Welcome back to our two-part series on mobile app development steps! In Part 1, we covered the ideation and planning phases of app development. Now, in Part 2, we will dive into the coding, testing, and launch phases. Let us get started! 

Technical Specifications 

Use the wireframe from the pre-development process and use them to create technical specifications. It involves the inner workings of your application. Sometimes developers make changes around and save a lot of time and money. Technical specifications provide alternatives to technical challenges to achieve your goals.  

Development  

Once your app passes the usability test, it is time for development.  

With your development plan in place, and your team assembled, it is time to start writing code.  

Depending on your chosen development approach and platform, this process can involve a variety of programming languages and tools. 

Some popular languages for native app development include Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android, while cross-platform development often involves languages like React Native or Xamarin. 

Regardless of the language or platform, it is critical to follow best practices for coding and maintain a clean and organized codebase. It will make it easier to test and update your app. 

Native App Development 

Native development requires low-level coding. If you do not have any technical training hire a developer to do the coding for your application. 

Given that you will be launching the app both for iOS and Android, you need to hire a developer for each platform to deploy the native apps on both platforms—iOS App Store and Google Play Store. 

Each platform has a different programming language. A developer might know to code for both iOS and Android, but it will take twice as long and will not be cheap either.  

In addition, you also need a full-stack developer to create your background infrastructure for data hosted in the cloud.  

Native development app gives a lot of flexibility. As it requires coding from scratch, you can add any features. Native development is excellent for building gaming apps and augmented reality apps.  

Hybrid App Development  

Hybrid app development is a cost-effective alternative to native app development. It relies on JavaScript.  

Hybrid allows you to code once and deploy it on multiple platforms. With JavaScript, you need to write the code for your application one time and deploy it on iOS and Android.  

It saves time and money compared to native app development, but the performance and quality of the mobile application can vary accordingly.  

Table of Content

• Flutter Vs React Native: Choosing The Right Framework For Your Mobile App
• Introduction To Flutter: Unleashing Cross-Platform App Development
• Mobile App Development Process: 10 Mistakes To Avoid
• Accelerating Change: The Impact Of Mobile Applications On The Automotive Sector 
• Leveraging Mobile Apps For Precision Agriculture And Crop Monitoring
• Full-Stack: The Key To Building Scalable And Agile Businesses
• A Step-By-Step Guide To Mobile App Development Process: Part 1
• Mobile App Development: Unlocking The Power Of Technology For The Modern World
• 14 Must-Have Features For A Successful Mobile App In 2023
• The Ultimate Guide To UI/UX Transformation And Its Benefits For Businesses 

Rapid App Development Platform  

If you do not have any technical education but want to build an app, then the rapid app development platform is for you.  

It is much cheaper than native and hybrid app development, and the time to market is faster.  

But even if this platform does not require any coding experience, you must have some clue on the technical perspective while building your application.  

A technical perspective will help you plan the mobile app development steps and develop your application better than the basic level of functionality. 

With Rapid app development there are some limitations.  

You can do whatever functionality the platform offers, nothing beyond that.  

It is great if you want to create a simple application with some basic functionality.  

Back-End Technology  

Database and server-side objects are essential for supporting functions for your app by connecting to a network.  

If you use an existing back-end platform, you might make configuration changes to support your desired app functionality. 

You must also configure and test the server-side objects with the other components of your app.  

Application Programming Interface (API) 

An Application Programming Interface (API) is a collection of definitions, tools, and protocols used to create software programs.  

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) enable communication between software programs. It allows the sharing of information, features, and services.  

It specifies how software components interact and is used when developing the GUI components.  

Front-End Technology  

The front end, also known as the “client-side” programming, is what your target audience will interact with.  

Front-end development includes UI/UX, structure, designing and developing the layout, visual elements, animation, and interactivity that the audience interacts with.  

It includes HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various front-end frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue. 

Set Milestones and create an MVP

Milestones keep track of your progress and make your task easier. It helps you separate massive development projects into smaller chunks that are easier to handle. It is what the agile framework is about.  

When building an application, develop an MVP—Minimum Viable Product. MVP forces you to focus only on the essential features of your app. How your app solves the users’ problems—build those features first.  

Test Your App 

Once your app is ready, it is time to test it thoroughly to identify and fix any bugs or issues.  It is one of the most crucial mobile app development steps.
Test your app on different devices and operating systems to ensure compatibility and optimize user experience. It includes testing on older devices with slower processors and smaller screens and newer devices with advanced features like facial recognition or augmented reality. 

Stages of app testing 

Here are the several stages of mobile app testing:  

Documentation Testing  

You start with documentation testing. In this stage, you audit all the necessary features for wholeness and disparity.  

It includes screen layouts, navigational charts, and other features that are obscure in the design.  

In this stage, the developers detect and resolve all the discrepancies before the application development begins.  

Functional Testing 

 It helps you test your app as per industry requirements.  

Keep the following components in mind while performing the functional testing: 

Business Functionality 

Target Audience 

Distribution channels 

Usability Testing 

Usability Testing ensures your app provides seamless browsing to your users, generates an intuitive interface, and acts as per industry standards.  

Testing is judged by the following three criteria: 

• Satisfaction 
• Efficiency 

• Effectiveness 

Tools: User Zoom, Reflector, Loop 

User Interface Testing  

UI (User Interface) testing ensures that your app’s graphical interface, layout, design, and animation meet all the specifications. 

Tools: FitNesse, Jubula, iMacros, LoadUI, Coded UI 

Compatibility Testing 

Configuration/compatibility testing confirms your application performs excellently across different devices, device sizes, screen resolutions, hardware, etc. 

This testing takes care of: 

• OS (Operating Systems) Configuration 
• Browser Configuration 
• Database Configuration 
• Device Configuration 
• Network Configuration 

Tools: BrowserStack, Browsera, CrossBrowserTesting, Litmus, Ghostlab, Rational ClearCase. 

Performance Testing 

Performance Testing helps test your app’s reaction and consistency under a specific workload.  

Here is a list of performance testing done: 

• Load Testing 
• Stress Testing 
• Stability Testing 
• Volume Testing 
• Concurrency Testing 

Tools: NeoLoad, Apteligent, New Relic 

Security Testing 

It is to ensure that your mobile application is well-secured from external threats. It checks the risks of hackers, virus attacks, and unauthorised access to sensitive user data.  

Tools: Retina CS Community, OWASP Zed Attack Proxy, Veracode, Google Nogotofail, and SQL Map. 

Certification Testing  

Certification testing ensures that your app meets all the industry standards like licensing agreements, terms of use, and all other standard requirements for platforms like Google Play, App Store, and Windows Phone.  

Optimize Your App 

In addition to testing, mobile app development steps require you to optimize your app for performance and user experience.  

It includes enhancing load times, reducing crashes, and ensuring your app is easy to use and navigate. 

Some strategies for improving your app include: 

Trim file size by compressing images and videos. 

Using caching and prefetching to improve load times. 

Implementing error handling and crash reporting tools. 

Conducting user testing and gathering feedback to identify areas for improvement. 

Launch Your App 

Once your app is developed, tested, and optimized, it is time to launch it!  

It involves submitting your app to the app stores (Apple App Store or Google Play Store) and complying with their guidelines and requirements. 

Before you launch, make sure to: 

Test your app one final time to ensure it is ready for public release. 

Create a compelling app description and screenshots to entice users. 

Plan your marketing and promotion strategy to drive downloads and engagement. 

Monitor user feedback and reviews to identify areas for improvement. 

Here are some app submission processes: 

 App Store: 

• Create an iOS profile & distribution certificate. 
• Create an iTunes Connect record. 
• Archive and upload your app through Xcode. 
• Optimize your title and metadata in the iTunes Connect record. 
• Submit your application for review. 
• Check app status. 

Google Play Store: 

• Keep your app information ready. 
• Upload the APK or mobile app bundle files. 
• Set your app’s content rating. 
• Set pricing. 
• Set distribution plan. 
• Publish your mobile application.  

Post Launch  

Now your app is launched, now pump up the marketing activities. Take every step to promote your app. SEO to online advertising, banner and television advertising, and celebrity promotion—depending on your funding and target audience.  

Conclusion 

Mobile app development steps can be a complex process, but by following these steps and best practices, you can create a high-quality app that meets the needs of your users. Remember to stay flexible and open to feedback throughout the development process. Continuously iterate and improve your app post-launch. Good luck!