Mobile applications can be created not only by specialized companies with highly qualified programmers, but also by ordinary users. What tools can they use for this purpose? What should I look for when developing my own software for mobile devices?
Purpose of mobile applications
Before considering what tools are used to develop mobile applications, how to create them, we will examine, in fact, what may be the purpose of their release based on what the purpose of the respective solutions is. Mobile applications can be classified into the following main varieties:
- informational;
- transactional;
- communication;
- Mobile versions of computer software - editors, viewers, browsers;
- analytical applications and planners;
- training solutions.
Actually, games are also mobile applications, but most often they stand out in a separate category of software. We will study in more detail what the marked mobile applications are, how to create them taking into account possible costs.
Information Applications
The essence of information applications is to provide their users with access to certain useful information, news. An example of an appropriate solution is an application from a manufacturer of clothes or shoes that informs users about discounts and special offers of this company. This can be a mobile catalog or brochure in the appropriate format.
Creating the appropriate iOS or Android mobile app is probably the easiest. The fact is that the basis for software of this type can be, for example, an already working website of a company or its mobile version. It is enough to adapt its interface, as well as the communication mechanisms implemented in it, for software algorithms of mobile operating systems - we will consider further using what tools this can be done and the mobile application will be ready.
Transactional applications
Transactional applications are designed to pay for various goods and services purchased over the Internet. These types of software can be issued by banks, payment systems. It is worth noting that the most complex in structure and code are, in many cases, transactional mobile applications. Only the most highly qualified specialist knows how to create them and, most importantly, adapt them to the requirements of the law.
Therefore, if the user does not have such skills - both in terms of solving technical problems, and in the field of ensuring compliance of applications with the requirements of the law - then it’s worth it if you develop it, then, first of all, for educational purposes, during self-training. The introduction of such developments in practice will require additional time and in many cases additional costs.
Communication applications
Communication applications are those programs that are designed to provide communication between users using the resources of the developer or third-party brands. Creating such solutions yourself, as in the case of transactional applications, is quite difficult. Again, it makes sense to do this mainly when there is a desire, in principle, to learn how to develop the appropriate type of products. But putting them into practice will require significant resources, which are available to few private users.
The way in which these mobile applications are implemented, how to create conditions for their stable operation, in most cases, only highly qualified specialists know. But, of course, a skilled programmer who is ready to spend a significant amount of time and investment, in principle, can develop an uncomplicated structure, but demanded by its simplicity and convenience messenger or a small social network.
However, they will probably not be able to compete with Skype, Vkontakte or Viber. Therefore, at the stage of planning the development of traditional applications, the developer should really assess the prospects for bringing his product to the market.
Mobile versions of computer software
Editors, browsers, browsers - applications that are similar or close in their functions to the corresponding solutions used by users of traditional computers. But, of course, not only they can have analogues adapted for running on a PC. Actually, any types of applications in the classification given by us can be computer. However, the solutions under consideration are among those that nevertheless became familiar to users before smartphones and tablets began to appear in large numbers on the computing market. Therefore, programs of the corresponding type in the original, as a rule, are presented in versions adapted for launching on a PC, and only upon the appearance of smartphones and tablets on the market are designed as mobile versions.
How to create a mobile application for Android or iOS of the appropriate type on your own depends primarily on whether the original one is a computer version of the software licensed or is it distributed as free software that has open source code. In the first case, the creation of a mobile version of the program in most cases will require agreement with the copyright holders. And if they refuse to authorize the development of the corresponding version of the program, then its mobile version, even if the user creates it on their own initiative, is likely to be illegal. If the original software is open source, then developing its version for a mobile device is a technical issue.
Analytical software and planners
Analytical applications and planners allow for various statistical observations, budgeting, scheduling meetings, etc. It can be noted that this segment of mobile applications is among those in which private developers, as a rule, are given the greatest freedom of action. There are not many brands that know how to create a mobile application for Android or iOS of the appropriate type is much better than a private developer. The most important thing in such decisions is the concept. Its development depends mainly on the skills of a particular programmer, designer, and finance specialist, and it is possible that the approaches proposed by him will be more effective than those that will be developed by a large company.
Educational programs
The same, in principle, can be said of training programs designed for mobile devices. They are designed to facilitate the development of users of certain languages, norms, skills. A private developer may well offer users a solution of the appropriate type, more convenient and efficient compared to what can be created by a large company.
Developing mobile applications on your own: software structure
How to create a mobile application yourself? To successfully solve this problem, the developer should first determine the optimal structure of the created program for the mobile device. Regardless of the purpose of the software, it will consist of 2 main components: the front-end module and the back-end. The first is the interface through which the user will use the application features. The second module is responsible for receiving and transmitting data as part of the interaction between the respective software and the user (in some cases, also the developer, if, for example, it is necessary to provide certain updates or feedback on his part).
What could be the application interface?
More detailed characteristics on the structure of mobile applications depend on their purpose. So, for example, if information software of an online store is created, then its interface may contain:
- navigation options with which the user will be able to access one or another data;
- feedback block with the seller or supplier;
- a personal account in which data about user requests, his purchases will be displayed;
- news block, which will contain information about discounts and special offers of the online store, as well as other significant information.
It is possible that the store owner will be better off creating a mobile application for the site that repeats just the same structure so that users who already know the resource can easily navigate the structure of the corresponding software for mobile devices.
Mobile Application Development : Tools
Let us now examine a number of practical nuances of developing the solutions in question. The question of how to create a mobile application yourself can be resolved with the help of convenient designers, who are presented in large enough quantities on the market of the corresponding software. In particular, you can pay attention to such solutions as: MobiCart, BusinessApps, My-Apps, Net2Share. All of them are presented in the format of cloud software, and access to them can be obtained from any device via the Internet. Consider how to create a mobile application, using the capabilities of these programs, in more detail.
Application Development Tools: MobiCart
This service can be useful to the owner of the online store just the same if he initially does not have his own website. Using MobiCart, a developer can create a functional application through which users will be able to build the widest range of communications with the seller: place orders, pay for them, receive information about discounts, and contact the supplier.
The main functions of the service in question are provided on a commercial basis, but the developer can get acquainted with its capabilities for free.
Mobile Application Tools: BusinessApps
This application builder is optimal mainly for small online stores. It allows you to implement:
- Interfaces for messaging, adding products to the basket;
- organization of negotiations between the supplier and the buyer of the goods;
- integration with social networks;
- news block.
It is noteworthy that this application designer allows you to use templates that are adapted to create applications for enterprises representing specific areas of the business, such as catering, fitness. The service in question is not free, the monthly fee for it is $ 59 per month. However, you can use the trial version. In addition, if the user did not like this constructor, then he may demand that the funds paid be returned back.
Application Development Tools: My-Apps
This constructor, in turn, is free. The task "how to create a mobile application for iPhone or Android using it" can be solved by using 10 templates that are adapted to provide communications with enterprise consumers in a wide range of business areas. Among the most remarkable features of the service in question is the prompt publication of the application in the largest catalogs - the App Store and Google Play.
Application Development Tools: Net2Share
The constructor under consideration is among the most convenient solutions that allow you to quickly understand how to create a mobile application for Android on your own. This resource is adapted just for the development of products on the appropriate platform. It is characterized by a rather large set of functions, as well as the ability to earn money on the created application using the services of internal advertising. That is, the user can, having developed this or that product, download it on the corporate account. In addition, the most active developers get a free profile on Google Play.
In addition, Net2Share provides free training courses for users, through participation in which the developer can improve their skills in the creation and promotion of applications on the market.
Of course, there are a large number of other specialized services that allow you to create a mobile application, a game. In many cases, it may be preferable for the developer not to use a cloud service, but a distribution that allows you to implement one or another program code. But the resources considered by us above are designed mainly for users with minimal experience and therefore can be involved even without special training. They are universal and allow developers to create applications that are optimized for a wide variety of fields of activity.