What Is Involved In Developing An App?

Developing An App?

The Reality Keeper app (2017 - 2019) that I developed together with two others was accepted in the Google playstore and Applestore for apps. With the app Reality Keeper I can keep an eye on my social media use and what effect social media has on me. By developing this app I have gained experience with what is involved in creating an app. In this blog I discuss these steps.

The Idea

It starts with an idea. For me it started with a hackathon with an idea and having a part built as a test. It tasted like more, and I saw opportunities. I and the team applied for a grant and it was awarded. The first step from idea to app was born, an approved plan.

From Plan To Building App

In the plan Adstructie and me put:

• What I and the team wanted in the app 

• The app idea was presented to potential users. This was done  through a survey and focus groups. 

The research results showed that people found the app interesting and wanted to have it further expanded with other functions. Those functions were for the next step. After checking with potential users, a briefing was made to the app builder.

Build App

With the briefing, the app builder got to work and built the app. Some things were not possible with the budget and other solutions were found. I tested the app and also asked some people to test it. After testing, it was ready for launch.

Launch App

After the app was ready, the app was offered to Google playstore and Apple store. It was accepted in both. Our supporters and potential users were emailed to test Reality Keeper. Also I held test groups with surveys to get feedback and with that two subsequent versions were launched later.

Further Development App

To keep the app in the appstores it has to be promoted and new features that enrich the app has to be added. This was done a few times. For further developing of peer products there is not much grants to apply for. It was a free app. Which meant there was no income from the app to pay for updates to keep it complying with the appstore rules. The app is no longer in the appstores.

Money For The App

In the survey the team asked the testers and the users of the app Reality Keeper if they would still use the app if it was a paid app or there was advertisement in it. Also in the focus groups testing the apps on location were asked the same. Most of them thought the app should be free and wondered if there were advertisement in it the app would be effective for what it was built.