According to Statista, there were 230 billion mobile app downloads in 2020. The popularity of mobile apps is constantly increasing. All major platforms recognize the benefits of having an application, which has contributed to the recent app growth.
If you are a business owner or entrepreneur, you can use this article as a guide on how to build your own app from scratch and reach the online market. Building your own app is a great way to practice programming skills that will likely come in handy down the road.
Why You Should Build Your Own App
You should build your own app because you’re the only one who knows exactly what your vision is. It is much easier for you to develop an application that meets all of your preferences because it’s your idea. By taking responsibility for the actual development process, you can ensure it ends up being exactly what you want.
You should also build your own application if you are looking to develop programming skills. The app-making process will help you master advanced levels of programming. You will have an in-depth understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript if you start from scratch and follow a step-by-step process or video tutorials.
In addition, building your own application will help you save on costs. If you are a business owner looking to increase your brand awareness, building your own application is a great way to do so without having to spend money on an app developer and project manager.
How Hard Is It to Build Your Own App?
It is not that hard to build your own app. However, the app-creating process requires technical skills. If you have basic coding experience you can easily rely on an app builder to develop your app. For complete beginners, you should consider watching a couple of videos or tutorials on how to code. This will make your app building experience more productive.
You can also attend a coding bootcamp or sign up for an online course. These are excellent ways to master your coding skills and save precious time. You can also opt to read coding books and join coding communities. These resources will boost your programming knowledge and prepare you to develop your app from scratch.
How Long Does It Take to Build an App?
There is no standard for how long it takes to complete an app project. However, an average developer can take four to six months to finish building an application. The duration depends on the developer’s skills, experience, and knowledge. The app type also affects how long it can take to complete the project.
Additionally, the complexity of the app affects the amount of time you will need to develop it. If you are building a simple app, it might take a few weeks to complete it. If you are building a complex application, it might take months to complete. A complex user interface, extensive beta testing, and additional features will make the building process take more time.
How Much Does It Cost to Build Your Own App?
According to Goodfirms, it costs $24,830 to $59,150 to build a simple app. If you want to build a complex app, it will cost between $36,107 to $85,150. The more features you build into your app, the more expensive it will be.
How Much Cheaper Is It to Build Your Own App?
It is much cheaper to build your own app, rather than hiring an app development company. Depending on the app that you’re building, you can save thousands of dollars by building it yourself. You will save on app design, backend development, testing, maintenance, and deployment costs.
What Do You Need to Build Your Own App?
Below are some of the tools you’ll need to build your own mobile application that will work on any device. These tools act as the building blocks for your mobile app development. Before you can think about attractive design schemes or which amazing feature will attract customers’ attention, you’ll need to gather the right tools.
- Integrated Development Environment (IDE): An IDE is a software application that helps software programmers develop applications and save real time. The application comes with popular features such as a code editor, compiler, debugger, interpreter, and automation tools. There are some IDE that feature a class browser, object browser, and class hierarchy diagram.
- App building software: Instead of coding from scratch, you can use an app builder. App building platforms feature content management systems, contact forms, multimedia, membership functionalities, and loyalty programs. One of the most widely used app builders is called Appy Pie’s App Maker, which can help you build a mobile app in minutes.
- Code editor: You can use a code editor to write and edit the source code. They are beneficial to programmers since it eases the entire process of writing and editing code. Code editors are often a feature of an IDE. However, there are multiple stand-alone code editors, such as Notepad++, Vim, and Sublime Text.
- Debugging tools: There are plenty of common mistakes that are made throughout the development process. For this reason, you will need a debugging tool to pinpoint code errors and fix them. Some popular debugging tools such as ESLint, JS Bin, Web pack, and Chrome Devtools.
- Test automation tool: You will need a test automation tool to help with software testing without involving human input. It helps to increase the speed, efficiency, and reliability of software development. This app development tool will help save you precious time and stress in the long run.
Building Your App From Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you are a complete beginner in the field, it can be rather daunting to build an app from scratch. But take a deep breath, because if you follow accurate directions, the process is very manageable. Below is a step-by-step guide that can walk you through the process.
Identify A Need
The first step to developing an app is identifying a need. This will help you determine the type of app you want to build. A good app should address an existing problem and offer a solution. You can research which problems afflict the majority of people before embarking on your app-building journey.
Layout the Features
It’s important to take note of the features you want your app to have. One aspect of the app development process you should pay close attention to is the user experience. How users interact with your application will determine its success. Consider things like background color, font style, graphic design, and screen sizes. The user interface should be carefully planned and developed.
Conduct Research
You should research what competitors are doing. This will help to ensure your application offers something that isn’t already being offered. This will also allow you to get inspiration from other apps, as well as inform you of any changes you should make before app store submission.
Choose a Development Path
There are many development paths. You can choose native app development or mobile app development depending on the actual device you want your app to work on. Native development refers to building an app for any operating system. Mobile app development allows you to build an application that is conversant with iOS and Android, which would be offered in both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Develop Your App
Once you have thoroughly planned all aspects of your prospective app, you can proceed to the development process. You should gather all the necessary tools and technologies before you begin. Most app development tools come with a design customization section that allows developers to customize the graphic design.
Before the submission process, ensure you publish an accessibility statement. It will disclose that you developed the app for all non-technical users, regardless of their abilities. You should also consider asking users for feedback once you upload your app to the app stores. Their genuine feedback will help you improve the general aesthetics of the app and remove any bugs you missed.
How to Monetize Your App
You can monetize your app by offering free and paid versions on app stores. For instance, you can upload it on the Google Play store or Apple App Store and allow actual users to interact with the free version. Once active users have enjoyed the limited features on the free version, they’ll be more likely to upgrade to a paid version to access the more advanced features.
If you are building a gaming or fitness app, you can opt to use in-app purchases as part of your app marketing plan. If a user wants access to a higher level or more advanced feature, they can pay for it. Another way you can monetize your app is by making it accessible for a specific duration. Most apps tend to offer free access for a month.
Potential app users are able to renew their subscription once the free trial is over. Offering a free trial can be a good way to attract users that can give you user feedback. You can easily improve your app with user feedback by finding solutions to problems you haven’t considered.
Do You Need Coding Skills to Create an App?
No, you don’t need coding skills to create an app. There is a wide range of tools available to help you create an app without having any programming skills. You can rely on an app builder to materialize your ideas. There are also several templates available for novice or experienced developers to take advantage of.
However, developing coding skills can be a great career move. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of an app developer is $93,371. Additionally, software developers have an impressive job outlook of 22 percent, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Can You Learn to Build an App in a Coding Bootcamp?
Yes, you can learn how to build an app in a coding bootcamp. Coding bootcamps provide short immersive programs to help students master programming and other technical skills. The curricula are often based on the current demand in the market. Therefore, the instructors teach current and relevant coding skills, tools, and techniques.
You can learn multiple programming languages at a coding bootcamp. Depending on your interests, you can choose to attend a software engineering, full stack web development, front end web development, or backend web development program. These programs can help you learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java, amongst many others. You will also master web technologies.
Coding bootcamps necessitate students to submit projects at the end of the programs. You will work on applications to prove your knowledge in coding. The project also adds to your portfolio in the event that you will seek a programming job. In addition, you will have the right set of skills to build an app on your own.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
Gather Feedback, Reflect, and Iterate
It may seem like an uphill task to build your own app, but it’s a rewarding and simple process, especially if you have a strong app marketing plan. Building your own app spares you money, real time, and room for miscommunication. Building an app from scratch can also open up a door of opportunities. There are many remote and regular jobs available for people with extensive coding skills.
You can use your project to prove your coding skills to potential employers. A good display of your prowess in coding will attract attention from top tech companies and real users. Regardless of whether or not you’ve already built an app, you should consider bootcamps or online courses to sharpen your skills and overall mobile development process.
How to Build Your Own App FAQ
No, you do not need coding experience to build your own app. However, knowing how to code can go a long way when creating an app and save you precious time. If you lack coding experience, you can rely on app builders to provide a template for app creation. Otherwise, it would be a good idea to invest in a coding bootcamp or online course.
Yes, you can build an app for free. As a potential app owner, there are many free resources you should be aware of that will allow you to build your app free of charge. However, app creators often choose to spend money on beta testers for user feedback to ensure their app is functioning properly before release.
No, building an app is not hard. There are multiple tools and technologies available that you can rely on to assist you in your app development process. However, the basic process of software development can take a long while to complete. You will also need a certain creativity to consider aspects of aesthetics and user experience.
No, you don’t need to build an app from scratch. There are multiple app builders that can help you create your app without starting from the beginning. These app builders feature templates that allow anyone to customize the app as they see fit. They also allow for rapid app development.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
