What is Application Development?

Just as app development can help your organisation meet a range of needs, there are many distinct types of in-house application development. Here are four of the most common to be familiar with:

Rapid application development (RAD) exists to decrease an application’s time to market without sacrificing capability or usability. In the RAD approach, app developers follow an iterative process, simultaneously developing multiple individual modules within the application and further refining the product with each successive iteration.

Low-code and no-code app development is designed to allow non-technical users to build and deploy their own applications without the need for coding experience. This approach employs graphical interfaces and drag-and-drop tools to make it possible for non-coders to connect and modify snippets of code and design automated workflows.

Mobile application development is a branch of app development specifically focused on the creation of software for Android, iOS and other mobile operating systems. Mobile application development not only allows you to put your product or service literally in the hands of your customers, but it also empowers your employees with mobile and remote-work solutions.

Database application development makes it possible for companies to design their own systems for collecting, organising, managing and retrieving relevant customer and business data. These applications tend to be used in performing calculations, sorting data based on a variety of criteria, generating reports and coordinating information resources between teams and users.

Obviously, there is some overlap between these four types of application development, for example, an organisation may use a low-code platform to implement a RAD approach to developing a database application for mobile users. Understanding each of these types of app development will help you determine which is appropriate for your needs and how each one may fit together in larger projects.

Although there are various approaches to software development, most of them can be categorised in one of two ways: the Waterfall methodology and the Agile methodology.

The traditional Waterfall approach to application development follows a linear sequence of steps that divides software development lifecycles into distinct phases, with a new phase only beginning once the previous phase has been completed. In most cases, these phases are separated by a ‘stage-gate,’ which represents the requirements that must be fulfilled before the project can progress to the next phase.

The Waterfall methodology has long been the go-to approach to app development, providing development teams with the following benefits:

• Easier, more straight-forward design and management
• Better defined scope of work
• More accurate cost projections
• Clearer progress measurements
• Accurately defined team roles
• Reduced time commitment for individual teams
• Less involvement required from end users
  

The Agile methodology eschews the step-by-step processes that define the traditional Waterfall approach. Instead, Agile depends on ongoing collaboration between self-organising, cross-functional teams. Development tasks are performed and tested concurrently and product releases occur in continuous cycles (called iterations). Agile is central to continuous delivery and continuous improvement.

In most cases, the Agile methodology allows for faster application development that is also more capable of pivoting to consider new specifications or requirements mid-project. Agile also relies heavily on user involvement, making use of customers as resources to revise and optimise the product.

This methodology has seen increased use in recent years as more and more organisations come to recognise the many benefits of Agile:

• Improved user experience
• Faster time to market
• Simplified steps
• Sustainable development pace
• Increased team autonomy
• Improved internal and external communication
• Enhanced focus on business value
• Reduced product risk
  

Both the Waterfall and Agile methodologies have their preferred use cases and may offer specific advantages to meet different business needs. The difference between Agile and Waterfall can often be characterised in the following ways:

• Waterfall projects may cost more and will likely demand a longer development process as each contributor has to wait for proceeding steps to be completed before they can begin their tasks. Waterfall is also considered less flexible in terms of adapting to changing requirements. On the other hand, Waterfall’s more clear-cut planning and structure may mean a more complete product.
  
• Agile makes it possible to deliver products faster and at lower cost. Add to that Agile’s ability to easily adapt projects mid development and it’s no great surprise that so many companies are adopting Agile as their preferred development methodology. The tradeoff here is that because Agile projects are so fluid, it can be difficult to accurately plan and budget for them.
  

Depending on the type or types of application development you’ll be focusing on and the methodology you decide to use, the steps you take in managing your application development initiatives will take different forms. Still, in most cases companies that find success in app development follow a process like the six steps outlined below:

Before you can begin building your app, you need to know what needs it will address, what kind of value proposition it will provide, what platforms it will be available on and whether the idea itself is feasible. This is a vital first step that should never be overlooked; ideation and planning can make all the difference in determining the marketability and usability of your app before you start committing resources to development.

What this step looks like will depend heavily on the methodology you decide to apply. A Waterfall approach will require that the development team begin building the ‘skeleton’ of the application so that they can then move onto the more-specific aspects of the software. An iterative, Agile approach will instead begin working on prototypes that can be rolled out to generate feedback, adapting the app’s functionality as you go.

Coding begins in earnest in the development stage. This is where the team will take what they learnt during the design stage to start moving towards a final version of the product. This is where most of the ‘building’ occurs and depending on the methodology and type of application development, this stage may be revisited many times throughout multiple iterations.

Whether occurring concurrently to or following the previous stage, testing is essential for identifying and eliminating software bugs and ensuring that the app fulfils on what it promises. Although testing can be an expensive and time-consuming stage of app development, it has the capacity to more than pay for itself in terms of reduced maintenance and support costs.

Again, in Agile development this is a stage you will be revisiting as you release updated versions to your users. Ideally, you will have already worked out all the major bugs and can be confident that you’re delivering a ‘finished’ product, even if there are some additional fixes or improvements to be made after the fact.

Once the application is in the hands of the user, it’s important that you continue to offer service and support. Monitor the status of the app, listen to feedback and reviews and work with the user to ensure that the software is performing as expected. Ideally, this stage will continue to be relevant up to the point where you eventually decide to decommission your app.

As the need for internal and external business applications continues to grow, organisations in all industries are bringing application development in house. This can mean significant advantages for the businesses, their employees and the customers that depend on them. That said, application development can also be a complicated process fraught with pitfalls. Here, we identify several tips for improving your business’ approach to application development:

Application development shouldn’t be a goal in and of itself. Before you get started, identify and define how application development will help support your other business objectives.

Application development requires planning, coding and analysis, but you shouldn’t think of these apps as just projects to be completed. Instead, view them as business services that fall under the responsibilities of the various departments and users the applications will be serving. These departments will be responsible for accessing and providing feedback on the application, helping retain focus on the business objectives the app is designed to address.

Not every IT environment is going to be identical to the one that your developers operate in. Employ internet testing tools to get an idea of how the app will function outside of your labs, considering things like communication weak spots and slower average internet speeds. If the app only functions in your own IT environment, then you may be failing the users you’re trying to serve.

Application development doesn't have to be restricted by the number of developers you have on staff. With the right development platform, you can empower end users external to your organisation to help create powerful, authorised applications. These citizen developers can be a major boon to your app development processes, further accelerating time to market, allowing for increased innovation, reducing cost and IT pressures and more.