If you’re a developer, you might be caught in the dilemma of choosing a mobile platform. There are a ton of options when it comes to choosing the language for development. There is a debate on whether native or cross-platform offers the best solution to mobile development.
Audio/Video Processing
Video and audio processing are some of the biggest challenges you’ll experience when developing a mobile platform. In order to be on the safe side, you need to make sure that the app is showing the best behavior. That means you should go for either Xamin or native just to be safe.Access to Hardware
The app might need access to specific hardware which is not available. Xamin has shown to be just as robust when it comes to development compared to native solutions.Platform
The platform that you choose also matters. Before you can choose the platform, you need to consider your audience and where they’ll be located. If you’re targeting North American users, you might want to focus on iOS since the majority of mobile users have iPhones. You might have limited resources and this could mean prioritizing one operating system over the other.Hybrid or Native
For native applications, they’re primarily developed to be used on smartphones. The developer will follow the guidelines of the operating system when coding the app. Hybrid applications are becoming increasingly popular because there is a need for flexibility and users don’t want to be limited on one platform.Backend
Having a backend is a good decision given the fact that the majority of applications are API driven. A client might be looking for a Geocoding Service to be integrated into the app and this can be made possible with APIs. Not all application functionality will need backend support. You should consider constraints such as cost which will be incurred when setting up the backend.Analytics
Have analytics is crucial in the mobile development world. Analytics will help you understand user behavior and poor adoption ratios. The analytics should be implemented to reflect the specific goals set for the application. It is through analyzing analytics that you can improve user engagement. You’re able to pinpoint the pain points for users and make improvements based on data that is available.Target Audience
The app should be developed with the user in mind. You need to look at the age group, location, and a host of factors that are related to the users. You might be developing an app that helps kids with their homework. Such an app will need to have a lot of visuals and illustrations as you’re targeting an audience with a short attention span. The app will look good when there is less text and more graphs.User Interface and Design
No one wants to use an app with an ugly user interface. UI/UX could determine the success or failure of your application. It is crucial that you understand the difference between a user interface and user experience. A good app will take into consideration both the user interface and the user experience. One can’t do the other and it will be better to neglect both if they can’t be factored in the design process.Development Methodology
The method in place will play a big role in the overall quality and functionality of the app. If you’re an app developer, there is a need to have a documented process that will ensure consistency when it comes to quality. Having a documented process also makes quality assurance easy.Competition
It is recommended that you look at the competitors’ apps so that you have an idea of what is missing or what could be improved. App development is a competitive industry and you’re likely to get hundreds if not thousands of apps that are trying to provide a solution for a single problem. The app market is saturated and you need to come up with something unique in order to stand out. There was not a lot of competition in 2012 when the industry was blossoming but things are different almost a decade later.Consistent
Every idea during the development process will require consistency. The industry is constantly evolving and the technology could become obsolete in a few months. It is imperative that you’re tracking the condition of your application. The main purpose of the app is to support the end-user.To sum it up, you need to stick to app development standards if you truly care about developing something that potential users will find useful. Make sure you’re using the latest components and standards during the development process.
