Successful web applications are the products of technical proficiency, imagination, and adherence to a phased process of development. The idea behind phased development is to break down the complex development process into simple parts so that developers can give their total attention to one part, before progressing to the next. This ensures efficiency and accuracy, which are prerequisites if you wish to develop an app that meets it objectives.
By dividing the development process into different phases, your work load is easier to handle. What you are essentially doing is smart work, and avoiding a long drawn out process that is time consuming and very messy.
Let’s take a closer look at the different phases that your web app development project needs to be taken through. We will also learn how creative user experiences and software engineering play a pivotal role in application development processes.
But before you start, you need do some basic planning. There are five important pointers that you need to consider here:
1. Selection of the appropriate and latest development technology
Which is the development platform that is the best fit for your needs and requirements? Whether you want to choose from amongst open source or proprietary platforms? Which latest technology should be adopted to offer users’ cutting edge features? These are just some of the many questions that need answering first up.
2. After selection, you need to work out the cost
Identifying the technologies that need to be used for project development allows you to work out the cost of the project. Say you are developing the project for a client, the client would want to know if the cost fits his budget or not.
3. Expected time of Completion
When will you be able to complete the web application and deploy it? This aspect needs to be worked out before you begin actual development. It helps you zero in on a delivery time frame.
4. Where will this application be launched?
Which is the market that you want to target for your web applications? Work this out; its success or failure depends on whether you are able to target the right audience for it.
5. Resource allocation
Finally, you will need to allocate the resources for developing this application. Resources can include manpower, money, technologies and infrastructure. Resource allotment is dependent on the scope, scale and size of the project.
The 4 Important Phases of Web Application Development
Once you are done with the formalities mentioned above, it’s time to get started on actual development.
1. Identification of Logic and Direction of the Project Flow
There are three aspects that you need to keep in mind:
Database creation
Your application’s database will have all the information that will be used to perform its functionalities; this is the first step towards building a web app, as the information should be efficiently managed.
Identify entities and define proper relationship
You must identify all database entities (tables), then define their attributes and finally define the relationship between all the entities.
Integrate selected platforms with database
Finally, you implement the database with the chosen Database Management System like MySQL etc.
2. Specify function, Validations etc.
There are two aspects that are important:
Identify Functions and Validations
You will need to identify and define the various functions. Typically, JavaScript and/or jQuery functions are used by developers. Also client side and server side validations are a prerequisite.
Create Validations in User Panel, use Ajax Forms etc.
Validations help you check whether the various functions of the applications and the inserted datasatisfy the predetermined input criteria.
3. Design and Development
Design layout, icons, graphics, images, elements etc.
This part defines the way your web application is going to look, its visual structure is determined in this phase.
Define procedure for development
How will you go about programming the application needs to be defined to ensure error free coding.
Proper coding with data variables, entities and interaction with database
Developers now begin to write code with all the data variables, entities already defined in the database.
4. Testing, Support and Stability
Remove bugs, inconsistency
Programming is subject to bugs and inconsistency and its only comprehensive testing that will help debug the application and solve functional inconsistencies.
Solve network issue
There might be a network issue that might be holding the functional value of the app to ransom. This needs to be solved before the web app is deployed.
If you follow the different phases of development given above there is no doubt that you will be able to build a unique web application that meets the highest standards of performance and reliability.