and tools involved in their design and development.

What is the mobile app development process?

IMB defines mobile application development as ‘the process of making software for smartphones, tablets, and digital assistants, most commonly for the Android and iOS operating systems (OS).’

Developing the best possible app – one that meets original objectives and satisfies end-user needs – requires the expertise of, and close collaboration between, designers, front-end and back-end developers, testers, and other key stakeholders. Whether you’re developing a minimum viable product (MVP) for a startup, or optimising an existing, effective app for a successful enterprise, there are a number of steps involved.

In essence, the mobile app development process moves through several critical stages:

1. Planning. Much like any new product, the planning stage involves asking a number of integral questions that help to define the objectives: What is the app’s purpose? Who are the target audience? What features should it contain? Which platform (iOS, Android, or both) will it be designed for?
2. Design. Designers will create mock-ups and wireframes to visualise how the app might look and feel, taking into account factors such as its layout, user interface (UI), and user experience (UX).
3. Development. The development team will then write code for the prototype app, integrating features, functionalities, and specifications in line with the design brief.
4. Testing. The testing phase is crucial as it helps to identify and fix ‘bugs’, ensuring that the app works as expected – in terms of usability, functionality, scalability, and overall performance – across various different devices and OS.
5. Deployment. The finished app is then made available via the various app stores (after it has met their individual guidelines and requirements).
6. Maintenance. The app should be regularly updated to enhance its performance and usability, from fixing issues to launching new features to addressing user feedback.

What are the key design principles involved in mobile application development?

WhatsApp, TikTok, Citymapper, Spotify, Strava, Deliveroo, Disney+, Ticketmaster, BBC Weather – today, there is an app for just about everything. With that comes a wide variety of different experiences and impressions; some apps will be flawless, others exasperating, and many will leave us feeling neutral.

Any app development project must factor in certain design principles, including:

• user-centred design. Meeting the needs of end-users is one of the central tenets of UX design. Find out what your target audience wants, what their pain points are, how they interact with apps, and ensure these insights directly inform the product you develop.
• intuitive navigation. Straightforward navigation is central to effective UX. Ensuring your app is easy-to-use and well-designed (through the use of gestures, notifications, icons, and labels) will make content and features more navigable – and users far less frustrated.
• responsive design. Ensure that any mobile app design works optimally across any screen size and orientation, particularly for tablets and smartphones.
• accessibility. Prioritising accessibility supports all users, and should be a key factor in designing for mobile devices. Including accessibility features – such as voice commands, adjustable fonts and text sizes, and screen reader compatibility – boosts the engagement and UX of app users.
• personalisation. We all know that personalisation is key to today’s discerning customers. Personalised recommendations help users remain engaged and understood and add meaningful real value.
• security. App security and privacy is paramount – after all, users are trusting you with their sensitive information. Robust security measures (examples include two-factor authentication and ID checks) should be built-in, protecting user data and complying with relevant data protection laws.

Performance optimisation, interactivity, branding and design consistency, and minimalistic UI design, are also key factors and principles to consider.

What are the key differences between native, cross-platform, and other types of mobile application development?

There are different ways to develop mobile applications, and they offer different advantages and disadvantages – from performance to UX to development time to cost to ongoing maintenance. Selecting the right development approach for a project will depend on its specific needs, objectives, and constraints.

Here is a brief run-down of some of the most common types:

• Native applications are those that are written in line with the frameworks, tools, and programming languages (Swift or Objective-C for iOS apps, and Kotlin or Java for Android apps) dictated by the platform owner, and that run directly on the OS of the device. Native apps are usually the most costly (as they rely on platform-specific expertise and separate development efforts), and development time is longer, but they offer high performance.
• Cross-platform applications are compiled into a native application that runs directly on the OS of the device but can be written according to different frameworks and programming languages (for example, Javascript, Typescript, Dart, and C#. They can run on multiple platforms using a single codebase. While they are slightly less optimised than native apps, performance is generally good, and they are most cost-effective and take less time to develop.
• Hybrid-web applications work on ‘web containers’ that provide browser runtime and a bridge for native device APIs. They are built using standard web technologies and are bundled as app installation packages. Hybrid development uses programming languages including HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
• Progressive web applications (PWAs) utilise a set of browser capabilities to provide an ‘app-like’ UX, offering an alternative to traditional app development and skipping the need for app installations and app store delivery. As with hybrid apps, PWAs use HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

What tools are used in mobile app development?

Access to high-quality, cross-platform app development tools has never been better, and the wide range of off-the-shelf solutions helps businesses and developers to save time, money, and effort.

Some of the most popular and widely used development tools for mobile apps and web apps include:

•       React Native
•       Xcode
•       Android Studio
•       Apache Cordova
•       Flutter
•       Ionic
•       Xamarin
•       Appery.

Alongside development tools, design tools (such as Sketch, Adobe XD, and Figma) and additional tools (such as Firebase, JIRA, and Postman) help to cover the entire spectrum of app design, development, and prototyping for mobile devices.

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