App Development 101

You want to have an app developed and are wondering whether it should be a web app, a native, hybrid or something else entirely?

The answer is clear: it depends.

Demand from target groups has long since clearly confirmed it: An app – whether developed in iOS, Android, as a web app, native or hybrid – either enriches existing services, simplifies outdated processes and also increases customer satisfaction.

But beware: companies quickly rush into app development – and make little headway due to many technical questions, high budgets and lack of clarity about goals and target audience.

Modern,Flat,Icons,Vector,Collection,In,Stylish,Retro,Colors,Of

Many smartphones, many platforms – three ways to develop an app: Cross-platform compatible as a web-based app, with the supreme discipline of native apps, or with the hybrid app as a mixed solution. Depending on the requirements, these three types of app development are sometimes more, sometimes less suitable. We provide a brief overview to help you decide. Depending on the requirements, these three types of app development are sometimes more, sometimes less suitable. We provide a brief overview to help you decide.

Many smartphones, many platforms – three ways to develop an app: Cross-platform compatible as a web-based app, with the supreme discipline of native apps, or with the hybrid app as a mixed solution. Depending on the requirements, these three types of app development are sometimes more, sometimes less suitable. We provide a brief overview to help you decide. Combined with the available budget, this simple calculation yields the ultimate development strategy.

But which development approaches are available and what advantages/disadvantages do these approaches have? First, there are the web-based apps, which, as the name suggests, are based on pure web technologies (HTML 5, CSS 3, Javascript). The development of native apps in the respective platform technology (e.g. Objective-C, Java, C#) is probably considered the supreme discipline, and hybrid apps come into play as a hybrid of both worlds. First, there are the web-based apps, which, as the name suggests, are based on pure web technologies (HTML 5, CSS 3, Javascript). The development of native apps in the respective platform technology (e.g. Objective-C, Java, C#) is probably considered the supreme discipline, and hybrid apps come into play as a hybrid of both worlds.

Web based apps

The great advantage of a web-based app is the relatively simple implementation of cross-platform support. However, anyone who is already familiar with the browser problems on desktop systems will have an idea of the stumbling blocks that may await them on the countless mobile systems. Extensive tests must be planned here. Many providers offer emulators or other test possibilities for this. Nokia, which offers registered developers access to a pool of countless real devices (connected to a server) (RMA = Remote Device Access), should certainly be emphasized here! Web-based appsare certainly often used for mobile websites. In addition, the new functions of HTML5 & Co. also allow many other requirements to be mapped: However, if you are already familiar with the browser problems on desktop systems, you will have an idea of the stumbling blocks that can await you on the countless mobile systems. Extensive tests must be planned here. Many providers offer emulators or other test options for this. Nokia, which offers registered developers access to a pool of countless real devices (connected to a server) (RMA = Remote Device Access), should certainly be emphasized here! Web-based apps are certainly often used for mobile websites. In addition, the new functions of HTML5 & Co. also allow many other requirements to be mapped:

Local storage of data
Access to geo-based functions
Touch gesture support
Mimic typical app interfaces using CSS3

Beyond that, however, the possibilities are currently still very limited, especially in terms of device access (sensors, camera,…). In addition, the performance and GUI naturally cannot keep up with real apps. Many find the lack of distribution options for web-based apps via the app stores (Apple App Store, Android Market,…) to be a major disadvantage. In addition, the performance and GUI naturally cannot keep up with real apps. Many find the lack of distribution options for web-based apps via the app stores (Apple App Store, Android Market,…) to be a major disadvantage.

Native Apps

Before we take a closer look at the mixed solution of hybrid apps, we will first take a brief look at the high-end variant of native apps. These are implemented in the corresponding technology of the respective platform. These are implemented in the corresponding technology of the respective platform.

Objective-C/Cocoa for the iOS Plattform
Java for Android
C#, Silverlight and/or XNA for Windows Phone

The implementation of an app is correspondingly complex, especially if it is to be available for several platforms. In this case, the different technologies mean that hardly any code components can be reused across platforms, and roughly the same development effort must be calculated for each platform. In addition, the underlying programming languages are for the most part significantly more demanding than the familiar web technologies. Java on the Android side already represents another level like HTML/PHP development for example, in Objective-C you even have to deal with pointer arithmetic and memory management (iOS does not support automatic garbage collection). But as a reward for the much more complex development, you get access to all available device properties/functionsand have all the power in your hands when it comes to GUI and performance. And if you stick to the specifications of the manufacturers (especially Apple), nothing stands in the way of a release in the markets and storesof this mobile world. In this case, the different technologies mean that hardly any code components can be reused across platforms, and roughly the same development effort must be calculated for each platform. In addition, the underlying programming languages are for the most part significantly more demanding than the well-known web technologies. Java on the Android side already represents another level like HTML/PHP development for example, in Objective-C you even have to deal with pointer arithmetic and memory management (iOS does not support automatic garbage collection). But as a reward for the much more complex development, you get access to all available device properties/functions and have all the power in your hands when it comes to GUI and performance. And if you stick to the specifications of the manufacturers (especially Apple), nothing stands in the way of arelease in the markets and stores of this mobile world.

Hybrid Apps

If you do not want to opt for either of the two variants mentioned, a hybrid path could represent the golden mean. The hybrid implementationcombines the best of both worlds and is often a good alternative. Hybrid appsare accepted by almost all app stores and there are significantly more access options to device properties than with the web-based implementation. In addition, cross-platform apps(mostly for iPhone and Android) can be implemented with a much more manageable effort than with the native solution. Hybrid app implementation is usually mentioned in the media in one go, but there are two clearly different variants: Hybrid implementationcombines the best of both worlds and is often a good alternative. Hybrid appsare accepted by almost all app stores and there are significantly more access options to device properties than with the web-based implementation. In addition, cross-platform apps(mostly for iPhone and Android) can be implemented with a much more manageable effort than with the native solution. Hybrid app implementation is usually mentioned in the media in one go, but there are two clearly different variants:

Web-based hybrid App

The actual functionality of the app is implemented web-based. A native framework is then wrapped around this web-based app. This native framework allows more device properties to be accessed in the web-based core, but the performance and GUI remain limited to the web-based options. The best known way to wrap web-based apps is PhoneGap. A native framework is then wrapped around this web-based app. This native framework allows more device properties to be accessed in the web-based core, but the performance and GUI remain limited to the web-based options. The best known way to wrap web-based apps is PhoneGap.

Native hybrid Apps

The app is developed in a specific scripting language (e.g. Javascript). This code is then subsequently converted into a real native appon the various platforms. Thus, significantly more device features are available than with the web-based hybrid implementation, and the performance/GUI can be aligned with the true native implementation. However, with more extensive/complex requirements, one also reaches one’s limits here; in addition, new functions on the platforms are only integrated into the corresponding translation programs with a delay. Typical examples are the Titanium Mobile project or the Cocona SDK for 2D game development. This code is then subsequently converted into a true native appon the various platforms. In this way, significantly more device properties are available than with the web-based hybrid implementation, and the performance/GUI can be oriented to the real native implementation. However, with more extensive/complex requirements, one also reaches one’s limits here; in addition, new functions on the platforms are only integrated into the corresponding translation programs with a delay. Typical examples are the Titanium Mobile project or the Cocona SDK for 2D game development.

Mit der richtigen Strategie With the right strategy you will reach your goalserreichen Sie Ihre Ziele

Agile app development creates apps that inspire your target group and help you achieve your marketing and sales goals. The focus is on user-oriented processes.

The focus here is on user-oriented processes.

The following steps will have a significant impact on the success – or failure – of your app project:

Focus on your target group: What will lead to your app delighting customers?
The success of a project stands and falls with a consistent strategy that aims to understand and answer the needs, desires, and problems of your target group and provide a suitable solution for them. The first step of a successful app is therefore a comprehensive target group and goal analysis for the app. The first step of a successful app is therefore a comprehensive target group and goal analysis for the app.
Timeline and budget planning: What will your app cost and what does a possible project roadmap look like?
In the second step of agile app development, a project roadmap is created to roughly estimate the timeline and budget of your app project. This concept aims in particular to map and estimate the most important project milestones and to enable the most precise planning of the project sprints. This concept aims in particular to map and estimate the most important project milestones and to enable the most precise planning of project sprints.
From rough concept to detailed concept: How does your app project get started?
With a clear roadmap and the app goals in mind, the process of building the right team and project management now begins in order to start with the detailed concept and finally the implementation of your project.
The right team with the right skills:
From rough concept to fine concept: How does your app project get started? Building your team from exactly the experts you need at different points in time for your agile app development ensures smooth processes and high-quality results after each project sprint. Agile teams consisting of freelance experts and permanent, local contacts offer you the flexibility and quality you and your customers expect. Agile teams of freelance specialists and permanent, local contacts offer you the flexibility and quality that you and your customers expect.
Documentation: How do you keep track of project progress?
The right team with the right skillsAfter each sprint, you receive a presentation from the project team, a report that informs you about the progress and costs of the development. Various digital tools can be used for this purpose. Experienced agile teams know how to best adapt the planning and flexibility to changing target group requirements: Various digital tools can be used for this purpose. Experienced agile teams know how to best adapt plannability and flexibility to changing target group desires.
Validate user feedback: How can you leverage value-added insights after only a short period of time?
Agile development processes (e.g. Scrum) enable you to start initial user tests early in the project with app modules that have been created. This means that user feedback is continuously incorporated directly into the next development step as soon as the first development milestones have been reached. This user-oriented process makes it possible for you to always implement or improve exactly those requirements that offer your target group real added value and continuously win more customers. As a result, user feedback is continuously incorporated directly into the next development step even after the first development milestones have been reached. Dieser nutzerorientierte Prozess macht es Ihnen möglich, immer genau die Anforderungen als nächstes umzusetzen oder zu verbessern, die Ihrer Zielgruppe echten Mehrwert bietet und kontinuierlich mehr Kunden zu gewinnen.

Contact us now

The success of your app development project is top priority? Feel free to tap into our experience and expertise to stay on top of Hybrid, Native and Web App development.

App Development 101

Web based apps

Native Apps

Hybrid Apps

Web-based hybrid App

Native hybrid Apps

Mit der richtigen Strategie With the right strategy you will reach your goalserreichen Sie Ihre Ziele

Focus on your target group: What will lead to your app delighting customers?

Timeline and budget planning: What will your app cost and what does a possible project roadmap look like?

From rough concept to detailed concept: How does your app project get started?

The right team with the right skills:

Documentation: How do you keep track of project progress?

Validate user feedback: How can you leverage value-added insights after only a short period of time?

Contact us now

Privacy policy

Events