How Android app development seems monstrous but surmountable
Introduction
Android is an operating system (OS) from Google. Android is open source. Android has a huge market share. Android-powered smartphones outsell other operating systems. Android is app friendly. The hosannas sung in favor of Android can fill an earthmoving truck! Android is said to be app dependent, which is good news for smartphone users who can download apps in droves. However, app development is not without its hurdles – some serious ones, in fact.
Disadvantages? No, challenges!
The overwhelming presence of Android has triggered a market for application development that is growing by the day. The Google Play Store, the online store that sells app products, is packed with apps of all colors and sizes. The users are many and the challenges encountered in Android app development are of equal proportions. So what are these challenges?
Multiple providers: Many smartphone manufacturers use Android as their operating system, albeit with many modifications. Libraries, functions, and others are changed or removed, leading to an annoying increase in fragmentation issues.
Lack of usage policies: The creator of Android, Google, has been quite lenient in allowing app developers to tweak and tweak it to suit their purpose. This no-rules approach has allowed all the Tom, Dick and Harry developers to run amok, resulting in small-town apps sharing silo space in the Google Play Store. How do we make sure only quality apps make it to Play?
Software and hardware diversity: Multiple versions of the software being released quickly raises an application compatibility issue for more than one version. When it comes to hardware, the market is flooded with smartphones of all screen sizes, operating mechanisms, and processing speeds, adding to the headache for application developers to ensure satisfactory performance of their applications on these devices.
marketing blues: Once an app is ready for sale, the app developer must pay Google a fee upfront to host their app. Google examines the app to detect and remove any malware, which causes considerable delay in the marketing aspect. The temptation to include ads in apps can provoke the ire of users. You also have to watch the appearance of the patent, lest someone sue for plagiarism.
alternative solutions
While lasting solutions may not solve every challenge, there are workarounds available that should help you get ahead.
Software and Hardware: It must be accepted that a single application may not satisfy all mobile devices with different versions of Android. Diversity in hardware and software is a reality that must be accepted. Fortunately, hardware today shows flexibility to run applications based on different versions of Android. App developers need to do some research on target devices and versions and decide the best option to target their apps.
Marketing: Once again, research plays an important role. Identify the target users and devices so that you can earn revenue through the use of the app from this target group. This would also free you from the need to use ads in your app to drive your users away. Or, make your app so easy to use that users don’t mind finding a couple of little ads on the side.
Conclusion
The challenges can be endemic or scattered, but those involved in Android app development find ways to overcome these problems. Diversity on Android can be both a boon and a bane depending on how we approach app development. To reiterate, thorough research and a passion for achieving your intended goal will allow you to navigate through teething problems and successfully launch your app. Ready, Set, Go!