Applications have become an integral part of our daily lives. They have revolutionized the way we live, work, and play. Everybody has two or more applications installed on their phones, tablets, or desktops. But have you ever wondered how these digital companions are developed? 

If yes, then we are here to help you.

This blog will provide an overview of “The 5 Types of App Development,” including the technology used to develop them and their features. We will also explore the steps involved in application development processes. Hence, continue reading this blog to learn more about the magic behind your favorite apps.

Five Types of App Development

The five types of app development include:

• Mobile app development

Mobile app development is a type of app development that focuses on creating different types of mobile apps that run on various mobile platforms like iOS and Android. Mobile app development is divided into two categories:

1. iOS app development:  It involves developing apps that run on the iOS operating system and support Apple’s devices, Mac, iPhone, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. It is built using programming languages like Swift, Python, and Objective-C. You can download the iOS app from the Apple app store.
2. Android app development: It involves developing apps that run on the Android operating system and support Android devices like smartphones and tablets. It is built using programming languages like Kotlin and Java. It is available in the Google Play Store on Android devices.

Examples of mobile apps

Some famous examples of mobile app development platforms are Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Viber, Uber, Pubg, etc.

Features of Mobile Apps/ Native Apps

Some typical features found in mobile applications/ native apps include:

• User registration and authentication: Users can create an account in the platform and then log in using the login credentials to access the features of the mobile application.
• Offline access: Mobile apps store their data on the user’s devices. Hence, most of the mobile apps come with the offline access functionality. For example, you can download some YouTube videos and watch those downloaded videos when you don’t have access to the internet. Likewise, you can play mobile games like Candy Crush even when your device is not connected to WIFI.
• Access to device features: A native app/ mobile app accesses device features like its camera, microphone, storage, etc., for taking photos and sharing files, videos, and audio.
• Push notifications: Mobile apps deliver real-time notifications and alerts to users to keep them informed and engaged.
• Search Functionality: Users can find specific information within mobile apps using search bars or filters.

2. Web-based App Development

Web-based app development is the process of developing an application that runs on web browsers like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, etc. Unlike mobile apps, there is no need to install web applications to use it. You can access a web app from any device with an internet connection, irrespective of the platform they are running. 

The common front-end technologies used to develop the web application include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, ReactJs, Angular JS, etc. Similarly, the back-end technologies used in web app development are Python, PHP, JavaScript JS, and Ruby On Rails.

Examples of Web Apps

Some popular web applications include Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Linkedln, Facebook, Grammarly, etc.

Features of the Web apps

Some common features of the web applications include:

• Cross-platform compatibility: You can access the web apps through different platforms and operating systems. 
• Integration capability: It is possible to integrate web apps with other third-party apps and APIs to provide additional functionality. For instance, you can seamlessly integrate Grammarly with Google Docs.
• User registration and authentication: Web apps allow users to sign up for an account and log in to access the services. 
• Navigation and menus: Web apps have a user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation and menus. Navigation and menus allow users to explore from one page to another and enjoy app features.
• Multi-language support: A web app supports multiple languages to support users from all around the world.

3. Desktop App Development

Another type of application development is desktop app development. It involves creating software applications locally for PCs, laptops, and other desktop computers. Usually, desktop apps are built for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS. 

Unlike web apps, which run in web browsers, and mobile apps, which run on mobile devices, desktop apps are installed directly on the computer. It provides access to a variety of system features.

Likewise, software developers create desktop applications using a variety of programming languages such as JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL, Python, TypeScript, Node.js, Java, C#, Bash/Shell, and PHP. They also use frameworks like Electron js, Cocoa, WinForms, WPF toolkit, etc.

Examples of Desktop Apps

Some common examples of desktop applications include Microsoft Office, VLC Media Player, Windows File Explorer, Adobe Photoshop, MS Visual Studio, etc.

Features of Desktop Applications

Some features in the desktop applications include:

• Offline functionality: Many desktop applications can run without an internet connection. Also, it doesn’t require robust internet connectivity to operate.
• Easy user control: You can control desktop apps completely since they don’t run on a remote server. Also, you can easily customize apps however you want. 
• Better Compatibility: A desktop application can run on any operating system with specific versions without requiring core code changes.
• System Integration: Desktop apps seamlessly integrate with system features like file systems, printers, cameras, microphones, and other devices.
• Updates and Version Control: Desktop apps are updated automatically or manually to fix bugs, add features, and implement security updates.

4. Cross-platform App Development

Cross-platform app development is another type of application development that aims to build apps that can run on multiple platforms like iOS, Android, and the web. 

In cross-platform app development, the same code is used for all platforms. It means you can write your code once, and your application will work natively on iOS, Android, and the web. This saves time and money for software developers, as they won’t need to write code separately for each platform.

Similarly, developers use  Dart, C#, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, etc., to develop cross-platform apps. Likewise, they use frameworks like Ionic, React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, etc.

Examples of Cross-platform App

Popular cross-platform apps include Walmart, Airbnb, Google Ads, Fox Sports, BBC Good Food, etc.

Features of Cross-platform Apps

Some features of cross-platform apps include:

• Code re-usability: The best part about cross-platform apps is that once you develop the app, you can launch it on multiple platforms like iOS, Android, and the web. It is not necessary to write code separately for each platform. Instead, you can reuse these codes in different projects and platforms in the future.
• Access to device features: Cross-platform apps access device features and capabilities, such as GPS, camera, microphone, sensors, storage, etc.
• Cost-effective development: The cost of developing an app for all platforms is lower than that for independent platforms.
• Cloud Integration: Cross-platform apps can store and sync data across devices and platforms using cloud services and databases.

5. Cloud Application Development

Cloud application development involves creating software applications that run and scale in cloud computing environments. These apps leverage cloud services and infrastructures. Also, cloud apps are scalable, reliable, and flexible. 

Cloud apps are developed using varied technologies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, AWS Lambda, Kubernetes, etc.

If you’re seeking top-notch cloud management services in Sydney, SCSS Consulting is your prime choice for the finest available.

Examples of Cloud Applications

Trello, Asana, Gmail, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Amazon, eBay, dropbox, etc., are some examples of cloud-based platforms.

Features of Cloud Application

• Accessibility: Users can access cloud applications from virtually any device with an internet connection.
• Scalability: Cloud apps can quickly grow with users and workloads.
• Security: Cloud apps are highly secured. Cloud providers invest highly in advanced security measures to protect them from unauthorized access.
• Pay-as-you-go pricing: Cloud applications follow the pay-as-you-go pricing model. It means you will be paying only for the services you use.
• Integration capability: Cloud apps can integrate with third-party tools and services to enhance functionality.

Steps in the Application Development Processes

Application development typically passes through seven development processes. These processes are described below:

1. Idea Generation:
   It is the first step in the application development. This stage involves collecting information on the purpose of the hybrid apps, the target audience, the market research, and the concept and features of the app.
2. Planning: This stage involves preparing a project plan, which includes information on timelines, milestones, resource allocations, and methodology choices. The roles and responsibilities of each team member are also assigned during this phase. 
3. Design: It is the third stage in the application development, where developers start developing the visual elements of the applications. It includes designing the user interface (UI), app’s layout, features, and functionality. It also includes developing a mockup design for client review.
4. Development: Once the design is approved, the development team starts writing code for the app’s final version in this phase. Programmers use a variety of programming languages and follow best coding practices and standards to develop a user-friendly app. 
5. Testing: After the software developers/ programmers have developed the software, software testers perform various types of testing to identify and fix bugs and issues. Quality assurance (QA) teams usually perform unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing.
6. Deployment: It is the last stage in the application development. This stage involves deploying the application to a hosting environment like cloud servers, app stores, or web servers.
7. Maintenance: A software development company also offers maintenance support to ensure the continued functionality of an application.

App Development with SCSS Consulting

SCSS Consulting stands out as the best application development company based in Sydney, Australia. The company has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality solutions and specializes in developing various kinds of apps like custom web apps, mobile apps, and chatbots at an affordable cost. 

SCSS Consulting has a large team of developers and programmers dedicated to turning your ideas into reality. Furthermore, the company has already delivered numerous applications to startups and large companies in Australia. If you are also looking for the best software development company in Australia, consider SCSS Consulting.

Conclusion

In summary, in this blog, we talk about five types of app development: mobile app development, web-based app development, desktop app development, cross-platform app development, and cloud app development. 

We also discussed various features of these apps and the steps involved in the mobile app development process. If you want to develop the application for your company at the best price, we highly recommend SCSS Consulting.