iOS Mobile App Development: A Complete Checklist To Follow

As the digital world is constantly evolving, people are spending more time on their smartphones and modern devices. The public interest in mobile phones and apps has opened the door for modern businesses to grow. Many great apps have shaped the mobile world. What is the recipe? One great idea can revolutionize the entire mobile app world. One should know how to separate haves or have nots in the app. A successful app creator pays special attention to every part of the app development process to make an app stunning.

80-90 % of mobile apps launched get abandoned by the users after a single-use based on the latest reports. In fact, the uninstall rate jumped significantly in 2020 from the preceding year. Apple’s iOS has a 13 % share of this very app market. However, compared to the average,

This is a major benefit that businesses seek to grab when they hire iOS developer services. Therefore, the demand for every iOS application development company continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

This reflects the growing popularity of iOS application development services. More and more businesses are looking to join the digital competition by consulting a suitable iOS app development company. A number of emerging businesses are looking to hire iOS developer services. By doing so, the iOS mobile app development company delivers an iOS app for their target audience to use. In fact, robust, efficient and user-friendly iOS app development services are a proven and effective way to boost the business growth of any organization.

General workflow at an iOS app development company

Every iOS development company will tend to follow a set pattern of workflow. Using this workflow in iOS app development services enables it to deliver the iOS app in a systematic and robust manner. Businesses should always look out to hire iOS developer services that properly implement this workflow. In this way, they will be ensuring effective iOS development services to become future-ready.

The entire workflow at every iOS mobile app development company can be broken down into certain phases. The proper and thorough execution of each of these phases by the iOS development company is vital to providing high-quality iOS development services. It is advisable to always hire iOS programmer services from a company that pays close attention while executing each of these phases.

1. Planning phase

A business needs to establish and analyze its target market before it proceeds to hire iOS developer services. The iOS application development company often assists in performing this task using its capabilities. By doing so, it also becomes possible to assess the apps of its competitors for references to be used in the iOS application development services. In other words, taking into account competitors’ apps provides a basic idea of the features needed to be provided in the iOS app through iOS development services. It is a good idea to make a list of competitors with the same business model when a business decides to hire iOS developer services.

2. Design phase

Proper attention to the design phase always leads to improved quality of iOS application development services. For this reason, it is advisable to hire iOS programmer services that pay close attention to design specifications during app development. After the UI and UX have been designed, it is then that the developers at the iOS mobile app development company start working on coding the designed app.

Designing the interface and user experience within the app should not be neglected by the iOS application development company. When businesses hire iOS developer services, it is recommended that they ensure the company has a dedicated team of designers who will perform this job. In fact, every top iOS app development company has a specialized team of UI and UX designers who prepare the design before it is developed through code.

3. Development phase

Using the design layouts prepared, the iOS mobile app development company is going to develop code for the iOS application. This is how a functional mobile app is created through iOS development services. An iOS application development company is going to work on several aspects of the code and then integrate them together for the final iOS app to work. It is a good idea to keep track of progress and milestones when businesses hire iOS programmer services.

4. Testing phase

QA engineers at the iOS development company are responsible for reviewing the final iOS application. Alternatively, test procedures can also be automated. Every top iOS app development company makes sure to perform debugging after testing to ensure there are no bugs left in the iOS app development services. When businesses hire iOS developer services, it is the responsibility of the team of programmers to perform thorough testing and debugging.

5. App launch and maintenance

After thorough testing has been performed by the iOS development company, the app goes for review by the client. Once the client approves the final product, the iOS application development company will release it on the App Store and launch it into the market. Clients must make sure the final app satisfies their needs and requirements when they hire iOS programmer services for developing it.

It is crucial to note that the job of the iOS mobile app development company isn’t over here. An app needs to be continually updated to suit the ever-evolving needs of the market. In addition, maintenance procedures need to be performed for the iOS app to continue working optimally. When businesses hire iOS developer services they should expect this to be provided to them as well.

The process of iOS application development

There are different crucial steps that go into the process of iOS app development services. It is important for businesses to follow a laid-out checklist to eliminate the scope of complacencies when they hire iOS development services. This is necessary even while consulting a top iOS app development company.

By making sure every stage of the app development is done right, the iOS application development company can maximize efficiency. This makes the decision to hire iOS developer services well worth the investment. Using a digital-first approach, the iOS app will be able to help its clients stay ahead of the competition. A top iOS app development company is always one that understands the value of each of the steps towards building a better iOS app for businesses and enterprises.

#1: Research, analysis and planning

This emphasizes the importance of research when businesses hire iOS developer services. Research involves thoroughly assessing the needs of the market and also conducting case studies on successful apps from competitors in the same domain.

For this purpose, the iOS app made by a top iOS app development company for a competitor in the industry can be considered. This helps the iOS mobile app development company determine the features and functionalities that the app needs to offer. Analyzing market needs and incorporating them in the iOS development services helps the iOS app gain traction and achieve maximum downloads. This research is preferably a joint effort by both the client and the iOS development company it chooses.

It is important for the iOS application development company to research Apple’s strict guidelines. By doing so, its iOS app development services would be in full compliance with them. Therefore, it is always a good idea to hire iOS developer services from a company that has good experience and knowledge in working with Apple services.

#2: Create app’s graphic design

Building a design framework and developing code accordingly is crucial for providing robust and appealing iOS application development services. Whether the team of developers works on the design themselves or they make use of dedicated designers, depends on the work style of the iOS development company. However, one way or the other, every top iOS app development company will employ a team of designers for working on the following design requirements for the iOS app.

1. Concepts and mockups: Preparing the concept and mockups lays the foundation for designs in the subsequent iOS app development services. Some of the digital tools for preparing such mockups include Sketch, Figma and FramerX.

2. UI and UX design: This helps determine how the user interface (UI) of the app would look like. Therefore, a better design will improve the quality of the user experience (UX). The goal of including UI and UX designing in the iOS app development services is to make the final app visually appealing, intuitive and easy to navigate. In addition, the iOS mobile app development company needs to ensure that UI and UX designs comply with all of Apple’s guidelines.

3. Software architecture: The iOS app’s software architecture accounts for 3 components of the MVP (Model View Controller) paradigm- the data, the user and the software. A better design of the software architecture will ensure both scalability and stability of the app through robust iOS application development services.

#3: Build the app

Building the iOS app involves developing the code on part of the iOS application development company. In fact, iOS app development services involve developing the code for several aspects of the app. A top iOS app development company should be fluent with and capable of developing the code for all of these aspects.

● Back-end development: Developing the back-end includes developing code for the server-side of the iOS development services. In other words, an iOS mobile app development company develops the back-end for proper and efficient maintenance and functioning of the app. It also includes developing functionalities such as user account authentication, account management, push notification services, third-party integration (such as for social media) and customization of the UX.

● APIs: An API or Application Programming Interface forms a core component in providing iOS application development services. It serves as a link between the front-end and the back-end of the iOS mobile app. A top iOS app development company will always pay great focus to develop the API.

● Front-end development: The front-end makes for the interface of the iOS mobile app. Developing the front-end involves coding various design elements into the iOS application development services. These design elements include wireframes, mockups, caching and database synchronization. Through a well-developed front-end, an iOS development company can create a smooth user experience across various screen sizes and orientations.

The back-end, front-end and API together constitute the basic components of a mobile app. When businesses hire iOS developer services, the team of developers works on developing code for all of these parts of the app. It is recommended to hire iOS programmer services from one source for all of these parts of the app. In this manner, there is harmony between their individual functionalities. Thereafter, the code is put together in the form of the final iOS app.

Things to consider in iOS app development

It is important for the iOS application development company to choose the fitting stack of technologies for developing the iOS app. These choices depend on the purpose and the targets in the iOS development services. Businesses are advised to think about these technicalities before they hire iOS programmer services from an iOS app company. Some of the necessary things to be considered by the iOS development company are as follows:

● Use of XCode: Creating a “native” iOS app requires the use of XCode in iOS application development services. A native app means that the code developed by the iOS development company will run on every iOS device like it is optimized for the specific device itself. Therefore, if businesses hire iOS developer services to provide them with a “native” code, it helps the app run smoother across all ranges of iOS devices. A top iOS app development company often makes use of XCode to bring about this advantage into the iOS apps it develops. XCode is basically Apple’s IDE (Integrated Design Environment) which allows for the import of app designs. Using this tool allows for several useful features such as editing source code, UI, debugging and exporting the application to the App Store. All of these are essential steps in iOS app development services are made easy by the use of XCode.

● Choice of iOS programming languages: Objective-C and Swift are the two most popular languages used in iOS development services. Objective-C is, in fact, the superset of the C language. However, its use is being fast replaced by Swift, which is Apple’s newest programming language. Swift offers a concise, sustainable and safer programming approach in the iOS application development services. Additionally, Swift supports the majority of modern hardware units, making it a popular choice amongst every top iOS app development company. The choice of the programming language used can be made by the iOS mobile app development company after accounting for the requirements in the iOS app. It is advisable for a business to inquire about the programming languages that the developers use before it decides to hire iOS programmer services from them.

The technical choices during app development should be decided before the business proceeds to hire iOS programmer services for its iOS mobile app needs. For this reason, it is a good idea even for businesses to inquire about these technical aspects before they hire iOS developer services from the iOS app company.

#4: Testing

Thorough quality assurance (QA) enables testing of the iOS mobile app. This amounts to making the app stable, usable and secure. Testing or reviewing the iOS app also helps ensure that the iOS mobile app development company has built the iOS app in compliance with Apple’s strict guidelines. This will help in easy approval of the iOS mobile app following its submission.

For this reason, it is important to hire iOS developer services from a company that will pay due and diligent attention to proper testing before launching the app. This testing can be categories into 3 broad categories.

● User experience testing: This involves making sure that the final UX within the mobile app is what the team of designers at the iOS development company had designed. If the final iOS app matches with the initial design proposed, the client will adopt the iOS app development services with greater satisfaction. After all, clients hire iOS developer services to get exactly the product they need.

● Functional testing: It is important to test the working of all features and functionalities incorporated into the iOS app through iOS development services. If there are any issues, the iOS mobile app development company will resolve those. Functional testing can actually be broken down into system testing (the iOS app functions as a whole) and unit testing (the individual functionalities operate correctly). Both forms of functional testing are essential to ensure the smooth performance of iOS application development services.

● Security testing: Enterprises highly value security features in iOS application development services. This is because any vulnerability in security could potentially lead to a hack. Therefore, the iOS app development company needs to verify and test that there is no data leakage in the security system. In this way, businesses can be assured of safety and security in their iOS app when they hire iOS developer services.

#5: Deployment and support

Before releasing the iOS app, the iOS application development company needs to prepare the app’s metadata for the App Store. This set of metadata is attached with the app data after the completion of the iOS development services. It typically includes:
● The app’s title
● Its description
● Category
● Keywords
● Launch icon
● App Store screenshots

Once the iOS development company submits the app to Apple’s App Store, it undergoes a review from Apple before being approved and released on the App Store. This is the reason why these deployment steps are essential to effectively completing the iOS app development services. It is important to note that when an app requires a user account to log in with, the iOS mobile app development company needs to provide Apple with a test user account before the release as well. If a business decides to hire iOS developer services it should make sure the developers have knowledge of these aspects.

Long-term support services

Usually, an iOS application development company will also offer support regarding any issues, fixes and updates needed in the iOS app. Dedicated customer support is often the telltale sign of every top iOS app development company. It always helps in the long run to hire iOS developer services that offer continued support services for the iOS app.

Often, updates are needed in the future to fit the evolving needs of the market. It can be tedious to hire iOS programmer services once again to perform these necessary changes and updates in the iOS app. Therefore, continued support services are always an advantage to look out for when a business decides to hire iOS developer services.

Hire iOS developers to scale your business.

The success rates of iOS apps are a telltale sign of their potential. Using the appropriate iOS application development services, any business can launch itself into the global market with an increased outreach. Through a user-friendly and engaging app interface, the iOS development company can even help further its penetration into the market by leading the digital competition. In this manner, there is immense scope for driving business growth when emerging businesses hire iOS developer services.

With such a plethora of iOS apps, it is essential to develop an iOS app that out-beats its global competitors. In order to achieve this, whenever a business proceeds to hire iOS developer services, it should be aware of the complete checklist to follow. The choice of the iOS application development company should be made accordingly as well. By doing so, it can ensure that it is receiving a high-quality iOS app that will boost customer engagement multifold. It is important to follow each of the necessary steps even when hiring a top iOS app development company to deliver the app. Therefore, with the right iOS app development services, the potential success of any business is not too far away.