The majority of people nowadays would have a hard time imagining using their smartphone “only for calls” during the day. The majority of mobile devices have moved far beyond simple instant messaging and phone call functions that were their original purpose. Today, even very basic mobile phones offer a platform to house a variety of everyday applications. It converts thousands of people into app users who are grateful for access to more and more apps. They improve life whether they are simple or complex, helpful or entertaining, minimalist or exploding with colorful and eye-catching elements, practical or pleasant, or just what the user needs them to be. Users may perform a wide range of tasks just on their mobile phones thanks to the variety of apps that are currently available.
Most users have no idea how many people are involved in performing regular tasks like setting an alarm for tomorrow, budgeting for the upcoming week, or messaging their mother a picture.
Let’s take a step further today and outline the entire process of developing an ios mobile application. Gives information from developing the idea to publishing it on the App Store.
Making a mobile application out of thin air is a complex process with its own unique peculiarities and features in every specific scenario, just as in any creative process. However, several typical creative stages for this process can be identified based on appbird ‘s vast experience in developing a variety of applications, such as the following:
12 Steps to Develop a Successful IOS Mobile Application
- setting the task and initial scope of works
- estimation
- user/market research
- UX wireframing
- prototyping
- UI design
- animation
- software architecture planning
- iOS development
- testing
- release
- updates.
Although the stages are listed in order, this does not mean that each new phase begins after the previous one is finished. Since so many processes and stages are interconnected, even those that are not mentioned in the list, it is difficult to believe that there would be this kind of linear dependence. Additionally, some of them, such as testing or estimation, are mentioned intermittently while being applied to the entire process of developing an app. Let’s follow this process step by step to understand how a simple concept becomes a useful mobile application.
Setting the task and initial scope of works
The task point serves as the starting point for all processes of design and development. The design and development team should now gather as much information as possible from the client to identify the best route ahead. Without a clear destination in mind, a person walking may end up going nowhere. The same principle applies to product design. In order to achieve the desired outcome, the journey should begin with clearly defined objectives. The objectives don’t need to remain exactly the same by the end of the journey. Instead, you should establish the proper level of flexibility, as goals may shift during the development, research, and testing phases. However, without setting clear general goals at the start, the creative process can easily turn into a mess.
Another important piece of advice is to try to understand the thoughts and motivations behind your clients’ demands when interacting with them. This is something we have learned from years of experience. Understanding why a customer prefers specific colors, shapes, or transitions will make it easier for you to justify (if necessary) multiple options of knowing these concepts that would produce the desired result while also being user-friendly and thoughtfully consuming resources or aiding interactions.
More information from the client will help you set the correct action to take. Design briefs, calls, Skype conferences, Slack conversations, brainstorming sessions, and mood boards can all serve as a stronger base for successful work.
The following information should be gathered at this stage:
- The characteristics of the product and its USP
- Target audience
- Geographical focus (if available)
- The keywords that the company uses to describe itself
- The design and functionality that clients consider important in the app
- Preferred unique features (color palette, general style, special features, connection with other already existing digital products or brand strategy, etc.)
- Identify the possible platforms, tools, and surfaces where users will interact with the app.
- The requirement for consistency with existing corporate identity (if available)
- Processing of data, the need for server-side technology, and some other technologies
- Particular preferences
Estimation
Business analysts and sales managers can give the client a preliminary estimate of the project’s duration and associated costs using the information gathered at the previous stage. As in any creative process, it is virtually difficult to establish a single estimate that will remain constant throughout the entire project. This is the information that needs to be examined and back to after each stage of the design process. Certain products may be pretty simple and have a clear structure. It has fewer screens or elements than others, in which case estimating will be accurate from the very beginning of processing the client’s information and requirements.
However, the probability of estimating reviews and modifications increases with project complexity. One additional crucial point to note is that these reviews may not necessarily indicate rising costs or lead times, as designers and developers can uncover ways to optimize technology and design solutions during the creative process, possibly even decreasing the initial estimate.
In full-stack teams, this procedure is almost perfect since business analysts can include designers and developers in the evaluation process from the very beginning of analysis and estimation, allowing for more accurate and realistic time and cost planning. Additionally, experts taking part in the discussion can offer a wealth of knowledge and experience on technical aspects and factors affecting the amount of time and resources required for the design and development of the app.
User/market research
This is the stage where the UI/UX designer begins the route by digging more deeply into the environment in which the future application will function, based on the given task and goals. User research and market research are typically conducted at the same time throughout the research stage.
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User research contains diving deep into the specifics of the primary target audience to understand their preferences and psychological quirks, the impact of various elements such as colors, stylistic features, and interaction logic on the experiences and emotions of the defined group, the sources of information, and innovative performance strategies that could engage users and encourage them to take part. Exploring the marketplace through marketing research involves looking at it primarily from the viewpoint of the innovative strategies implemented by competitors. Visual design aims to develop a distinctive and recognizable style that will set the product apart from the competition and attract potential customers.
David Ogilvy, a well-known advertising expert, highlighted the vital role that research provides in achieving successful outcomes: “Advertising people who neglect research are as dangerous as generals who ignore decodes of enemy signals.” Even if methods, objectives, and technologies have evolved over time, research continues to play a crucial role in the community. Designers face the possibility of failing this task if they skip the research phase and rely solely on their creative intuition, experience, and talent because they won’t be aware of the app’s operating requirements and won’t be able to create it effectively, is user-friendly, and is original.
UX Wireframing
During this phase, the team creates the general structure of the designed application or website. They typically use a collection of schematic screens or pages with low to medium detail. The goal of this stage is to provide a clear and organized structure for every layout, transition, and interaction based on the issues and problems that the product will relieve for the user.
For example, when we consider building a house, we typically focus on the actual construction process rather than the projects, designs, and calculations prepared on paper. Yes, it is physically conceivable to build a house without a plan and to create an interface out of thin air. However, in this case, don’t be shocked if the house cracks and falls one day for no obvious cause. Similarly, the app, which looks wonderful and stylish, won’t attract any devoted customers. Take your time for careful planning and project if you want to have a trustworthy house, a durable mechanism, a powerful application, or a highly functional website. Your time won’t be wasted; on the opposite, it will be saved from being used to rebuild the product and to try to figure out why it doesn’t operate properly.
The UX part of the design process aims to achieve that. User research, competition research, and data analysis should form the foundation of the UX wireframing stage. The outcome is a clear scheme reflecting the product’s usefulness and complexity. It maps out all transitions, interactions, and places UI elements for optimal usability. Wireframing can begin with pencil sketches or initial drafts, but specialized tools are preferred. These tools streamline the design process and enhance speed. They allow for a more efficient and effective development of the wireframe.
Prototyping
The sample model of the product that allows testing to determine whether the solutions and choices made about the product are effective is the original meaning of the term “prototype.” The final product should not be compared to a prototype because they are not that. Their primary goal is to make it possible for a designer, a customer, and a user to evaluate the accuracy and suitability of the design solutions.
In the last several years, the importance of prototypes has risen in the fields of app and web design. In reality, it’s easy to explain because even a low-fidelity prototype brings everyone closer to the final product. It helps the designer, customer, and tester understand how the product will look and function. This is more effective than relying solely on detailed planning, diagrams, and wireframes. However, wireframes and schemes are still essential and cannot be omitted from the process. They play a crucial role in developing design solutions. A prototype becomes particularly useful when evaluating its effectiveness. It ensures that nothing was overlooked during the design process. This step helps refine the final product before development.
This approach is ineffectual in practice because many customers view the prototype as being extremely similar to the actual product design, or “UI in action.” As a transitional phase between UX design and UI design, prototyping is considerably more effective and beneficial.
Instead of testing and developing the functional features of the program, the prototypes on the UI stage might be made to showcase how the application generally looks. And here is the trap where the confusion is likely to occur. In most circumstances, prototyping every aspect of the final UI stage is not as rational as it might seem. It will take too much time, so from this point, it would be preferable to use that time to code a demo version.
Furthermore, the UX team should thoroughly examine usability early in the process because replacing ineffective solutions becomes harder later. Prototyping for both UI and UX would definitely be fantastic, but not all designers and clients are willing to devote so much time to design activities. Instead, they prefer to test and improve on designs more quickly and affordably.
UI (User Interface) Design
The user interface is actually a finalized interactive field in which the user interacts with the product. It includes all the tools for increasing usability and satisfying target users’ needs and wishes. The team should analyze and optimize all features of visual perception, sound, and tactile feelings to enhance the app or website’s purpose. For example, such aspects as color palette, types and fonts, shapes and forms, illustration and animation, and so on and so forth are able to affect the performance of the final product greatly in both positive and negative ways.
UX research and wireframing are generally concerned with the functionality of the website or application, whereas UI is concerned with how it appears. Both of these stages focus on creating successful interactions, however, the UX stage focuses more on concepts, connections, and user behavior while the UI stage gives all the concepts a visual representation. It means that, in a perfect world, the designer would focus first on the layout, making it more effective, well-planned, obvious, and simple to use. Without this crucial effort, you run the very real risk of making the user interface a complete mess.
After validating the UX portion with a prototype and receiving approval for the layout, transitions, and features, the designer begins the UI design phase. At this stage, the designer adds the skin and bones to your product’s newborn heart and brain. Here, the product receives its authentic color scheme, forms, layout details, styles, animation elements, etc.
UX wireframing and UI design processes should complement one another and stick to the same strategy because all UI solutions have a direct impact on whether a user has a positive or negative experience. Otherwise, the effective solutions from one stage won’t work in the other.
Best UI Design Tools for the Next Generation
Animation
We discussed the importance of interface animation in mobile apps during the creative process. The most effective approach is to consider animation throughout all stages of design. The ideal time to implement it is after finalizing the UI design and stylistic direction. This ensures that animation aligns with the overall design vision.
Animation in an interface should serve a functional purpose, not just act as decoration. When planning the user journey, designers must consider motion elements carefully. They should analyze how animation can enhance usability, utility, and desirability. Only after this analysis should designers decide to integrate it into the layout or transitions. Animation in UI requires a thoughtful approach and always needs to have a clear purpose set behind it. The advantages and utility of using it in the interaction process have to be obvious and outweigh possible disadvantages.
Once visual details are confirmed, designers hand over assets to developers, who will bring them to life. This is also a good time to review the project estimates. With the design finalized, teams can plan the development sprints in detail.
Software Architecture Planning
One significant feature is that one of the most crucial components of a mobile application is scalability. Software architecture planning may occur concurrently with design. This procedure is difficult and often requires multiple iterations with constant feedback between teams. The main goal of architectural planning is to create a detailed blueprint for the app’s software architecture. This includes both the front-end and back-end design of the app. During this stage, the team selects the most effective technical solutions to build the app. The solutions must keep the app functional and scalable. Decisions are based on factors such as the product’s nature and the data it processes. The complexity of design, data storage needs, and login functionality are also considered. All these factors shape the app’s architecture and functionality. Back-end development creates the connection between the app and the web and facilitates data synchronization in both directions.
IOS Mobile Application development
Xcode, an efficient and adaptable platform with a wide range of features for iOS mobile application developers, carries out the actual coding of the program. Xcode is described as “Apple’s integrated development environment” on the official website (IDE). You can create apps for the iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac using Xcode. With the help of Xcode, you can handle every step of the app development process, from creation to testing, optimization, and submission to the App Store.
Xcode provides all the tools needed to create an iOS mobile application, but it can only run on Macs. You cannot start it on a Windows or Linux computer using any official methods. This means that if a person doesn’t already own a Mac but wants to create apps for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac, they will need to get one.
Objective-C and Swift are the two fundamental and most widely used programming languages for iOS mobile application development. Since 2014, Xcode has used the Swift programming language more frequently than Objective-C, which is a challenging language for developers to learn and develop. Nevertheless, Objective-C suits older iPhone hardware with less RAM and slower processors. It also works well for maintaining and updating apps originally made for that hardware. Swift is faster when it comes to code, more user-friendly, shorter, and more secure. It also keeps up with new hardware. Xcode 8 and the iOS 10 SDK, both available from Apple, are required for building iOS 10 apps. The Swift language and SDK have seen significant changes in this Xcode version.
In this stage, iOS mobile application developers focus on the program’s design and write the code. They integrate functionality into the UI, edit the source code, and debug the app. After testing, developers export the app to the App Store for release. Additionally, this phase calls for the creation of unit tests and the execution of integration testing. One of Xcode’s features, the Interface Builder, gives developers a visual way to put the client-side code together rather than having to do it by hand. With this tool, you can drag & drop various visual controls into the app code. AutoLayout controls how the app is presented based on the size of the user’s screen. While Preview Mode gives an initial glimpse of the app’s final appearance, Storyboard allows developers to see what each screen of the app looks like.
Although it’s possible to code entirely in Xcode, many iOS developers prefer using a text editor. A text editor helps manage complex code by supporting relevant programming syntaxes. Without it, handling long, intricate code becomes confusing for programmers.
In most cases, one portion of the development team codes, integrates, and connects the front-end server-side components of an app, such as the database, APIs, and middleware, while another portion develops the client-side part.
When planning the process and determining the number of individuals involved, you should prioritize the complexity and urgency of the project. One iOS mobile application developer might be able to build every part of the app’s software architecture for smaller projects.
Multilayered complex projects require at least a few programmers with expertise in software architecture. These programmers should have strong skills in both client-side and server-side development. Their expertise ensures the project runs smoothly and meets technical requirements.
This phase is primarily responsible for creating a functional, scalable software integrated with server-side components. It includes the database, APIs, and other infrastructure needed for the software to run. Clients who are not ready to create server-side infrastructure can purchase a Backend as a Service (BaaS) bundle. These bundles offer various storage capabilities and options but are not fully “turn-key.” They often lack in-depth analytics features, limiting comprehensive analysis. However, they can be useful for clients seeking quicker solutions. It suggests that the client needs a developer to integrate it into the app who is familiar with back-end engineering.
Testing
William A. Foster once said, “Quality is never a mistake; it is always the outcome of high intention, genuine effort, intelligent guidance, and flawless execution; it reflects the wise choice among many possibilities”. And when it comes to digital product testing, this is simply true.
Testing is one of the most important stages of the entire app design and development lifecycle. It helps identify bugs before the iOS mobile application is released to actual users. The App Store won’t accept any apps with compilation errors or defects. Therefore, a mobile app ready for submission must be free of such issues. Even if an app seems promising and interesting, people typically stop using it if it has functional issues. An app that functions effectively and meets user expectations can succeed across various fields like eCommerce, business, and advertising. By solving user issues, it can create value and drive success.
Testing does not mean that developers do not deliver the best possible product. For example, it is incorrect to suggest that journalists and writers lack talent and qualifications simply because editors review every book, magazine, or newspaper issue. It works the same way for the design and development of mobile apps. Varied specialists have different goals and skills in the process to boost general productivity and efficiency. Even if the developers did an excellent job and made no mistakes, testing involves more than just looking for problems. On the opposite, it helps determine the app’s quality and identifies ways to enhance it through actual interactions.
Automated testing is becoming increasingly popular because it is efficient, affordable, and reliable. Developers can use the iOS Simulator and other testing tools, such as Appium, Frank, and Calabash, to test the app and identify any issues that need fixing. Continuous testing prevents small bugs from turning into larger problems later.
A developer typically tests an app screen by screen on a device or in the iOS Simulator in Xcode. This ensures there are no bugs and that all functions work as expected. Debugging and fixing may be done simply in Xcode.
The app should be tested in all aspects. Since screen resolution, CPUs, battery life, and memory will vary amongst devices (iPhone, iWatch, iPad, iPod, etc.), developers will need to test the app on each one to see how it performs. Additionally, they test UX (How user-friendly is it? ), handling and download speed (Do all the functions function correctly? ), and functionality (Do all the functions work well?). Developers examine crash reports in addition to the previously identified problems to determine what needs to be fixed.
Here are some types of testing that are used during the mobile app development process:
Functional testing:
Performance testing:
Network performance, server performance, and client application performance are all included in this type. For example, it tests the app’s performance specifications and behavior under various circumstances, including low battery, poor network coverage, low memory availability, etc.
Memory testing:
This kind of test makes sure that every application maintains optimal memory use while the user is browsing.
Interruption testing:
During usage, an app may face a variety of interruptions, such as incoming calls or network failures and recovery. This type of testing shows how the app will behave in these situations.
The following are the typical interruptions:
- Calls, SMS, and MMS, both incoming and outgoing
- and various notifications;
- Low memory warning
- Inserting or removing cables
- Network failure or recovery
- Toggle media player
- Device power cycling, low battery alerts, etc.
Security testing:
The app’s vulnerability to hacking, authentication and authorization procedures, data security, session management, and other security standards are all assessed.
Usability testing:
Submitting / Release
The app finally becomes usable and ready to share with users. The developer must join the iOS mobile application developer program to submit it to the App Store. Before an app can go live, Apple has the right to examine and approve it. In any event, allow about a week for Apple to evaluate and approve the information. If you use the app for business purposes, you must complete brief surveys as an additional step in the submission process.
This step requires independent clearance, which developers typically receive within a day. Releasing an app to the App Store involves several stages, such as configuring the code. Developers must create a profile, and listing, and submit the app to Xcode for certification. Understanding the process helps iOS developers prepare for possible fixes and resubmissions. This knowledge can streamline the release and avoid unexpected delays.
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