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Today, mobile application development services, irrespective of the size of the enterprise, follow a specific process making the daily routine effortless.
However, the process experiences some hindrances, like separating departments into different sections, making data transmission and information sharing difficult. Furthermore, it generates a huge communication gap between service providers and customers. As a result, enterprises feel a high need to have a custom web application. The business model needs can be easily integrated into customized web applications and fulfill the fundamental objective of your business. It helps make your business activities easy and controls the interaction between your employers and customers.
So, when enterprises require supplementary functionality, a customized web application's role comes in. But here, you need specialized and experienced skilled developers or development companies to develop a custom app. Creating the custom app goes through a systematic check with dedicated hours of quality work. So, it is essential to know the process of custom web application development:
- Comprehensive analysis of the enterprises or organizations that need
- Developing design specification
- Brainstorming the quality design concept
- Programming
- Assuring and Testing Quality and
- Support and Maintenance
It is the standard process followed by all development companies, but not restricted to just these points.
Developing software that runs on a web server is the process of generating custom web applications. Users can access it using a web browser with a network connection. Many firms are now creating unique web applications to address a specific audience. For both small and large enterprises, the creation of web apps is essential. Using web apps, businesses may develop strategies more quickly and successfully.
You are here because you want to know more about custom web app development and the process of web application development. We will be breaking down the whole process of custom web app development.
What is a Custom Web App?
Web applications are interactive software tools that may carry out a range of tasks online. Unlike native software, users do not need to install web applications on their devices. Instead, customers can interact with the client-side software using browsers. The energy for the client-side application comes from the server-side app, sometimes referred to as the client-side or front end.
A bespoke web application comprises languages that need a browser to run to be used. Web apps are typically created using browser-friendly languages like HTML or JavaScript. Some programs are complex and must be processed on the server. Some applications are entirely static and don't need to be processed by a server. An app server handles client requests, a web server processes client requests, and occasionally a database to store data make up a web application.
In general, a typical custom web application flow looks like this:
- Using a web browser or the application's interface, the user can send a message to the web server across the Internet.
- The web server forwards this request to the relevant web application server.
- When a web application server receives a request to query or manipulate data, for example, it completes the action and returns the results.
- The data requested or saved by the mobile application server is sent to a web server. The user's monitor shows the requested information after the server responds to the client.
The "Customer" in Custom Web Applications: An Understanding
What is the creation of a custom web application? Custom web apps are created to address a specific business services or demographic need. In contrast, all web apps can have a personal touch to offer consumers a distinctive experience. Understanding the needs, utilizing the appropriate technology, and developing a unique strategy to address issues are all components of custom web application development.
Prerequisites Before Developing a Custom web Application
It is essential to develop a data-centric web application; it is good to understand the following:
Backend Language - Languages like Ruby and Python control how the web app works
DevOps - It deploys or hosts your web app
Web front end - for understanding the feel and look of your web app
Let's dive into the development process of the custom web application. We can divide the entire process into four stages:
- The ideation Stage comprises idea source, market research, and functionality.
- Design stage including Sketching and planning of the workflow, Wireframing the UI, etc
- The development stage comprises database architecture, developing the front end, and building the back end.
- Launch stage comprising web app hosting and deploying web app.
1. Ideation Stage
Before progressive web app development you need to understand why you are developing a customized app. A better evaluation before starting the product offers a perfect roadmap for the developers. But, the idea process has been the business's most challenging part. The idea for companies should be routed to solve someone's problem. The problem-solving perspective enriched more adaptability and success for your customization.
So, it becomes essential that you choose the idea of your interest or the principal idea of the business. It takes teamwork to build web applications, so it's better to dedicate a planned process for every step of the web application. It is better to make a checklist for deciding the development process:
- Time for building a web app
- The core objective of the business
- USP of web app
- Cost and Time for developing a custom web app
- Predictable changes after web app for your business
Once you are done with the ideation process, it's essential to have comprehensive market research. Market research enables you to explore the availability of existing services or products, existing markets, complexities, etc.
Market research: It defines the basic necessity and compatibility of the market for your product or service. To find a similar web application, you can use Google, Betalist, Patent and Trademark search, and Product hunt and search for an idea.
You need not be disappointed if there is a similar product in the market. It is a good sign that you have chosen the right call. The market has enough opportunities for you, as your competitors have already laid the groundwork. You need to plan an organized plan to outset your competitors. On the other hand, if no similar prediction exists, it also indicates that you have come to the right place, A better chance to be an innovator in the field. It all depends on the effectiveness of your idea.
Hit the specific goal: You should fetch enough information about the existing market for your product and service. Soon after validating the need for your web application, it is Time to list what your app will do.
It's one of the fundamental mistakes people get carried away with. Consider that you can only develop an app that solves some things but better to solve specific problems that match the business owners goals and objectives.
Here, the importance of the app functionality comes into the picture. More functionality to the app adds more Time to build your web app. The result would be lost market opportunities or many competitors in the market. It is better to define your web apps' functionality to solve the problems of your targeted market. Here are some essential functions needed for CRM apps.
- Create an account
- Retrieve lost passwords
- Change passwords
- Create new contacts
- Upload new contacts
- Add notes under contacts
- Labeling the connection between a customer or lead and an associate.
Read the blog - Future ready progressive web apps come with a number of benefits
2. Design stage:
After the ideation stage, the actual work starts. The structure of every web application needs to be designed so dedicatedly that it enriches the user experience by fetching every possibility for the business growth to drive the market for its success.
The designing stage starts with Sketching. It would help if you sketched out the required wireframe of the UI of your web apps. It is not mandatory to have an exact sketch, but it should resemble what you intend to develop. It is essential to consider some factors while sketching :
- Navigation
- Forms
- Branding
- Buttons
Other necessary interactive elements:
The sketch known as wireframe shows different versions of the planned web app. Now Consider how the functionality of your web will influence the overall design.
Annotate that Sketch
Make notes while sketching; it clarifies and makes you understand what your design means and why you made it. The integration of every functionality will go through every aspect of your sketch. Remember that your drawing communicates the core objective, functionality, and roadmap to the developers; it is not for selling a final product.
So make sure to complete this process and try to make it as easy as possible to understand or make developers understand.
Plan workflow: After sketching, you must put yourself in the users' shoes. It means that you are committed to planning web application workflow.
But before planning workflow, go back to the market research you did for your web app. Add the list comprising your possible competitors and just sign up for free trials offered by them.
Pay attention to everything you think is good or effective for you. It will help you in paying attention to your competitors' workflow. Once you find it, it is Time to pen down every possible workflow for your custom web application. Consider the following aspects:
- How does a web app user signup?
- Do they get a verification email?
- How does your user login
- How do they change their password?
- How do they navigate through the app
- How do they change user settings?
- How does your web app user make payment for the app?
- How do the users cancel the app subscription?
After going through all these recommendations, your single-page web application transforms into a multi page web app. Make a list comprising every page that the web app will have. Now, use your wide range sketches for prototyping.
Prototyping is one step further than wireframing, which adds an interactive display. It streamlines communication while your web app seeks validation. It is better to consider the following tools for prototyping or wireframing:
- InVision Studio (macOs)
- Adobe XD (macOS, Windows)
- Balsamiq (macOS, Windows, Web)
- Figma (Web, macOS, Windows, Linux)
- Sketch (macOS)
Early Validation: Now, it's Time to seek early validation for your web apps. Take feedback for your web apps and document all feedback. The learning from all these product feedback and validation will help you develop your minimal excellent product (MEP).
3. Development Phase:
Here we have a rough estimate of our web application's functionality, look, and required pages. Now, you are required to determine what type of information you will store in the database.
A DBMS (Database Management System) provides consistent APIs :
- In creating databases, updating and deleting databases
- Reading and writing data to databases
- In securing access to your database through leveled access to all different functions and areas
So, what type of data you are required to store and the need of the users to store data will decide the database types needed to run the web application. The databases are divided according to their different purposes, but a web application will find between the following ones:
SQL:
SQL databases are used if the data is entirely relational. These databases possess powerful query language that presents data in all practical ways.
Document Database:
If the data could be more relational, use document databases. It stores "documents." Each record is usually in JSON format over the web. So, if you are required to keep a relationship between forms, it's important to write code for managing this yourself; some document databases are CouchDB and MongoDB.
Here, you are to decide the segregation of your data. Each client possesses a private dataset, and you would like to restrain one client from seeing another client's data.
So, it would help if you constructed a solid strategy that segregates your client's data to ensure that it will never happen again. You have two options for separation: Physical separation and Logical separation. Better to find the best way to separate databases.
Build the front end: It is our turn to build the front end. It is the visual element of the web app. It interprets what you are seeing and interacting with. The front end is developed with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. If you are using server pages, it is easy for you to start. The backed framework of the web app is prepared to start building. Here, the vast benefits come with the use of server pages.
Furthermore, you are required to set up a development environment for a dedicated development process comprising all steps. The components will include the following:
- A code editor, like Sublime Text, VS Code
- A Compiled framework
It is used for serving uninterruptedly and "Hot loading" apps at mobile application development time on your nodejs web server, which runs on localhost. The list of frontend frameworks is endless, but still highly advised frontend frameworks are:
- React
- Vue
- Ember
- Svelte
You need to configure the packaging tool for talking to the app backend, running on the localhost's different port. Usually, the Node's HTTP proxy is used for doing this. Most packaging solutions have similar built-in options or are available as plugins.
At development cost time, the front end should make API requests on the front end's own. Now, the Nodejs server should proxy all "API" appeals to the backend server. While building for production, it is required to get compiled frontend files directly into the backend server to serve these as static files.
Build the Backend:
The backend manages the operation and puts the wheels on your app. The backend comprises the database, server, and everything a user can't see within a web application. The backend is the abstract form of all the functionality you do with the application. For building the backend, you need to take care of the Server pages (in multi page application) and Single page application.
The primary jobs of the backend are to:
- Provide the HTTP endpoint for the front end. This allows the operations such as creating, Reading, Updating and Deleting records.
- User authentication: Login information is matched, and the status of the success of the operation is provided.
- Serve the front: For server page web apps, the backend generates the frontend pages and serves them for client requests. The backend does the static frontend files and related components for the single-page web app.
There are many frameworks available for building the backend, such as Django, Express, and Flask. All frameworks offer multiple environments to start your app from scratch and take it to the launch phase. These environments are:
- Testing phase
- Beta phase
- Production phase
Launch of the Custom Web App:
Launching the custom web app involves looking for a hosting provider to run your app on a particular server. Hosting your web app comprises the following steps:
It is necessary to set up the secure Socket layer certificate. SSL certificate is now an essential component of the app.
You can also choose the cloud services providers such as Amazon, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
You can opt for the VMs, such as DigitalOcean and Linode if you are a technical person or have a team for server management.
App Deployment:
Once you have sourced the idea, validated it, designed the wireframe, developed the web app, and chosen the hosting provider, it is Time to deploy the app. The deployment contains the continuous integration and timely project management of the app. A few options are Gitlab, Bitbucket, and Jenkins. To start, you can directly deploy the app from your local machine.
Conclusion:
Custom web app development services are the most promising factor for the success of your business. A perfect web app can attract a more reliable audience to your company and stay connected to them. For a custom web application, the several phases are separated into four major components. From ideation to deployment, the timeline takes many diverting factors. Still, the roadmap goes in the same direction if the technical assistance is proper. It is advisable to choose the development partner wisely. Good web development can assure you a big success, whereas spoiled projects might affect the reputation of your business.
