As a startup owner, there are things you have to learn about Android development to leverage the technology properly. Read on to know the basics of building an Android app.
To get people’s attention, you’ll have to position yourself in a place they’re frequently looking at—their gadgets. Because, let’s face it, who doesn’t own a phone these days?
In today’s society where people’s lives are pretty much intertwined with technology, your business has to become a part of their daily routine. Mobile apps, in particular, are becoming popular tools for businesses to boost their reach and engagement.
Mobile and Business Mobility
Creating a dynamic mobile app gives you a competitive edge. When a business launches a mobile application successfully, it can penetrate a whole new market. With over 3 billion smartphone users worldwide, you’re guaranteed an extended reach.
So how do we set about doing all this? By learning the basics of mobile app development and how the system works. The most popular operating systems dominating the mobile world are Android and iOS. In this entry, we’ll focus on Android development.
To kick things off, let’s first study the fundamentals of the Android OS.
What is Android?
Android is a mobile operating system that is based on Linux. Developed by Google, it’s a powerful system that features libraries, graphical user interface, apps, and more. Although it’s known as a mobile engine, Android powers other devices such as tablets and speakers. Manufacturers like Samsung, and Sony have created various gadgets that run on the OS.
Since its conception, it’s surpassed other OS in popularity, including Microsoft Windows. This can be attributed to the increase of smartphone users outnumbering desktop users.
Today, Android takes the lead as the mobile operating system controlling 74.6 percent share of the market. It possesses the majority of sales in the mobile industry.
Android Development: Creating your App
Now that we know what Android is, we’ll move on to the next step on how to develop an android app.
As a startup owner, tackling something as complex as Android development may seem daunting. However, you don’t need to dive into the technicalities. You just have to learn what your role is in the development process.
It may not be necessary to learn all the technical jargon, but it’s still important to understand the overall process. This will help you identify potential challenges and formulate ideas on how to overcome them.
Without further ado, here are the things you need to learn about Android development.
1. Compatibility
In Android development, it’s not enough to say you want a mobile application. You have to be more specific in telling your team what kind of application it is and where you plan to run it. So, in giving your specifications…be specific.
Device Range
One of the common misconceptions about Android development is the range of devices it runs on. People automatically assume that an Android app can run on any device. Contrary to that, it takes a lot of effort to make one application compatible with another device.
Unlike web applications that can efficiently adapt through hybrid development, Android requires more code work from developers. Since Android runs on a wide range of device configurations, some devices can’t support certain features.
For example, your app’s core may require a compass sensor, and not all devices include it. Hence, you’ll need to rule out those incompatible devices.
Consequently, if you do want it to run properly on another device then you’ll have to extend your development timeline. Little details such as the screen size have to be reconfigured for the UI to adapt gracefully to the device.
So, set your expectations correctly. Android runs more than just phones. In fact, it can run lots of devices ranging from tablets, E-readers, smartwatches, netbooks, and game consoles.
Now, this doesn’t mean you have to build an app for all those devices but simply point out which devices you do want it to operate in. This will drastically affect development time and the overall cost of your project.
Version Upgrades
In 12 years, around 16 versions of Android have been released and it’s still ongoing. They’ll keep upgrading their OS in the coming years.
Keep in mind that each device can run different versions of the Android platform. For example, a device can run Android 4.0 or Android 4.4. However, the succeeding versions add new APIs that aren’t available on the previous ones.
Hence, you have to ensure that your app will still be compatible with the new versions and choose which existing ones you’ll enable it on. This means you may need to spend more on system maintenance and tools you’ll have to avail to keep your app running.
Programming Language
Choosing the programming language for your application will depend on what you plan to do with your app. Each language has its strengths and weaknesses that may affect the performance of your app. Consult with your developer about the pros and cons of each language. Here are some languages for Android development:
- Java
- Kotlin
- C/C++
- HTML, CSS, and Javascript
Additionally, you must invest in the minimum system requirement for Android development. Your developer’s hardware must be able to support the Android studio to ensure there are no disruptions during the development process. Here are the minimum system requirements for Android Studio:
- Microsoft Windows 7/8/10 (32 or 64 bit)
- Mac OS X 10.8.5
- GNOME/KDE/Unity desktop on Ubuntu or Fedora or GNU/Linux Debian
- 2GB RAM
- 4GB RAM recommended
- 500 MB disk space
- 1 GB for Android SDK
- Java Development Kit (JDK) 7
- 1280×800 screen resolution
2. Software Team
At the most basic level in Android development, you need to hire an Android developer. Depending on your project requirement, you can go from hiring one Android developer to assembling a whole software team with project managers and QA specialists. Keep in mind, that once you commit these experts to a project, you can’t easily pass it on to another. The code is very sensitive and it takes a lot of time for another developer to understand it.
Lastly, if you decide to scale your app, you’ll have to add more developers to your team. They are a necessary investment if you want to maintain the quality while also pursuing new features for it.
Hiring Android Developers
So, you’ve now learned the key points of Android development and are ready to get started. The first step is recruiting the right people for the job.
However, the common startup dilemma comes in: can you afford it? As a startup, the cost of any software development project will take a chunk out of the budget. There is a way to gain quality output without breaking the banks. Tap into offshore software development companies such as Full Scale.
Full Scale has a decent roster of skilled Android developers, project managers, and QA specialists you can choose from. We can help you build your software team and provide the resources needed for the project. We’ll take care of all the hassle in recruitment while you focus on your core competencies.
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