DEV Community: Jason Hunter

How Can You Get More App Downloads?

Jason Hunter — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 07:40:14 +0000

One of the biggest issues that I observe with my clients and around me is the inability to get downloads after the app launch. Which isn’t surprising considering the overflowing app stores and intense competition. However, if you are skipping on some of the crucial steps that improve your app’s visibility and reach, then you are to blame first.

We need to understand that, in the current times, in order for your app to stand out, having it well developed isn’t the only necessary requirement these days. There is a lot of marketing work that needs to happen for that app to be acknowledged.

Anyhow, app marketing is a whole other realm that I am not the best to speak on. However, there are a few key steps that everyone should take to maximize the app’s chances for more downloads.

Number#1 Naming and Describing Your App

A unique and relevant name can set you apart from the rest of your competitors. So, focus on a name that is preferably not already used. Then, make sure the description of your app stands out.

The description is the section of your app that basically speaks about what it is and what features it has to offer. You cannot go wrong with this. Keep it sharp, confident, and to the point.

Number#2 Create an Awesome Logo

Your logo will serve as your app’s identity; not just on your consumer’s phone but as a whole. Besides, humans are more receptive to images, so make it count.

Number#3 Add Striking Photos and Videos of Your App

Whether it is in your app store section, your landing page, or just a promotional social media post – in all cases, make sure you are using good quality photos, screenshots, and videos.

A lot of the time people skip the text and just go through the pictures of your app’s user interface to understand what it does. This is why it is important for you to create photos that are self-explanatory.

Number#4 Get Genuine Reviews

One of the factors that help you get more downloads are positive reviews. Now, this doesn’t mean you go and ‘buy’ those reviews. That’s the worst thing you can do because app stores can detect such fakes and shut down those apps.

What you can do, is two things:
• Once a user completes a certain task, you release a pop-up asking for a review (Pro Tip: Give something in return for the review; like a discount, or redeemable points, or limited access to freemium features)
• You reach out to publishers and influencers to review your app and talk about it.

In both cases, if you manage to generate good reviews, you can increase your app downloads. The positive encouragement that a potential consumer receives from others through reviews, is exactly what an app needs.

Number#5 Keep Improving User Experience

For this, you need to keep a watchful eye on the user behavior and analyze it. Analytical tools like Google’s Universal Analytics or Mixpanel etc, really help you understand the expectations of your users with your app. You can analyze the user’s behavior from the time they download your app to the time they abandon it. This data will help you make the necessary improvements.

The better the user experience, the better the reviews, and more downloads.

Which Programming Language to Learn in 2020?

Jason Hunter — Fri, 15 May 2020 10:34:13 +0000

Deciding on your first programming language can either be easy if you have been dabbling with different technologies for some time, so you know which technology you lean more towards – or it could be a completely frustrating experience with you looking at so many options before you, each with its own set of uniqueness. However, there should be some sort of criteria on which you should choose the programming language to invest your precious time and energy in.

Here are some of the factors that can help you narrow down your first language ever.

•Consider the job market for the language (At the end of the day, you don’t want to choose a language that doesn’t necessarily have a large scope currently or in the near future)
•Long-term growth and progress of the language (see point 1)
•Learning curve (is it easy to grasp or are you willing to take on a complex language in your first try?)
•The projects you can take on while learning this language.

Either way, it entirely depends on your own capacity and will to learn. You can very well choose more than one language. However, it is advised to choose one, stick with it, ace-it, and then move forward to another.

I am going to narrow down the search for you, right off the bat. Python or JavaScript – two of the most famous languages at the moment with JavaScript raking majority of the votes from developers. Since according to SlashData, there were more than 10 million JavaScript software developers around the globe in 2018. Now we are in 2020, so you can imagine the numbers to be much higher.

As you must know, JS is an integral front-end web development language and has become a back-end development language as well, making it all the more convenient for the developers. JS has also placed its roots within the game development and IoT (Internet of Things) area. In addition, it has several frameworks for you to choose from.

Now, I could give you a generic list of instructions on choosing a programming language, or I could pitch JavaScript to you simply because of it being a great first language to learn and start your career with? I choose the latter. So shall we begin?

Think long term

JavaScript is growing faster than any language out there, beating Python as well. This indicates that the demand to have more developers on board is always there to compensate for more new and talented programmers.

Comparatively easy to learn

Scripting languages are fairly easy to learn and JavaScript is no different. Not only that, but it is also actually quite enjoyable once you start implementing it (remembering my good old days!). Python and Ruby also fall into the easy-syntax and learning category.

The lucrative job market

It goes without saying that you need to check the job market and your prospects with the language you are planning on learning. It would be a waste to not be able to make good money off of your hard work and projects. However, with this being said, learning something purely out of curiosity is also great.

JavaScript has a massive market, although the language has been around for a long time, it just recently picked up the pace of becoming a serious tool. Some of the famous applications built on JS include Netflix, Walmart, and PayPal.

You would be surprised to find out that although there are many JavaScript positions open, the developers in comparison are not adequate in number. So you still have a chance to take your shot at the open position without having to worry about stiff competition that languages like Java, PHP, and iOS face.

The many projects you can develop in JS

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that you can build practically anything with JS as the language runs on any device that has a browser.

With that being said, if you are into mobile app development, JavaScript is still a great language to start from and you have Node.js and Express.js for the back-end of things. So give JavaScript a chance as your first-ever programming language and you will not be disappointed!

Tips for Designing Best Progressive Web Apps

Jason Hunter — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:09:21 +0000

Progressive web apps have become the bridging gap between websites and mobile apps; a mix of both but with better reach, performance, and user experience. Speaking of user experience, it is important that best practices are followed when designing your PWA. I gathered a few key points that can help you streamline your designing process.

1. Less is More – Embrace Minimalistic Style

The concept of keeping the overall UI/UX design simple and easy to understand apply perfectly to PWAs. Why? Because they are built to help users perform the tasks in less amount of time. For this, you need to stay clear of incorporating distracting elements on high priority pages. Since unnecessary animations or content would drive the focus away from your app’s core functionality.

Make sure your PWA has important content, call-to-action elements and any other key component highlighted on that particular page.

2. Keep the Fonts Simple

If that uber fancy font is speaking to you, then hush those voices and use device default fonts whenever possible. You need an app that loads faster and is optimized in all areas – that includes fonts as well. Custom fonts will not only slow down your app’s performance and increase the downloading size of your page, but it will also create distractions that will lessen the retention rate.

3. Offline Mode

Considering PWAs load instantly even without an internet connection, you need to make sure you are maximizing on this advantage by providing all key features offline as well. Also, consider PRP: an architecture for structuring your PWAs.

4. Keep It Simple

Since Progressive Web Apps take your mobile experience to a whole new level, it is important that its features are enhancing the experience, not completely distracting from it.

This warning was actually given by a UX expert working for Google by the name Ryan Warrender. Why was the issue of not getting carried away was brought to light? Simply because there are tons of exciting features like home-screen install, push notifications, offline mode, and others tend to make any developer excited.

After all, PWAs have become the ultimate experience of websites that behave like mobile apps and have a great impact. Anyone that has so many features at their disposal would want to incorporate them as much as they can. This is why a reality-check is necessary. [See point #1.]

5. Focus On Reducing Friction

Speed-optimization isn’t the only factor that reduces the friction of the over-all experience. There are many factors that can contribute to friction even after having a super-fast loading speed.

These ‘other’ factors need to be tracked down, addressed, and sorted. They could be anything from the frustrating check-out system at your site or form-filling that is complicated and leading to a high drop off rate.

Practice modern solutions like autofill, one-tap-sign-up, automatic sign-in, and integrated web payments to reduce friction. In other words, apply any solution that makes the process for a user faster, convenient, and hassle-free.

In addition to these solutions, leverage ready-made solutions for most of your design needs.

Bonus Tips:
Apart from these 5 UX practices I have mentioned, make sure you are taking full advantage of the home screen install feature. This particular element is a powerful tool for brand visibility. So invest in creating an eye-catching icon.

Moreover, do not forget the SEO aspect as PWAs have URLs that can be crawled and indexed by search engines. So apply best SEO practices to rank better and stand out in search results. Lastly, test your Progressive Web App through Lighthouse – an open-source performance management tool introduced by Google.

Notorious Myths About Developers: On a Lighter-Note

Jason Hunter — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 12:52:15 +0000

So I was reading about the COVID-19 misinformation issue that WHO combined with the efforts of many mobile apps, are trying to tackle. I thought, why not address some myths, stereotypes, and assumptions regarding developers and programming. This might help beginners to unlearn some of the notions fed by wrong sources.

Myth#1 Developers Have No Life

Yes, I decided to address the most common and notorious assumption about choosing a profession that leaves little room for any other activity that makes a person more human-like going out with friends, socializing, having a hobby, and basically doing anything besides sitting in front of their screens coding away.
This is not true at all but not entirely false either, as there are certain programmers that are so passionate and involved in their projects that they do forget to ‘human’, but for some days. Other than that, all developers are different and have lives outside the realms of their workstations. Take me as an example, I love to read, hang out with my buddies, travel, and swim.

Myth#2 Programmers Are Anti-Social Creatures

It’s not that we are anti-social, it is that either we suck at managing our time or have strict deadlines to follow, which leaves little room for socializing, relaxing with friends and all that jazz. However, when it comes to communicating and collaborating with teams and colleagues for work-related issues – these guys are at the top of their game.

So the myth about developers being cooped up in their rooms or offices coding away without a care about their surroundings or suffering from social anxiety is false.

Myth#3 Seasoned Developers Are Tech-Gurus

No, not really. Developers do not gain the magical prowess of the ULTIMATE geek that can solve any problems within your tech gadgets, devices, WiFi connectivity issues, and worse hack into various accounts, or steal your neighbor's WiFi, and basically become like Rami Malek in Mr. Robot.

Ask any developer about the times they have been asked if they can hack into someone’s Facebook – you will be surprised. So, get this notion out of your head as there are developers who deal with the software end, other with hardware, and even network – Each mastering their area and not necessarily professionals in all-things-tech.

Myth#4 A Capable Developer Can Work Independently and Code from Scratch

In simpler terms, this myth instates that once a developer is assigned a task or a project, they immediately start building it from the ground up. Many believe that a true developer wouldn’t require anyone’s help or existing tools as they are a complete unit of genius themselves.

Although a qualified developer can do that. However, not only it is time-consuming, it is really not required. Above all, the programming itself promotes the ethics of re-using existing systems, tools, applications, libraries, and frameworks – they are built for the very purpose of assisting the developer community and the software development as a whole.
The goal is to re-use components and modules to reduce development time, cost, and resources.

Myth#5 Only Math Wizards and Intelligent People Become Developers

Wrong on so many levels. You need dedication, diligence, consistency, and the help of your seniors to become a good developer. Hard work always pays off, and you do not have to be a mathematician to be able to code. Yes, problem-solving skills and sound knowledge of basics would do the job for you. Again, there are tons of material online including helpful developer communities to keep you going.

The great developers you see around you have had their fair share of trying times – where they repeatedly failed, made embarrassing mistakes, couldn’t figure out an issue or a bug for weeks on end – But they managed after constant practice, learning, and never giving up.

Myth#6 A Developer’s Career is Valid till 35

Age has nothing to do with the ending of the developer’s career, it is stagnation. Software development is a fast-paced field where new technologies, frameworks, and tools are constantly being introduced. If you are not updating your skillset and knowledge, you are a goner.

Another thing that happens after 35 is developers going up the corporate ladder and embracing managerial positions within the companies, or better, starting their own little ventures.

Mobile Apps vs. Mobile Websites: Which One Dominates?

Jason Hunter — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 14:04:22 +0000

Although at this point it is quite apparent which platform is taking the lead in terms of user preference, there are still many organizations that would invest in a good looking mobile website than an actual app. There could be many reasons for this decision, but we are here to argue about which is more beneficial and why organizations should consider a shift towards the winner.

Before diving into the pros and cons to effectively weigh in the differences; we should speak about the obvious trend of excessive smartphone usage that has overtaken desktop-use by a large margin.

Especially with better, smarter, advance, and faster smartphone devices being launched every year, these devices alone have become mini-computers capable of handling much of the work that one would do on a desktop. So it is fair for many businesses to simply opt for a cost-effective mobile-optimized website.

However, since we should speak with facts and figures in place, let’s break everything down for better understanding.

What Do the Statistics Say?

According to App Annie, the mobile app industry is expected to generate revenue up to a whopping $189 billion by the year 2020; which is massive and justifies the growing scale of mobile app development industry as well. What is more astonishing is that nearly 57% of all digital media usage comes from mobile apps instead of desktops or mobile websites. Currently, there are more than 2.8 million apps on the Google Play Store and 2.2 million apps on the Apple App Store – which indicates the growing consumer demand.

These statistics clearly show the popularity and excessive usage of mobile apps, which is only going to increase more. Moreover, if your brand is providing a certain service that consumers would gravitate to quite often – they would rather have an accessible mobile app for that then having to open a web browser on their phone to access the website every time.

Nonetheless, fair gameplay is required so we discussed the benefits both contenders provide for you to pick your winner.

Mobile App Pros

• Personalization: Mobile apps enable users to set their preferences when they are downloading the app. This, in turn, gives them tailored communication based on their interests, usage behavior, location, and more. Since personalized communication is the latest and most successful trend, mobile apps are a clear winner here.

• Leveraging Device Features: A native app can make use of the device’s software and hardware like the camera, GPS, and more. This enables organizations to provide better services to their customers through push notifications, device vibrations or alerts, automatic updates, and more. Since user-experience matter, mobile websites have limited access to the device’s features, which makes them a liability for the customer.

• Offline Access: Mobile apps can run offline and provide much of the basic features without an internet connection.

• Enhanced Customer Engagement: Mobile apps are solving pain points and hence engaging customers more into the features and ease of access they are providing. This makes customers keep coming back to the mobile app experience rather than a website. 83% of mobile users deem user experience as an essential factor for mobile app success.

• Branding Perks: Even if your downloaded app is not heavily used it is still taking space in a user’s mobile, and the logo is a reminder of its presence. Your app’s icon is more like self-advertisement of your brand, which is definitely an advantage compared to a mobile website that, if not remembered or bookmarked, is forgotten.

Mobile Website Pros

• Bigger Audience Reach: A mobile website is available on all platforms, and when it comes to search engines, sites have more reach and visibility as compared to mobile apps that are limited to their respective Play Stores. So anyone can gain access to them on any device as long as they are connected to the internet.

• Search Engine Optimization: Desktop or mobile site usage isn’t going anywhere, but it also isn’t as high as mobile app usage statistics. However, when it comes to Google ranking, websites take the lead. If the pages are search engine optimized, mobile-first optimized, and have an impeccable UI/UX design – it has better chances to rank higher and, in turn, bring higher website traffic. This also facilitates brand visibility, as well. However, when it comes to personalization and interaction, websites do lack tremendously.

Who’s the winner? Mobile Apps or Mobile Websites?

The answer to this entirely depends on your organization’s goals and objectives. Nonetheless, mobile apps are a much more lucrative choice for better engagement, interaction, conversion, and communication with your customers or visitors. For the most part, mobile apps play a part as an extension of the brand; hence, investing in a functional and interactive mobile app will help grow your consumer-base, reach and brand credibility.

What Is the Future of JavaScript?

Jason Hunter — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 13:34:02 +0000

So someone asked me about the future of Javascript, and I thought why not write down my answer instead? So this language is the most popular and widely known around the globe – mainly because of its heavy and vast usage. Other developers love it and so do I.

An easy-to-understand and easy-to-implement language that helps create interactive web pages, who wouldn’t love it? Javascript is any beginner’s favorite and top client-side programming language. So the future looks bright for JS – particularly for some of its frameworks, that include:
• Node.js
• Angular.js
• React.js

Node.js can be declared as the most popular framework – Angular and React following closely. One of the best reasons why Node.js is given the top place is because of it being easily applicable to both sides – which is the client and server-side. JS is known for being a front-end scripting language but thanks to Node.js, developers can make use of it in the back-end as well. This relieves much of the pressure off of the developers for using different languages for front and back-end. Node.js brought JS to the server-side and hence, it is on top of the list in terms of growth and development.

Angular.js is one framework that has evolved considerably; from Angular to Angular 7. This framework is popular for developing single-page applications. However, what really has sparked its popularity is the constant innovation and progression within Angular.js programming services. So far most loved features can be data synchronization; synchronizing the view and the model. Which as developers we all know is such a time and effort saver!

React.js is gaining momentum within the developers’ community and for all the right reasons. React.js is the ultimate game-changer for high-traffic websites – as it enables building complex UIs from small and isolated pieces of code, which is called ‘components’. Facebook is the founding father of this framework, and today many popular high-traffic sites make use of it.

There are countless comprehensive tutorials available for anyone who is thinking of learning any of JS’s frameworks. The market is abundant and the frameworks are experiencing growth, progression, and an increase in usage.

As for its future, it is already answered. Javascript isn’t going anywhere. Its extensive usage in software development speaks for itself.

How to Find the Best App Development Company?

Jason Hunter — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:26:11 +0000

So you have a million-dollar winning mobile app idea for your business with adequate funding to make your vision a reality but hesitant as to which partner to go to? Well, it is absolutely normal considering that with the increase in demand for more mobile app solutions, there has been a considerable growth of companies offering mobile app development services.

However, no matter how many companies claim to be the best in their craft pertaining to mobile app development, the ones that are best possess an extensive experience along with a diverse range of expertise in a tech-stack that is up to date and latest – regardless of the size of their business, their clients and projects also speak for their work, professionalism, and skillset.

Nonetheless, the problem still stands – which is how to know this mobile app development company is the right one for your mobile app development needs. It isn't rocketing science and you just need to follow the following tips to determine if it is worth it or not.

Be clear on your mobile app requirements

Having a certain vision and idea of the general working of the mobile app and the problem its solving is one thing but really knowing the actual requirements is a whole different ball game – something you need to ace. So make sure you are aware of what your app represents, how will it solve the problem, and other small and big features.

Once you are clear on what you want in your mobile app the process of gathering requirements from you will become considerably easy for the mobile app development company, without them having to deal with a confused client.

Next, know the platform your mobile app will be based on

If you are not clear as to which platform your mobile app will be developed in – iOS or Android, you will not be able to narrow down your search for the best firm out there within your budget. Once you know the platform, it becomes easier to target the companies that offer their expertise in that area, specifically.

Check the reputation of the company with their clients

A little background check is necessary so you know you are not heading into a trap. Finding trustworthy agencies has become tougher these days and once you make the deal, it may be too late to back out. So it is better to do a thorough check of their website and find out their clients. Next, approach those clients and ask about their experience with that company. You can also make out a lot about the company through its portfolio, services they offer, and through reviews.

How efficient is their team of developers?

Everyone claims to have the best ones in the market, but it does come down to the tech-stack and the skill-set their team of mobile app developers possesses. This will give you an idea about how professional and experienced they really are.

How good is their customer service?

A company that values its clients focuses heavily on its customer service, support and maintenance, and even goes one step further and offers growth hacking. Naturally, such companies have a great reputation with their clients and in the industry, generally.

So if the company offers great customer service after the product delivery, you are at the right stop –provided other red-flags also do not exist.

All in all, hiring a great mobile app development company can be taxing but highly rewarding. As once you land a great service provider, you get to have great beneficial relationship with them for the long run.

How to Start Coding as a Beginner?

Jason Hunter — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 08:58:20 +0000

Coding is the IT skill that has everyone talking from a regular English professor to a bartender. The career of a developer is lucrative, the software industry is booming, and the job prospects seem the brightest in this department – so it is understandable.

But all people do is talk and not act on it. They have fears of the unknown, to be honest. Am I too old for this? My math isn’t the strongest, so will I be able to understand coding at all? Will I be able to keep up? Does it require a bachelor’s degree? So on and so forth.

I could go on and on about the various questions and fears that hinder people from taking the plunge. Yes, coding does require commitment, but it isn’t ‘hard’ as many make it out to be.

So if you are one of the dreamers that want to convert their dreams of being a kick-ass developer into a reality, then keep on reading.

Set up your computer for programming

How can you do that? By getting the right software installed. The process isn’t that hard, and you have several tutorials available that assist you through a step-by-step guide. Since your computers need to run the code, they need these assistants (softwares).

If I were to put all the necessary pointers together, I would say

1) You could write your code in a text editor but save it with a specific type that is in relation to the programming language you have used within. For example, if you are writing code in Python, you would save the file with the .py extension.

2) Next, to run the code, you would need a certain software that would read all that code and run it. For that, you need to search for the ones that are most suited for the language you have chosen.

3) Integrated Development Environment (IDE) – do not get spooked by the name. This provides with everything mentioned above: a code editor, runner, and the ability to create project files – all in one. You will need it once you dive in deep and start writing complex codes.

“YouTube It”

Bet you knew this one coming at some point – such is the power of YouTube. It has become a powerhouse for the students and learners from a plethora of tutorials available on one subject or query alone. I’ve seen so many developers with educational backgrounds that have nothing to do with computer science, yet they are the skilled programmers. Ask them where they learned it from? And you will get the answer you already know – YouTube.

So never underestimate this platform and make immense use of it.

Practice Coding Through Interactive Games

learning through gaming apps and websites is one of the most effective methods, and you can surely take advantage of them once you have the hang of the basics. These programming games have various challenges and programming problems for you to solve and learn from.

Some of the examples that you can check out are:

CodeCombat: A web app that teaches specifically in the areas of computer science, web development, and game development through puzzles and challenges. It even has a classroom edition that allows teachers to connect with their students and help them learn.

CodinGame: Supports over 25 programming languages and is a web app. Every puzzle/challenge has a theme that you would need to work around, creating the ‘fun’ alive in a programming session.

Codewars: More of a gamified learning platform than an actual gaming app. You get points for completing challenges, and it even lets you view solutions submitted by other participants.

Join Communities

Do not underestimate these online communities of fellow coders. Once you know the basics and have simple to intermediate projects under the belt – you can get lots of direction, mentoring, and help with tricky problems from the members. Some of the well-known communities are:

Stack Overflow: This is the place where you first search for the answer to your problem because it is likely that someone has already solved it for you. In case you do not, you can always ask.

Hackathons: These events bring everyone together to have a code-fest. You can search for ones within your area or in your city, attend, learn, and network.
Reddit: If you are a millennial, then you must know what Reddit is. /r/learnprogramming/ is where you should be for all-things-programming.

Enroll in Coding Bootcamps

A lot of the people require a physical classroom to engage themselves in learning. This is where these boot camps can help such people in learning how to code from a teacher and peers around engaging in group activities and projects. However, this shouldn’t be the only reason to join a coding boot camp. These few weeks of training is for individuals that want to dive deep into code and build a career out of it.

Old School Learning Through Books

Book lovers and readers rejoice. You have the option to opt for a book that helps you enhance and polish your coding skills further. You get to learn ideas, concepts, philosophy, and of course, programming activities for practice.

Only books can’t reply to you when you are stuck. But it is still a great resource to get you going. However, if you do not practice and just read – it won’t get you anywhere, nor will it help you retain the information as applying the programming concepts when practically solving a problem does.

So what did we learn so far?

1)Programming isn’t scary or tough or limited to factors like age.
2)Learning how to code requires dedication and self-discipline.
3)There are several resources at your disposal to start from scratch. Out of which some of those ways as discussed are:

               -Through YouTube tutorials 
               -Through code games and programming challenges 
               -By enrolling oneself in coding boot camps 
               -By taking an online course 
               -Through reading a book 
               -Through joining code communities like Stack Overflow
               -By creating smaller and simpler code first 
               -By listening to podcasts

So what are you waiting for? Shed all the ‘what-ifs’ and fears. The software industry is booming with its market projected to amount to around 507.2 billion U.S. Dollars by 2021. What more is that developers are always in high demand, so rest-assured your decision to start learning to program is indeed fruitful.

How Developers Can Overcome Imposter Syndrome?

Jason Hunter — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 08:53:22 +0000

Imposter syndrome is not a disease but is vicious if entertained for too long. Since self-doubt is within the fabrics of human nature, it can become hard to break the cycle. Developers face this as much as any other professional, and the feelings of inadequacy attacks regardless of how extensive or little the experience is. You could be a budding developer who started a year ago or a senior with years of successful work behind you – chronic self-doubt pokes its head out, making you feel small and incompetent when the opposite is actually true.

You must have gathered by now that this is coming from a personal space as a developer myself? And I did become mindful and changed a few things around me and within me to steer clear of self-deprecating thought patterns. (Not the best thing for your career and inner-peace)

So let’s go through the ways to battle it out like a pro!

Take it easy

Software development is demanding, fast-paced, and ever-changing. Developers require to keep up and update their knowledge and skillset whilst treading unknown fields to get the hang of it as quickly as possible. YES, it is hectic and can take a toll on you. So take it easy, you are no wizard, but you are smart and will learn when given enough time and effort.

No need to run in the rat race and try to be great at everything – and if you fail to keep up, self-doubt will seep in, dulling your spirits.

Keep track of your accomplishments big or small

Now what you can do is reflect on your accomplishments to keep such feelings of inadequacy at bay. Of course, this wouldn’t have been recommended if you were full of yourself, but since that is not the case here – Your humble soul needs a good look at those wins to remind yourself of how awesome and hardworking you are.

So take screenshots of your wins, positive reviews on your work and yourself, emails, anything and everything encouraging. Now place them in a separate folder and go through it whenever imposter syndrome pays you an unwelcome visit.

Find yourself a mentor

You’re not alone in your struggle, and if you find the right person for guidance, you will find this to be part of everyone’s dark side. A mentor who is a senior and has gone through the path you are treading on will help you whenever you are unsure and stuck. The key is to find someone who will push you forward through positive reinforcements and enlightenment.

Pick a new skill and stick to it

Coming back to the first point, de-clutter. You do not need multiple things on your plate. As a developer, you would want to learn something entirely and not half-way through. So whenever you pick something that will assist you in your current or future projects, practice every day. You can even set a reasonable timeline for yourself, in which you would want to have working practical knowledge.

This way, you wouldn’t have to worry about several other things that need your attention, leaving you feeling inadequate or incapable of multi-studying? Sticking entirely to one thing will not only sharpen your focus and increase your grasping ability, but will also give you a sense of purpose.

Lastly,

• Know you are trying your best and will learn it at your own pace.
• You can make mistakes, un-learn, and re-learn. It is, after all, a part of the developer’s journey.
• You work hard, write kick-ass code, deliver the product to the best of your abilities, and this alone makes you a champ.

So keep moving forward and not let self-doubt take that much space in your mind.

Which is the best company for web and mobile application development services?

Jason Hunter — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 08:03:15 +0000

As a developer, more than often I get asked this question: "Which is the best company for web and mobile application development services?"

I like how this question is simple and straight forward, however quite broad. There are numerous companies offering web and mobile app development services and one simply cannot pick one and deem it best. It entirely depends on your requirements and how good they cater to it, or have the history of doing so.
For me, AppVerticals has been a great experience, for a number of reasons.

#1 Their tech stack

As a developer myself, I will chart this as number one since they hold an extensive tech stack for all the services they provide. Which are in a broader sense: Web and Mobile App Development and eCommerce development.
A great way to choose a company is to consider the technologies they are using, and AppVerticals is at the top of their game. Am I sounding like a fan yet? You will too, once you do your research on them.

#2 Services they offer

• For your mobile app needs, they provide: iOS App Development, Android App Development, Windows App Development, and Mobile App Design.
• For your website needs, they provide: Website App Development, Wordpress Web Development, Joomla Web Development, PHP Development, Node JS Development, and UX Design Services.
• For your eCommerce needs, they provide: Ecommerce Web Development, Ecommerce Mobile Application, Magneto Development, WooCommerce Development, Shopify Development, and OpenCart Development.

#3 Dedicated Teams

Dedication here doesn’t just mean the usual overused term for being passionate about your work. The teams at AppVerticals are skilled professionals that take on their clients’ projects with responsibility and deliver a great final product that has gone through the followings steps:
• Concept Assessment
• Concept Workshop
• Rapid Agile Development
• Support and Maintenance
• Growth Hacking (They also offer services that make sure your product is achieving the goals your company set for it, along with product’s after-care services)
Rest assured your idea will be materialized with the best development and research practices involved.

#4 Testimonies, Client Base and Overall Portfolio

This is the best way to inspect their work in totality and check the experiences of other clients through testimonies. AppVerticals will not disappoint as they are transparent and cooperative in providing everyone with an honest walkthrough.

These were my top 4 picks as to why AppVerticals has been a great company to work with.

Estimating The Cost of A Mobile App

Jason Hunter — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 12:48:05 +0000

So I've been in the mobile app development industry for quite a while now. More than often, I come across ambitious people that want to get a mobile application developed for their business (or any other type of app for entertainment).

Of course I'm always happy to pick up new tasks. But there one question that (quite frankly) really gets on my nerves.
And that is: "What's gonna be the cost of this mobile app?"
OR, with some added specific: "what's gonna be the cost of my virtual reality makeup app?"

Like we're in the initial 3 minute of the on-boarding process and the customer really expects me to give them an estimate of the cost.

You can't exactly predict the cost of a mobile app without the below mentioned information (If I'm forgetting something, please leave a comment. I'll make the edits).

Information Required for Estimating The App Development Cost

The Features You’re Planning On Including

Some examples of basic features:
-Are users required to manually register on you account or can they register using their social media profiles
-Will users have to create their personal profiles
-What will be your monetization strategy (in-app purchases, ads, paid app etc.)
-Does your app need to be connected with a website
-Will there be push-notifications
-Are you planning on making it multilingual
-Are you going to integrate a social sharing option?
-Will your app have offline capabilities

The development process

both front-end and back-end development take time individually

The complexity of your app’s functionality

Detailed functional requirements can help estimate the cost

The complexity of your app’s features and design

basic design, individual design, or custom design

Prototyping and wire-framing

The operating system you’re going to use

-Apple iOS
-Android
-Hybrid mobile app

Market Research

The cost will also depend on the market research required for analyzing and creating a successful business strategy. This step helps to evaluate if there is any demand for the customer's product in the market.

Cost of testing / quality assurance

The number of pages in your app

The Developer/Company

Cost also Depends on the app developer or the company you’re going to hire (costs vary with different companies and developers).

No matter which type of app you're developing, you need the above information to effectively estimate the cost.

So once I have acquired the above information, then I calculate the total cost.

How to make money with gaming apps

Jason Hunter — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 06:47:06 +0000

Statistics reveal that users are starting to prefer mobile apps over websites. Can you guess which type of apps users engage with the most, 'gaming apps'.

As a developer, I always come across the question: "How do you generate income from a mobile app?"
This question is more highlighted when it comes to 'gaming apps'.
Well folks, let's talk about all the ways that revenue can be generated from mobile apps. I'm gonna mention a few ways that come to my mind, feel free to contribute your ideas.

1. Provide premium features that users have to purchase in the mobile apps.
2. Provide game boosters like lives and coins that users can purchase to improve their gaming experience.
3. Launch a paid app (only do this if you really think that your app is worth spending money on).
4. Sell merchandise on your gaming app.
5. Run advertisements on your app for other companies (this is also called referral marketing).

What are your thoughts?