9 Things A Mobile Developer Should Know
1. Users don’t know your code
They can see your app on an app store, download and use it. All the things they know and care are about your app, not your code. Absolutely you need to code well, but you should think more like a product manager.
Make it easy to use even at the first time they open it. You're not beside them when they use your app. If you want to explain something, you should have some guides in the app for them. And keep in mind visual content is more effective than text.
Make love your app at the first sight. Your app has a great UI/UX, a smooth performance... They're the reasons to use your app again and again.
2. Mobile users are less patient than web and desktop users
Generally, mobile users expect app
• Start in 4 seconds or less
• Respond in 2 seconds or less.
The best way is optimizing your code. However, sometimes you need few UX tricks to make users feel your app is fast. For example, if your app needs to load content from the Internet, you should show a launch image or implement a lazy loading screen. Here are 2 examples from Facebook app on iOS:
3. Mobile users don't need a feature-rich app
The biggest issue made by new app developers is taking too much processing into their mobile apps development. You should keep in mind how you make it as simple and straightforward as possible. Apple CEO Tim Cook said on the Charlie Rose show, “It’s so easy to add. It’s hard to edit. It’s hard to stay focused.”
Having too many features make users have to consider where they should start to use your app. The app should allow them to reach features they want with less efforts. It's also hard to introduce all features to users. Determining what are the core features of your app help to save your time and focus at developing them.
4. No idea’s original
You have an app idea and want to make it. Then, you search on app stores, see many apps having same features with your idea. Don’t give it up. Let do a research what aspect you can make your app better than them.
• A good UI/UX
• Smoother performance
• ...
Don’t get scared, get started.
5. "Why am I doing all this?"
Ask the above question to yourself whenever you develop apps. If you don't have any reason to use your app, how can you convince users to use it?
If you put your passion in development, you'll be more likely to create something really special. Firstly, let build it for yourself.
6. Mobile design principles
App design is becoming important to mobile development and manager knows it. Developers have to keep their users happy. If you offer them a great UI/UX, they'll tell to the world. They will be just as quick to share bad experiences too.
Even when you're a developer not a designer, it's better if you can understand mobile design principles. Whatever your role, if you can show that you bring benefit to the user experience, companies will value you more.
Here are some references for iOS and Android app design.
• Apple's iOS Human Interface Guidelines
• Apple's UI Design Do’s and Don’ts
• Google's Material Design
7. Work closely with your designers from start to finish
Sit next to your designers, and work with them as closely as you can. By doing so you can learn more from their skills. But you will also prepare the creator about some of the huge bug of user skill that they often overlook. Don’t be afraid to ask why we do that or discuss with them your ideas. Designers are not the only people who can contribute to a great UI/UX.
Designers don't usually know how to code. They can design a beautiful app, but technical aspects are their nightmare. Don’t be afraid to tell them your technical difficulties.
8. Code review
Code review should be taken in the whole team. It helps developers learn new techniques and learn from other's mistakes. Every failure is a new learning.
Here are a few tips:
• Keep code review short and frequent.
• Keep a code review checklist.
• Review a logical data of code at a time.
• Focus on the code and not the author.
9. Listen to users
It's a key to get the answer to “What do the end user need actually?”. Checking users' reviews on app stores is a good way to know what users feel about your app.
The reviews help you know what you should do for next update of the app. A user will often give you more insights into your product than your analyst, engineering manager, product manager, and product owner combined.
