Android is a mobile multitasking operating system used in smartphones, tablets, readers, consoles, TVs, and even domestic robots. The OS was developed by Android Inc. basing on Linux and was later purchased and popularised by Google. The appearance of Android OS in 2008 made a splash, and it immediately became a leader in the market of smart devices. Thanks to this operating system, modern smartphones and tablets can be considered pocket mini-computers.
Android is a very flexible and friendly system with less than one hour enough for an initial acquaintance. Any user can easily configure OS settings as there is a large number of available relevant applications. You can change anything beyond recognition: if you don’t like the appearance, icons, or a ringtone, just go to Google Play Store, download a relevant application, and quickly configure everything to your liking.
Android mobile app development process
Developing an Android application isn’t just about creating it and adding it to Google Play Store. The process requires careful planning, research, and a clear focus. For your application to be successful, you must follow a number of steps correctly during its development. Typically, the entire cycle consists of five stages:
Planning. Before starting development, it is important to define the target audience, purposes, and required functions of your Android application. It is also necessary to conduct comprehensive market research to make sure your application is competitive. This stage includes preparing terms of reference (TOR).
Design. At this stage, the appearance (a mockup and user interface) is created. After approval, a designer starts working with the mockup. The designer prepares the final look that users will see on their Android devices.
Development. Programmers create an Android application based on the design approved at the design stage.
Testing. Once development is complete, the application must be tested. QA engineers must check it thoroughly to make sure the application functions in a correct way without any errors.
Launch and maintenance. When testers have checked the application, you can safely release it to the market, namely, upload it to Google Play. However, after successfully adding to the store, your work has not come to an end. Like any software, the application has to be maintained. You must technically support it, improve its functionality, and add new features.
What the Android app development phase includes
Development is translating the vision of your project into life. At this stage, the Android development team will work on three main parts of the project at once: the back end, API, and front end.
Back-end development
When it comes to the functionality of an Android application, back-end development plays a major role. It includes all server-side development: functioning, authentication of user accounts, setting up interaction with them, integration with social networks, push notifications, and so on.
API creation
An application programming interface (API) connects the external and internal interfaces of a mobile application. The API is one of the main components in the process of creating an Android application.
Front-end development
The front end of an application is the side that interacts directly with the user. It includes working with various design elements. A well-designed front end makes it easy to work with different screen sizes and orientations so that the application displays correctly on both Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S20.
Languages used for Android app development
Developing an Android application means creating a complicated multifunctional product for the OS based on the Linux kernel. Given the sustainable market growth, Android app development is very much in demand now. The reason for the popularity is that more than half of all gadgets use this particular OS. Various services, editors, games, and messengers are developed for Android. With such a variety, there are plenty of programming languages available for Android app development.
Java
Java is the primary programming language for Android applications. It is also called the official language of Android as the OS documentation and courses are based on this language. Many programmers find Java very convenient for creating Android applications. Besides the pros, there are also disadvantages: programming in Java requires time and a lot of experience. This language was designed 25 years ago, and it has never been a simple one. However, without Java knowledge, one cannot succeed in this field of development. When developing Java applications for Android, manifest XML files are used in addition to the code with classes.
Kotlin
Kotlin is one of the youngest languages developed since 2011. Its public release took place only in 2016; however, the language has already gained popularity. Google itself positions it as the second official Android development language. Kotlin allows you to comfortably create full-featured native apps. When using Kotlin, programmers do not experience any problems (possibly due to the IntelliJ IDEA native environment). It is also highly compatible with Java, it does not reduce performance nor increase file sizes.
C#
C# is an object-oriented application-level language developed by Microsoft engineers in 2000. Though it was created for their own .NET Framework platform, it perfectly suits Android mobile app development. This programming language comprises many useful Java features while eliminating most of the shortcomings.
C / C++
Google provided developers with two environments: SDK for Java code and NDK for native code in C and C ++. However, it is impossible to develop a full-fledged application using only these two languages. But one can use them to write a library that will be further connected to the application base via Java.
Python
Though Python is not used in the entire cycle of Android app development, it is also adapted for some operations. There are plenty of tools to convert Python code into a required state. A variety of libraries support creating optimised interfaces in accordance with Material Design recommendations.
Android app development environment
Android Studio is the most common integrated development environment for Android. It is based on IntelliJ IDEA software. Android Studio has the following features and advantages:
advanced layout editor;
automatic application building using Gradle;
static source code analyser;
code redesigning;
integrated ProGuard tool;
application signing utility;
Android basic component and layout templates;
Google Cloud Platform suite support.
Adding an application to Google Play
To publish your application in Google Play, do the following:
Create a special developer account in the Google Play Console required to publish apps.
Issue a privacy policy document stating responsibility for the product and its contents, as well as obligation to ensure users’ confidentiality and data security.
Prepare marketing materials.
Provide the build with a digital signature certificate required to identify the developer on Google Play, so that only the creator could update or modify versions.
Customise receiving payments within the application.
Send the complete build to Google Play.
Top applications and games in Google Play
At the end of 2019, Google traditionally announced the best applications and games of the year. Some of them made our life more convenient, others added more fun to it, and together they set trends for the rest of the store’s products.
Apps of the Year: Ablo, Meditation & Exercises, Video Editor
In the United States, the store administration called ‘Ablo – Make friends worldwide’ the best application. It is a chat for finding new friends around the world and chatting one-on-one. It translates messages on the fly into the user’s native language and eliminates the barriers between strangers. Developer: Massive Media Match NV. Monetisation: in-app purchases for $1.99–199.99. 304,400 reviews with an average rating of 4.1.
In Russia, the store administration considered ‘Meditation, morning exercises – practice from YouCan’ to be the best application. These are lessons on self-development and the acquisition of good habits. Developer: You Can. Monetisation: in-app purchases for $0.99–7.99. 5194 reviews with an average rating of 4.7.
And users from both countries decided that the best in 2019 was ‘Video Editor – Glitch Video Effect, Movie Maker.’ This tool helps vloggers decorate their videos with hundreds of artistic and special effects. Developer: InShot Inc. Monetisation: in-app purchases for $4.99–22.99. 288,400 reviews with an average rating of 4.7.
Games of the Year: Call of Duty Mobile and Brawl Stars
According to Google, Call of Duty: Mobile became the best game in the USA and Russia. And US users’ choice was the same. The new mobile shooter from the CoD series was downloaded by 100 million players in the first week. In the first month, it brought its creators $55 million. The game ranked the best in just six months since the launch of the beta. Developer: TiMi Studios. Monetisation: in-game purchases for $0.49–99.99. 10,796,400 reviews with an average rating of 4.5.
However, Russian players decided that Brawl Stars was the best in 2019. In this multiplayer online battle arena, you can fight in seven modes, mainly as part of teams of three warriors. Developer: Supercell. Monetisation: in-game purchases for $0.99–99.99. 13,831,300 reviews with an average rating of 4.3.
Ordering an Android application
A high-quality Android app will help your company satisfy present customers, attract a new audience, and increase brand loyalty. A successful application can not only become a useful advertising tool but also grow into an independent business generating revenue.
Android app development cost
Our qualified team competently approaches the creation of Android applications of any complexity and performs tasks without delay. We will design a unique business model, a convenient and user-friendly interface, and will also help with marketing promotion, placement in Google Play and other Android stores.
Creating a mobile application for Android consists of the following stages:
Writing terms of reference (if you don’t have one) — from 18 hours.
Business analysis and specification — from 20 hours.
UI and UX design — about 35 hours.
Back-end development — more than 40 hours, depending on the required functionality.
Front-end development — more than 30 hours.
Testing — about 20 hours, depending on the functionality.
Based on these data, the approximate cost of an Android application starts at $20,000. It is the cost of the MVP, and then it depends on the level of complexity. Please note that after the development is completed, the application must be supported, and such service is paid separately.
Polygant has been developing Android applications for 8 years. Our applications are always unique, as we take into account the wishes of customers and adapt to the activity specifics. Send your request, and after a detailed discussion, we will immediately start your project!
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