Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Creating Apps: The Guide for Ordinary People
    Creating Apps: The Guide for Ordinary People
    Creating Apps: The Guide for Ordinary People
    Ebook205 pages2 hours

    Creating Apps: The Guide for Ordinary People

    By Jacqueline D. Anderson

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    People love apps and “There should be an app for that!” is a phrase we have all said or heard. Many would like to see their unique and creative ideas take a place in the App Store and reach an audience of fellow app-lovers.
    How can someone with no technical skills enter this exciting new market and create their first app?
    This book is a guide for creative people who have the ideas and the desire to build apps, but are not programmers.

    How? You can do it by outsourcing the technical tasks and concentrating your efforts on managing the rest of the process: from fleshing out the concept, to the design and marketing. There are many things to consider to create a winning app.

    What will you learn?

    - How to plan and manage an app development project.
    Project planning is essential in order to break down your app development into manageable pieces-even if your plan is just an outline. This step-by-step plan will let you get started immediately and learn as you go.

    -What it takes to make your app competitive in a crowded market.
    The beauty of apps is in their function and the way they present visually on such a small device. Understand the elements of a good design that will make your app stand out from the rest. Learn how to outline of the basic information you need to communicate your idea to a programmer simply, yet thoroughly.

    -How to make basic decisions if you have no technical know-how at all. You do not have to be a programmer to understand the elements of app development as you would any other product development. A brief and simple overview of the technical environment for apps is presented in a clear and easy-to-understand language.

    -Where to find resources to build your app. Learn the many alternatives available to you, how to choose the right one for your app and how to communicate with them effectively.

    -How to understand the revenue models - A chapter is devoted to helping you understand the benefits of charging for your app or offering it for free.

    -The marketing options available. Your best marketing begins in the App Store with the icon and continues long after your first sale. Learn how to present your app to full advantage in the App Store and how to maintain momentum after it’s published.

    App development is achievable, even if you have no experience—even if you are not a technical person. Understanding the process is the key to a successful app development and this guide will cover that process from start to finish.
    Table of Contents
    Introduction
    Chapter 1 - Apps for Everyone
    Chapter 2 - How to Start
    Chapter 3 - Preliminary Choices
    Chapter 4 - Creating a Winning App
    Chapter 5 - A Design Document Tells All
    Chapter 6 – Development Options
    Chapter 7 - Other People’s Stuff
    Chapter 8 - Get Paid or Give it Away
    Chapter 9 - The Submission Process
    Chapter 10 - The App Showdown
    Chapter 11 - After the Fact
    Appendix

    About the Author
    Jacqueline D. Anderson was an app-lover from the moment she bought her first iPhone. She has a B.A. degree in Art from Smith College and has worked as a programmer, business analyst, and project manager throughout her career. She is now an independent consultant for software implementations. The fact that she is no longer a programmer did not stop her from attempting to publish her first app and she is convinced that this is something anyone can do— if they gather as much information as possible before starting, and then take it one step at a time.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJacqueline D. Anderson
    Release dateMar 31, 2011
    ISBN9781458183057
    Creating Apps: The Guide for Ordinary People
    Author

    Jacqueline D. Anderson

    Is an artist, writer, world traveller, who has lived in many places - from New York to San Francisco to Geneva, Switzerland.This self-proclaimed appaholic who loves creativity in all forms, obtained an art degree then turned to the IT world for a day job. Thus began a lifelong interest in technology.Starting her career as a programmer, she moved on to business analysis, functional design, and finally to project management. In 2005, she formed her own company to work as an independent consultant for software implementations.Now, she is happily attempting to satisfy the artist and the geek inside by creating mobile phone apps.

    Related to Creating Apps

    Related ebooks

    Applications & Software For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      MAKE MONEY At Home!

      Jun 20, 2021

      MAKE MONEY At Home!
      1 min read

    • Article

      Create A Webpage Or Blog

      Mar 26, 2020

      Create A Webpage Or Blog
      12 min read

    • Article

      How To Create Your Own Android Apps Without Coding

      Oct 21, 2019

      THIS ANDROID HOW-TO explores new territory for many readers, but we really wanted to answer the questions: Can you create a mobile device app without becoming a programmer? Is it affordable, and is it worth the effort? It all started when an app-buil

      4 min read

    • Article

      5 Affordable Ways To Make Money Online

      Feb 17, 2020

      If you’re particularly passionate about and knowledgeable in a certain field, turning it into content via a blogging platform could earn you money. There are various free hosting sites for bloggers, such as Blogger.com or Tumbler.com. However, some o

      2 min read

    • Article

      Launch a Side Hustle!

      Dec 31, 2019

      Launch a Side Hustle!
      25 min read

    • Article

      Your First Code

      Jul 31, 2019

      Your First Code
      1 min read

    • Article

      HotPicks

      Jun 30, 2020

      HotPicks
      13 min read

    • Article

      6 Apps for Learning to Program on iOS

      May 11, 2017

      As iOS becomes ever more useful and powerful to so many of our computing tasks, apps for coding and learning the trade have steadily been growing in number. While you still can’t build and submit an app to the store entirely from an iPad, you can lea

      2 min read

    • Article

      Free Tool Boosts Digital Knowhow

      Apr 22, 2020

      Free Tool Boosts Digital Knowhow
      1 min read

    • Article

      Best New Apps

      Jun 3, 2019

      Free www.checkonmeapp.com/ CheckOnMe is a fundamentally good idea for an app, even if it’s somewhat niche. Users can register emergency information for themselves or a loved one on here – like a child or an elderly relative who is likely to go miss

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Worm In The Apple

      Aug 5, 2022

      The Worm In The Apple
      9 min read

    • Article

      Tech Check

      Jun 2, 2023

      As I’m usually running around the city to meet different people all the time for various reasons—be it work or simply catching up with friends—having an iPad is truly convenient. I use it to jot down notes with a pen, or record important conversation

      1 min read

    • Article

      Key To Access

      Jun 20, 2023

      Key To Access
      3 min read

    • Article

      > THE SHIFT

      Dec 5, 2023

      > THE SHIFT
      2 min read

    • Article

      Interview//

      Dec 3, 2020

      Interview//
      9 min read

    • Article

      Interview//

      Nov 30, 2018

      Interview//
      9 min read

    • Article

      MASTER YOUR NEW iPHONE 13

      Dec 30, 2021

      MASTER YOUR NEW iPHONE 13
      11 min read

    • Article

      Matt Bolton…

      Nov 14, 2023

      W e’re now five years into the era of folding phones, and Apple clearly hasn’t felt much pressure to follow Samsung’s lead down this particular path. Even by Apple standards, five years is quite a while for some new, next-step technology to be adopte

      2 min read

    • Article

      We Should Celebrate Accessibility Tools, Says Jon Honeyball, Not Hide Them Away

      Jun 12, 2022

      As I crash into my 58th year on this planet, I am becoming more aware of the physical toll of getting old. I am not getting old, of course; 60 is the new 40, according to my friends. They are too kind. But we should be aware that the old view that OA

      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Creating Apps

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Creating Apps - Jacqueline D. Anderson

      Creating Apps – The Guide for Ordinary People

      By Jacqueline D. Anderson

      Copyright 2011 Jacqueline D. Anderson

      Smashwords Edition

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      DEDICATION

      To Sally Anderson, who inspired, pushed and applauded from the start.

      To Lewis Anderson, whose encouragement and inspiration has always motivated me.

      Thanks to Leslie Nelson for all your help. And, of course, to all my App-loving friends.

      PREFACE

      When I chat with friends and colleagues about my efforts, I get many different responses. Some laugh at the thought that a non-programmer can build an app and some are discouraging or skeptical. Most are intrigued, fascinated, or amused— and some even awestruck. But they are rarely bored or impartial. Why is this? I think it’s because this is something that many people would love to do. It seems like something fun and, maybe, achievable. From my eager friends the first question is: How do you do that?

      Why did I want to create an app? The answer to this was obvious to me from the moment I bought an iPhone. I bought mine quite late, about a year after they had been on the market. But from the moment I had it in my hand I realized it would be a life-changer for me.

      I was consulting away from home at the time and my life seemed to be a chaotic mess. To arrive at an airport or leave a hotel realizing I had forgotten any one of a host of things sent me into a panic: the alarm clock, the notes, the agenda, the iPod, the (horror) laptop.

      With the iPhone everything changed. I could find apps for almost everything I wanted and many superfluous ones I loved as well. Suddenly, I found my dead time at the airport filled with games, music and newspapers. I found great organizers to keep calendars for personal and professional appointments separate, or merged, as needed. I never had to search for a dictionary or translator—it was right in my palm.

      To top it off, I could order groceries and have them at my door when I was scheduled to return home. The Google maps got me where I was going with no fuss. I could find flight information and train schedules easily and take photos everywhere without having to pack a camera, all while keeping up with my friends on Facebook. This little jewel seemed made for me.

      I was also intrigued by how passionate people were about their phones—mainly because of the apps. All of my friends loved their iPhones, joking about what they would be willing to give up if they had to choose between the iPhone and ____________. You fill in the blank.

      The more I cruised through the App Store the more I realized the incredible potential in apps. I started getting ideas about apps I would like to see. And I have a long, long list now. I decided fairly quickly that this was a world I wanted to be a part of and I would test the waters by building my first app. It wouldn’t have to be a mega brilliant idea, just a small app to get started—a trial run. I was willing to put in the time—and it does take dedication to start up a project while working full time. My handy task-list app and project planner helped me to stay organized.

      The more I read the more questions I had and the more I noticed that others were asking the same questions. When I compiled enough truly useful information and had a real idea of what was needed to make this work, I decided that all of this research may be useful to others. Particularly to those who, like me, could not or did not want to do the programming, but wanted to make apps anyway.

      I am convinced that any idea is achievable if it is broken down into smaller pieces and you learn about and execute one piece at a time. A lot of legwork went into this effort; looking at the failures and the successes of others and trying to figure out what it takes to get off to a good start and reach the finish line.

      — Jacqueline D. Anderson

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Introduction

      Chapter 1 - Preliminary Choices

      Chapter 2 - Creating a Winning App

      Chapter 3 - A Design Document Tells All

      Chapter 4 – Development Options

      Chapter 5 - Other People’s Stuff

      Chapter 6 - Get Paid or Give it Away

      Chapter 7 - The Submission Process

      Chapter 8 - The App Showdown

      Chapter 9 - After the Fact

      Appendix

      About the Author

      INTRODUCTION

      Anyone who has ever bought an iPhone understands how compelling this little device is. To have whatever information you need or whatever entertainment you want in the palm of your hand, wherever you go, whenever you want, is irresistible.

      For the mobile audience, down time, or rather, dead time is a thing of the past. Whether we are in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, on a train, or in an airport, we now have access to the Internet, social media, games, and the tools to manage our lives—all at our fingertips. Those who are new to mobile media and are browsing the App Store for the first time, are likely to be amazed at what people want to do on a mobile phone.

      Is there an app for that? Chances are there is. Whether you want to buy movie tickets, make dinner reservations, go shopping, read a newspaper, write a review, calculate a tip, or catch a taxi, there's an app to help you out.

      We also see an amazing variety in the types of mobile devices on the market today. They are different sizes, have different characteristics and they are designed for many uses. A mobile device is now considered to be just about any small device that allows you to communicate with others or get information—anywhere, at any time. They usually have a display screen with touch input and/or a physical keyboard and include cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and, more recently, tablets.

      Until now each device appealed to its audience for a specific reason; cell phones were only for making calls, a Palm Pilot was purchased as an organizer, a Kindle as an eBook reader. The features they offered were largely limited and entirely provided by the device manufacturer. In fact, we chose our device based on these features and how useable they were.

      This limited view has changed completely. Now, each type and size device is attempting to incorporate the latest technology all in one device and, in this, the iPhone has undeniably set the standard for the rest.

      The iPhone’s unique and distinctive screen and engaging features has become the new model for high-quality mobile phones and, since it was first introduced to the world in January 2007, all other manufacturers have been racing to keep up.

      With this phone so many features that had already been developed for other types of devices came together in an exciting way: synchronization software, audio and visual media, GPS, touch screen—each element had been previously explored in other devices. It was the combination of elements that made the iPhone so inspired.

      These features were quickly integrated into other cell phones and this is the standard we have come to expect. But, more importantly for us, mobile devices can now give us apps. In fact, all of the features that come pre-installed on mobile phones are technically apps, and though new and exciting when first introduced, are now considered very basic, and the very least we expect.

      Once again it is Apple who saw this as a limitation and shortly after the iPhone’s release, Apple announced they would be accepting apps from third-party developers, creating a fertile ground for the creative genius of others. This is when a mobile phone suddenly became whatever you wanted it to be. It could manage your music, entertain you and even manage your life— all with the download of an application.

      This shift has fundamentally altered the way we think about cell phones and how we use them—so much so that their primary function as a phone has almost become secondary. The iPhone changed the game.

      This is just the start of a trend which, by every indication will reshape the future of computing, and one that will likely have a dramatic effect on people’s day-to-day lives. The popularity and spontaneous growth of app purchases shows us how mesmerizing app software can be. And this market has shown a continual and unprecedented growth that has never been seen in the software world before. Apps are the most downloadable pieces of software ever, and the app world is obviously in the beginning stages of a very long journey.

      Imagination meets Reality.

      There are many excellent developer’s guides to help programmers navigate the technical challenges of building apps for a variety of mobile devices. But development of a mobile phone app is not solely a technical task.

      Programmers might do a great job coding applications, but do not necessarily have creative ideas, the business know-how or the marketing savvy to make their development a success—and what about creative people who have no technical knowledge? Must they, or you, sit on the sidelines while this huge opportunity passes by?

      Absolutely not! However, the one thing that you should understand up front is that you will probably not do this alone. When you start to put a project plan in place, when you understand the marketing options available to you, when you take a hard look at the things you will need to gather for your app submission—what you can, or cannot do will become clear.

      How much you can do depends on your individual talents and the time you have. In your enthusiasm, you may want to tackle every aspect on your own as a learning process. For example, why not learn how to create an app icon? Or you may decide to hand over the entire project to someone with experience in app development.

      You may decide to focus on getting your app developed and think about a marketing later. You will make many decisions throughout this process and, hopefully, this book will help you through those decisions. You set the pace—it’s your plan.

      The planning will be the key to success, and defining your app is the first step. Who are your specific users, what are their needs, why will they use your app? One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not finding the answer to these questions. Give some real thought to who your ideal customer is and what you are offering them.

      Some technical understanding is necessary to see this through. There is no avoiding the fact that you have decided to enter a technical domain and should, at the very least, understand the basic principles before you get started. You don’t have to do the technical tasks, but you should know a little bit about them.

      In fact,

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1