A growing number of self-made app developers are deciding to create their own apps nowadays. However, before starting this process, it is important to have a clear understanding of the challenges involved in DIY app development and the pros and cons of taking on this type of job. In this article, we have listed some of the advantages and disadvantages of personal app development so you can make a clear and smart decision as to whether you're prepared to develop your own apps.
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Pros of DIY App Development
Everybody loves to work at a pace that is best suited to their individual desires. This is obviously one of the biggest reasons why people choose to become do-it-yourselfers in the first place. When it comes to DIY app development, however, there are some industry specific benefits to being a DIY developer. Noted below are a few of the pros to consider.
Cost Effective: Developing an app involves planning, design, development, testing, hosting, marketing and finally – launch or activation. The fact is that each of these areas tends to have its own specialist. If you're able to take on a few of these specific tasks and do not need to outsource the jobs, you'll naturally save money.
Control of the Project: When you're taking on all aspects (or a majority of them) involved in the development of a successful app, you maintain control of the project scope. This includes timelines, budget and ensuring the app has all the features you envision from the start.
Cons of DIY App Development
Although there are some great advantages as we've listed above, taking on app development yourself does come with several hurdles as well. Some of these cons typically include:
Always Evolving Tools and Techniques: The sad reality of software development is that tools and techniques evolve daily. Successful app developers need to spend a lot of time, resources and money on frequently updating their equipment and software in order to develop working apps through different devices.
The Need to Continually Train Others: When you have an in-house app development team, or a few people that help you with other areas of development, the need to continually train them and ensure they have the right equipment and skills to write new code needed for apps to work on all devices is another drawback to consider.
The Chances of Failure Increase: The sad reality of most DIY apps is that they often fail, not due to lack of effort from the developer, but due to the lack of updated resources to reduce the potential of bugs. This includes applying best coding practices, knowledge of updated security protocols and the needs of the consumer.
Consider Using the Google Play Developer Console to Develop & Manage Apps
One of the most popular platforms for publishing finished apps is Google Play. This is why most DIY app developers need to first learn how to use Google Play Developer Console to help develop and manage their applications. The console allows you to manage every phase of publishing apps and reach more than a billion active Android users across the globe. You can test the apps, gather vital insights and make adjustments prior to launch, manage distribution, pricing and more – all from one account.
Whether you're a home mechanic or an app developer, anytime you take on a DIY project, you always want to have the right tools to do the job correctly the first time. Consider these pros and cons and make sure to arm yourself with the best tools to make a positive impact with the apps you develop.