Android Application Development Process: The Perfect Guide

7 min read Dec 31, 2018

Ever wondered how your favorite mobile application, which eats up a lot of your routine time, is developed? What’s the background process? How is the user-friendly interface designed? Well, if you are on a hunt for answers to these questions, you have landed at the right place!

The modern tech-savvy world has significantly altered our lifestyle for the good. We now rely on mobile applications that have simplified the complex tasks that otherwise squander a lot of time. The precise analysis of our actual needs and the implementation of adequate strategies lend a hand in the development of a highly reliable Android application.

Here we would be emphasizing the Android mobile applications development, which would surely clear all your doubts regarding the mobile app creation lifecycle. Dive in here to know more about the aspects associated with the mobile app development process from scratch.

The Core Idea

Initially, a great application demands a superb idea. You have to be sure that enough that your core idea about the application, the resources, and the problem-solving ability should be clear before you can proceed further.

One needs to note down the things that would be on higher priority while developing the application that is intended for a purpose. Moreover, the problems that can arise at any instance related to the application development process should be noted down in advance. This would help you in planning a strategy that would work smoothly through the entire procedure.

For instance, you have to analyze the potential of the Android application that whether it would be able to solve the purpose or not. Furthermore, adequate consideration should be given to the market trends and the demand of users. This would help you in developing an app that could be a great hit!

Apart from this, one needs to precisely analyze the similar applications that are already available in the market and serving the same purpose. There could be nothing as rewarding as a fresh idea, which can augment your business aspect but just in case you don’t have any; make sure you research the market. The functionalities offered by your competitors and how you can engage users towards your product are some crucial things to consider.

Application Development Strategy

Once you are done with the idea of the Android application, you would have to focus on the app development strategy. There is no point in relying on a weak strategy that could eventually disappoint you in the near future.

One needs to check the market trends and work on the actual needs of the users, which would help you in creating the appropriate strategy. This simply means you have to check the actual downloads of the competitor’s application and also focus on the type of users that are targeted by your business opponents. Once you are done with these aspects, it is time to check the background of the competitor so as to get the idea about their strategy and business revenue model.

Most people prefer hiring a professional agency that can augment their job with the best in class service and planning as per their core idea. This is the perfect way to generate adequate revenues when we talk about a great business model.

Wireframing the App

For all those who are unaware of the term “wireframe”; it is the blueprint of the mobile applications that can give the exact idea about the functionality and design. This is one of the crucial parts of the application development that structures the application and releases a full-fledged depiction of the functionality and design.

The wireframe mainly includes the features, layout, and the specifications of the application that further helps the developer to analyze the exact requirement. When you consider hiring an Android Developer for your project, this wireframe helps in synchronizing your ideas and business strategy with the development company.

UI/UX Design

UI/UX design is becoming trendier as more and more things are moving to online platforms. However, these are often confused terms as they are placed together in a single term, i.e., UI/UX. Usually, it is hard to find the exact description of the two. So, here we go with the precise meaning of both of them:

A User Interface (UI) is a graphical representation of an application that includes clickable buttons, texts, sliders, images, and all the elements that interact with the users. And User Experience (UX) is how a user interacts with the app; is it smooth and straightforward, or is it confusing for the users? Does the app have logical navigation or not? Basically, UX design is about how easy or challenging it is to interact with the User Interface elements created by a designer.

User Experience Testing

User experience testing is the method of examining various aspects of user experience to select the most suitable way for the website and mobile apps and their features to interact with its users.

Some of the most common procedures for user experience testing are:

  • Moderated User Testing
  • Voice of Customer
  • Card Sorting
  • Recordings
  • Asking Your Users
  • Aesthetics
  • A/B Testing
  • Availability and Accessibility
  • Brand Consistency

The Application Design

Your Android application’s design is perhaps the first thing that would leave an impression on your users, and thus; it should be appealing enough! You just can’t expect great hits on your application on the Google Play Store if the layout isn’t catchy enough to snatch the eyes of the users.

Your audience would always judge the application reliability on the overall design, which is the reason you have to stress more on the overall design. From hiring the best in the class designing team to making precise alterations for enhancing the user experience, make sure you leave no stone unturned!

Application Development Phase

The Android development team focuses on the overall layout of the application and the back-end structuring. The developer deploys the strategies through the efficient code and adds the functionality as per the user requirements and business model.

More emphasis is given to the user experience through the refined code in this phase of application development. It is the responsibility of the app developers to ensure that their application is reliable enough to provide the finest user experience without any glitches.

It is the responsibility of the application developer to make sure that the code that they are writing for the user interface or the backend should be efficient and optimized. It is necessarily important to have an efficient code that can augment the loading speed, stability, and endurance of the software, which further harmonizes the business model.

The perfect use of intent, navigation, list view, and database would be structured at this important stage. All the functionality that is the base of the application is developed in this phase by skilled professionals by deploying the logic that can enhance the user experience.

Testing the Application

Once the coding and designing part of the application is done, it is the time to test the application to analyze any flaws. The testing professional analyzes the application for any loopholes that can be the reason for a glitch in the overall functionality.

The development and testing team can prefer manual test scenario for checking some functionalities while a major proportion of testing is performed through automated scripts. Automation-Based testing enables the testing team to put the desired load on the application by creating virtual users that eventually helps in deep analysis of the application at diverse loads.

The testing team ensures that all the bugs are eliminated and the speed of the application isn’t affected by the increase in the number of users. There is no point a development team could compromise on the overall quality of their application and they strictly emphasize different quality checks before they can deliver the end product.

Whether it is the performance testing of the application or the functional testing, the skilled team of experts leaves no chance of any loophole in delivering the best product.

Deployment

The final stage is the deployment of the application on the Google Play Store. This procedure involves the submission of screenshots of different layouts of the application that can give the users an exact idea about the functionality and user interface.

Moreover, the details about the application, its use, problem-solving ability, and features are provided as the description in on the Play Store. Once these formalities are finished, the application’s APK file is submitted for approval.

Five Technology Used in Android Application Development Process

Here I have listed five major programming languages that are hugely used in the development of the android application.

Swift

Swift is the language to choose if you are looking for something to build specifically for Apple OS. It is a popular iOS mobile apps development language. Swift operates on a safe and secure programming pattern and delivers outstanding features to produce the entire iOS mobile app development process smoothly. Apple developers love this language as it is robust and intuitive.

C++

C++ constructs a ground for many programming languages and excels in crafting dynamic and powerful mobile apps. If you have written code in C++ to develop an application once, then you can use that same code on different platforms such as Android, Windows, and iOS without hampering the security and performance of an app. It's easy and efficient compiler-based approach makes it versatile to use on different platforms. Before the introduction of Swift, the sister language of C++, which is Objective-C, was used for iOS app development.

Java

In the IT field, everyone has heard about this object-oriented programming language, and it is pretty popular. For android application development, it is the official language as it is easy to handle and very secure. Java is extremely versatile and helps you keep your mobile apps flexible, extensible, and modular. It offers open-source libraries for its users to choose from.

HTML5

Based on the near-universal standards of web technologies – HTML5, JavaScript and CSS – this type of mobile app takes a write-once-run-anywhere approach to mobile development. Apps developed in this framework are compatible with many platforms and require only minimal changes to ensure complete functionality on each operating system. HTML5 apps can still send desktop notifications and trigger interactions through email and other avenues. Don't discount web apps' usability, but keep in mind that consumers are more likely to use a native app.

PHP

A relatively easy language to learn, PHP is an object-oriented language. It utilizes a three-layered model for dynamic websites and mobile app development. It is best suited for apps that need database integration. Most of the time, large-scale development projects pick this open-source language as it facilitates authentication, caching, and even routing.

Role of AI in Mobile App Development

Artificial Intelligence is the buzzword in today's technological globe. It has the capability to revolutionize the android app development services. AI works on computer science technology and generates intelligence just like humans in machines. It gives machines the capability to function, respond and then act precisely like human beings.

The apps created by the best android application development company with AI-powered devices deliver a complete, customized, and personalized experience to the consumers. Few apps comprehend how humans behave and can foretell the user's following action and modify the look and feel based on perceiving the user's mood. It enables you to boost user engagement that ultimately results in an incredible user experience along with sustaining the long-lasting loyalty of the user. With time, artificial intelligence is acquiring more importance and is transforming the future of mobile apps.

Augmented Reality is Boosting the Scope of Mobile App Development

Especially in the time of Covid-19, augmented reality is spreading its wings like never before. During this time period, AR has been immensely contributed to the field of mental health, even though there are relatively few augmented reality apps to assist people suffering from mental fitness conditions. Apart from that, multiple augmented reality app development organizations craft AR devices for different sectors such as eCommerce, entertainment, fashion, healthcare, media, etc.

Augmented reality can do magic in apps that involve complex activities, inventory, user data, training sessions, and daily tasks. Augmented reality technology is good from the entertainment perspective. Yes, you heard it right; it has the power to draw and keep the users by delivering a delightful user experience.

In the coming future, this technology will amplify its work in enterprise-grade apps by recreating its function in numerous ways.

Regardless of the scope and size of your business, following this Android application development process will make your Enterprise App Development a sure-shot success.

Need help with choosing the right App Development Solutions?

Ishan Gogna

I had worked previously as an Android team lead for 4 years and later promoted as Project manager for past 5 years, for Seasia Infotech; at Mohali based CMMi Level 5 Web & mobile app development company. I am a highly motivated and ambitious individual, able to give timely and accurate advice, support and training to team members. Possessing excellent management skills and having the ability to work with the minimum of supervision whilst leading a team. Have worked with clients worldwide (mostly in USA) and have left them with complete satisfaction with my work, many of which are still associated with me.

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