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How to make a mobile application if you have no development experience. Make sure you hire the right people. Make sure you are using the right tools to create mobile apps

operating room Android system has become very widespread - as of the end of 2015, more than 80% of people work on it mobile devices and the graphs show a steady increase. Interest in mobile applications continues, judging by the number of new products in the Playmarket. How to create an Android application yourself? Do you need to be a real programmer for this? We will talk about this in our article.

A professional approach to Android programming

In order to create your first Android application, you need to work hard. We will need:

  • Books on programming;
  • Development environment (includes many programs and plugins);
  • Additional manuals on programming for Android OS;
  • Knowledge in building algorithms.

Having completed the installation of the development environment, you need to start studying books and manuals. They will help you gain knowledge about operators, classes, arrays, and ways to interact with mobile device equipment. Also you need to learn to read other people's code and find in it the necessary knowledge and programming techniques. Looking at the listing itself small program, your head begins to spin - it seems that it is impossible to learn all this.

In fact, many manuals have been written for Android programming and teaching aids. Therefore, there will be no problems with learning the basics of programming - the main thing is to have the ability to do so.

Android app builders

If operators, classes and the development of algorithms scare you, and program listings plunge you into primitive horror, then we are ready to offer you another solution - creating applications in special constructors. Their number is growing by leaps and bounds, so there will be no problems finding them. Constructors allow you to write applications various levels complexity using pre-developed modules and capabilities. Based on them you can create:

  • News applications;
  • Catalogs of culinary recipes;
  • Mobile blogs;
  • Online stores;
  • Applications for ordering services;
  • Photo and video galleries;
  • Text apps and more.

Also, many designers offer tools for basic promotion of created applications.

App2b constructor

This constructor is designed for a business audience, so it can create business projects high level difficulties. On its basis, online stores, clothing catalogs, applications for discount programs, applications with notifications, news apps, promo catalogs, video galleries and much more. Users have access to download statistics of created applications, hosting and promotion tools.

Like many other business tools, the App2b builder is paid. There is only one payment option for users and developers to choose from - 9,900 rubles for one one-time application. The payment includes access to all specified features, technical support, tools for promotion, as well as placement of applications in the Playmarket.

In fairness, it is worth noting that this designer can create applications not only for Android, but also for iPhone smartphones(with subsequent publication in the AppStore).

Appsmakerstore constructor

It's very powerful multifunctional constructor with a huge number of templates. With its help, applications are created for hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and cafes, government services, retail chains, beauty salons, radio stations, medical institutions, sports clubs, religious institutions, as well as for various events and activities. Designer functionality.

Disclaimer:
This article is a free artistic retelling and translation of the introduction of the book "App Savvy
Turning ideas into ipad and iphone apps customers really want "

It may interest people who are just coming into the world mobile development, and are wondering where to start. If you are an experienced businessman who already has stable income from their own mobile applications- most likely, it will seem useless and obvious to you.

It's true that top developers live very well - after all, the most popular apps, usually games like Angry Birds or Doodle Jump that receive millions of downloads. When you figure that you can earn $1 on every download, and look at the colossal download volumes of these apps, it's very easy to look at the App Store and see only wads of money floating past you.


Business Insider: Angry Birds Maker Rovio Reports $200 Million Revenue in 2012, image from techcrunch.com

At this moment it is very easy to think “Why not me?”, make your own application - and be faced with harsh reality, which is usually very different from the cloudless existence of such leading developers. As statistics show, more than half of paid applications in the App Store do not even get 1000 downloads per year, which means that after deducting Apple commissions for all your efforts you will receive only about $700 - so, if I were you, I would not indulge in optimism, looking at the amazing performance of popular games.

Does this mean that if you are new to mobile application development, you should immediately abandon this idea? Not necessarily, but in any case, first I suggest you face the facts and study everything that is already in the App Store - then you will realize that you have very little chance of coming there and immediately launching a very popular application. I don't want to say it's impossible, but many successful iPhone developers created a lot of applications before reaching their goal. The main thing you will gain from launching your first application is the knowledge and experience of developing applications yourself.

When you study the market, you may feel like you can't do anything. My advice to you in such a situation is to think more broadly. Develop not an application, but something that has value for you and for people not only as a program on the phone. Decide real problems users, make it easy and relaxed for them - and then you can create an application that will become really popular.

But before you start developing your mobile application, do not forget to think everything through. What sets successful mobile app developers apart is that they treat development like a business. They calculate the cost of development, the cost of entering the market, think through a way to return investments - and this allows them to make a stable income from development, and not try to draw a lucky lottery ticket.

The more time you spend studying the market, the more clearly you will learn to differentiate real opportunities to earn money from ghosts. Consider app development as an investment and you will learn how to interact with clients, media partners, you will be able to create own library design elements and program code, which you will use in all your applications.

Once you learn to understand the economics of the App Store, set up necessary connections and start building your library, you'll have a significant advantage over people who are just wandering around the App Store trying to find a place in the sun.

Unlike others, you won't come to the App Store filled with emotions and delusions of grandeur of your idea. On the contrary, you will be able to objectively assess your capabilities and understand how much money and time you will need to invest in your application, and how you will return your investment.

Introduction
Strategy
Chapter 1: Evaluating your mobile app idea
Chapter 2: What Should Your Application Have?
Chapter 3: From Idea to Concept

Development
Chapter 4: Finding a Team: You Need Help
Chapter 5: Getting a Working Application
Chapter 6: Improving the application before adding it to the App Store

Launch
Chapter 7: Getting Ready to Upload the App to the App Store
Chapter 8: Building Our Marketing Strategy
Chapter 9: Measuring Success and Considering Future Developments

Please note that the studio is constantly being updated, so appearance windows and other details may differ from this example. Most of the lessons on the site now use version 2.3. On October 25, 2017, version 3.0 was released, in which a lot has changed. In this article I tried to replace all the pictures with the new version.

Java is used as the programming language for Android. For creating user interface XML is used.

Here we should make a small digression. IN Android Studio 3.0 added full support the new Kotlin language, developed by Kotans. Google has announced its plans to make the new "cat" language the main one. But you must understand what was written in previous years great amount examples in Java. If you are new to programming, then it is better to completely focus on Java during the first period of training; it will be easier for you to find answers to questions. Kotlin will not escape you, it will be easier to switch to it later, but the reverse process will be more difficult. When you get a little familiar with Java, you can simultaneously study examples in Kotlin. Google is now actively rewriting the documentation for Kotlin, but the complete transition is still far away, even less than 50%. A little later I will also do lessons using Kotlin, but this will not be soon.

According to a tradition established in the last century, every programmer had to write “Hello World!” (Hello World!) as the first program. Times are changing, and the Hello World! is already built into the Android development environment for compatibility purposes, and modern programmers must write a program Hello Kitty! (Hi kitty!). Agree that greeting a kitten makes more common sense than greeting the world.

Therefore, we will divide the problem into two parts. First let's launch ready-made program without writing any code to make sure that all the tools are installed correctly and we can create and debug programs. And then we’ll write our first program.

Creating a new project

Launch Studio and select File | New | New Project.... A wizard dialog box will appear.

Field Application name- a friendly name for the application that will be displayed in the application title. By default you may already have My Application. Let's replace it with . Basically you could write here and Hello world!, but Android has a wonderful ability to output required lines on phones with different languages. Let’s say that an American’s phone will have an inscription in English, and a Russian’s will have an inscription in Russian. Therefore, in initial settings always used English options, and prepare localized strings later. It is necessary to immediately develop the habit of correct code.

Field Company Domain serves to indicate your site. By default, your name as the computer user may appear there. If you have a website, you can enter its address, or come up with some name. The entered name is remembered and will be automatically substituted in the next new projects. Savings, however.

Third field Project location allows you to select disk space for the project being created. You can create on your disk separate folder for your projects and store your programs in it. The studio remembers the last folder and will automatically suggest saving in it. If necessary, you can set a different location for an individual project using the three-dot button.

Field Package name generates a special Java package based on your name from the previous field. Java uses an inverted version for naming packages, so it goes first ru, and then the name of the site. The package serves to uniquely identify your application when you distribute it. If a hundred people write a hundred applications with the name "Cat", then it will be unclear where the application written by the developer Vasily Kotov is. And the application with the package name ru.vaskakotov.cat easier to find. Please note that Google uses the package in its documentation com.example for demonstration purposes. If you simply copy examples from the documentation and try to post them in this form in Google Play, then nothing will work out for you - this name is reserved and prohibited from use in the application store. Button Edit allows you to edit the prepared version. For example, you are writing a custom application and you need to use the package name approved by the customer, and not your default.

Below are two options for writing programs in C++ and Kotlin. We are not considering these options yet. When you write in Kotlin, check the appropriate box. However, you can convert the project from Java to Kotlin and later using studio tools.

Click on the button Next and move on to the next window. Here we select the types of devices for which we will develop our application. In most cases, we will write for smartphones and tablets, so we leave the checkbox next to the first item. You can also write applications for Android TV, Android Wear, Android Auto and Android Things.

In addition to selecting the type of device, you must select the minimum version of the system under which the application will work. Choose your option. On this moment Google supports versions starting with API 7, releasing special compatibility libraries for older devices. But you can choose a more modern option. I have a phone with a minimum version of Android 4.4, so I'm setting this option.

java

Folder java contains three subfolders - working and for tests. Work folder has the name of your package and contains class files. Now there is one class MainActivity. You can leave the test folders alone. If you know how packages work in Java, you can create new folders and subfolders.

res

Folder res contains resource files divided into separate subfolders.

  • drawable- graphic resources are stored in these folders - pictures and xml files describing colors and shapes.
  • layout- this folder contains xml files that describe the appearance of forms and various form elements. After creating the project there is already a file there activity_main.xml, which is responsible for the appearance of the main application window.
  • mipmap- application icons for different screen resolutions are stored here
  • values- string resources, color resources, themes, styles and dimensions that we can use in our project are located here. Here you can see the files colors.xml, strings.xml, styles.xml. In old projects there was also a file dimensions.xml, it has now been abandoned

Over time, you will be able to navigate these folders freely, as long as you don’t bother yourself.

Working with the project - Hello, World!

As already mentioned, the program Hello, World! already built into any new project, so you don't even need to write anything. You just need to launch the project and get a ready-made program!

To study you need to open two files - MainActivity(most likely it is already open) and activity_main.xml (res/layout) in the central part of the Studio. If the files are not open, then open them yourself double click for editing (or viewing). In this way you can open any file you need.

Let’s not study the code for now, but just click on the green triangle Run(Shift+F10) on the toolbar at the top of the studio to launch the application.

If you haven't configured the emulator, it means you haven't read the previous tutorial. Set up the emulator first and run the project again. Or connect a real device.

If everything was done correctly, your program will load in the emulator or on the device. Congratulations!

So, if the program has started, you will see an application window with the inscription. The title of the program will also be . All these lines can be found in the file res/values/strings.xml and edit if desired.

Now let's look at the code. Let's study first activity_main.xml.

You can watch it in two modes - Design And Text.

Open in mode Text.

This is a new template code that was released in Android Studio 2.3 in March 2017. Previously, a different code was used with RelativeLayout(and even earlier, another code with LinearLayout). If you come across old examples, the studio has a context menu that will help you convert the old code into new one.

A little about XML code. There is a special container ConstraintLayout, which contains the component TextView, intended for text output.

Now let's look at the Java code ( MainActivity.java)

Package ru.alexanderklimov.helloworld; import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity; import android.os.Bundle; public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity ( @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) ( super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); ) )

You have a class file open in front of you, where the class name is MainActivity matches the file name with the extension java(this is a rule set by the Java language). The first line contains the name of the package - we specified it when creating the project ( Package Name). Next are the lines for importing the necessary classes for the project. To save space, they are collapsed into one group. Unfold it. If one day you see that the class names are grayed out, then they are not used in the project (hint Unused import statement) and you can safely delete the extra lines. They can also be deleted automatically (configurable).

Next comes the declaration of the class itself, which is inherited ( extends) from an abstract class Activity. This is the base class for all application screens. It is possible that you will have AppCompatActivity, if when creating the project you left support for older devices (checkbox Backwards Compatibilty (App Compat)). Old versions did not have the goodies that appeared after Android 4, so a special compatibility library was created for them, which allows you to use new items from new versions of Android in old programs. Class AppCompatActivity This is exactly what the compatibility library is about. Consider her a poor relative of the base Activity. It has all the necessary methods and helper classes, but the names may vary slightly. And you can't mix names. If you are using a class from the compatibility library, then take the appropriate methods.

At different stages, different activity class names were used, which you may encounter in older projects. For example, it was first used FragmentActivity, then ActionBarActivity, and on April 22, 2015, a new version of the compatibility library was released and a new class is currently used AppCompatActivity.

In the class itself we see a method onCreate()– it is called when the application creates and displays activity markup. The method is marked as protected and is accompanied by annotation @Override(overridden from base class). The summary may be useful to you. If you make a typo in a method name, the compiler can warn you that the parent class does not have such a method Activity.

Let's look at the method code.

Line super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); is a constructor of the parent class that performs the necessary operations for the activity to work. You don't have to touch this line, leave it unchanged.

Second line setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); is of greater interest. Method setContentView(int) includes content from a markup file. As an argument we specify the file name without extension from the folder res/layout. By default, the project creates a file in it activity_main.xml. You can rename the file or create your own file with the name cat.xml and connect it to your activity. Then the code will look like this:

SetContentView(R.layout.cat);

To keep your code neat, try to adhere to standards. If you are creating markup for an activity, use the prefix activity_ for the file name. For example, the markup for the second activity might be named activity_second.xml.

Do you have an idea to create a mobile application, but you doubt whether you have enough knowledge and skills to create it? Even if you don't know anything about creating mobile apps, you can still create one and even make money from it.

Idea

Work on creating an application begins with an idea. First, think about who you want to make the application for. For example, if you live in a big city where there are a lot of tourists, then you can think about creating an application for them. There are a lot of options.

Also, think about your hobbies and interests. Let's say you travel frequently and want to visit the most famous clubs around the world. You've made a list of your favorite places. Why not turn this database into a travel app?

Many well-known apps are not centered around specific interests, but the ones that always rank in the top three are games. You've probably already downloaded Temple Run, Minecraft to your smartphone. Gaming apps tend to make more money because users are more willing to pay for them, especially if they are very popular among your friends.

Don't be discouraged if you find something similar to your idea when searching through the App Store. Learn to think outside the box. For example, there are several apps that provide information and maps about all the most popular tourist spots in Moscow. But there is an application that provides information about unusual places in the city that not everyone knows about.

Try to come up with an idea that has few competitors. But if you are determined to turn your idea into an app despite the competition, take a look at your competitors and try to figure out what you can do to make your app better than theirs.

Here are some important points to consider as you think about your application:

Monetization options

Before you start developing an application, you need to decide how you will make money from it. There are several main ways to monetize applications:

  • Free application. Typically used by large companies, the app helps sell their products or services.
  • Free application with advertising. Used in popular applications that actively interact with the user
  • Paid application. The most popular and profitable type of monetization. Apple takes a 30% commission on every sale of your app.
  • Lite and Pro. The Lite app is free, but with a limited set of features. By purchasing Pro you will unlock all functionality
  • In-app purchases - you can sell new functionality or new game levels directly from the app

Development

Now you have an idea. Great, that's already half the battle! But what now? We assume that you, like most people, have no programming experience. And that's great! There are tons of options.

If you want to take the easy but more expensive route, then check out mobile app developer sites. The AppBooker website allows you to enter your platform, country, and budget, and it will then return a list of developers that meet your needs. Once you select a developer, you can see a list of their clients and the types of applications they specialize in.

A good list of domestic developers can be found here – ratingruneta.

Another option to find a developer is to contact flinaser exchanges. It may even be cheaper, but more risky, since you may come across an unscrupulous employee.

Here are some questions to ask your future developer:

What is the cost of their work?

Who have they worked for in the past?

Are their applications successful?

Will I have all rights to the application?

Do they have the experience and knowledge to bring your idea to life?

What platforms (IOS, Android, etc.) can they create applications for?

Development cost

As they say, to make money you must first spend it. This is not entirely true when it comes to mobile applications, but we will return to this below. For now, let's assume that you decide to order an application from the developer.

Depending on the type of application you want to make, the price can range from $500 to $100,000. This price may seem very high, but it is worth keeping in mind that the profit from a successful application covers the costs several times. Besides, gaming applications the most expensive in terms of development are also bestsellers.

If you already have some work in place (like layout and graphics), you can reduce the price significantly. Another way to reduce costs is to offer the developer a share of the profit from the application.

To find out approximately how much it will cost to develop an application, you can use the howmuchtomakeanapp calculator. It was created by the Canadian company ooomf.com. The resulting price can be safely divided by 2, and you will find out the price of development from us. You can also look at examples of applications they have already created with prices - crew.co.

Accommodation already ready-made application on App store will cost you $99.9 per year. Hosting the application on Android Market costs $25.

How to create an application for free

If you do not want to create a game or some kind of application unique in its functions, then you can easily use special online mobile application designers. With these sites you can make free simple application without programming knowledge. But if you want something special, then you will have to switch to a paid plan.

How much can you earn?

Obviously, the money you make from your app will largely depend on its popularity, and how much you'll make is hard to say.

A study conducted by GigaOM Pro found that more than half of their 352 developers surveyed earned less than $500 per month.

This certainly isn't enough to live off of the app's earnings alone, but it's great if you just want to make a little extra money.

Of course, you can make another hit like Angry Birds that will earn you $100,000 a month!

In order to make good money on your application, read a few tips:

  • your application should be interesting to a wide audience
  • Explore the most popular apps on the market
    • Rate this article Votes: 1153 Average rating: 3.3

    How and why to create a mobile application. A mobile application is not only a tool for communication, receiving necessary information or a way of spending leisure time, but it is also an opportunity to earn money, maintain an image, and carry out effective activities. With minimal investment or completely free, you can create mobile applications that satisfy consumer needs and are essentially your own. mobile browser, which opens only your website.

    Idea

    The birth of any product begins with the idea of ​​its creation. The creator bases the idea on what he is most familiar with. Think about your interests and hobbies. If you travel a lot or visit various public places in your city, why not create an app based on this knowledge? Create apps for counting calories and sports apps if you have close experience with dietetics or sports. If you've always been interested in astrology, you can create a star chart app.

    Mobile applications are gaining momentum every day and, according to some forecasts, they can completely displace Internet browsers and websites.

    Try to think outside the box and come up with an idea that has no competitors or, conversely, analyze similar ideas and create an application that would be better, more convenient and more useful for users.

    Application Types

    Almost every consumer uses mobile and web browsers mobile traffic. These include all kinds of maps, navigation, games, online photo processing services, libraries, places for storing information, news, music players, programs for watching videos and much more. . A program created for use in mobile phone or smartphone can be paid or free, and is also divided into types, depending on the tasks being solved:

    • entertainment (multimedia) applications - any video and audio file players, programs for viewing images, for reading books, games;
    • communication - responsible for the user’s communication, his contacts, social media, SMS messages;
    • navigation - applications that work with geographical coordinates, With GPS system;
    • applied - all kinds of calculators, organizers, notebooks;
    • reference books - encyclopedias, dictionaries;
    • business applications that allow you to organize work, recruit employees, develop strategies, and increase profits;
    • training programs.

    Monetization options

    If you are not Euroset or Megafon, or the AliExpress Internet portal, then you may want to make money by creating your application. The easiest way is to create paid application. But here you need to ask yourself a few questions:

    1. What is your offer and how does it benefit people?
    2. What advantages does it have over its competitors?
    3. How many downloads do competitors have?

    Only by first correctly calculating the number of users who are likely to be interested in your application can you roughly calculate how much you can earn.

    Other monetization options:

    • in-app purchases;
    • advertising in the application;
    • sponsorship and offers;

    Development

    You have an idea, but no programming experience, then the following options are for you:

    • the AppBooker website will give you a list of popular developers, taking into account your budget and needs;
    • apps4all.ru - here good list domestic developers;
    • The cheapest option is to go to a freelancer exchange.
    The cheapest does not mean bad, but it means more risky: they can do it to you great app, but you may come across an unscrupulous employee.

    Development cost

    The cost of developing an application depends on its type, varies greatly from the wishes of the customer and can range from 2.5 thousand to 10 million rubles. Most Expensive Applications, as a rule, are further bestsellers for long periods of time.

    To find out approximate cost development of the application you have come up with, you can go to howmuchtomakeanpp.com. Feel free to divide the resulting price by 3 and find out the cost of Russian manufacturers. You can see examples of completed applications and their costs on crew.co.

    How to create an application for free?

    If you have at least minimal programming skills, then this will help you online constructors mobile applications. In them, pay attention to what system the mobile application is being written for, for example, for iPhone or Nokia Corporation, Android, Java. Most popular system— Android. The algorithm for creating a mobile application is similar to the algorithm for creating websites. But keep in mind right away that if you want to create something unique to the highest degree, then your development will require either money or a serious investment of time.

    How much can you earn?

    If you approach the development of your application correctly: study popular offers on the market, create a product that will be of interest to the general public, use applications for different operating systems, - you can earn about $100,000 per month.

    A study conducted by Giga OM Pro showed that almost half of the mobile application developers they surveyed earn no more than $200 per month. ? First of all, decide what you will invest in the project: time or money.

    If you are afraid to trust developers, you don’t want to depend on them and pay too much for support and updating the program, then create the application yourself.

    By using online designers It is really possible to make functional, high-quality mobile applications. In the future, they should be advertised and published on Google Play and AppStore. App purchases generate 25% less income than in-app purchases, according to Apple research, but 30% more than in-app advertising and other ways to earn money.