How To Build an App

There are 7 stages to building an app:

1. Proposal
2. Quote
3. Acceptance
4. Design
5. Construction
6. Test
7. Deployment

Details

1. Proposal
   You write a mission statement for the app – a description of what you would like the app to do, what purpose you would like the app to fulfil. Its important at this stage to think about what differentiates your app from everything else in the market place – what makes your app special.
    
2. Quote
   I provide a quote based on our understanding of your proposal. Often I shall paraphrase your proposal, to make sure I have clearly understood your wishes. I often ask questions at this stage, if I need more information to fully understand your proposal.
    
3. Acceptance
   We discuss the proposal and quote. Hopefully this stage leads to your acceptance of the quote. At this stage, if you accept the quote, we take a third of the quoted sum as a deposit, to begin the detailed design of the app.
    
4. Design
   We create a detailed wireframe design of your app. A wireframe is a sketch of each screen of your app, with arrows to describe how users will move from one screen to the next, and comments describing what functions each screen will provide. This is a very consultative process, with lots of dialogue to ensure the design fully satisfies your requirements.
    
5. Construction
   When you are satisfied with the design, we take a second 1/3 payment to begin construction. As early as possible we shall start to provide you prototype versions of your app, to help you experience as much of the app as possible as it is being built. Initially the prototypes will be very incomplete, but as the construction phase approaches completion, your app will take form, until your prototype is a release candidate – a prototype app which fulfils all of the design requirements.
    
6. Test
   When we have an app which fulfils all functionality, we focus on testing – trying out each screen of the app, in as many different was as possible, to shake out any defects. Android apps can be updated rapidly, but the iPhone release process can take several weeks, even if the release is a correction to a defect. So it is critical to identify and correct defects before the app is deployed.
    
7. Deployment
   When we are both satisfied as much as possible that the app fulfils requirements, and is well tested, the app is ready for deployment. At this stage we accept the third and final payment, then we release the app either to Android Google Play, Apple App Store, or both if your app is multi platform.