With so many Android apps soaring high in the market, it might just seem a piece of cake to the lay person in regards to an Android app development. Creating wildly popular apps such as the Flappy Bird for instance, is not an easy task. There are a huge amount of things to keep in mind while creating an android app, and to help you to come closer to becoming a success in the field, we have put together a list of essential guidelines that we believe you will require in the process.
Understanding and Locating the Problem
One of the most essential things that you as a developer need to understand is the "pain points" that people experience. The questions that you need to ask yourself before starting off with anything else, should go something like this:
- What do people need most to run their businesses and lives smoothly?
- What tools would help people in a significant manner?
- Do they need more time or more organizational skills to help them around, and can we help them here by providing them something that will take care of these issues?
- What are the stress points that people face?
- The app that we are creating, what exact problem are we addressing?
Understanding what people need and addressing that need is key to what you start on. If you have an answer to all of the above questions, you are already on the path to successfully developing an android app.
Offering a Solution to the Identified Problem
Once the problem has been identified, build up ideas to create an app that offers a solution to those problems. For instance, iOS apps such as Mint, is doing a great job in the market because it successfully solved people's money management issues. Rooted in a single location, a person using a mobile had multiple ways to move, deposit, and manage their money. In time, the app gained immense loyalty from people who used it.
Help People Save Time and Money
Just as mentioned in the above point, if you are successful in creating an app that saves time and people for people, then you've nailed it, and your app is likely get the deserved attention and multiple downloads.
Keep it Simple
Another very important factor in Android app development, is that it should be as simple as simple could be. This means to say that you shouldnot go about creating an app that only a techie could understand and use. The approach of creating something which can be understood easily by all age groups and keeping functionality non complicated and not at all "rocket science - like", is what will get you those downloads. It is crucial to remember that you are creating an app to "solve" a problem, and not to add to the existing problem. The UI, which is a very important factor should be simple and easy to play around with, which is again is pivotal in keeping stuff simple.
Keeping the Fun Factor Alive
The last and yet one of the things that you should never keep away from an app is the fun factor. Android app development should be a process where it results in cool tools, interesting gaming and boring straight-faced apps are made intriguing. No matter what the need is, the solution to the problem should be interesting and keep people coming back to the app more and more. So remember, that even if you have a professional app, you need to make it fun to use.
These tips go a long way towards taking you a long way to designing your app, studying the market and creating something of value. Moreover, the Google I/O 2015 left us with loads of exciting new goodies and we have sifted through this avalanche of information to get out some the most important stuff for Android developers. Some of the most important announcements in the conference for Android app development are as follows:
1. Android Studio 1.3
The Android Studio is something which has always got a lot of love and attention over the years and has now become the de facto IDE for Android app developers. Some of the updates include NDK C/C++ Support, new simultaneous visual layout builder and layout editor, improved gradle build performance and the new use of Vector images.
2. The Android Design Support Library
The Android Design Support Library is brand new and available to all Android devices right from version 2.1 onwards. Together with widgets and views that implement numerous Material Design specifications and recommendations including CoordinatorLayout, TabLayout, Floating Action Buttons and more, there are exciting APIs available within this library.
3. App Permissions
One of the most anticipated features among users of Android devices is the feature of app permissions. A user can now grant, deny or revoke previously granted permissions at his/her own will, rather than having no option but to grant all permissions required by an app to install it. Of course, where the Android app development is concerned, it presents a range of challenges. The developer must first confirm that the user has granted your app the necessary permission, and if not, alternative must be provided to the user.
4. Full App backup
Unlike previously, if a user installs your app on another device, the app data is now automatically synchronized with the full app backup feature. It is available to the user as soon as he/she opens the app. Of course, the developer should specify what exactly needs to be backed up. To take maximum advantage of this feature, the android app must be built on the "targetSdkVersion" set to 23 (Android M).
Author Bio - Keval Padia is a Founder & CEO of Nimblechapps, a fast-growing Android mobile app development company. The current innovation and updates of the field lure him to express his views and thoughts on certain topics.