Modern mobile app development features and requirements

This is a summary of what modern mobile application development is, supported devices, mobile app types and most popular features developers tend to implement for mobile applications.

A daily mobile app development practice in Syndicode is pointing out some general information that helps to categorize our work and introduce its parts to our clients. Here I will describe some of the simplest yet viable information for those who want to have the own mobile application.

Credits to Jordan McQueen for the image

Originally I shared this material to Syndicode website.

Mobile applications are no longer something specific — they are the modern demand for any customer-oriented business. More and more people choose the comfort of mobile applications that can provide more and more PC-alike functions no matter where you are. Even more. Can you swipe or shake your laptop screen to interact? Whether it is a mobile game, a restaurant booking app, or an online store, there will be endless possibilities when it comes to applications that can be created.

The company I work in (Syndicode) provides custom mobile application development for startups and enterprises since 2014. We are experts in creating native and hybrid mobile apps for games, logistics, healthcare, e-commerce, fintech, education, and entertainment. And there are a lot of insights we can share about mobile application development.

We develop fully secure mobile apps for 3-sided online marketplaces, logistics apps with location tracking and mobile payments, mobile apps with voice search and chatbots plus many other features that facilitate modern business. Syndicode developers and designers have a deep understanding of business processes. And that is what should be a vital quality for any tech person when working on a product. Without a deep understanding of a business, you can’t create something worth attention.

Mobile application development theory

From our experience, nowadays mobile applications are developed mostly for the next devices:

• iOS and Android smartphones
• iPads
• Android tablets
• Apple Watch
• Android and Apple TV

For different devices, mobile applications can be specified to:

• Location-based applications
• Android Instant apps
• Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

This list is, of course, not full. There are many more of them, but each day it’s harder and harder to categorize most of them.

Taking into account the development way (platforms), there are four main types of mobile apps:

1. Native
   They are developed with so-called Native platforms. Objective-C/Swift (iOS) or Kotlin/Java (Android). They have very high speed and full support for threading and performance optimization.
2. Hybrid
   They have many tools that allow you to create mobile apps by leveraging existing codebases or writing languages other than native code, like Ionic Framework and Xamarin.
3. Cross-platform
   You can code in a non-native language with native elements. You also can use native code and export that functionality via the bridge layer, like React Native and Flutter.
4. Progressive web apps. The assets (HTML, CSS, Javascript, Images, etc) are kept in the browser, using web workers. Their styling and functionality are universal since CSS/JS experiences.

Mobile applications basic requirements

Mobile applications developed in Syndicode are always:

• Custom
  From booking services and three-sided online marketplaces to CRMs and video streaming apps — we can develop any type of mobile application. Explore our portfolio to see our works.
• Secure
  For example, Ruby on Rails mobile backend development ensures security features are already built into the framework and enabled by default. When you use RoR you automatically following Secure Development Lifecycle. No data leakage is possible.
• Appealing
  User interface is a viable part of every mobile application. It includes mobile application design, visual design, graphic design, and branding. We apply this knowledge to provide an outstanding design of the mobile app.
• Modern
  We apply the latest innovations in software development to make sure that the mobile application will be up-to-date. Do you know what innovations can grom your business and save money?
• Reliable
  We always ensure that the mobile application code is bug-free and provide great value to users. For example, Syndicode dedicated engineers always test every product we develop.
• Functional
  Our UX designers know the key parts of user experience and make sure all the user needs are met.

Examples of mobile applications developed in Syndicode

1. Senden24–1 hour delivery MVP marketplace development

senden24 is an instant delivery service in the last mile 1-hour delivery business. It is free for shoppers who can purchase goods in local stores.

2. HelloCare — everyday helpers services marketplace with Ruby on Rails

HelloCare brings together senior citizens, families and single people with qualified everyday helpers and thereby supports them in their daily lives.

3. KwikiMove — on-demand moving service

KwikiMove is the on-demand “Movers Marketplace” based in USA (Atlanta, Georgia) where individuals needing quick moving service can price their moves and instantly connect with truck owners around town.

Mobile application modern features

Solid expertise in mobile development lets us work with top-notch technologies and try new options as soon as they appear. If needed, with the help of the latest technologies the next features can be implemented:

• Geolocation
• Microphone
• Voice search
• Motion sensors
• Fingerprint
• In-app billing (mobile payments)
• Camera API
• Notifications
• Multiscreen
• AI solutions
• Different widgets

And many other options that will provide a much better user experience for your customers. The limit is your imagination.

Tools and technologies

Depending on your preferences and needs, the list of mobile app development technologies can be wide. But talking about the company I work in, we prefer the next technologies:

• We use Ruby on Rails for mobile backends and RESTful APIs. This is our framework of choice. Read more about Ruby and where to find Ruby developers.
• When there’s no need for heavy effects or computations we use React Native. This technology is beneficial for marketplaces and CRM, or projects where you need just to duplicate what you have on the web and add some geofencing, notifications, and other mobile features.
• For native development of iOS applications, we use Swift.
• The same story with Android SDK — we choose it in cases when features could be implemented only in native tech stack.
• Also, when it’s required by a customer, we work with Python, Node.js, and PHP.

Ruby on Rails mobile development advantages

With a Ruby on Rails mobile app backend, you will be able to reach more people while keeping costs minimal. Ruby on Rails framework is a frequent choice for developers because of the next reasons:

• Speed or RoR development. The procedure of the programming is much quicker compared with different structures and language programming; this is basically a result of the object-oriented structure of Ruby and the unlimited accumulation of open-source codes that are accessible in the Rails community.
• Ruby on Rails mobile app development emphasizes security. We also perform frequent updates to address certain glitches and to keep the apps secured. Security breaches are critical issues that we highlight in developing our apps. Syndicode makes sure that they are tested thoroughly before being released to ensure that they won’t be a security threat in any sense. This is especially true if the app is for e-commerce or if it requires the need for users to provide sensitive information, such as credit card details when making in-app purchases.
• Rails abstracts and streamlines the conventional recurring tasks — this helps software architects and developers to design applications the easier way.
• Ruby on Rails coding is exceptionally coherent and for the most part self-recording. This builds efficiency, as there is a minimum requirement to work on the independent documentation, which makes it simpler for developers to advance their existing tasks.
• Ruby on Rails is open source. And you wouldn’t pay extra money when it comes to licensing. Everybody knows that.
  Btw, I do monitor open source Rails projects and have my own monthly Rails digest with the most interesting and promising ones.
• Rails follows DRY guidelines. Don’t-Repeat-Yourself implies that each bit of your framework is depicted once, which ought to make improvement and upkeep considerably easier and simpler since there is no compelling reason to keep the different code in a state of harmony. Ruby on Rails mobile apps utilize an arrangement of codes and naming traditions that wipes out the requirement for designing each and every part of the application. The exceptional parts are the only thing that should be arranged, similar to the legacy database compositions or different assets you do not control. Utilizing these methods of insight, Ruby on Rails mobile development gives you a chance to write lesser code with less demanding support after the development.

Ways to create a mobile application

The next part of my story will tell you about the ways a non-developer can create their own mobile application.

Variants:

1. Do it yourself
   Learn Flutter, Xamarin, React Native, Swift… And the rest of the needed tech stack. But first, you should get the basic knowledge in programming to understand which of those technologies you really need according to your mobile application specification.
   Oh, wait! You also need to learn about user experience, user behavior, possible demand, competitors, business opportunities and eventually about the ways specifications are compiled… A way to go!
   or
2. Hire a mobile development company
   They will do everything for you. The only thing you should provide is your idea (and money). But the chances you will get the needed product are 99,99% higher. With mobile development company, you will go through a discovery session, sign an NDA and take the control over your developers' team.

Engagement models

Most of the mobile development companies (and in general, software development companies) work in two engagement models:

1. Team extension
   A company will provide you with a dedicated team of skilled engineers or even with a single developer with proper expertise and level in mobile development. Specialists working under an outsourcing contract have a flexible schedule and work on their territory. By performing work under the outstaffing contract, employees are subject to the customer’s employment schedule, usually, have their jobs in the customer’s premises and have job descriptions.
   Explore the differences between IT outsourcing and outstaffing models.
2. Product development
   In this engagement model, a company (like Syndicode) will take full responsibility for developing your mobile application. Engineers, designers, and managers will go through all of the custom software development lifecycle and provide you with clear specifications, timely implementation, caring support and 24/7 maintenance.

Huh! That wasn’t an easy task, but I hope this material appeared to be useful!

Thanks for reading!