Of the different choices to choose from, becoming an app developer is the practical way to make some quick money. As the old adage goes “Make hay while the Sun shines”, mobiles and their applications are on the rage and head starting your career on the lucrative mobile app space is a wise and recommended move!

But, how easy is developing an app for different platforms like iOS, Android or Windows? Well, it mayn’t be as easy as you assume. Yet you can make the most of it, especially if you wish to become an aspiring app developer. How?

By learning crucial stages of app development and how to approach it!

Crucial stages of app development

Developing mobile app is a daunting process as it involves different complex stages. An app, before becoming live has to cut through 5 difficult phases. And the phases hold good to all kinds of platforms like Windows, iOS, Android, and Blackberry.

Let’s dive deep into 5 app development stages an app developer should know.

1. Good grasp over scope of work

For an app developer, bringing up an app without proper analysis and understanding of the scope of work can produce destructive results. App development is expensive and no one would like an app which doesn’t meet his/her requirements.

So the best way is realizing and visualizing what the client has detailed in the scope of work and how to make it practical.

The complete process of app development commences only after this. It’s often not true that the developers should stick only to the briefed scope of work as he/she can come up with his own ideas and thoughts to make the app unique and full of purpose. In short, this is the idealization phase of app development and it is here the simplicity and complexity of app to be developed is decided.

2. Designing stage

This is the phase where the necessary platform, tools, environment, and developers assigned for the particular project are nailed down. Often this is a crucial phase as it decides the outcome of the app in short complete design plan of the app will be derived here.

Other crucial parameters that are analyzed for perfect app delivery are stated below.

• App functionality

• Features

• Workflow

• Interface and screens

• Animation effects

• Navigations

The above parameters after analysis are prototyped on a wireframe and will be exhibited for client review.

Based on the approval from the client, the actual development process of the app begins. Remember, the prototype should be completely unique, simple and purposeful to get a nod from the client.

3. Development stage

It is often mentioned as the real app development phase. It is the phase where the complete app development process takes place.

The prototype designed and plans formulated will be put into real in this phase.

Only top notch app developers with profound experience are allowed to work on the project as it helps deliver perfect apps in a short period of time. Remember, app quality and meeting the deadline both are vital and it is the reason why best app developers are chosen for this process.

4. Testing stage

Though the app is developed adhering to the development protocols and with expert developer, still it won’t be away from potential bugs.

The apps developed will be debugged with expert testers to zero in bugs and to deliver an app with incredible user experience and smooth navigations.

The testers again will carry out multiple bug tests on real devices with different environments to produce an app which is completely free from all kinds of malfunctions and bugs. Testers have to stand in the shoes of customers to make the app best fit to client’s requirements.

5. Launch and marketing stage

Once the app is developed and tested, the final stage will be launching them in their respective app stores.

It’s not easy as app stores like Google Play, iTunes, and Windows have set some stern protocols to publish the apps. Only if your app passes the protocols set by them, it will be cementing a place in any of the app store.

Developer’s role doesn’t stop with launching the app in the stores, but extends to monitoring the performance of the app in the market place. It can be measured with the reviews, number of downloads and feedback from clients.

To make your app visible among a large volume of people you have to announce the arrival of your app into mobile market place via various marketing means.

A best and essential means would be social media channels as they are cost-effective and can help your app confront with a massive volume of people in no time.

By now, to be developers would have gathered a fair bit of idea about how to approach app development and what are the stages involved in it from the above discussion. If you feel that I’ve missed out any invincible points, add them via comments.