How to Build Cross-Platform Mobile Apps?
Step by Step Guide to Build Cross-Platform Mobile Apps
The world of mobile applications is multiplying and expanding the competition for all big and small business houses. Companies are figuring out new measures by which they can stay on par with their contemporaries. The popularity of mobile apps is increasing as all businesses are aiming to promote their products and services over them. The demand has increased the need to invent an advanced app that is highly visible in the market.
Companies should emphasize several factors while developing a mobile app. Besides the usability of an app, developers also need to prioritize the visibility of an application. They should take the most appropriate approach that will help them design an excellent app that every user can access. This article will highlight some crucial steps that app developers follow for creating a mobile application.
Before we introduce the readers to the steps of building an app, they should go through the following points. Below are some crucial things that one should remember while developing a mobile application:
- Developers should address the goal of creating an app
- They should prepare an overview of the functionality and features of the app
- App developers should measure the market competition of the concerned business
- Wire-frames and applications of the app play a vital role
- They should assess the wire-frames thoroughly
- Developers need to implement an appropriate app-building process
- They should develop the app carefully and test it before launching it
The usefulness of Cross-Platform Apps
Cross-platform applications have gained immense popularity for their exceptional features. These apps reduce the hard work of app developers as they need to write the code base only once. The same codebase can work on multiple platforms with the same set of functionalities. Therefore, an app developer needs to write the code for an application once, and it can run on various platforms like Android, iOS, etc.
Steps for Developing a Cross-Platform Mobile Application
Here are the steps that will help developers create a cross-platform app effortlessly:
1st Step: Selecting a Cross-Platform App Development Tool
Today, App Developers are spoilt with choices for cross-platform mobile app development tools. They will get top-class support while developing an application with these tools. However, one needs to choose wisely and pick up an effective one that will make the app development process effortless. A cross-platform app development tool plays a vital role in the success of an application, and developers should keep this in mind.
Some of the popular cross platform mobile app development tools include Xamarin, NativeScript, RhoMobile, Kony Mobile Platform, Codename One, Appcelerator, PhoneGap, Monocross, and the list continues. These names have made a strong mark amongst users with their impressive features and unparalleled support. One should assess the pros and cons of these tools and choose the best one among them.
2nd Step: Designing the User Interface
The user interface or UI of an app refers to the front-end that a user can access. This end holds all the options and other components, and developers should design it carefully. Various platforms have a separate set of UI requirements that app designers need to abide by. They should also follow this protocol while developing a cross-platform mobile application that can run on various platforms and enhance user experience.
Developers should consider studying the rules for all the platforms and then commence with designing their apps. They should understand the process in which applications work on various platforms. This will help them in creating a flawless app that runs seamlessly on different operating systems. App designers should ensure they design a fantastic user-interface that will add to the usability of the mobile application.
3rd Step: Choosing a Perfect Cross-Platform App Module
Cross-platform app modules make the work of application developers very easy. These modules offer numerous advantages, and one can use them for handling the development task better. Developers can invest less time in designing an application if they choose the most powerful module. These modules make the development procedure faster and more effective. Moreover, the efficiency of an application increases with the selection of a reliable module.
Developers get access to a wide range of software development kit or SDK that comprises of numerous useful tools. They can also obtain top-class information about the app development process with the help of a cross-platform app development module.
4th Step: Picking a Dedicated API Service for the App
Choosing the perfect API or Application Programming Interface plays an essential role in the app development process. Developers often go with a standard API for various platforms such as Android, iOS, and Windows. It can help them if they are designing a medium-sized application that will be used by clients having the same needs. However, things need to be just the opposite if the requirements of clients vary extensively.
App developers should customize the API of an app according to the needs of the concerned platform. They should detach the existing API and add some relative operations on the back-end of the app. It is called a dedicated API service that helps app developers to modify the back-end API easily. It also helps in establishing products independently.
5th Step: Addressing the Diversities of Various Platforms
Applications running on the same platform have numerous dissimilarities, and so does cross-platform apps. Various devices have different sets of features, and applications should be compatible with them. Apps need to consider all the specifications of a device for running seamlessly on it. Therefore, app developers cannot miss out on these attributes to ensure their applications serve the purposes correctly.
Developers need to consider numerous parameters related to platforms and devices while building a cross-platform app. Some of the critical platform-oriented parameters include screen size, keyboards, touch, gesture, push messages, and navigational features. Similarly, specific device-based parameters do exist such as geographical locations, maps, camera, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, Near Field Communications (NFC), and some others.
6th Step: Testing the App
The sixth step in the app development process is dedicated to the testing of the cross-platform application. It is an important step that will ensure the success of the app on its launch. Developers should try unit testing and beta testing procedures on various hardware components to check whether the app is working correctly. It is crucial to figure out if the application can reach out to potential users and serve their purposes.
Simulators or emulators are a perfect tool for testing the functionality of an application. App testers can try these tools for assessing an application on various platforms. They can also test an app on different devices having unique specifications with the help of emulators.
7th Step: Receiving Validation from the Application Store
It is one of the most stressful steps in the whole process of developing a cross-platform mobile app. Developers need to test the app thoroughly and then submit it to respective app stores. These app stores will assess the functionality of the app rigorously and then give the final nod. If they feel the app cannot market well, they will not approve it and turn down the proposal.
Apple and Microsoft conduct an extensive review process on a new app before validating it. They do this to retain the highest quality of all applications available on the store. However, Android has an open nature, and one can get numerous options for app stores here.
Final Words
Developers get a broad spectrum of cross-platform app developing tools and frameworks today that will enable them to design the best application for numerous platforms. They need to choose the best tool that can address the requirements of apps and serve their purposes. This article has explained the app-development process in detail for helping new developers.
