Application Development

In application development, it is said that the most crucial aspect is not the quality of the engineering but rather the requirements definition. No matter how skilled the engineers are, creating an application that is difficult to use or serves no meaningful purpose and lacks utility renders all efforts meaningless. Therefore, by conducting requirements definition, we can clarify what the target audience is struggling with and what they are seeking. At MEDBANK, our strength in requirements definition lies in engaging in discussions that involve various business consulting professionals, including active executives.Developing applications with a strategic managerial perspective is highly essential as it directly impacts how the application will be utilized.

STEP2 Design Phase

External design, also known as the design phase, is an important step in creating an app. During this phase, we plan how the app will work and look based on the requirements defined earlier.

First, we start with the “System Design.” This is where we decide how the whole app will function, what programming languages to use, and how to make sure the app is secure.

Next, we move on to “Screen Design.” In this part, we design how the app’s screens will look – the layout, buttons, menus, and where everything will be placed. It’s like deciding how the app will visually appear to users.

The third part is “Functionality Design.” Here, we figure out what features the app needs to have in order to meet the requirements we defined earlier. For example, we decide how the login will work or how the screens will flow.

During the basic design phase, developers create a document called the “Basic Design Document.” They share this with the client (the person or company who wants the app) to get feedback. This is an important step because it’s usually the last chance for the client to give their input.

Especially in a method called “Waterfall Development,” it can be difficult to change things later in the design, so it’s crucial to make sure the client’s wishes are included from the beginning. If you were the client, you would want to check if your requirements are properly reflected in the design to avoid any issues later on.

STEP3 Detailed Design

Detailed design is the process of taking the clear specifications established in the basic design and turning them into a format that programmers can understand – the design documents outline “how to actually build it.” Detailed design can be broken down into three main types:

Data Design: When using a database to store information, data design involves tasks like creating tables to organize information and deciding how data will flow between different parts of the system.

Module Design: To facilitate reusability and combination of functions, the program is divided into independent units or modules.

Program Design: This type involves specifying the exact steps and procedures for creating the program.

Detailed design essentially serves as a bridge between the design team and the programmers. Designers need to create detailed plans that can be comprehended by programmers, ensuring that they can work efficiently. The goal is to express the design specifics clearly in words and diagrams, making it easy for the programming team to bring the envisioned system to life.

STEP4 Creating and Developing an App

Once the decisions made during the detailed design phase are documented in the detailed design document, we initiate the process of creating and developing the app. Using the accumulated design documents and information from previous stages as our guide, we advance with the programming tasks. It’s important to note that introducing abrupt changes during this creation and development stage could lead to disrupting the established design, potentially necessitating a restart. It is crucial to remain faithful to the design specifications and conduct the development accordingly.

Furthermore, the development environment and choice of programming language can vary based on the specific device for which the app is intended.

For instance, if we’re developing an iOS app, we will require a Mac computer, Xcode (Apple’s app development software), an iPhone, and an Apple Developer Program subscription. The programming language used in this case is “Swift,” developed by Apple.

On the other hand, when developing an Android app, the essentials include a computer (not necessarily a Mac), Android Studio (Google’s app development software), an Android device, and a Google account. The programming language commonly utilized is “Java.”

It’s important to remember that the development environment and programming language may differ depending on the targeted platform – be it iOS or Android. Choosing the appropriate tools is essential to ensure a smooth app development process.

STEP5 App Testing