In keeping pace with the times, having your own mobile app is no longer a luxury but an essential requirement for any business. Mobile apps play a crucial role in brand building by offering convenience in performing day-to-day activities such as searches, selections, purchases, after-sales services, and much more.
They allow us to get work done on-the-go. From ordering groceries at the office to attending classes on mobile, conducting meetings while traveling, or connecting with loved ones anytime, apps have made the world fit into the palm of our hands.
The development of mobile apps has evolved significantly in recent years. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are now integral to the design and development process, enhancing UI/UX and making apps more intuitive.
So, when developing an iOS or Android app, it’s crucial to understand every aspect of the mobile app lifecycle. Let’s break it down:
- The Process Lifecycle (Ideation, Evaluation, Design, Development & Roll-out)
- Technology (Android, iOS, Cross-Platform)
- The Platform (Kotlin, Ionic, Java, Framework 7…)
THE PROCESS LIFECYCLE
In this section we will walk through all the steps that are involved in the app development process from the beginning till the end.
1. IDEATION:
Like everything else in life, an app also needs a ‘eureka’ moment. The first time that an idea clicks or pushes its way through our minds.
We either immediately discuss it or jot down the main points on the nearest writeable platform like a paper napkin or an ever-present whiteboard. It can come from the business side or from the product development side or a user or from anywhere.
2. PLANNING:
To give this idea a concrete structure, planning is an important aspect. We prepare a planning document. This document answers the general, initial questions on ‘the product’ (mobile app in our case), how we plan to grow the product and how do we plan to have a financially viable and profitable product.
To ascertain this, we need to answer the following questions:
- Planning gives structure to the idea. A planning document answers key questions such as:
- Who is the target audience (kids, working professionals, gender-specific, elderly, location-based)?
- What problem will the app solve?
- Is it unique or are there existing apps?
- Who are the competitors and how saturated is the market?
- What benefits will users gain?
- What will be the growth and marketing strategy?
- How will it generate revenue (ads, subscriptions, freemium, paid)?
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3. ANALYSIS:
Post the discussion in the planning stage, we need to start with the analysis and technical documentation. In this stage we answer some more questions (mostly technical in nature).
- What features do we plan to have in the app? :- we start with designing a wireframe
- What technology to use for app development? Native (iOS, Android), or Cross Platform?
- Perform a pros and cons analysis of each technology
- What platform to use for app development? – Kotlin, Ionic, Java, Framework 7, etc.
- Platform finalization will be based on the technology shortlisted
- Also perform a pros and cons analysis of each platform.
- Each type of technology and platform are useful depending upon the specific purpose and app features
- Development options: we can opt for in-house development (use online app builder or use developers) or outsource the app development process.
- Analyze the cost involved with each technology, each platform and with each development option to ascertain the financial viability of the app
- What type of testing to opt for? – Agile testing or waterfall (traditional) testing?
4. DESIGN:
At this step, we start to give shape to our vision of the app. We begin to design its look and feel. This is the stage where we:
- Start designing the screen layout – a simple and intuitive UI to maximize UX.
- Develop a style guide: chose the color themes, icon designs, font and font size, button size, etc.
- Define and design a smooth navigation structure.
5. DEVELOPMENT:
Once the technology and platform are finalized, development begins. Essential considerations:
- Responsive design across devices and OS versions.
- Optimized app size for users with limited storage.
- Strong security features and privacy policy.
- Optimized battery and data usage.
- Proper caching for better performance.
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6. TESTING:
Again, as finalized during the analysis stage the development team will carry on the testing.
- Agile testing is the norm these days. Under agile testing the development and testing go hand in hand.
- This testing approach enables corrections, alterations, and enhancements to be made on the spot thus, saving a lot of time.
- But we still need a final testing stage to ensure the cohesive working of the app in each test case scenario and with high system load.
7. RELEASE:
Once the app is completely tested against all test case scenarios, the D-day arrives. The app is made available to the users.
- App is released on Google Play store and Apple App store
- App feedback is received and analyzed
8. POST RELEASE SUPPORT:
The work of the business analyst and the developer is not over even after the release of the app.
- Based on the user feedback the required improvements and enhancements are done in the app.
Well begun, is half done.If we have done a good job in the initial stages of planning, analysis and designing the remaining process can be a smooth sail as everyone will know what is expected from whom and how is the final product supposed to look.
Also Read: Hybrid App Development vs. Native: Choosing the Right Path for Your Business in 2025
THE TECHNOLOGY
As stated earlier, each type of technology is useful depending upon the specific purpose and app features that we intend to have. Both the native technology Android and iOS and cross platform technology have their set of loyal users. So, to decide on which technology to opt for we do a basic pros and cons analysis of each one of them.
1. NATIVE TECHNOLOGY:
By using native technology, a developer can develop an app for a specific technology only like an Android or an iOS.
- Advantages of development in Native Technology:
- The developed app will be more efficient as it will be optimized according to the device features like easy integration with google assistant in android or with Siri or apple watch in iOS
- It will have technology specific UI & UX thus ensuring smooth functioning of the app
- Disadvantages of development in Native Technology:
- The app will have to be developed on different technologies to have a wider reach. This will need more developers thus increasing the cost of development
- Also, all the upgrades and the maintenance of the app will have to be done on each technology separately thus making it a tedious activity
2. CROSS PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY:
When the app is created using the cross-platform technology then the source code is shared between the technologies and the framework helps in translating shared code for each of them.
- Advantages of development in Cross Platform Technology:
- Even though the code is shared, but we still have the benefit of using the respective device features
- Since it is developed on a shared platform therefore, less coding work will be required (almost 50-80% development effort is reduced), making it easier to manage and upgrade and in turn makes it cost-effective
- Disadvantages of development in Cross Platform Technology:
- The cross-platform technology may face performance issues due to challenges in integration of the native and non-native components in the code
The businesses will have to decide on the most suitable technology option based on the target audience, app performance consideration and UI consideration and of course the most important the cost factor.
THE PLATFORM
There are too many fishes in the ocean. What we intend to say is that we have wide range of mobile app building platforms available in the market. And these platforms are very cost effective too. Here we list a few of the mobile development apps (in no particular order) that are both trending and useful.
- The Appy Pie
- Appery.io
- Swiftic
- Apps Builder
- Mobile Roadie
- AppMakr
- Caspio
- Nevercode
- JIRA
- BuildFire
- Kotlin
- Ionic
- Java
- Framework 7
Final Thoughts
Mobile app development is a structured journey that requires careful attention at every stage — from ideation to post-release support. By choosing the right process, technology, and platform, businesses can ensure long-term success.
Hope this blog gives you a comprehensive view on the various aspects involved in design and development of an app.
At Mypcot Infotech, an iOS and Android app development company, we specialize in creating powerful, user-friendly mobile applications tailored to your needs. Connect with us today for the best proposal and expert support.
