You've decided to create a mobile app! Good.
If that is all that has been planned, I suggest taking time to carefully consider each detail relevant to your project. Selecting an ideal development platform is one of the key aspects of custom software development; these technologies offer software developers of all experience levels access to tools needed for rapidly creating mobile applications.
There are a range of technologies out there, each claiming to be the best. To select the ideal development platform, it's important to carefully consider your goals in order to differentiate them. We have put together a list below of some key factors when choosing a custom software application development platform.
Considerations when Selecting a Technology Stack
Before commencing any project, custom software development companies typically conduct a discovery phase to ascertain and understand project requirements and options available to them. They do this by asking several pertinent questions that help narrow down the technology options available to them.
Here are some questions that are frequently asked.
- Which device/platform is intended to host this software application?
- What are its intended performance objectives, as well as any overall expectations?
- Are the custom software development team familiar with these technologies?
- Are there thriving business ecosystems and communities to support the technology and ensure its long-term survival?
- Are there developer communities to provide documentation and other forms of support (e.g., fixing related errors and bugs)?
- Is integrating it with third-party applications seamless and interoperable?
- Are there any cyber security concerns related to the selected technologies? Etc.
This list isn't meant to serve as a definitive decision-making guide; rather, it should act as a screening mechanism to shortlist those which fit your criteria and eliminate those which won't fit within a shortlisting phase.
There are a number of well-known technologies that companies can draw inspiration from when selecting technologies for use to build their custom software solutions.
Swift, Java, and Kotlin technologies are popularly employed for mobile app development projects. Popular web development technologies include HTML/CSS/Javascript (including Java, C#, and PHP, amongst others, with additional innovations like Big Data Analytics/Machine Learning/Python, etc.), amongst many others making appearances in recent times.
Factors That Affect Decision-Making in Technology Stack
· Platform of Choice
Different systems require different technologies. Mobile apps are usually platform and device-specific (i.e., iOS/Android compatible); cross-platform apps can run across all platforms. Your choice will determine the technology utilized.
At the core, your decision will ultimately depend on which technologies can help you meet long-term business objectives.
Security in each industry may have different regulations they must abide by - for instance, HIPAA for healthcare and AML/KYC in Fintech, respectively - making selecting appropriate technologies imperative in meeting compliance needs.
· Scalability
Scalability is critical to future growth. A high-performance level also needs to be provided to provide the optimal user experience that attracts and retains customers.
· Assured Efficiency
Mobile application platforms are intended to streamline the work and coding needed to develop apps. If your platform requires you to perform so many tasks that it could just as easily code itself, another platform might be more suitable. Platforms should eliminate redundancies and shorten software development lifecycles - if saving time on coding requires you to come back later for debugging, perhaps another is needed instead.
· Can Your Service Keep Pace with Innovation in Applications
Innovation in applications is expanding at an alarmingly rapid rate, as operating systems update almost daily and new developments appear on the market. Dedicated teams find it challenging to keep pace, which becomes more challenging if relying on third-party software platforms that cannot support current versions of operating systems. It is essential that any platform support new operating system versions as part of its business plan.
· Maintainability
Stackoverflow has over two million JavaScript questions on it and provides knowledge sharing and bug fixes; however, some technologies are outdated or no longer supported, so both custom development team members and clients should remain up-to-date with updates or new releases so as to ensure these technologies receive continued support.
· Avoid compromising user experience for convenience.
Do not let the features of the platform you choose for developing your application determine how your users experience your app; focus on their experience instead. If only a few design elements from that platform are needed, that may work just fine; otherwise, you should look elsewhere if it does not match what you had in mind.
· Time-to-market
Time-to-market requirements will dictate which technologies can be utilized when creating certain software products, and to meet them on schedule, it may be necessary to compromise with customization in order to take full advantage of time savings.
Tips on selecting the appropriate platform for custom software application development
Stepping into the world of competitive software development is both daunting and gratifying.
Starting out is filled with options and possibilities:
From making sure that your solution can solve an existing issue to outwit potential competitors; selecting a Custom Software Development Company; using DIY platforms; to designing beautiful, user-friendly interfaces - so much is to consider at every turn!
Platform selection will be of utmost importance in determining the success of any software development project you create, with framework, technology, and architecture all working in harmony to provide seamless software functionality.
At some point in time, you may have considered creating your software system idea into reality - regardless of whether or not you're a techie entrepreneur. We will walk you through each step necessary for successful delivery on the most suitable platforms.
Examine All Options:
It has become more essential than ever to explore all available development and deployment opportunities provided by each platform.
Choose between reusable code libraries, custom code, or cloud-based backend structures to provide security and easy access.
Platforms available:
Operating Platform (iOS, Android, and Windows), Automation Platforms (AI and analytics), Cloud Platforms (PaaS, Google Cloud, or AWS), Mobile Platforms (native, hybrid, or web applications or progressive applications), Database Platforms (Oracle MySQL MongoDB, etc.)
Your native app for mobile may have garnered customers, but you may be losing them due to not understanding their value on web platforms. Perhaps progressive Web Applications would provide the ideal solution and incorporate user validation programs.
Entrepreneurs often rely on instinct when selecting their platform, often leading to building software that's overstuffed with features and complications.
Due to the absence of feedback loops and software delivered incrementally for user testing purposes, many software products often fall flat with users.
If the business software does not meet user organizational needs, refactoring may be required in order to reduce costs and create a better customer experience.
An effective user validation program typically includes the following:
Market research must include an in-depth examination of customer segments by channel (web or mobile). Release of incremental MVP prototypes; test them with target users. And experts may be required.
Software development life cycles can be fraught with bugs and errors. Is your team equipped with the skills necessary to respond quickly in an emergency situation?
Custom software application development companies frequently struggle to recruit staff with specific skill sets. Therefore, selecting a platform that can easily adapt to team expertise can be crucial. What if your software requires features only accessible to experts?
Finding efficient custom software development services that possess the knowledge to manage any complexity presented by older or more modern platforms can be challenging, but finding partners who possess these abilities should not be an issue.
Many companies can be easily convinced by a low initial quote to choose the cheapest option - and that can only lead to disaster.
Investment in experienced custom software developers who will not only develop software but will also collaborate closely on marketing and business strategy is wise.
Find a custom software company that is open to providing creative and innovative suggestions, has experience managing software start-ups, and boasts experts with in-depth knowledge of both front-end and back-end technologies.
A platform that serves its purpose:
When developing web or iOS applications, an integrated development environment (IDE) should provide developers with tools that match their expertise in each domain while accommodating features that define your product vision.
Consider all of the features and technologies required for each feature to be successful.
- Ask the appropriate questions to assist in selecting the appropriate technology.
- Are you prepared for scalability with your app?
- Do privacy and security matter?
Utilize these strategies to get everything in line.
Agile development provides the ideal way to avoid rigidity while also remaining specific in their approach. Agile is an iterative delivery model which ensures products meet customers' wishes while always offering cutting-edge tech updates.
Conclusion
Your long-term goals will depend upon the technology chosen for your project. This includes choosing an app type to develop, as well as which development team to hire.
Finding an ideal development platform that perfectly meets the requirements of your project will produce optimal results. Before selecting one, be sure to understand its goals and needs; compare various platforms before choosing your favorite; after taking into account all these factors, find one which best satisfies them all for you and select it as the basis of your work.
