I have an idea for a smart phone application. Where do I start?

5/27/2014 | killermosquito

[killermosquito]

I have an idea for a smart phone app. Does any freepers have any experience doing that?

I'm curious to know if charging for the app or selling advertising in the app makes more sense.

[lormand]

Then I propose an app for those men who don't know how to use a nav app...it goes like this....

"Proceed forward to the nearest Exxon or Shell station...go inside and ask for directions..."

How'z that?

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

VBA is not applicable.

Idea’s are a dime a dozen.

There are some pretty good E-Z packages for developing them.

Otherwise bone up on both Java(android) and Objective C(IOS).

Then bone up on your back-end server app skills.

[Leaning Right]

What about me who has no ideas, no talent, no money, and no social skills? What do I do?

Consider applying for a job as a White House advisor.

[GregB]

2016 there is an opening in DC!!!

[JRios1968]

What about me who has no ideas, no talent, no money, and no social skills? What do I do?

You hit it.

[Kirkwood]

I make phoneapps. Trust me that you don’t want to follow the advise you are getting here.

[HamiltonJay]

If you don’t know how to program, go to oDesk or sights like that and interview developers to make it for you.

Apps are created in a few ways..

1 Native mode... for Android this is Java for iPhone this is Objective c.

2 Web Based/HTML... basically just enough native code to launch a web view to open the “app” from your web site

3. Hybrid things like PhoneGap etc.

[HamiltonJay]

Actually that’s not completely true, I am sure you can write an app for windows phone using Visual Basic... then you can try to make money selling it to the 10 people that actually own a windows phone.

[LostPassword]

I’ve built apps for fortune 100 (fortune 10) companies and startups.

How to make money (or other value) REALLY depends on the app. Different models work depending on your target audience (and competitors).

The best way to develop the app also really depends on the app and the target audience. In some cases you can get away cheap ($1000s) and in other cases you really need to spend 100s of $1000s to build almost the same functionality.

You can build completely functional apps in html/javascript (offline web apps) that have access to the camera and a local database. Getting notifications, phonebook, sms, etc will need at least an extension to the web app (i.e. apache cordova allows extensions or allows a “native” app to present an html/javascript UI). HTML/javascript is quick and easy (relatively) for UI if you want cross-platform availability but it can feel clunky if your userbase expects a native app unless you put a lot of effort into the UI. There are many cross-platform development tools but the best one depends on the app (and target users) and in some cases native is the way to go (but I’d call those cases rare and getting rarer).

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Nope you cannot

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

BFL

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I have 2 Apps in the Apple App Store. If your market is iOS, you can write in Apple's Objective-C language, or, by using a platform such as Xamarin, you can take C# code and compile to native Cocoa. Regardless of the language, you'll need to be a registered developer with Apple and follow their guidelines.

If you're planning an Android App, then you'll need to follow those guidelines. Microsoft has their own guidelines for their apps as well.

[Triple]

Vote Democrat!?!

[sand88]

Otherwise bone up on both Java(android) and Objective C(IOS).

Correct, serious programming requires you know these two tools. The Big Nerd Ranch books are top notch. The books assume you have done Java/C programming.

They will bring you up to speed in short order.

[HamiltonJay]

Well someone better tell Microsoft then....

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/dn642037.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/ff402526(v=vs.105).aspx

Not that I am defending VB, or anything microsoft for that matter, but you can write a winsows phone app in VB... why anyone would want to, well that’s another story.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

You could do VB(not VBA) for .Net (C#’s brain dead cousin) but that’s a full fledged OO dev environment and will cost you some big bucks to get started. If you compare C# and VB the programs are line for line equivalent but the VB is just wordy and less powerful. VB developers are kind of like people using COBOL. Stubborn and refusing to change.

If you don’t know .Net or Java you have a long road to hoe friend.

There are some alternatives however. I’ve played with 4D, and Filemaker Pro. They will also cost a grand or two to get an app out the door.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

VBA and VB are two separate things. They have Zero in common other than a name.

[Mannaggia l'America]

Most apps are in java (not javascript), some C#.

Not on the iPhone. No java there.

On the iPhone, most are Objective-C (native) or Javascript/HTML hybrid apps.

[Mannaggia l'America]

You could take a look at something like Telerik AppBuilder, which will build apps for iPhone/iPad, Android, and Windows Phone.

Telerik AppBuilder

I have used it. Not saying it's the best or the best way. Apps are built using Javascript, HTML5, and CSS. It's basically an IDE that uses Apache Cordova, aka PhoneGap. You don't even need a Mac to create the iPhone app.

[Citizen Zed]

Apply for a patent before telling anyone about it.