Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Programming

There is a clear reason for the prosperity of the mobile programming profession. The mobile industry is an attractive field that is experiencing increasing growth and it seems that this increasing growth will continue in the coming years. Estimates suggest that mobile app revenue will reach $600 billion by 2020, which is a staggering figure. The growing popularity of smartphones and tablets has made mobile programming one of the most lucrative businesses in the world.

Given the importance of mobile programming, the Secret Digital Marketing Agency team decided to provide a comprehensive guide to answering questions about it. After you, dear ones who are interested in this field, we invite you to stay with us until the end.

What is a mobile application?

A mobile application is a type of application designed and implemented to run on (portable) mobile devices, which can be a smartphone or a tablet. Mobile applications, although small software with limited performance; But they can play an important role in improving customer service and increasing their satisfaction with brand interaction. These programs, like a game, calculator, or browser, are not part of an integrated software system, unlike software designed for desktops and laptops, but each offer limited capabilities on their own.

Due to the limited hardware resources of early smartphones, mobile applications also had limited capabilities from the beginning, and this limitation persists, even with significant advances in hardware power. Such a feature enables mobile users to be able to use mobile applications exactly tailored to their needs and goals.

What is mobile programming?

Now that we know the more precise concept of mobile applications, it is easy to understand mobile programming. The process of designing and developing applications that run on operating systems installed on smartphones or tablets, which is done through coding, is called mobile programming. This type of programming largely draws on traditional software development processes. However, here we are looking at software design that utilizes the unique hardware capabilities of mobile devices.

The simplest scenario for building a mobile application is to turn a desktop-based application into an application that can be run on a mobile application. However, such a method can be problematic for building powerful and complex programs.

A better approach is to program to build an application that is designed specifically for mobile. This method takes full advantage of all the capabilities offered by mobile devices, given the hardware limitations. For example, applications that use spatial coordinates should always be built in a second way, taking into account the environment and capabilities of mobile devices. Providing location-based services in desktop applications does not make much sense because desktop users basically do not move at all when they need this feature!

Today's smartphones and tablets are equipped with features such as Bluetooth, NFC, GPS , gyroscopic sensors, cameras, etc., and developers can use these great features to build various applications such as virtual reality, augmented reality, barcode scanning, etc.. The most successful mobile applications are those that, in addition to the right idea, make the most of the capabilities of the mobile device.

One of the main goals of mobile application teams is in the optimal performance of the application. Do not forget that the mobile environment is very different from the desktop, and for this reason, a mobile application should be created taking into account the capabilities of the mobile, of which the limitation of hardware resources is one of the most prominent.

The issue of hardware in mobile devices raises another issue. While iOS app developers build apps to run on two devices, the iPhone and the iPad , Android developers have different requirements. In fact, many smartphones and tablets use the Android operating system, and the specifications of different hardware and different versions of their operating systems can add to the complexity of mobile programming for this type of operating system.

Types of mobile programming

Mobile programming is done in different ways and for this purpose, special considerations are taken into account. In general, mobile applications can be divided into three main categories according to their programming method and technology:

Indigenous applications
Web applications
Hybrid applications

In the following, we will explain each of the above items to your service.

NATIVE APPLICATIONS

Native applications are applications that are specifically designed for a particular mobile operating system, and that is why they are essentially referred to as native. Today, most mobile applications are built for the two leading operating systems, Android and iOS . So when it comes to mobile programming, the developer has to decide which operating system he wants to design the application for. In this case, it is not possible to run a native Android application on iPhones equipped with IOS operating system, and of course the opposite is true.

The main advantage of native applications is their excellent performance and ability to create a pleasant work experience. Access to a wide range of software programming interfaces accelerates the development and expansion of application applications. Native software can only be downloaded through the App Store and installed directly on your phone or tablet. For this reason, these applications must go through precise processes for publication.

The most important disadvantage of native applications is their design cost. In order for these applications to run on both Android and iOS, you need two design and development teams, and this significantly increases the cost of mobile programming.

WEB APPLICATIONS

Web applications, also called web applications, have some important differences, despite some similarities to native applications. Web applications use browsers to run, and are usually written in CSS , HTML5 , or JavaScript . Such programs direct the user to a URL , where they are offered to install an application or application. In other words, to use web applications, you must go to the website of the provider of that application and use the capabilities of that application in the context of the website. These types of programs create and store an Internet address in their environment, and because they run on website servers, they require very little hardware and memory resources from the device.

Since all users' personal databases are stored on the website server, web applications can only be used if they are connected to the internet. In fact, speeding up the Internet is the main drawback or limitation of this type of program; Because if such a condition is not met, these programs will either be completely unused or cannot create a pleasant user experience for you.

HYBRID APPLICATIONS

Mobile programming for these applications is done using web-based technologies such as JavaScript , CSS and HTML . But why are they called hybrids or hybrids? Because these programs are actually web applications to which native DNA is injected, and this allows them to use some of the capabilities of the operating system.

The most important advantages of hybrid applications are the following:

Hybrid mobile programming is fast and simple.
Having a single codebase for all platforms reduces the cost of developing and facilitating the process of updating these applications. In fact, building these applications for different operating systems does not require mobile programming separately.
Developers can use many user interfaces to use software with the capabilities of mobile devices such as gyroscopes or geolocation.

Just like any other method in mobile programming, the hybrid method has its own disadvantages:

Applications designed using this method may not have the desired speed and performance, or at least this speed and performance will not reach the level of native applications.
Just like web applications, Internet access is a key requirement for using hybrid applications.

Types of mobile applications

Mobile programming outputs are applications that are built with different looks, sizes, and purposes. Familiarity with different types of mobile applications will help you to understand the current trends in the field of mobile, which we will introduce the most prominent of them here:

Gaming apps: These apps are the most popular category of mobile apps. If we know how many people around the world have installed gaming apps on their phones or tablets, we will definitely be dizzy! Today, the gaming industry has a very lucrative market, and because of this, many people who turn to mobile programming choose this field for their activities. The results of a study showed that 33% of the total downloads, 74% of the users' expenses and 10% of the total time of using the phone or tablet are dedicated to games. Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga are among the most successful and famous mobile games.
Commercial applications: These applications have also gained a significant share of the mobile programming market as the use of smartphones or tablets by people on the move has increased dramatically. These programs have a variety of applications and help people in various matters such as booking tickets, sending emails or following the work process. The philosophy of creating business applications is to increase productivity and minimize economic and time costs. Farsi-Up application, which is used for matters such as purchasing, transferring money, paying bills, etc., is an example of a commercial application.
Training applications: These applications, as the name implies, help users acquire new knowledge or skills. Language training applications, which are very numerous, are the most common type of these applications. There are some applications that do not teach specific knowledge or skills to users and instead provide a platform for educational activities and are very popular among teachers. Happy app is a familiar example of such apps that you are definitely familiar with.
Lifestyle apps: These apps have a wide range, from shopping and fashion apps to apps like diet and nutrition, virtual pro room, dating, and more. These apps focus on different aspects of your personal lifestyle. Celery app, which is one of the most popular programs in the field of weight loss, is an example of this program.
Entertainment applications: These applications allow users to submit live video content, follow events, chat and watch a variety of content online. Messages and social networking applications such as Facebook and Instagram can be considered the flagship of entertainment applications!
Applications: These are applications that allow users to use one or more specific features. The variety of these programs is so great that if we want to give an example about them, we can name the Persian toolbox application. This application offers a wide range of interesting features such as advanced calculator, area and volume calculator, magnifying glass, sound level meter, seismograph, audio editor, barcode maker, financial assistant, etc. to the user. Of course, this was an example of a multifunctional application, and many applications, such as the Tehran Metro Map application, are single-purpose applications.
Travel Apps: The main idea of this type of app is to help users have an easy trip. These apps turn your smartphone or tablet into a travel guide so users can get the information they need about the coordinates of the places and places they are visiting. Google Maps, Waze , Balad, etc. are familiar examples of itineraries.

Tips for mobile programming and application development

As we said, mobile programming means writing code to build applications that run on various mobile operating systems such as iOS and Android. We have already talked about the three main methods or technologies in mobile programming, namely native, web and hybrid, and we know that native applications are by far the best in terms of quality of performance. So in the rest of this section, we assume that you intend to program mobile in a native way.

In the mobile programming process, the code you write must be compatible with the processor of the devices on which the application is to be run. On the other hand, we should know that as the number of mobile applications increases, the probability of losing the application that you build is very high. However, every day many programs are presented with attractive ideas and user interfaces, and for this reason, if there is no strong strategy and idea behind the program that you create, users will naturally not welcome it. If you are planning to launch a mobile application, there are some things that will dramatically increase your chances of success. Tips are equally important if you are planning to make a mobile application yourself or leave it to someone else. So, let's review these golden tips together.

CHOOSE THE BEST PLATFORM

You've probably heard a lot about choosing the best platform for mobile programming, but the talk about it may confuse you. If you are hesitant to choose between two leading operating systems, iOS and Android, you must remember that your success depends on designing an efficient application and a comprehensive user interface. Your choice directly affects criteria such as flexibility and ease or difficulty of building the program, as well as the size of the target user community.

MARKET RESEARCH

Just like producing a product, it is necessary to do market research before designing and launching a mobile application. So, before programming mobile, you need to do enough research to gain a clear insight into market conditions as well as your potential competitors. This research will inform you about effective and usable techniques in application development as well as possible weaknesses of competitors. At this point, you should not forget to check the users. You need to know as much as you can about the expectations of the target users and cite them as one of the key references in the application development process.

IDENTIFY TARGET USERS

Mobile programming to build an app without knowing the target users is like hitting the ocean with a radar-free ship! In addition to the user's expectations, you need to identify their needs because the right needs assessment can greatly guarantee your success. Your app can only create real value for users when it meets their needs.

REASONS FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

You need to have clear reasons for programming mobile and subsequently building an application. Even if your goal in designing the app is to inform the users, you still have to do it for compelling reasons. For example, you need to understand the differences between an application and an information website so that what you create is really valuable because of the way it differs from a website.

INCOME

Before trying to develop a program, you need to know how you are going to make money from it. There are several strategies for this, and in-app advertising is one of them. In addition, you have to decide whether you want to provide the program to users completely free of charge or make the use of all its parts conditional on the purchase of that program?

COST OF BUILDING THE APPLICATION

There are several factors involved in setting a mobile app development tariff and building an application, all of which should give you an accurate estimate of the total cost. The type of platform, geographical location and special facilities are the most important of these factors. For example, iOS programming is more expensive than Android programming.

MARKETING FOR THE APP

Many people equate making an app with marketing it. It's you who has to find the right place for what you have created. This should be done both by appearing in reputable app stores and by persuading users to use various advertising channels.

How to create an application for your business?

If you want to have a dedicated application for your business, there are three options for you to choose from:

Build and organize an internal team
Hiring a Freelancer
Entrust the project to a specialized collection

Each of the above three has its own advantages and disadvantages, which we leave to you to decide.

BUILD AND ORGANIZE AN INTERNAL TEAM

If you are determined to build an application, build an independent internal team for mobile application development, you will have complete control over the process. However, this option can cost you a lot. Not only do you have to pay the programmers, but of course you also have to pay for other expenses such as space, equipment, etc. And this increases the risk of choosing this option a little. In other words, if the project does not reach your desired result, you cannot take the collar of anyone but yourself!

FREE LANCER HIRING

Getting help from a freelancer is the cheapest option on the table, and since only one person is responsible for building your application, there is no communication problem.

Keep in mind, though, that finding a skilled, yet reliable, freelancer is a big challenge in itself. In addition, sometimes the freelancer you have chosen may have really good knowledge of developing a strong and efficient application, but his skills are not very high in terms of front-end or the user side. If you leave the work to such a freelancer, the result will be an application that works technically great but is not welcomed due to the lack of an attractive user interface, and thus, your project will fail.

ENTRUST THE PROJECT TO A SPECIALIZED COLLECTION

There are various companies and collections that you can entrust with the development of applications due to their expertise in mobile programming. By choosing these companies, you leave the process of building the program not to one person, but to a specialized set of programmers who can offer you a wide range of services in this field, some of the most important of which are:

User interface design
User experience design
Balanced application development of both server and user aspects
Program testing
quality guarantee

The main advantage of this option is the use of collective knowledge and wisdom of a professional team, each of whose members specializes in specific aspects of application development. While you can usually get a clearer insight into the level and quality of collections by looking at previous portfolios. Entrusting a mobile programming project to a specialized group, in terms of balance between cost and quality, can be the best possible option. The only risk of this option is the mistake in choosing a carbide set, and naturally, if you do not give the right name in this regard, you will incur a considerable cost.

The last word

Do you need help with mobile programming and building distinctive and efficient applications, with a team of professional mobile programmers for Android, iOS, etc., gives objectivity to your attractive ideas in the form of a user-friendly, efficient and flawless application? An application that can not only create a positive user experience and create tangible value for current and potential customers, but also bring you closer to achieving your business goal with real visitors from mobile devices to your website.

We hope this guide has provided you with a comprehensive and coherent understanding of mobile programming and related topics. What we can say with certainty is that different businesses are increasingly investing in designing and building custom mobile apps so that they can interact with customers and build stronger relationships with them. Because it is the increase of interaction with customers that enables the implementation of plans such as creating loyalty in them, and in the age of mobile monopoly, no tool can be a better ground for increasing this interaction than mobile applications.

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