Android App Development Guide: The Complete Process
The smartphone innovation has taken the market by storm and resulted in an increase in effort being put into offering a great user experience to customers through apps. When people refer to smartphones, Android is, by and large, the one consistent system they are referring to. Android operating system is the most extensive installed base among various mobile platforms globally. Hundreds of millions of mobile devices are run by Android in more than 150 countries worldwide. Moreover, it dominated around 65% of the market share by the end of 2020, and this inclination is rapidly growing every other day. In 2008, the market saw the first Android-powered device. Android leads the mobile OS industry, mainly due to the long list of features that it provides. It is user-friendly and has enormous community support.
Additionally, it provides a greater extent of customization, and many companies build smartphones compatible with Android. As a result, the market observes a continuous spike in the demand for developing Android mobile applications. Initially, the objective behind Android was as a mobile operating system. However, with technological advancement and its reputation among developers, Android has become an outright set of software for all devices like tablets, smart TVs, notebooks, etc.
So, you want to learn Android app development? While it may seem intimidating to become one of the 5.8 million people who provide Android app development services, interestingly, the demand for Android software development continues to grow. So, how hard is it to program an Android app? In this essential guide for Android app development, we will learn about the basic concepts of Android app development and best practices for developing an Android app from scratch.
Seven practical tips for developing Android apps
With a concept for an Android app in mind, every developer desires to create an app that will help solve common problems and address issues faced in the market. Behind the scenes, there are several challenges with Android app development. Here are some Android app development tips a developer can refer to for a perfect Android app development process.
Booking your namespace
It is vital to decide the name of the app in advance. Additionally, you should also reserve the app name to avoid any duplication. Google's Android market uses a unique package name that is used in your manifest to differentiate your app from among the thousands of other apps in the Play Store.
Analyze the design guidelines for Android.
Google has developed a set of design guidelines to assist new Android developers. Google created these guidelines so that all Android apps behave the same way while providing a consistent UI/UX. Therefore, it is essential to check these guidelines.
Research well and pay attention to your users.
Researching well before proceeding with Android app development is a good option. The developer should understand what the user needs and should be able to design a product accordingly. Therefore, research is crucial for Android app development. Users prefer that developers listen to them and pay attention to their feedback. When you listen to them, there are higher chances that they will continue to use the app.
Stay updated on market fragmentation.
For Android app development, every Android developer must understand the Android market demographics and how the market is fragmented. Google has developed different versions of Android, and the relevant technologies just improved. Therefore, the Android app under development needs to be compatible with the latest Android versions.
Make sure to optimize your apps.
Mobile users prefer apps that take a short time to open or process. Moreover, they also do not like apps that take up unnecessary space on the phone. Therefore, new developers must refrain from using unnecessary objects and variables in the app, as this could reduce the app's speed.
Target app development for different devices
Android allows the benefit of using the same app on multiple devices. However, for an app developer, testing the app on multiple devices is impossible. Therefore, to maintain consistency among the various devices, it is better to choose density-independent pixels instead of pixels. Android then automatically calculates the suitable pixels depending on the screen size.
Test, test, and test your app
You must only release your app after testing it. Unfortunately, this is one mistake many developers make. A bug-free mobile app is an asset; you must ensure specific measures to achieve that. Alpha testers should test the app and undergo beta testing in the next stage. Subsequently, developers should correct the inconsistencies revealed during the testing phase before the final release.
Important points to consider during app development with Android
Successful apps are those that people frequently use and which keep them coming back. Apart from the above tips, there are other pointers to consider when developing an Android app.
Make sure to engage users-Your customers should be kept engaged as they are more likely to give good reviews.
Perform optimization of your apps for more value-Make sure to study app usage patterns and learn how customers interact with the app so you can gain critical knowledge and make additional modifications to the app. Moreover, your ultimate aim should be to optimize the app well to achieve higher customer satisfaction and retention.
Gauge success-After the launch of the app, you need to measure its success. There are various parameters to check the same, like the number of active users, most popular features and, number of downloads, etc. As a result, this gives you an idea about the apps' market reception and overall demand.
Constant evaluation and growth-No app can be successful by being static. Therefore, developers must constantly keep working towards improving the app for a better user experience. Since the behavior of users evolves with time, so should the app. Evaluation and growth can be in terms of providing new value paths or targeting a new audience. Basically, one needs to think innovatively to come up with better ideas to grow the app.
Conclusion
The Android platform makes it convenient for not only users but even android app developers to get started. Being an open-source technology, you can play around with the operating system's source code to open up new and exciting opportunities. However, it is impossible to create Android apps overnight, and even the best apps need continuous attention and evaluation. Technology and designs continue to change, so staying on top of modern developments is critical to adapting to changing times. Follow our tips and start today to turn your idea into an Android app. Remember, Android will be more robust in the developing world than it is in the developed world!