Mobile App Development

📱 What Is a Mobile App?

• Definition: A mobile app (short for mobile application) is a software program designed to run on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
• Purpose: To provide specific functionality or services directly on a mobile device — from communication and entertainment to productivity and commerce.
• Characteristics:
  • Installed via app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play).
  • Optimized for touch input and small screens.
  • Can access device features (camera, GPS, sensors, notifications).
  • Often works offline or with limited connectivity.
• Types of Mobile Apps:
  • Native apps: Built specifically for one platform (iOS or Android).
  • Web apps: Run in a browser, look like apps but don’t require installation.
  • Hybrid apps: Combine web technologies with a native wrapper (e.g., Ionic, Cordova).

📱 What Is Mobile App Development?

Definition: Mobile app development is the process of creating software applications that run on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets). Goal: Deliver functionality, services, or entertainment directly on mobile platforms (iOS, Android, HarmonyOS).

🧩 Key Layers

1. Platforms

• iOS (Apple): Apps built with Swift or Objective‑C, distributed via the App Store.
• Android (Google): Apps built with Kotlin or Java, distributed via Google Play.
• HarmonyOS (Huawei): Apps built with ArkTS (ArkUI framework) or Java, distributed via Huawei AppGallery.
  • HarmonyOS is a distributed operating system that runs across phones, tablets, wearables, smart screens, cars, and IoT devices.
  • Goal: “Write once, run on multiple devices.”

2. Approaches

• Native Development:
  • Platform‑specific languages (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android, ArkTS for HarmonyOS).
  • Best performance and full access to device features.
• Cross‑Platform Development:
  • One codebase runs on multiple platforms.
  • Frameworks: Flutter (Dart), React Native (JavaScript), Xamarin (.NET).
• Hybrid Apps:
  • Built with web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) wrapped in a native shell.
  • Example: Ionic, Cordova.

3. Core Components

• Front‑end (UI/UX): Screens, buttons, navigation, animations.
• Back‑end (Server/Database): APIs, authentication, data storage.
• Middleware: Connects front‑end and back‑end securely.
• HarmonyOS Extension: Distributed architecture allows apps to share resources across devices (e.g., phone + smartwatch + smart TV working together).

⚙️ Development Process

1. Planning: Define app purpose, features, and target users.
2. Design: Create wireframes, prototypes, and user interface.
3. Development: Write code (front‑end + back‑end).
4. Testing: Check functionality, performance, and security.
5. Deployment:
   • iOS → App Store.
   • Android → Google Play.
   • HarmonyOS → Huawei AppGallery.
6. Maintenance: Update, fix bugs, add new features.

🔑 Tools & Languages

• iOS: Swift, Objective‑C, Xcode.
• Android: Kotlin, Java, Android Studio.
• HarmonyOS: ArkTS (TypeScript‑like language), Java, DevEco Studio IDE.
• Cross‑Platform: Flutter (Dart), React Native (JavaScript), Xamarin (.NET).
• Back‑end: Node.js, Python (Django/Flask), PHP, Firebase.