Quick Guide To Develop iOS And Android Apps [2024]

“Mobile is the future of everything.” Forbes.

Indeed mobile is the future of everything from finance and healthcare to all good things in between mobile apps have become very common. As per the stats, mobile apps are forecasted to generate over 613 billion US dollars in terms of revenue. If you are thinking of developing a mobile app then you have landed at the right blog. Because here we are going to tell you about how to develop iOS and Android apps and the stages of mobile app development.

Before jumping into what and how-to, let's see the stats regarding mobile app development.

• By 2024, mobile apps are expected to generate $935 billion in revenue.
• There are 1.96 million apps in the Apple App Store for download
• There are 2.87 million apps available on the Google Play Store

These statistics manifest the reality that mobile apps are not going anywhere and if you are thinking of developing one then now is the time to construct one.

Below, we have jotted down the stages of mobile app development for you. 

Stages of Mobile App Development

Creating your own mobile app from scratch can be difficult but you can always hire a mobile app development company. Because the development of an iOS or Android app is in no way equivalent to the programming of one. It involves a lot more stages.

1. Planning and Analysis

This stage involves doing preliminary analysis and gathering clients' demands. Plus, creating technical documentation, and choosing a plan for further cooperation.

2. Design and Development

The designing phase involves creating layouts of screens, deciding on interactions, prototypes, etc. In development, you combine all your designs with technical requirements (3rd party interactions APIs, etc).

3. Testing and Release

Testing mainly goes with the development. But as a separate stage, all possible scenarios with system loads are checked, and then the app is released.

4. Support

Support is always required even after the release of the app because a helpful user can recommend a feature that you might need to include.

Now let's move on to how to develop apps for iOS and Android. 

How to Develop an App for iOS and Android?

The mobile app development community works on two fronts i.e Native development and Cross-platform app development.

Native App Development

Native App development refers to an app that is built for one specific platform. Therefore, written in languages compatible with the platform. For example, Native android apps run on Android OS only whereas native iOS apps run on iOS only.

Cross-platform Development

Cross-platform can write code once and run on both iOS and Android platforms. If you are someone new to mobile app development then it is better for you to learn native first and then move to cross-platform technologies.

To develop iOS and Android apps different tech stacks are required. Such as 

• Android development using Kotlin and Java
• iOS development using Swift and Objective C
• Cross-platform using Flutter, Ionic, Xamarin, React Native, etc.

In terms of iOS app development, there are different iPhone application development blogs all over the internet, and various app programming guides for iOS. Here you can learn about the best practices for iOS app development. There are different App dev tutorials offered by Apple too. 

Cross-platform apps are quite common so there are multiple blogs, books, and guides present on iPhone and Android development cross-platform too.

The key to hire iOS developers who are best in their field is to learn about the emerging trends and keep an eye on the best practices in the developers’ community.

Recommended Read:  Top 10 Programming Languages in 2024

To develop Android and iOS mobile apps, it is important for developers to keep themselves aligned with the best and ethical practices. We have noted down some points for you.

Best Practices For iOS App Development

The best practices in iOS App development are given below:

Create and Follow Documentation

The documentation is the most important part as it is the blueprint of your plan. Your documentation should cover all components of the system. Remember your documentation is your biggest source of information and your companion in a difficult time of development.

You can use a technical documentation software for enabling effective communication among team members and guiding users through the product.

Mind the App Store Rules

It is important for a developer to keep in mind the App Store rules. Especially, during the process of development and distribution. If as a developer you omit this part then you will spend an awful amount of time working on something that is not allowed for App Store distribution. Although the Apple guidelines cover all topics like business, design, safety, and other legal issues

Security & Compatability

Security is one of the biggest concerns and it is of utmost importance for you to keep in mind the security measures whilst designing the app. The fundamental part here is to focus on the code quality and take a closer look at the app’s cache and logging process.

In addition to this, also consider employing an additional encryption layer. Another essential factor is compatibility which means that if you have developed an iOS application then it should run smoothly on iOS 14 too. You can consider backward compatibility in this regard.

Best Practices For Andriod App Development

The best practices you can adopt as an Android app developer are given below:

Select A Suitable Development Platform

The development process will become easier when you will decide that your app will be a Native, Hybrid, or web-based app. Because not all apps are built on the same approach. You have to brainstorm, plan and pick an appropriate method.

Code Quality and Consistency

The quality of code always matters. It is not smart to write big codes. The key is to write small, high-quality, and consistent codes. The long codes increase the chances of bugs.

Documentation and user input

The documentation here is key too. It actually contains all the details about the product and the needs of the customers. It is important that you follow all the things explained in the document. You can also take user input after the deployment and change your app accordingly.

If you are still finding it difficult to decide whether you want an iOS or Android app. Then the difference given below will help you decide what type of app you want.

What is the difference between iOS and Android development?

Andriod and app development have their own set of technical foundations that are different from one another. The iOS and Android platforms are common among app developers. However, Andriod is considered the easiest app development platform

Although, there are levels of differences from app marketing to design. Here are some of the insights.

How Long Does it Take to Develop a Mobile App and What is the Cost?

You will approximately require a time period of three to nine months. But depending upon the complexity of the app and the structure of your project the time period can vary.  

In terms of price, the recent survey from Good Firm shows that the price of a simple app can be between $38,000 to $91,000.

Wrapping Up

Mobile apps occupy a major chunk of our lives from ordering groceries to booking rides. It is no doubt that mobile applications facilitate us in almost every aspect of our lives. To develop iOS and Android apps you can hire an experienced app development company like InvoZone. Last year InvoZone was declared the Top mobile app development company by Top developer’s.co. Contact us.

In case you want to read more about mobile apps, you can visit our blog category of mobile apps specifically tailored to your customer demand and industry trends.