The use of mobile applications has multiplied exponentially in recent times. Thanks to digitization and the evolution of smart devices, these programs have gained recognition and are part of daily life, like social networks, which are essential to keep us updated and communicate.
The rise of apps has motivated many people, especially developers, to enter the mobile application market, with or without knowledge.
You are one of them? Would you like to learn the basics of app development? The first thing you should know is the mobile application development methodologies.
There are multiple alternatives. Some traditional and some modern. Some are more efficient than others and in the following article we will explain what they are and which methodology suits you best depending on your project.
What are mobile application development methodologies?
The methodologies are codes used to develop mobile applications. It does not only cover the computing practice, but also the work team, the client, the product and the distribution market.
These methodologies are similar to software development methodologies, but slightly different. The design, the knowledge, the computing and the values differ and make it something unique that any person, or team, must learn.
Mobile application development methodologies depend on several factors, such as the size of the program, its scope, budget and knowledge.
There is no method that works by magic, its efficiency and success will depend on how well it is implemented.
Phases of mobile application development methodologies
There are several phases that make up the development methodology of a mobile application. The first is that of planningwhich is where the people involved in the project meet and determine the requirements of the smart application.
In second place, the structure, architecture and bases of the app are defined for mobile These elements are reflected in a document, which will be used as a guide during the elaboration process.
The third phase is the most practical of all, the application development. Engineers and programmers will use the codes mentioned in the previous phase to bring the program to life.
In the fourth phase, test the product through tools, who will carry out a diagnosis of the application, will bring to light the errors, their weaknesses and strengths, so that they are corrected before it is launched on the market.
Finally, the fifth and last phase consists of the placement of the application in the app store for the public to buy and run on their mobile devices.
Types of mobile application development methodologies
Among the existing mobile application development methodologies, we highlight the following:
- Agile or agile This method is the most used by engineers and developers. It consists of completing several cycles of development and collecting the results. It is a flexible methodology that can be adapted to any application and gives good results in each of the phases.
- Waterfall or Waterfall Model. It is the traditional methodology for developing applications. Therefore, it has become somewhat outdated and obsolete in different aspects. The phases are executed sequentially passing through different stages.
- kanban. This strategy for developing applications allows you to manage projects visually, showing each element of the program, in order to have a global perception of each phase to be executed. The good thing about this methodology is that it gives you full control of the development and forces the participation of all team members.
- Spiral. This methodology consists of identifying the risks in order to anticipate the inconveniences. It’s a good way to work to mitigate bugs, but it requires good leadership and many hours of analysis. It can be somewhat demanding for the team.
- prototypes. This method has been adopted in numerous mobile application development projects due to its positive results. Developers test applications to demonstrate their functionality. It is an improved version of the waterfall, since it allows you to implement changes based on tests. Every requirement is measured, communication with customers, market reception, marketing and more.
