“Mobile app development demands a deep understanding of the target customer and the function of mobile devices.”

As an entire process from ideation and design through to execution and launch, mobile app development demands a deep understanding of the target customer and the function of mobile devices. You might think that mobile app development and desktop app development are similar, but many factors set them apart, such as reliability, accessibility, usability and responsiveness to user interaction. The reality can be that development roadmaps end up being very different.

Mobile app success depends on many factors, including technical expertise, marketing strategy, and engineering capacity. It must be sensitive to constraints in budget and meeting specific deadlines that are important for product release. Mindera’s agile software development approach, team autonomy, and self-organisation help navigate these obstacles. Choosing the right product management methodology really impacts the journey the software development team will embark on from the get-go.

Android or iOS

Whether to build for Android or iOS (or both) depends on several factors. Critical among these factors is knowing the target audience, the customer demographic, and understanding the adoption and usage of different devices in regions where the business operates, which is an ever-changing picture.

Another consideration is functionality and the richness of the user experience or UX; these influence the choice of platform and technology decisions to elect native development or a cross-platform approach and which language or framework is best. Then there’s the budget to consider, whether it is affordable to support multiple variants to maximise reach and deliver an optimised user experience. All of this requires making the right decisions at the right time.

There’s a lot of overlap between Android and iOS mobile app development. So, here’s a basic six-step breakdown covering both to provide a flavour of what’s involved:

- **1| Define app requirements and scope – Understanding an organisation’s needs and goals for their app is critical. At Mindera, we use the ‘Sprint 0’ process to achieve this, setting up a three-day workshop where we get to know our client and gather detailed information on product requirements, features and functionalities.

- **2| Design and wireframing – Once business goals are understood, we craft a visual plan of the app's layout using wireframes or mockups. Here, we consider the user interface (UI) elements to make the product user-friendly and will frequently meet with our client to get their feedback on the process.

- **3| Development, development, development! – Our software engineering teams work their coding genius in various languages and frameworks, for example, Java or Kotlin for Android and Swift or SwiftUI for iOS. The wireframes are carefully refined and referenced so we can implement the required functionality. Applying agile methodology, we constantly apply software testing processes, iterating and refining as we go.

- **4| Testing and Quality ssurance – Of course, it’s essential to test the products you’re developing thoroughly, and we do just that on various Android/iOS devices and by using tools to help with automation. In this stage, we can identify any bugs, crashes or issues and work on them accordingly. We also look at app performance, cybersecurity and responsiveness.

- **5| Client review and feedback – Regular review and feedback with the client, often daily, is crucial, and we actively encourage this at all stages of development. After all, our goal is your goal; we want the product to be as polished and perfect as possible!

- **6| Deployment and launch – To launch, we need to prepare the app for app store submission, including creating app icons, generating necessary certificates, etc. For Android, signed Android Application Packages (APKs) must be generated and reviewed before the app can be published on the Google Play Store or other relevant platforms. For iOS, the necessary certificates need to be generated, and then the app has to be submitted to the Apple App Store for review.

Apps are then monitored post-launch for further bugs that may arise, and user feedback is gathered for future updates.

“Choosing the right product management methodology really impacts the app development journey the team will embark on from the get-go.”

Updates and adaptability

We are presenting a very simplified overview, and more steps can be involved in the iOS process due to cybersecurity features and guidelines from Apple. Moreover, this approach is not limited to creating brand-new apps. It’s equally applicable to improving existing app versions. This iterative cycle can be applied repeatedly for every new feature developers introduce. Although similar, the process is also adaptable to the client's goals. For example, when we work alongside a client with a mature project, the mobile app development brings focus on areas like new features, technical debt, solving bugs and issues, roadmap challenges, etc.

The app submission processes

Android Usually a “simpler” and shorter process than when working with iOS, the first thing to consider with Android, is that software developers have the challenge of testing the app on a wide range of devices due to a very diverse Android ecosystem. Luckily, Android Studio has an emulator which makes testing easier. A representative set of devices can be selected that cover different screen sizes, resolutions, and hardware capabilities.

Although a pain point for Android developers, by testing on devices with varying specs, software engineering teams can identify and address any issues that may arise on different hardware. They can also distribute a beta version of the app for further testing by sharing the APK file with testers or by using beta testing platforms like Google Play’s beta testing program. This broad device testing approach improves the chances of catching a wider range of bugs or issues so these can be resolved before reaching a wider audience. Firebase can also be used in the software testing process, to which apps can be uploaded and distributed without any kind of review on Google’s side.

Generally speaking, the Google Play Store offers a more lenient and quicker review process compared to Apple. Android apps also have greater flexibility when it comes to their distribution. Software engineers can publish an app directly on the Google Play Store or alternative stores, as well as on websites. This offers much more control over app distribution.

Apple While Google emphasises automated checks and algorithmic reviews for app submission, along with more flexibility, Apple’s review is more manual and often takes longer. This affects how long it takes for the app to reach the user (speed to market).

Compared to Android, there are fewer distinct device configurations, making testing for a wide range of devices less of a concern for an iOS software engineer. Apple runs a comprehensive simulator within Xcode (their development environment), which is fantastic for emulating various iPhone and iPad models. Therefore, different screen sizes and resolutions can be tested without needing the actual device. Apple also provides a TestFlight platform so engineers can invite specific users to try pre-release versions of the apps. There is a well-defined set of guidelines and security steps involved with Apple.

Cybersecurity and privacy are critical in this app submission process. To get an app published on the App Store, software engineers have to submit the app for manual checks to make sure Apple’s guidelines are met. A project might take a week for review on Android and sometimes up to three weeks on Apple. Usually, the app isn’t approved for the store in the first pass. The process is more iterative, whereby Apple will give feedback, which the software development team then work on until it is accepted. Incidentally, the three-week timeline is more for the first submission of an app. When the app has been in the store for a while, the submission time for any new versions can be as little as two or three days. Apple’s guidelines cover user data protection, app behaviour, and adherence to the Human Interface Guidelines.

Since July 2022, all the apps in the Apple App Store need a button so the user can delete their account immediately. It adds extra steps for our software engineers as Apple has to review our code. Conversely, we don’t have this barrier in Android development. However, ultimately, it is better for the user as they get a high-quality and privacy-secured app that they can delete whenever, without the need to contact customer support.

Transform your customer experience today

Developed in the right way, mobile apps can make it quick and easier for customers to access and buy your products and services. They can also add critical value to their experience, driving loyalty.

“It’s essential to test the products you’re developing thoroughly.”

Transform the experience for your customers today. Call us to discuss your application development

Key takeaways

• Mobile app success depends on many factors, including technical expertise, marketing strategy, and engineering capacity.
• Whether to build on Android or iOS (or both) depends on knowing the target audience, the customer demographic, and understanding the adoption and usage of different devices in regions where the business operates.
• Due to plenty of overlap between Android and iOS, it’s possible to follow a six-step app development framework to drive success.
• This approach is equally applicable to improving existing app versions. This iterative cycle can be applied repeatedly for every new feature developers introduce.
• Before going live, apps must be submitted to the relevant platform – Android or iOS – for approval.

About the author

Pedro Vincente is Mobile Horizontal Lead and Software Craftsman at Mindera. He turns ideas into reality using code and fine-tunes ways of working to drive efficiency.