Top 12 Tools to Rule Your Software Development Life Cycle

Software development lifecycle management is a comprehensive process aimed at simplifying all processes as much as possible. For this purpose, specialized tools are used to make all stages of development cost-effective, fast, and of high quality.

Software Development Life Cycle Management

Depending on the communication strategy, you should choose a methodology for the most productive development process.

Some popular methodologies that your software development company should use are Agile, Lean, Iterative, Spiral, and V SDLC.

The software development life cycle (SDLC) in outsourcing or in-house consists of the following stages:

  • Requirements gathering. This stage defines the goals and objectives that you need to achieve;
  • Planning and design. At this stage, you should identify the priorities of functions and conduct research to validate the approaches and technologies;
  • Software creation and assembly. The most time-consuming and labor-intensive stage;
  • Testing. At this stage, you perform final debugging and documentation of the finished software;
  • Deployment. The final stage, where you carry out the deployment and transfer of software to the client.
  • Testing and Tracking live. At this stage, you must use a website visitor tracker to observe every move users make while using it. 

To cultivate a more robust and secure environment, incorporating a secure SDLC in software development is increasingly crucial. It involves integrating security measures in each stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Notably, it’s not only pivotal during the initial design phase but extends throughout deployment and maintenance.

Also Read: The gaming companies listed in Indian Stock Market are few compared to the up-and-coming startups and companies which are working on the next generation of gaming that goes beyond conventional screens and systems. 

Top 12 Tools and Templates

The list of lifecycle management software includes tools for tracking work tasks and bugs, open-source version control, and more efficient management. 

1. Trello

Trello is a visual tool for the comprehensive management of projects and different types of workflows. It is a modified kanban board that allows you to assign tasks to employees and control their implementation. There are 3 types of features for this:

  • Boards. This is a classic kanban with 2 types of functions: lists and maps. This visualization of tasks allows you to keep track of all the work processes on the project, from the planning stage to the execution;
  • Task cards. They contain all the information an employee needs for work. After the task is completed, it is easy to drag it to the “Completed” list;
  • Columns. These are stages of work on the task, e.g. “To Do”, “In Process”, and “Done”.

You can add participants, due dates, and attachments to the cards. You can also create lists of tasks and divide large tasks into smaller ones. Among the advantages of Trello are completely free access to most features, a simple interface, and many support languages.

2. Jira

Jira is an effective integrated decision-making tool for Agile teams that is suitable for different processes. These are requirements and test scenarios management, software development, and others. The program has many ready-made templates to get you started. 

Jira features for Agile teams:

  • Quick trouble-shooting;
  • Keeping a work log;
  • Customizable processes;
  • Scrum and kanban boards;
  • Progress reports;
  • Access rights at the project level;
  • Email notifications available;
  • Road mapping;
  • Project backlogs.

For additional convenience, it’s helpful to set up differentiated access rights, especially when your team is managing tasks with Jira story points.

3. WatchThemLive

WatchThemLive is a website behavioral analytics tool that helps its users to take a close look at what their website visitors are doing and how they can improve their business based on UX.

To do so, this platform employs some tools and provides users with visual and quantitative data. Here are WatchThemLive features:

  • Session replays and active filters: Using session replays, users can record visitors’ sessions and find possible bugs and errors. WatchThemLive’s dashboard also include active filters to help users categorize sessions into multiple groups based on session duration, screen resolution, location, etc.
  • Heatmaps: With the help of heatmaps, users can see which parts of their website get the most attention and clicks from visitors. Therefore, as a result, they would be able to improve or replace buttons and features.
  • Visitors and real-time: On WatchThemLive, users can also gain data about their website audience and even about those real-time or online visitors simultaneously. These data include their browsers, devices, languages, etc., and help them to satisfy their target audience much easier.
  • Goals and teams: Another useful feature on this CRO tool is the ‘Goals’ option. Using this feature, users can set up goals and keep track of them solely and see the improvements over time. Plus, they can create teams for all company members and share whatever goes on on their website with the whole team.

Moreover, WatchThemLive users can take advantage of adding unlimited number of websites and having unlimited limits in most packages. WatchThemLive is a CRO platform in a nutshell that helps us check our influencer marketing strategies and convert users to paid users better and faster. 

4. Asana

Asana is a single platform for managing various processes and tracking teamwork in real time. Its capabilities include employee communication, project work, task tracking, and document sharing.

Asana features:

  • Workspace branding feature;
  • General work chat;
  • Comments can be added to tasks;
  • Smart search feature;
  • Notification system;
  • Email verification can be set up.

The platform can integrate with other popular project management services, such as Microsoft Teams, Jira, Gmail, Evernote GitHub,online connectors like ApiX-Drive, or Zapier and others. The service provides free access for teams of up to 15 people. After that, there is a subscription starting at $10 per month.

5. Git

Git is an advanced open-source version control system with active support. This software provides high team performance as well as the flexibility of a distributed system.

It is essentially a set of programs that are specifically designed to participate in scripts. The Git system offers the following:

  • Streamlined commit procedure;
  • The ability to easily port to any platform;
  • Many proprietary GUIs such as GitKraken, TortoiseGit, SmartGit, and others. 

The standard Git comes with Subversion or CVS import and export tools.

6. Atlassian Stash

Stash is a local version of GitHub that is used to stash changes that have been made to the working version. It stores both committed and uncommitted changes as needed.

Stash features:

  • Individual users and groups can be added;
  • Repository creation and management;
  • It is possible to place it on your own server;
  • Synchronization with Jira.

Slash also supports a variety of extension options. It supports HTTP/HTTPS and SSH protocols with authentication possible by key or password. 

7. SourceTree

SourceTree is a visual client for working efficiently with Git. Used for Mac or Windows, it simplifies the work with repositories. The program has the following features:

  • Visualization of the development process without access to the command line;
  • Easy code visualization;
  • Smooth management of repositories and the ability to interact between them.

SourceTree supports integration with Bitbucket to universalize your code version control system.

8. Confluence

Confluence is a corporate wiki that is great for distributed teams. It makes it easy to create collaboration workspaces for knowledge exchange. 

Its features:

  • Confluence for easy alignment of the page hierarchy;
  • Many tools for teamwork, including publishing updates with version history and notes;
  • Active Directory synchronization and two-factor authentication (2FA) are used to protect confidentiality.

Integration with Jira Software, Jira Service Management, Trello, and other tools is possible to enhance the program’s capabilities.

9. upBOARD

It is a flexible platform for managing the software development lifecycle. In essence, it is a “live whiteboard” to extract real-time metrics from logs of completed work and bugs.

The upBOARD program has the following tools:

  • An error log for tracking development problems;
  • Software technology assessment;
  • Jira dashboard, which displays information about the current state of development as well as different types of information about the product.

The program supports integration with Google Drive for data transfer.

10. LaunchDarkly 

LaunchDarkly is a platform for managing various features and deploying code at any time. The program allows it even when the feature is not yet ready to be released to all users.

LaunchDarkly features:

  • Feature flags for open source code;
  • Changes are made in a maximum of 200 ms;
  • Quick “shutdown” of dangerous functions.

All functions are securely “bound” to the control panel. This allows the administrator to turn them on and off.

11. CircleCI 

It’s a platform for working with repositories with a simple authorization done through GitHub. Circle CI is a system for building and deploying a project, which is available as a self-hosted application or in the cloud.

The program features:

  • You can work on multiple tests simultaneously;
  • It can connect to a large number of frameworks for fast application deployment;

This platform offers users 6,000 free seconds for building per month and up to 30 jobs at a time.

12. Ainfluencer

Now that you are familiar with all these tools to rule your software development life cycle, you need to promote them; and what better way than influencer marketing, as more than 93% of marketers use this strategy? Ainfluencer is a marketplace that helps brands and influencers connect and collaborate.

Ainfluencer features:

You can easily run and manage influencer marketing campaigns and track the results- all for free. You can also use one of Ainfluencer’s pricing plans and let the experts do all the processes for you.

13. Refrens 

Refrens is the best invoice generator since it allows you to make an infinite number of invoices for clients without having to pay a single dime.

With only one click, you may produce a delivery challan, payment receipt, debit note, and credit note.

The invoice can be changed at any time, and you can send it by email, WhatsApp, or by immediately saving it as a PDF and sending that instead.

Refrens Features That Stand Out:

  • Free Unlimited Invoice
  • Permission control
  • Quick Easy Invoice
  • Customization of Columns
  • Email & Track Invoices
  • Recurring Invoices
  • Custom Formula 
  • Invoice Templates
  • Insightful Reports
  • Client Management
  • Ready Data

14. ScreenRec

With ScreenRec you can do almost anything related to screen recording. You can record your screen, microphone, audio, and webcam with this one simple tool. You can also take screenshots and annotate them. 

You can use ScreenRec to record instant video messages and send them instantly via the private sharing link you get. The auto-save function lets you share your recording as soon as you press the “Stop” button. Offline recordings are uploaded to the cloud as soon as you’re online again. And since it’s all stored in the cloud, you’ll always have access to your recording history. 

ProsCons
Free download for Windows and LinuxNo video editing features
No watermark or time limitsIf you don’t create a free account, there’s a 5-minute recording limit.
Lightweight recorder, no lag on your recording
Records your screen, audio, mic and webcam
Cloud Recording technology for instant sharing

Conclusions

Software development lifecycle management tools are specialized programs that make a team’s job easier. Their list includes project management platforms, visualization tools, and others. However, if you are looking for some ready-made business tools so that you can skip the development process, then go forward with Shopify, YoRent, Growcer and ShareTribe.

Why Is It Essential to Perform Mobile App Testing?

Have this question ever occurred to your mind – why is it essential to go for mobile app testing? or what is the significance of mobile app testing?

Mobile app testing can get overwhelming when you consider the various operating systems versions, dozens of screen resolutions, all sorts of connection types, etc., that you will need to test. But one cannot wish for a successful mobile app release without it. Mobile app testing ensures that your app release is of phenomenal quality.

Let’s not beat around the bush and come straight to the point: what are mobile app testing and its importance?

What is Mobile App Testing?

Mobile app testing is the methodology of running tests against a mobile app to ensure that its usability and functionality meet the needs and requirements of its purpose before its final release.

It includes various testing types like security, performance, usability, and functional load and mobile-specific one’s certificate, installation, interruption, location, memory leakage, and many more.

Here are some basic things to raise curtains with before coming on to mobile app testing:

  • It ensures that you have enough test coverage. If you do not contemplate it, there are effective ways to improve it.
  • Choose your method of testing: mobile apps can be tested using the best mobile app testing tools, either on emulators or on real devices. The real device testing cloud allows you to test concurrently, use thousands of devices remotely, and record the results accurately.
  • You might be the old player in app testing, but still, there are broad areas of improvement. Planning a test, going for mobile app automation testing, and continuous testing are the general things that you can use to make the testing process flawless.

Why Is It Important to Go for Mobile App Testing?

Mobile app testing is rapidly increasing in today’s digital world. The most general errors found in hybrid and native mobile applications are deficient/lacking in performance, loading problems, responding to solutions, unresponsive elements, etc. These errors can be rectified with mobile app testing tools to be used before the final launch.

In this technology-oriented world, everybody uses a mobile-friendly website or a mobile app for business. And many new businesses are turning up daily with various apps hiding their internet spaces.

Some of the influential factors that verify the importance of mobile app testing are:

  • Use of native apps for messaging and calling, such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, Quick Ride Ola, Uber, messenger, telegram, and others.
  • Your main objective should be to offer your customer the best possible experience while running a business.
  • Testing mobile apps is a sovereign stage in the process of mobile app development. Thus, all app issues and errors can be easily rectified via mobile app testing.
  • Outstanding mobile app testing guarantees easy app launching without any problems.

Other Factors That Highlight the Importance of Mobile App Testing

  • Flawless user experience: The application should perform well, work smoothly, and be easy to use on their devices. If the application doesn’t meet the needs of its customers, they will rarely use the app or delete and uninstall it.
  • Pass mobile application store reviews: The Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and other mobile app stores review the submitted apps before launching them. They check the apps’ privacy policy, code, data management process, requested permissions, and more. Testing your mobile application before the final go will help you solve prime issues and pass the review test.
  • Prevents data from getting hacked: Some apps are required to gather users’ personal information, such as medical, financial, or other sensitive data. The organization owning an app has to guarantee that all the sensitive data and information related to user personnel should be well protected. A theft or leak of sensitive data can cause massive financial and reputational losses.

Nowadays, mobile apps are not only mobile applications. In the technological era of embracing change, we have evolved and got hybrid and progressive apps as well. With so many advancements, app testing has become a non-negotiable task.

Factors Contributing to Developing a Five-Star Mobile App?

The mobile app release costing error can be dangerous. Lags and bugs activate a hurricane of negative feedback leading to bad reviews and low ratings on the App Store or Google Play Store. It is a no-brainer that one-star-rated mobile applications rarely attract new users. But if you take up testing seriously, you can fly and achieve great ratings and a seamless customer experience.

Let’s look into some of the factors that trigger and influence people in getting high ratings and reviews of applications and what benefits of mobile app testing lead your app to rank high.

Performance

If a mobile app performance breaks down to meet the expectation of users, it’s unlikely that people will provide it with another opportunity. Performance is the primary stone of app quality, and you should give your best effort into the testing process before launching an app.

A mobile app will need a particular implementation to hit the top of the mobile app store list. And if your mobile app passes the test convincingly, no one can stop your app from gaining five stars indeed.

Intuitiveness

One should ask a user why they go for a specific app. Is that their favorite one? The answer most times is – they are easy to use. Since mobile applications do not come with a user manual, an excellent mobile app is all about providing a new user experience with minimal effort.

Intuitiveness is valued by most users and is something challenging to achieve when developing and designing an application. Always ensure that you test the experience of users using the application throughout the stage of the development life cycle.

Easy Feedback

An app that works seamlessly is an example of a perfect and thoroughly tested mobile app. But even the mightiest of quality assurance can only go through some testing cases. Sometimes users are the ones who find errors by themselves, and you need to provide them with a specific medium to communicate these bugs directly instead of jotting them down on your page. As a result, it helps build trust between your potential customers and your business.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, mobile app testing is as necessary as doing the checks of the airplane before its considered to be used for commercial flying. A professional mobile application development organization should concentrate on the quality and functionality of the product and look ahead to enhance the apps’ quality by offering new quality improvements. To stand out in the marketplace, it is vital to create a high-quality and user-friendly app. And Mobile app testing is key to turning a good idea into a great experience. And if you complete your task with proper planning in the app development process, you can design a five-star rating application that will become an instant success.

The Effectiveness of Game Co-development

It’s safe to say that the gaming industry is one of the largest industries in the world, and it’s just expanding. Co-development is emerging as a popular strategy for achieving this expansion.

Players have high hopes for a rewarding experience in light of the industry’s expansion. These requirements are only increasing as the gaming industry expands and more and more massive studios create epic games that can last for dozens or even hundreds of hours. If not big games, then at least games that are well-made, interesting, and difficult in some way.

What is Co-Development?

As the name implies, “co-development” involves teamwork between the game’s main development studio and a number of outside studios. These businesses are capable of handling any scale of development. Co-development, in contrast to outsourcing, which consists of handing off the entire project to an outside company, is a collaborative effort. It results from several different studios working together to create a great whole. Companies have developed several games in tandem, including Magic Media, Pingle Studio, and Ringtail.

How Can Co-Development Help Games Out?

Companies of all sizes can benefit from collaboration; sometimes, it’s larger corporations looking to grow an existing initiative, and other times its startups with great ideas but not the resources to bring them to fruition. Suppose a studio is the sole owner of the IP at hand.

In that case, they may not want to subcontract a portion of the work but rather remain intimately involved in the project daily and hire another co-development studio to integrate with their existing workforce seamlessly. It’s like obtaining an entire team or only the members you need right away. A co-development studio is helpful if the scope of a project grows beyond initial estimates or if more time or workers are needed to complete the task than initially anticipated.

What Advantage Do You Have When Co-development Is in Place?

Co-development benefits because these organizations have seasoned professionals to handle every facet of making a video game.

We are familiar with the different difficulties that can arise during project construction. They can find answers to potential issues if they work with experts. Co-development also enables publishers to use the expertise that may be lacking inside.

1. Save more on your games

When working on a project with a co-developer, you can cut costs by paying for the time and effort required by the hired team. This is helpful because it eliminates the need to budget for regular wages, benefits, vacation time, training, or extra taxes. You won’t have to worry about providing the necessary software and gear because the outsourced staff will use their own. The cost of software licenses alone might run each artist between $5,000 and USD 10,000. Companies like Styngr support game funding for games, artists, and Metaverse experiences.

2. You will save lots of time

Some might worry that the project will become more difficult to manage and produce fewer results if it is outsourced to a game studio. But the truth is that you’ll be able to free up more time that you may put to better use elsewhere in the business. You may spend that spare time growing your company, boosting output and earnings.

3. Quality of service will be better

According to XDS’s analysis of industry trends for 2021, prospective clients should prioritize service quality when selecting an outsourcing studio. Since co-development studios typically have in-house specialists for every facet of game creation, you can rest assured that you’ll receive the best results.

4. Professional tools are more efficient

It is crucial to stay up with the constant improvements inside games to remain competitive. To achieve this goal, you must utilize the industry’s most recent software and hardware. Of course, this has the potential to result in enormous expenditures, but working with game studios grants you entry to the industry’s top game production tools, which can significantly improve your games.

Service providers and developers/publishers now prefer using open-source game engines like Unity and Unreal to facilitate external development, as opposed to proprietary ones. Outsourced companies are more likely to use Unity games, especially indie games, while large AAA studios prefer Unreal. This isn’t a hard and fast rule. Instead, it is a personal taste.

5. More innovation and creativity

The best ideas come from collaboration amongst teams, so be sure to hire a complete one so that you can pool resources and skills to develop sturdy alliances and exciting games. When faced with the need for originality and ingenuity, a whole team is always the best option.

We’re pleased to supply the expertise and manpower you need to design, develop, and ship your video game without exhausting your in-house team’s resources.

6. Project completion is faster

The work quality and capacity of the team are crucial, but so is the total size of the group. Fifteen employees will undoubtedly finish the job in half the time it would take two. By bringing in a large number of experts, we were able to do the job in record time and beat the deadline by a wide margin.

7. Better ideas and scope of the project

Creating a game in-house has many advantages, but it may also stifle creativity. No matter how diligently you plan and how well you organize, it is challenging to perform these tasks without going overboard. This advantage of co-development is easy to miss if one does not have a long-term viewpoint. If you want to create a genuinely exceptional game, though, you’ll need the input of a large group of experts.

Conclusion

To wrap up, Co-development in games can be a very effective strategy for creating AAA games. Because of the overflowing ideas and creative standpoint, everyone can share their general vision for the project co-development and save companies time, money, and manpower. Working on big projects will always be a hard thing to do.

Still, with Co-development, the entire company’s progress will go along smoothly compared to working on the project without any support from a different group. Having a hand to help in projects, whether big or small, will always be a great idea.

Everything You Need to Know About Agile Test Planning

Every innovative business using a Mobile app testing platform has shown some interest in embracing agile. No matter how sophisticated an organization is, it’s easy to crumble under the burden of poor and efficient systems or compromised collaboration and coordination among teams. The benefits of making the shift to agile are undeniable.

For instance, agile principles and practices offer increased visibility for the business. As businesses grow, the complexity increases, and anything with a greater complexity tends to slow down. While most forms drive their focus on speed while adopting agile, they can’t succeed without a plan.

One of the most widely proliferating misconceptions regarding agile is that you can succeed with it without any strategic planning. While you can certainly cut down a little bit on the planning duration, it’s impossible to ignore it completely. Instead of planning everything in the beginning with traditional development approaches, agile involves making a plan in small chunks. This post will take a detailed look at everything you need to know about agile test planning. Let’s dive right in.

Do We Need An Agile Test Plan?

Test planning works are different levels. We leverage the principles of simplicity and iterative development and ask what kind of data information or knowledge the teams in charge made at different levels.

So, we need an agile test plan since planning is one of the most important activities during a product’s life cycle. However, it’s essential to see it as something ongoing rather than a strategy to be done within the beginning itself. When we talk about an Agile framework, planning to be evolutionary by keeping changes retrospective and making frequent updates is a must.

The core value is responding to change as far as the agile manifesto is concerned. While it’s true that an over comprehensive document might not do much, having strategic responses to change can go a long way.

How Does An Agile Test Plan Work?

In agile, when a sprint begins, it is not necessary to know every detail about the feature and Epic beforehand. Sometimes, it might not seem straightforward and predictable. Understanding the different complexities can help shape testing efforts if that is the case. However, when things are unknown or new, complications can arise. Such a scenario can make coming up with relevant information challenging.

Before a sprint, the team starts out by discussing the contents that are a part of the release. This way, the testing team has an idea of the scope of testing in advance and what you should consider for the test.

Once you are through with the contents comes the discussion about estimates. So, testers have an idea of the duration it will take to test a feature. It includes performance, exploratory testing, test automation, test scenarios, and the setup of the test environment.

Understanding Epic, Feature, Task, and User Story

A detailed understanding of the terms Epic, Feature, Task, and User Story is necessary when working towards creating a brilliant testing plan for software. They are a crucial part of the Scrum framework and comprise details testing teams must take into account during the planning phase. It’s also crucial to keep the bigger picture of the entire product intact. These terms are known for their unique precision levels.

Epic

In simple terms, Epic is a broad spectrum goal that needs simplifications by dividing it into different chunks of tasks the agile team needs to work on. It’s next to impossible to achieve a big story, that is, Epic, in one stroke since it usually takes a few months. Since they have a broad end scope, epics lack details.

Business requirements, customer requests, and product features come under epic. The Epic size also depends on the overall culture of your organization. Knowing they shouldn’t take too long to finish is essential. That doesn’t mean you hasten things up. It is a wise move to use burn-down charts for measuring epics. It offers precise estimates of the quantum of work you need to complete.

Feature

Feature refers to a cluster of user stories representing a functionality’s business capability. It can take many iterations to finally complete. You must ensure that these functional and non-functional user stories are highly testable. This will get the team involved in a pattern of coding each story and testing it out until the feature is complete.

Task

Detailed work pieces necessary for completing a user story are known as tasks. Team members can take them up depending on their expertise and skill levels. No user story can be completed until you complete every task under a particular story. Usually, development teams define a task, and it takes almost a day to finish.

User Story

User stories are a to-do checklist comprising items the testing team needs to complete. The scrum product owner owns the user stories, stakeholders, the Scrum master, and the entire team act as contributors to eliminating backlogs. The idea around which user stories revolve is to break a product into pieces to complete a large project successfully. Tracking user stories is easily possible, even on multiple boards.

It’s essential to remember that user stories are simple, short, and crisp descriptions you need to cover throughout an agile project. Even though the product owner is the owner of user stories, any member can write them.

Conclusion

Writing proper epics, tasks and stories are crucial for a clear picture of responsibilities, roles, reasons, and requirements. When in line, these three sprint foundations help accomplish goals quickly and precisely.

One of the most apparent goals for having these Agile planning sessions is to enhance learning and adaptation with the help of faster and more efficient feedback. Once you get a hold of how all the planning sessions work, they take less time and become more effective in the future.

There is this mindset in the testing and Development industry to have all the information upfront before making a plan. While this has been how things are for ages, it is time for a change in planning and development. Even though the approach is different and takes some getting used to, it is always rewarding when the end product comes out better.

Five Tips To Make Your New Mobile App Successful

Getting people to use your mobile app and ultimately drive revenue is where the real work begins. Mobile apps are created for various reasons, and often not recognized for their importance.

What exactly determines an app’s success? You would undoubtedly concur that effective examples include messaging apps like WhatsApp and Instagram as well as games like Angry Birds and Candy Crash. Even though each of them has a unique success story, they all share something. These all had distinctive app concepts that were represented in practical functionality. The software was able to alter user behavior and become a part of their daily routine thanks to this essential feature.

This article will talk about five tips that you should use to make your mobile app successful.

Tell a Story

In today’s mobile world, the key to app success is to create an engaging experience. And the best way to do this is by telling a story.

For example, when people open your app, what’s their first impression? Is it a bunch of buttons and icons that don’t tell any kind of story? Or is it a story that grabs you from the start and keeps you engaged?

Know Your User

User experience is vital for any mobile application. The app may have all the features, but if it doesn’t feel right for users, then it won’t be successful.

The more you know about their needs and wants, the easier it will be for you to create an app that fits their needs perfectly.

Look Ahead to the Future

Mobile apps are an important part of the user experience for many custom app development company. However, not all mobile apps are successful.

In order to make your new mobile app successful, you need to look ahead to the future like your target audience and keep up with trends. Creating a mobile app is only half the battle.

No matter how fantastic your app idea may seem, you must define your niche. Despite the fact that there are dozens of apps released every day, you may believe you have a terrific app idea. Every year, there are more apps added to the app shops.

The Google Play Store has more than 3 million apps, while the Apple App Store has 2 million. Around 1.3 billion programs are available worldwide on other app stores like BlackBerry World, Windows Store, and Amazon Appstore.

With the right software integrations, you can automate more, ultimately increasing productivity (and reducing headaches) while startup scaling.

Be Authentic

People use apps because they make their lives easier or more convenient. If an app can’t do that, then it’s not going to be very popular.

If you’re building a mobile app because you think it will make money, then you’re probably going to have a hard time getting people to use it.

You have to offer something of value in return for their attention and time.

Design for the Masses, Test With the Few

If you’re designing your app for the masses, it’s important to keep things simple and intuitive. You want every user to be able to navigate your app with ease and have a great experience. All good ideas start off largely unconditional and entail some risks.

So, there is a specific path to take if you trust your instinct when it comes to an app concept. Be ready; the success of your app depends on a lot of work. You will be rewarded with security and a return on investment (return on investment)

Takeaway: You can create an app that is functional and successful with the right mobile application development company.

E-Wallet App Development: How to Develop a Mobile Wallet App?

A mobile wallet app is a digital wallet that allows users to store, send, and receive money using their mobile devices. Mobile wallet apps typically use near-field communication (NFC) technology to make transactions, which means that they can be used at NFC-enabled terminals to make payments or send money. Some popular mobile wallet apps include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. However, the custom-developed e-wallets are a built-in solution for certain platforms and business workflows. Payment-heavy businesses set up wallets to offer the functionality of crypto exchanges, loans, and loyalty programs. Yet, the main idea is to provide P2P and international transactions via integrated payment gateways. So, from the back-office perspective, an e-wallet offers card issuing, payment processing via Visa and Mastercard, and client identification as money receiver or transferee.

What Are the Benefits of Developing a Mobile Wallet App?

First of all, a mobile wallet is an e-wallet available via mobile with client authentication via the Face ID or two-factor checkup. Nowadays, companies use cross-platform app development and do not limit themselves to the mobile version only. They offer adaptive responsible mobile wallet versions for fast access to the products and services. Think about a traditional neobank functionality then. It is commonly based on the same banking core as the e-wallet.

1. Increased Security

Mobile wallet apps offer increased security compared to traditional wallets. This is because they often come with features such as fingerprint authentication and two-factor authentication, which make it more difficult for criminals to access your funds.

2. Convenience

Mobile wallet apps are also more convenient than traditional wallets, as they can be used to make payments anywhere in the world with just a few taps on your smartphone.

3. Enhanced Customer Loyalty

Another benefit of developing a mobile wallet app is that it can help you enhance customer loyalty. This is because customers who use your app will be more likely to return to your business in the future, as they will appreciate the convenience and security that your app offers.

4. Increased Sales

Finally, developing a mobile wallet app can also help you increase sales, as customers are more likely to make impulse purchases when they have their credit card details stored on their phones.

How to Develop a Mobile Wallet App?

1. Choose Your Platform

The first step is to decide which platform you want to develop your app for. There are many different mobile platforms out there, so you’ll need to choose the one that makes the most sense for your target audience.

2. Find a Payment Processor

To accept payments through your mobile wallet app, you’ll need to find a payment processor that supports mobile payments. There are many different options out there, so be sure to do your research and find one that fits your needs.

3. Create a User-Friendly Interface

One of the most important aspects of any mobile app is its user interface (UI). When it comes to mobile wallets, it’s especially important to create a UI that is easy and intuitive for users since they will be dealing with sensitive financial information.

4. Implement Security Features

Another important aspect of developing a mobile wallet app is making sure that it is secure. You’ll need to implement various security features, such as encryption, to protect users’ information and prevent fraudsters from taking advantage of them. Security is a key consideration in ewallet app development, ensuring user trust and data protection.

What Are the Features of a Mobile Wallet App?

1. The ability to store multiple payment methods – debit and credit cards, loyalty cards, gift cards, etc.

2. The functionality to make payments in-store, online and in-app.

3. The use to send and receive money transfers.

4. The ability to track spending and set budgets.

5. The loyalty points and rewards management.

Check out the functionality of e-wallet software development by SDK.finance and see if it will be the product your business needs. 

How To Find The Top Angular Development Company

Angular is a powerful framework for building single-page web applications. Angular development companies can help you harness the power of Angular to build fast, efficient, and scalable web applications. When choosing an Angular development company, it’s important to find one that has extensive experience with the framework and can provide a robust development solution that meets your specific needs. Here are a few tips on how to find the top Angular development company.

1. Look for a company that has extensive experience with Angular

When looking for an Angular development company, it’s important to find one that has a lot of experience working with the framework. The company should have a deep understanding of Angular and be able to provide a robust development solution that meets your specific needs. A company with extensive experience with Angular will be able to help you avoid common pitfalls and deliver a high-quality web application. There are many angular developers out there, so make sure to find one that has a strong track record of delivering successful projects. It’s also important to find a company that is up-to-date on the latest Angular releases and has a good understanding of the framework’s roadmap.

2. Make sure the company offers a comprehensive development solution

The company you choose should offer a comprehensive development solution that includes everything from project management to quality assurance. The development solution should be tailored to your specific needs and should include all the features and functionality you require. A comprehensive development solution will help ensure that your project is completed on time and within budget. Additionally, the company should offer support and maintenance services to help you keep your application up and running.

3. Choose a company that offers competitive pricing

When choosing an Angular development company, it’s important to find one that offers competitive pricing. There are many companies out there that charge high prices for their services, so make sure to find one that offers a fair price for their services. It’s also important to find a company that is willing to work with you to create a payment plan that fits your budget. Additionally, make sure to find a company that offers a money-back satisfaction guarantee so you can be sure you’re getting the best value for your money.

4. Make sure the company has a strong portfolio

When choosing an Angular development company, it’s important to look at their portfolio to see the types of projects they’ve worked on in the past. The portfolio should showcase the company’s experience and expertise in Angular development. Additionally, the portfolio should highlight the company’s ability to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget. A strong portfolio is a good indication that the company is a reputable and reliable partner for your project. This is especially important if you’re working on a large or complex project.

5. Choose a company that has a good reputation

When choosing an Angular development company, it’s important to find one that has a good reputation in the industry. The company should have a positive track record of delivering successful projects and should be well-known for its quality workmanship. Additionally, the company should have a good relationship with its clients and should be able to provide references upon request. A good reputation is a good indication that the company is a reliable partner for your project. It’s also important to find a company that is willing to put your project first and that is committed to providing the best possible experience for their clients.

6. Make sure the company has a good communication policy

When choosing an Angular development company, it’s important to find one that has a good communication policy. The company should be willing to communicate with you on a regular basis and should be available to answer any questions you have. Additionally, the company should have a clear and concise communication policy so you know what to expect from their team. A good communication policy is a good indication that the company is committed to providing the best possible experience for its clients. 

When choosing an Angular development company, it’s important to consider your specific needs and requirements. Additionally, make sure to find a company that offers a comprehensive development solution, competitive pricing, and a strong portfolio. Finally, choose a company that has a good reputation and communication policy. With these factors in mind, you can be sure to find the best company for your project. It’s also important to find a company that is willing to put your project first and that is committed to providing the best possible experience for their clients.

5 Ways Cloud-Based Solutions Streamline The App Development Process

There are several ways cloud-based solutions streamline the app development process. With cloud-based solutions dominating the digital world, these applications store many companies’ computer data and digital resources. In fact, research suggests that the cloud will host over 95% of workload, processes and services within the next coming years.

As an app developer, you should familiarize yourself with different ways cloud-based solutions can improve your projects’ scalability, performance and data security. This way, you can start implementing cloud solutions into your application development processes. Read on to learn different ways cloud-based solutions streamline the app development process.

Automates Manual Processes

First, cloud-based solutions can automate manual processes during the app development process. These automated processes execute workflows like configuring servers, setting up a network and managing resources. An app that uses creative push notifications is both attractive and compelling to new customers for your service.

In addition, they can minimize development errors like not following user input requirements or failing to protect the app against vulnerabilities. With automatic tasks set during development, you can also reduce redundancies such as overlapping features or including similar task functionalities. In addition, let the cloud solutions write the same code repeatedly to save your team a lot of time. Surely, cloud solutions automate the manual processes in the app development process.

Simplifies Data Storage

Next, use cloud solutions to streamline your data storage during the application development process. Many of the best application developers use powerful programming tools and technologies tools to install crates dependencies. For example, you can use a reliable Cargo Registry by JFrog to access full control of your app’s deployment. Plus, developers often use this tool for the dependency resolution process through Cargo packaging with Rust crates.

Plus, this registry focuses on speed and memory safety with a wide range of systems and software. More so, it’s a universal cloud native solution. With this, you can build your Rust crates into containers to store in private docker registries. Of course, cloud-based solutions can streamline your data storage during the app development process.

Cloud Based Cuts Costs

In addition, cloud-based solutions can cut costs in the application development process. Leverage a third-party service network to access additional bandwidth and latency. You can do this without investing in new IT infrastructure equipment or upgrades. As a result, you can cut team and resource costs. In addition, these platforms offer secure data sharing.

With this, you can access the stored application data on different servers without worrying about security. After all, these cost-cutting benefits of cloud-solutions for development are more efficient than lowering the overall app costs. In short, you can reduce costs for your app development process with cloud-based solutions.

Increases Team Collaboration

More so, cloud-based technologies can streamline team collaboration for your app development. With these solutions, team members can communicate and collaborate no matter where they are. Just store your data and processes on the cloud so everyone can access them anytime. Your team can then work in real time on multiple projects, engage in live chats and host video conferences just like they would in person.

By removing production delays, your teams can empower and benefit from cross-departmental collaboration. Plus, they can boost their developer productivity and keep the development process seamless. Definitely, increase your team collaboration strategies with cloud-based solutions.

Secures Your Workflows

Furthermore, you can secure your workflows with cloud-based solutions during the app development process. With these solutions, confidently store your sensitive application data, codes and frameworks in the cloud. In addition, you can add safeguards to make sure your information is safe and avoid access from unauthorized users.

To further protect your workflows, most solutions let you create permissions and restrictions to specific members. For example, only give the coding team access to your program language files to prevent rouge team members from accessing your private information. Certainly, cloud-based solutions can secure your workflows while building your applications.

There are several ways cloud-based solutions streamline the app development process. First, they can automate manual processes like configuring servers and setting up the network. Leveraging the power of automation, you can accelerate workflows, eliminate human error, and future proof your dev environment.

Plus, these solutions reduce your labor requirements — keeping overhead costs low. Next, cloud-based solutions simplify data storage with reliable cargo registries. You can utilize the latest registry platforms to maximize security, accelerate releases, and encourage collaboration. In addition, they cut costs with additional bandwidths.

More so, you can streamline collaboration with live chats and real time updates. Furthermore, cloud-based solutions secure workflows with security measures like safeguarding. These are the best ways cloud-based solutions streamline the app development process.

How Can Changelog Improve Communication with Your Clients?

Clients today are more demanding than ever before. For businesses, it’s vital to ensure that communication is effective and efficient to maintain a good relationship with these clients. Changelog has released a new update that offers several features that can help improve this communication.

What is Changelog?

Changelog is a software development term for a document that records all changes made to a software product, typically including the date, its author or authors, and a description of the change. It is common for changelogs to be published alongside software releases to keep users informed about what has changed.

The purpose of a changelog is to provide transparency and accountability for changes made to a software product. By documenting every change and its rationale, developers can ensure that users know what features have been added, removed, or changed; if necessary, they can explain any unexpected behavior.

Changelogs also serve as valuable resources for developers who want to understand how a product has changed over time or identify the root cause of an issue.

How Can Changelogs Improve Communication?

When it comes to software development, communication is vital. But what happens when that communication breaks down? In a perfect world, developers would always be in sync, but the reality is that things happen. Missed deadlines, misunderstood requirements, and other miscommunications can lead to frustration and project delays.

One way to help improve communication is by using changelogs. Changelogs are a log of changes made to a piece of software. They can be as simple as a text file or as complex as a full-fledged website.

  • Keep Everyone on the Same Page: Changelogs can help keep everyone on the same page by documenting what was changed, why it was changed, and who made the change.
  • Helpful for Troubleshooting Problems: They can also be beneficial for troubleshooting problems. If something isn’t working the way it’s supposed to; a changelog can help pinpoint the problem by providing a history of changes.

In short, changelogs can help improve communication by providing transparency and accountability. They can also help identify problems and keep everyone on the same page.

Benefits of Using Changelogs

There are many benefits to using changelogs, but here are a few of the most important ones:

  • Use to Track Changes Made to a Software Project Overtime: Changelogs can help developers keep track of changes made to a software project over time. This is especially helpful for long-term projects where it can be difficult to remember every change.
  • Use to Identify the Root Cause of an Issue: If something isn’t working as it’s supposed to, a changelog can help developers identify the root cause of the problem. By providing a history of changes, changelogs can help developers troubleshoot issues and find the fix faster.
  • Use to Provide Accountability and Transparency: Changelogs can help improve communication by providing accountability and transparency. By documenting every change and its rationale, developers can ensure that users know what features have been added, removed, or changed.
  • Use to Keep Stakeholders Informed: Changelogs can also be used to keep stakeholders informed about changes made to a software product. This is especially helpful for businesses who must ensure that their clients are always up-to-date on the latest features and changes.

The Types of Changelogs

Changelogs are an essential part of any software development process, but what are they, and what do they do? A changelog is a document that lists the changes made to a software product, typically between releases.

They can be very simple or quite complex, but all changelogs have the same goal: to help developers understand how a product has changed over time.

There are many different changelogs, but some of the most common are listed below.

  • Feature Changelog: This type of changelog lists new features and enhancements added to a product. It can be beneficial for understanding how a product has evolved.
  • Bugfix Changelog: As you might expect, this type of changelog lists bug fixes and other changes made to address issues discovered in previous releases. This can be very helpful for troubleshooting problems.
  • Security Changelog: This type of changelog lists changes to address security vulnerabilities. Keeping track of these changes is essential to ensure that your software is always up-to-date.
  • API Changelog: This type of changelog documents changes made to an application programming interface (API). It can be beneficial for developers who are working with an API.

Creating and Updating Changelog

A changelog is a log of changes made to a software project. Developers often use them to track what changes have been made and when to help with debugging and troubleshooting. Changelogs can also be helpful for users, who can use them to keep track of new features and bug fixes.

There are a few different ways to create a changelog. One approach is to create a text file and add one entry per line, noting the date, the change type (e.g., added, removed, changed), and a brief description of the change.

A more sophisticated option is to use a reputable changelog tool by ReleasePad, which can automatically generate a changelog based on the commit messages in your Git repository.

Keeping it up-to-date is essential once you’ve decided how to create your changelog. Add an entry to the changelog whenever a change is made to your software. This will help ensure that it is always accurate and up-to-date.

The Future of Changelogs

As the world of software development evolves, so too do the tools and processes we use. Changelogs have been around for many years, but they are constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of developers.

One area where changelogs are evolving is how they are used. In the past, changelogs were typically used to document changes between releases. However, with the rise of continuous delivery and deployment, changelogs are now being used to document changes made daily. This is especially helpful for developers who need to track fast-moving projects.

Another area where changelogs are evolving is how they are presented. In the past, changelogs were often simply lists of changes with no context or explanation.

However, modern changelogs are often much more user-friendly, with clear explanations of why each change was made. This can be very helpful for developers who need to understand how a product has changed quickly.

As the world of software development continues to change, so will the way we use changelogs. They are an essential part of any software development process, and they will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of developers.

What to Consider When Developing Software

Are you looking for a way to build a cool piece of software and show it to your friends, colleagues, and anyone else who might give you a little recognition for the piece of work you have done? A simple Google search will turn up at least a few articles about how to get started and what to do once you have written the software. If you are just starting out, this may seem like a lot of info. You might think, “I do not need this; I can just wing it, write code and make it work.” You might think this way, but there is a lot to learn, and it is worth spending some time preparing and planning ahead.

There is a good chance that you have written at least one piece of software that just did not work as expected. In order to develop a piece of software that works, you have to understand how the code interacts with the environment. Of course, you can hire the Yellow Systems custom software development company. But what if you want to know all the dev specs?

The Art of Software Development

It is true that writing a bit of code to solve a problem is fun and can even be rewarding, but that is the extent of it. In order for your software to run flawlessly, you need to know what to expect in every possible case. Here are a few things to consider when developing software.

#1 – Environment

It is hard to ignore the fact that we live in a world where everyone is becoming increasingly connected, especially with the rise of smartphones. Most computers these days have Internet access built-in, and a lot of people have access. Even if you are completely offline, your computer will still have a connection to the Internet. That is one of the reasons you can search the web at home, at school, in the library, at the store, or any other place.

If your program will work in these environments and will likely need to work in different environments in the future, then you need to plan ahead. Think of how your program will handle different connections and how you will cope with the fact that there are more and more devices connected to the Internet. You can never predict what connections might be available or how they might be used.

#2 – Device/OS

Your program might be working just fine on a Windows or Linux PC, but what if a user will try to run it on an iPad? What if they are on a Mac? They may not be able to see all the options your program uses, so maybe your program will not work the way it does on a PC. You may need to think about how you will use the input and output devices your users might have access to and then write code that takes advantage of those devices.

#3 – Security

Is your program going to store data? That is a really great question. A computer is a lot more than a calculator. Think about all the data that is stored on your PC. Credit card numbers, passwords, social security numbers, and everything else you might store in your program. Where are you going to store that info? Is it on the server or on your users’ computers? How can your program handle various types of security threats?

#4 – Performance

How long does it take for your program to work? Do you have room to improve on that? If it takes a long time to load, are you going to have many options for the user to skip the wait time? Are you going to take advantage of the hardware in a PC or mobile device to improve the performance of your software? How much RAM do your users have? How much disk space do they have available? These are just some of the questions that you need to answer before initiating the development process. At this stage, it is also good to write different test cases to cover all the app use scenarios and ensure the solution works flawlessly.

Do the Things Right!

The world is constantly changing and the way that we build software has become a little more complex over the years. However, it is not as complicated as it may seem, and there are a few tips to help simplify the process of programming. The above list will make the software development task easier for you if you address it at an early stage of software development.

RSAT Alternative Tool

RSAT or Regression Suite Automation Tool is the official Microsoft solution for automated testing of Microsoft ERP apps and components. Yet, it has a serious competitor which is Executive Automats designed by XPLUS. This article will help you to compare these tools and understand them better.

Installation Process

Even though the installation of RSAT is relatively simple and quick, it requires crucial additional steps. This includes granting access to the DevOps server, LCS and the ERP apps, monitoring connection between this software after updates as well as manual driver updating for RSAT.

After the installation of Executive Automats that takes only 15 minutes, this app can be used without extra actions.

Ease of Usage and Level of Automation

Both RSAT and Executive Automats are using a codeless approach but their design differs a lot.

For example, while you can access the instances of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations directly from Executive Automats and perform test recording, playing and modification, RSAT breaks the process into several steps. Its test scripts are created with a task recorder, but they are stored in LCS. In order to apply the tests to the ERP  app, they first have to be synchronized with the DevOps server which also stores test results.

The testing processes are performed individually using the logs coming from an ERP app. To create separate test versions, you will have to use Excel which is not well-adapted to inserting some crucial testing elements such as loops, try-and-catches or conditional and optional steps. With the limited codeless design of RSAT, only a part of tasks can be automated. Meeting all of the testing needs of your company requires performing some of the processes manually.

Executive Automats has its own integrated editor which allows testers to add any required logic into the scripts which can be updated automatically. This tool supports simultaneous testing processes and offers rich functionality for performance tests simulating peak loads.

Final Costs

Unlike RSAT available to the users of Microsoft ERP apps under the currently used licenses, you will need to pay for Executive Automats separately. Yet, while choosing a testing tool, it is crucial to estimate all of the costs involved into the process. With the maximum testing automation, advanced testing functionality and convenience for the users without technical background, the final costs of Executive Automats are a way smaller.

Do You Really Need an RSAT Alternative Tool?

If you are a user of Microsoft ERP apps, you can use Microsoft RSAT, however, it will automate testing processes only partially and you will still have to reach out for professional expertise. The usage of RSAT itself as well as the delays and disruptions in your ERP app caused by a poorly optimized testing strategy will generate unnecessary costs.

Such a scenario can be easily avoided by deploying Executive Automats, a fully automated tool provided by a Microsoft Gold Partner.

The Future of Mobile App Development: Trends to Know in 2022

The mobile app development industry is one of the most fast-growing industries these days. It is one of the leading spheres which offers impressive profits for developers as well. That is the reason why the mobile app market gets constant innovations.

Once checking the most recent mobile app development trends, it is easy to see how they affect the main players in the industry. The latest trends define the way the industry operates at present. They even outline the way the employment process is ensured as mentioned at this essential guide for entrepreneurs.

To stay competitive, it’s crucial for developers to offer advanced software and unique features, keeping pace with constant innovations in the mobile app market. Following the latest trends in marketing your app is essential for success, as these trends shape the future of mobile app development.

Besides, the numerous modern trends will define the development of mobile apps in the near future. It calls for careful research on the most recent tendencies in the mobile application development company.

Top Trends in Mobile App Development

If you want to stay in the top positions in the industry, you need to have a clear idea of the latest mobile app trends. Sure, trends, in most cases, are something that quickly becomes forgotten. Still, on the pick of its popularity, it can be used to gain increased profit or improved visibility for your app.

The trends constantly boost the industry’s development. Thus, it is important to learn the biggest trends and use them for your app development in the future. Following the most recent trends can be very beneficial for the final profit gained by app development companies as well.

Fast Rise of On-Demand Applications

The on-demand sector has gained a huge base of users recently. One of the reasons for such a rise is the pandemics. It caused people to switch more to online shopping and remote employment. Thus, such applications in the grocery, food and healthcare category have become extremely popular. Most modern services have already presented their effective apps that improve the company’s work and cooperation with clients.

For instance, ordering food and groceries online is extremely easy these days. Besides, it is very convenient and does not take much time. Even with the lifting of restrictions caused by Covid-19, people still gladly use online services to order food and groceries through advanced apps.

Strong Influence of Beacon Technology

Beacon Technology is the future of mobile app development. It is widely used in the development of apps from such categories as Healthcare, Hotel, Museum, etc. This is one of the leading trends due to the wide use of proximity marketing and location technology. The technology is highly used in retail as well. It offers to provide instant information about sales. Therefore, the hospitality sphere gains lots of benefits from the usage of technology as well. Beacon technology brings advanced automated machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies into the app development process.

The Importance of Wearable Devices

The rise in the importance of wearable devices is not a recent phenomenon. It was popular for a few years already. People like to use their trackers, fitness bands, and smartwatches often. What is more, this tendency is still ongoing. Sure, these days, the wearable market has gone through numerous modernization processes. The latest wearable devices are more advanced and provide improved features.

This is one of the top 10 mobile app long-lasting trends. It is still expected that the increase in interest in wearable devices will be as significant in the future as it is now. Besides, modern devices use advanced artificial intelligence technology and provide more options for users nowadays. It includes such features as face detection, image recognition, predictive maintenance, speech recognition, etc.

Recent VR and AR Transformation

Virtual and Augmented reality is the equipment used for mobile app development these days. The technology brings numerous advanced features and VR/AR capabilities. Mobile app developers widely use AR in marketing, manufacturing, healthcare, and e-commerce apps development.

Importance of Mobile Wallets

A mobile wallet is an essential technology that allows paying for online services fast. The technology allows the development of the most convenient payment options for app users. The constant upgrades of mobile wallet technology allow ensuring fast and secure payment methods.

Advanced Mobile Security

With lots of information transferred between app users, the significance of proper security is reasonable. Once using a certain application for e-commerce, lots of corporate information is stored and shared. Therefore, the advanced tools and software implemented to improve security are required. The need for constantly solid security will be one of the mobile app industry trends all the time.

Use of Chatbots

The wide use of chatbots is one of the recent application development trends. Modern technology allows dealing with certain tasks faster. Customer support has benefited greatly from chatbot use.

Cloud-Based Technology

The cloud-based technology is widely used in mobile app development. It offers enough space for keeping important data on modern devices. It increases storage capacity in mobile apps greatly.

Conclusions

The prospect of the mobile app development industry is quite bright. Being one of the most fast-growing industries currently, the app development sphere offers constant innovations and advanced capabilities. There are numerous tendencies in mobile app development that are aimed at defining the future of the industry.

The industry benefits greatly from the use of advanced software and technologies, like VR and AR technology, Beacon technology, cloud-based technology, mobile wallets, etc. The huge popularity of on-demand applications and implementation of the latest security solutions define the future of the app development sphere as well. With all the innovations implemented, the app development industry is expected to get even more recognition in the near future.

BIO:

Jenson O’Connell is an experienced content creator who writes on IT development and technology issues. He regularly publishes in many high-profile editions and helps his readers understand trends in the tech industry and programming infrastructure.

How Arizona Students Can Learn Blockchain Development

The widely-recognized use of blockchain is in cryptocurrency. Blockchain was designed to support Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies traded on apps like OKX. Blockchain is far more than cryptocurrency; decentralized ledger technology is an excellent system for recording and keeping nearly any type of data or digital transaction. Uses include medical records, tracking shipped cargo, and real estate title searches.

Why Blockchain Technology?

Leading experts and reliable sources such as Gartner cite blockchain as a top strategy. The barriers to broader use and adoption relate to factors like scale and interoperability. The barriers are dropping as research and development continue. The below-listed items describe breakthroughs using blockchain technology.

• Banking and finance institutions limit progress by requiring their permissions to operate and opening during specified hours. The blockchain is a 24/7 enterprise without a central body giving permissions.

• Healthcare records can be securely stored and released only with patients’ permission.

• Cargo tracing using blockchain reduces paperwork and error; the process can reduce the costs of moving freight in every modality.

• Commercial process like retail can use blockchain to solve complex supply problems. A national retailer was able to reduce time needed to trace food products from farms to store shelves. The traditional method requires about seven days; the blockchain assisted process took about three seconds.

A Guide to Blockchain Developer Career

-Computer Science Education

Technical education can be formal, crash training, or specialized courses and certificates. A bachelor’s degree in computer science focused on Information Technology, or cybersecurity is an excellent start. Employers also look for candidates with training and experience that equals a four-year degree. Candidates can develop specific skills applicable to blockchain.

Programming skills are essential, and Python, R, and C++ are good choices. Students should learn to operate in the widely used protocols such as HTML, CSS, and MongoDB

– Four Steps to Become a Developer

Students should read about blockchain and learn its history and case uses. Reading will develop a concept of blockchain, its history, and potential for future applications and innovations.

(1) Learn coding by college coursework, online, or special coursework. It is essential to understanding blockchain and applications that operate on its platforms.

(2) Read and learn about developments, new techniques, software, and application. Blockchain is evolving and new case uses, and projects occur frequently and offer important insights and information.

(3) Decentralized Finance and Smart contracts are keys to growth of blockchain. Some will involve cryptocurrency while many others will demonstrate the potential of blockchain to disrupt tradition industries like banking, insurance, and real estate.

(4) Continuing education is essential to staying up to date and progressing in the field.

Solid Prospects and Rewarding Careers

The prospects for career growth are strong according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Salaries in the overall category are much higher than average. The rate of adoption of blockchain is high and growing. Leading companies are considering ways to add blockchain to their business tools and systems.

The demand for blockchain developers will grow as more companies, government agencies, and other organizations discover the benefits of decentralized ledger technology for their business processes.

Top 5 Great Web Development Tools Devs Actually Use in 2022

The development platforms of today are now geared to assist with every aspect of development. No more is development simply the laborious coding of individual HTML pages with a text editor. 

With today’s platforms covering every angle of development, including the design of web pages, here are 5 great web development tools that developers actually use in 2022.

1. Sketch

Sketch is more than well established as the top toolkit for digital designers. This top design app has been picked by Google, X-Box, and Facebook – that alone informs you as to how highly regarded its capabilities are.

Easy to use and powerful enough for the rapid loading of large files, Sketch can create anything from basic animations and avatars to full icon sets and social media graphics, to fully functioning clickable prototypes. Sketch can also let designers create versatile images, as well as text that can then be utilized for dynamic design work. 

Sketch will also let you create and export your own custom fonts to be utilized wherever you need or want them, like on a custom t-shirt, for example. The software now comes with a ‘dark mode’ option – something that is hard to pass on for most developers.

Sketch Pros:

  • Precise pixelation;
  • Complex vector editing;
  • Code export;
  • Clickable prototyping;
  • Collaboration and sharing capabilities.

Sketch Cons:

  • Only available on the Mac OS;
  • Single user license.

2. Sublime Text

Not the most advanced of all solutions but one of the more popular still. It may not contain all the tricks, nuts, bolts, and bells and whistles of some more advanced toolkits, but it gets its job done impressively. For its comparative lack of muscle when racked up against some of its peers, it is capable of some stunningly attractive visuals.

Simple to use, as is likely to be expected, Sublime Text provides numerous features that make development a no-fuss breeze. Sections of code can be easily searched for and found, recurring elements can be fixed or amended quickly, and there is even a feature that allows code to be displayed across multiple desktop screens or a single widescreen monitor.

Its command interface is so intuitive and simple that you’ll feel its absence from any other development software you use after. Simple and a joy to use, Sublime Text is available as a free download followed by individual licensing.

Sublime Text Pros:

  • Available on Linux, Mac, and Windows;
  • As good a UI as any developer could hope for;
  • Time-saving auto-completion reduces repetitive code typing.

Sublime Text Cons:

  • No mobile support.

3. Atom

Atom, created by Github, is an open-text editor that can be as easily used by a coding novice as by a seasoned expert. Newcomers to web development can get to grips with it in no time, something, which has secured its longevity over the years, a longevity that shows no signs of slowing down.

Atom comes with numerous advantageous features, which are especially welcome for novices learning the ropes. Pre-installed themes a-plenty, auto-completion, full customization – there is plenty of experimentation and playing around to be had. The possibilities for unique results are infinite. 

Other features that can be added using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS will let you tweak and amend the look and feel of your web pages, which is even handier if you have website localization in your expansion plans.

Its popularity has dwindled since the arrival of Visual Studio Code. However, it is still widely used, and it is still more than adequate to conjure up some excellent results. In the web development world, it is one of the OGs and still gets respect.

Atom Pros:

  • Excellent customization potential;
  • Intuitive and so easy to use it almost explains itself;
  • New developer-friendly.

Atom Cons:

  • Developers with more advanced technical needs will find it too basic.

4. Foundation

Foundation works on the principle that the easiest and the best design work is built after excellent foundations are laid down first. Once designs have been applied, they can then be customized to fit in any manner that is desired. The principle and approach seem to have worked for them. Today, Foundation is used by commercial giants such as Disney, Adobe, and Hewlett Packard.

With efficient pre-planning, Foundation comes with a host of templates, all tweaked and tuned to be optimal for specific usage. So there are templates there, ready and waiting, to be used by bloggers, real estate companies, retailers, and more. Bespoke websites can then be built from the ground up from these blueprints.

Anything you can think of that a website may need is there in the toolbox: buttons, subscription forms, rating graphics…and more. The toolkit supplied by Foundation is a deep and heavy one, with every base covered and nut and bolt available for fully customized builds.

Foundation even offers special classes to enable users to get the most from all they have to offer. 

Foundation Pros:

  • Templates and frameworks for rapid building;
  • Fully customizable;
  • Optimized HTML.

Foundation Cons:

  • Lack of clarity with pricing;
  • The steep learning curve for rookie developers can be off-putting. 

5. Visual Studio Code

Built by Microsoft, VS Code is an open-source code editing program. The fact that it is Microsoft may put some off while attracting others. However, there is no denying that VS Code is an excellent and popular development platform.

It can run anywhere and perform various functions, including debugging, creating SaaS codes, and inputting Git command. Web layouts, color schemes, fonts, and icons can all be fully customized for tailor-made web pages.

Support is on hand for JavaScript and Python, which means that its use is not just potentially limited to the front-end: the coding of a website’s back-end functions is also possible.

Virtual Studio Code Pros:

  • A huge number of integrational possibilities;
  • Customizable;
  • Source control tools;
  • Real-time error checks.

Virtual Studio Code Cons: 

  • Python deployment can be difficult;
  • Settings configurations can be complicated.

Conclusion

There are now more toolkits available for new first-time developers and old hands at development alike than ever before. Whatever your experience, there is a platform out there – also old or new – to hone your skills and create innovative and beautiful looking webpages in 2022. 

What is Custom Software Development?

Worldwide, industries are rapidly adapting to the practices influenced by IT. Nowadays, in nearly every business, whether it is a multinational company or a small retail business, the use of the software is seen everywhere. However, a trend that is seen across these businesses is that most of them use software that is tailored according to their own needs. For example, the software being used by a departmental store for its operations will certainly differ from the one being used by a fitness club. Here, a question may arise “how are businesses able to get software systems tailored according to their specific needs? And the answer to this question lies in custom software development.

By definition, custom software development is a process of designing, creating, deploying, and maintenance of software that is developed according to the specific needs of particular users or organizations. 

The Difference Between Commercial Software and Custom Software

Commercial software, also otherwise known as Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software, has a design to fulfill a broader range of requirements. A developer of COTS will develop it so that it can be packaged and marketed on a commercial scale.

Examples of COTS

Microsoft and Adobe are the two prominent examples of commercial software providing a vast range of services. The applications of these software programs can help every business and organization, regardless of its scope of operations.

Custom Software

A custom software program contains those features within itself that help an organization offer a specific set of services. For example:

A manufacturer deploying a field service equipment maintenance program, or Online banking applications designed to fulfill the requirements of the banks and their customers

How is Custom Software Development Done?

The process of custom software development is usually carried out by development teams or by a third party. Hire a custom software development team for specific client and project needs. These teams and third parties develop these custom programs via several steps, such as gathering and constructing code, testing, deploying, and applying various development methodologies. Some of these methodologies include:

  • Agile
  • DevOps, and
  • Rapid Application Development, etc.
  • Application Customization, Modernization, and Management

The effort of custom software development usually involves application customization, modernization, and management.

Application Customization

Application customization refers to the up-gradation or modification of the existing commercial software for supporting individual requirements.

Application Modernization

Application modernization allows a business to sustain the quality of its customized software so that it can comply with the changing demands of users and the market.

Application Management

The application management process makes software more effective because it augments different tasks, such as

  • Installation
  • Updating
  • Performance
  • Availability optimization, and
  • Service disk functions, etc.

If you are looking for a one-stop solution that can provide your company with all of the services mentioned above, then you should definitely look forward to the services of bekey.io

Why Custom Software Development is Important?

Designing and developing custom software is important as it allows organizations and businesses to meet the unique requirements of their users and deliver them according to their needs. Use software product engineering services to convert your business idea into an established business.

How Much does Custom Software Development Cost?

The exact amount required to design and develop custom software cannot be predicted. This is because several factors are involved in its designing, development, and deployment. Some of these factors are:

  • Complexity of the Project
  • Size of the software
  • Team size
  • Team Expertise
  • Complexity of the project

Creative designs in custom software can be considered as decoration of the house. The more options one selects, the more expensive the decoration will be and vice versa. A custom software product having different features makes it easier for the users to navigate through it. Thus, software having many options will make it more expensive than one with very few options.

Size of the Software

Software size means the number of pages created and/or the number of screens added in the software. If an organization wants a custom software product having a lot of pages, then the workers will have to invest more of their time and energy, and as a result, the cost of the software product will increase.

Following are the examples of different software sizes:

  • A small-sized software product has 10-15 screens
  • A medium-sized software product contains 25-40 screens
  • A large-sized software product contains either 40 screens or more

Team Size

Team size is a critical factor in determining the price of the software product. A business planning to acquire custom software should remember that more developers it hires, the more quickly it will be able to get the product. However, having more developers on the board does not resonate with the high quality product. Therefore, organizations need to establish equilibrium between the number of developers and the quality of work they can deliver.

Team Expertise

Team expertise is yet another vital factor in deciding the price range of the software product. Mostly, one can find the developers of North America and Western Europe with a very high expertise in development. Hence, they charge their clients accordingly. For example, software developers from these regions may charge their clients within the range of $60 to $200 for every hour. In contrast, software developers from South Asia may charge within the range of $10 to $160 per every hour. Because of this price range, the developers’ services may not be of the top quality.

Keeping these factors in mind, one can expect the price range of a custom software product to be within $50,000 to $250,000. With a team of developers having mediocre expertise, the price tag can go up to $100,000.

Why do I Need Custom Software Development Product?

For a company or a business owner, the following factors might be the reason to acquire a custom software product:

It is Efficient

A custom-software product is designed such that there is no need for making adjustment with the existing COTS applications and programs.

It is Scalable

Custom software products can be modified according to the changing needs of organizations customers and users. This way, there is no need of buying new licenses and subscriptions again and again.

They have very Low Integration Costs

A company buying commercial software may require investing in it and in its environment so that the commercial software can be integrated smoothly. However, a custom software product easily gets integrated within the existing structure and environment of the company. 

Custom Software Products are Profitable

Depending upon the terms and conditions, software developers can make a profit out of their custom software product. By licensing their product or selling to other organizations, the software developer can earn money easily.

How to Choose Custom Software Development?

Choosing the right custom software product might be a bit tricky. However, the following tips can help in this regard:

Getting Referrals: By consulting other organizations and people in the network, a business can determine the optimum custom software product for itself.

Discussing Coding with the Developers: While negotiating with their desired custom software developers, organizations should not forget to discuss the coding process. In this regard, their preference should be to have a code that is not buggy or resource-hungry.

Looking at the Developer’s Portfolio: Looking at some of the past projects delivered by the company can be helpful. Those custom software companies that have worked on a lot of projects almost have the required expertise. Contrary to it, software developers that have just started working may not be able to deliver up to the expectations as they lack the required expertise.

Focusing on Delivery Time: The primary preference of a business while looking for a software development product should be those that deliver on time. This is essential as the business’s employees can become familiar with the software product if they receive it on time. 

We Provide You with the Right Custom Software Solutions

We, at BEKEY, provide our clients with the custom software solutions specific to their needs and requirements. Our dedicated teams possess the right expertise in developing and deploying the custom software solutions to various businesses and startups worldwide. Before we deliver our products to our clients, we ensure their quality by making them go through a rigorous cycle of scrutiny. This is why all of our clients who have worked with us are quite satisfied with the services we offer.

How to Choose a Web Design Company

A website is the face of a company. It influences its competitiveness, sales, customer engagement, and brand awareness. That’s why it’s vital to pay careful attention to your website. According to Google, users form an impression of a website within 50 milliseconds. Thus, a neat and catchy user interface is worth investing in.

If you already have a website you want to improve, conduct a UX design review to identify user interaction gaps. Once you have all of this information in one place, you can come to a potential vendor with a precise request and avoid confusion.

To choose the right web design company with high-quality web design services, start by making a list of your current business goals, defining your target audience, and listing the issues you want to fix.

Conduct research on recognized websites

Start your research on websites like Awwwards, Clutch, Dribbble, and Behance. These are trusted resources within the IT industry with directories of verified freelancers and agencies.

Clutch and Awwwards are aimed at constructive critiques, reviews, and evaluations. Dribbble and Behance are social networks for designers and design companies to post examples of their works.

Visit a web design company’s website

The website of a candidate web design company is a business card. Therefore, it should look credible and appealing, deliver a great user experience, and provide smooth navigation.

Study the portfolio

A portfolio presents a company’s variety of skills and professionalism. To properly examine a portfolio, you should take three crucial elements into account:

Variety of expertise

The variety of projects a company has completed in different industries will show the company’s flexibility. If the designs vary from product to product, it means that the company takes an individual approach to each client’s needs. It’s great to find case studies with descriptions of clients’ pain points and how the company solved them, especially if these relate to issues you have on your website.

User experience

Check out the websites from a company’s portfolio and try their features to test the quality of the company’s UX design expertise. A website should be intuitive and straightforward. Points to consider:

  • Landing page experience
  • Navigation simplicity between services
  • Ease of determining the website’s purpose

Successful case studies

The best indicators of a web design company’s professionalism and quality are reviews of satisfied customers. If you find them on unbiased sites, they’re even more valuable. Consider searching for testimonials and ratings on third-party platforms like Clutch and GoodFirms. It is an important aspect of finding site architecture and design services.

Investigate social media

Check out a web design company’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages. Facebook is more informal and employee-oriented, while LinkedIn is more professional and business-oriented.

As the biggest social network, Facebook is useful for raising brand awareness, promoting products and services, and building trust. Things to check out:

  • Contact information and address
  • Corporate culture
  • Community investment
  • Client interactions
  • Everyday company life in photos
  • Page customization

Companies use LinkedIn to attract both clients and employees. Also, it is a perfect website to show a company’s authority and provide evidence of expertise. Points to pay attention to:

  • Contact information and address
  • About us section and business story
  • Team members (including skills and previous experience)
  • Brand hashtags and posts mentioning them
  • Customer reviews
  • Consistency with posting and updating
  • Expertise
  • Solutions to clients’ pain points

By analyzing a company’s presence on these social networks, you’ll see clients’ levels of engagement and trust.

Check a company’s deliverables and workflow

A company’s workflow gives you an understanding of how they will approach your ideas. It sets clear expectations and highlights the benefits you’ll get as a result of each stage of web design process. At RubyGarage, we have a refined workflow accepted by leading agencies. Each stage has its milestones with clear deliverables and deadlines.

1. Project discovery

In the beginning, we define your goals and pain points, outline a solution strategy, and study the needs of your target audience. To ensure the creation of a competitive and viable product, we provide a competitor analysis report, customer personas, and a customer journey map. We also research design best practices.

2. Ideation, information architecture & prototyping

After conducting research, we gather suggestions for solving your pains and create a user flow, sitemap, and other components of the product structure. Then our designers develop website wireframes and mockups.

3. UI design

We create a solid UI solution to bring your idea to life. The UI is not only about aesthetics but also about user acquisition and retention. We establish a visual language to deliver mockups and graphics according to your business needs.

4. Testing

Finally, we test and analyze your concept. As a result, you get a usability and analytics report.

Examine pricing policies

The pricing policy differs from company to company — some charge per project, others per hour. There are advantages to both models.

A fixed price includes fewer risks. For example, if the final variant of the design doesn’t meet your expectations, you won’t have to pay for the changes. It’s a convenient pricing model for a company with a strictly limited budget. Fixed price is usually chosen for clearly defined scopes of work and MVPs, as these projects are small, short-term, and have predictable deadlines.

Per-hour pricing is preferred by vendors, especially if the scope of work is unclear or likely to increase. You may be worried that designers can prolong work, thus getting paid more. To avoid any trust issues, use time tracking tools. The advantage of hourly pricing is that any alterations can be added on-demand at any stage of the project.

Put the company to the test

After you find a couple of suitable web design companies, assign a test task for each. After it’s completed, you’ll see their approaches and the quality of their work. This will help you decide if you’re ready to cooperate with a particular web design company.

To sum up

A trusted web design company is hard to find, so choosing a design company can be challenging. Follow this guide for a quick and productive search.