We create an application for android. Hello Kitty - Creating the first Android application

There are two ways to create a program for Android. The first, used by serious developers, requires an understanding of the Java language and installation of a special development environment. For users without special knowledge Those looking for information on how to create an application for Android can be advised to use one of the dozens of existing online editors that, in some cases, allow you to generate simple mobile utilities in minutes. Let us next consider the process of creating a program using several specialized constructors.

Defining Application Functionality

This is the first stage of creating any mobile program. In our case, no time is wasted on steps such as, for example, creating icons, buttons, or planning the design of the utility. Internet editors are already using ready-made solutions, so all that remains is to select an existing layout, filling it with original content, which can be, for example, informational or gaming.

And for this you need to decide on the functionality. For example, for an online store it could be as follows:

Convenient navigation. The presence of categories and subcategories where the client could find the desired product using given templates.
Using a user-friendly ordering block with a payment system and status tracking.
Personal account for the client with sections “Favorites”, “Purchase History”, etc.
Availability of an information section with news reviews.

In this way, you can formulate tasks and determine the functionality of any type of Android application being created, be it forms, any services, content projects. Next, we’ll tell you how to become a developer of your own Android utility.

A utility with the functionality defined at the previous stage can now be written from scratch using various Internet services tailored for the creation of multifunctional or highly specialized applications. Since the minimum list of online store capabilities for Android was previously defined, let’s look at how to create a program of this type using MobiCart.

This service is designed specifically for commercial utilities. An Android application written using MobiCart can effectively replace an existing network platform. Features of the designer in question:

Russian interface support;
Payment is accepted by cash or PayPal;
Availability of a non-commercial tariff with limited functionality in the form of the ability to add a dozen items to the storefront.

To create your own utility, register in the service. After this, you can use your account, where as the first step you need to select Create Application. Next:

By selecting Upload logo, upload the logo of your future program and specify the design color.
Below you will need to select the tabs that users will see on the device screen. This section also specifies the pages that the designer will need to generate for your store.
After saving the changes, go to the settings of the application being created. This feature is available in the Store Settings section.
The name of the store being created and your email address are written on the Store tab. You can select the currency to use from the drop-down menu.
The service shows if necessary Google Maps in the utility, for which the registered API key is indicated in a special field.
If you expect free delivery, here you can activate the above option and specify its conditions. In the Cash On Delivery line, you can specify the surcharge (in the form of a decimal fraction) that the client will have to pay for cash on delivery. For example, the number 1.06 would mean that the purchase price will increase by 6%.
Specify the region in Shipping in the drop-down list. You can specify the delivery price for a single (Single order) or a package (Multiple orders) of goods.
Select the line Prices to include tax by going to the Tax section. This means that the price of the product will be indicated including VAT, which is typical for all domestic retailers.
Payment systems through which clients will transfer funds to you are indicated in Payments Gateway. Popular systems like Qiwi or Yandex.Money are not supported in MobiCart, so be sure to activate the ability to use cash on delivery.
The language is configured in the Languges section. Since Russian is not supported here, the text of messages must be entered manually, and then be sure to save the information.
Go to App Vital, where you need to specify the name of the utility you are creating, as well as the countries in which the application can be used.
The icons that the user will see on the screen of his gadget in the store can be uploaded to Images. Upload the image for the main screen to the Home Gallery.
Descriptions for products can be placed in Store Builder in several ways:
News content for the site can be created in the News section. Write the content of the message and click on Publish News.

Next, all that remains is to create an installation file for the practically created mobile online store utility. For this purpose, go to Create Application, open the Submit Apps tab in it, click Continue. Here you will need to accept the license agreement, after which the system will generate an installation file for the mobile application based on the settings you have made.

If you choose a non-commercial plan, you will have to place the created file in the Google Play store on our own- Relevant instructions will be sent by email. If you choose a paid plan, MobiCart will independently publish your development on Google Play. You can verify that the program is working by installing the latter on your own gadget and checking that product cards and news are displayed correctly.

Creating a themed mobile utility with AppsGeyser

To start using this Android constructor, you need to register, for which click Create Now.

AppsGeyser has become a multifunctional service that allows you to develop any type of mobile utility. The following available templates are suitable for the information resource:

Manual for creating a small guide utility;
Blog for reading your blog pages on the gadget screen;
Website to convert a website into a mobile application;
News, which creates an aggregator of news, for example, some thematic or regional;
Page, capable of converting an e-book or other similar content into an Android application.

Use a Blog template:

If you have already registered with AppsGeyser, the system will redirect you to your personal account, where you can install the created Android program on your own device and publish it on Google Play. The utility can be monetized here. When this option is selected, users will see advertisements. IN personal account Information about the number of installations of your program is also available, and here you can edit it.

Other Android app builders

For one reason or another, neither MobiCart nor AppsGeyser may be suitable for you. And they cannot solve such a problem as creating a game on Android without programming, for example. However, there are many similar constructors on the Internet today, with which you can write a program in a similar way. Here are some:

AppsMakerStore. Creates Android applications of almost any type - from commercial to thematic ones. It has a Russified interface and a comprehensive manual. There is a fee for use.
Mobincube. Allows you to write and monetize generated utilities on various topics. Basic functionality is free.
Monomobi. Commercial tool for quick creation Android programs with a Russified interface. You can try the service for free during the trial period.
Appsbar. Free Android editor for creating simple applications for phones.

Most of these editors are paid, especially if the utilities created in them can be monetized for profit without the ability to “code.” You can learn from free constructors and try to make something of your own, but the quality and functionality of the program will be low. And it’s also unlikely to be possible to create a high-quality game on Android without programming.

Remember that when making a program using such a constructor, you often become dependent on a service that, if desired, can “cover” your project. Therefore, to create serious projects, it is better to learn basic principles programming and develop the necessary applications without network assistants.

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Google Play, App Store, Windows Store are full of a wide variety of applications. It is wrong to assume that all this assortment was created by professionals of various levels. More and more ordinary users are creating convenient and simple applications without any programming skills. We will describe in detail below where and how to follow their example, choosing Android-based smartphone programs as an example.

Who will benefit from a self-created application?

If you decide to create an Android application without programming skills for fun, then you can safely move on to the “Online Designers” section. For those who decide to get into this business to promote and popularize their business, creative or business project, it is important to determine whether a simple, self-created application is enough for them or whether they still need to turn to experienced developers for help.

So, when is this option optimal:

for a start-up business or project: the audience will forgive you for a number of shortcomings, citing your inexperience;
users require an application with simple functionality - a convenient version of the site, for example;
launching an unsuccessful application will not be painful for you - you are creating it, working for the future;
you don't want to depend on developer requests.

What should the application be like?

Before you create an Android application, you need to outline the key points, which you will rely on in your work. You are creating a program that will work on smartphones and tablets and will be designed to solve practical problems user: introduce him to news, help him make purchases, perform communication functions, etc.

The audience is attracted to applications that meet the following points:

safety;
uninterrupted operation;
convenient navigation;
personal account;
availability of push notifications;
information content - a person should find the answer to all his queries inside the application.

Choosing an Application Builder

Since we are creating the first application for Android, having no idea about programming languages, online designers will be able to help us in this matter. Before choosing, carefully read its characteristics. He must have:

intuitive interface;
clear logic of work;
the ability to work with both code and graphics;
detailed instructions, technical support, forum.

The designer must provide hosting for the application, give you the opportunity to manage it, and also publish your creation on Google Play.

Top Ten Online Builders

For those who are looking for how to create an Android application without skills, the following line of designers is offered that meets all the requirements listed above:

1. Mobile Roadie. One of the oldest services that Madonna uses is Circus of the Sun, San Diego Zoo. Mostly focused on show business, marketing and PR agencies. Through the created projects, you can sell tickets and repurpose them for a specific event. The price for using the designer is not symbolic: a minimum of $149.

2. AppsBuilder. How to create an application for Android here - just assemble it from ready-made templates. In addition, features for programmers have been added to the constructor. Creating one application per month will cost 49 euros here.

3.Viziapps. The designer also offers ready-made templates for your application, as well as the ability to send messages from it to email, on Twitter, Facebook. Minimum monthly package price: $33.

4. iBuildApp. A constructor for those who are looking for how to create a simple application for Android - it can be used to create mobile catalogues, brochures, and resumes. In addition to the English version, the Russian version is also available. For 2,400 rubles per month, the client gets the opportunity to install three thousand of their application without built-in advertising.

5. My-apps.com. Works in both Russian and English versions. It takes about five minutes to create your own application, because you only need to select the necessary modules and program design. The minimum package "Start" will cost 599 rubles per month. The amount includes an application designer only for Android, free templates and icons, and program updates no more than once every two months.

6. AppGlobus. Russian designer available in 8 languages. For 900 rubles per month, the following are provided: application design, an admin panel, the absence of built-in advertising in the project and restrictions on the use of push notifications, the number of installations.

7. Businessapps. For those interested in how to build an Android app from scratch to make it work for your business, here's best option: chat, notifications, shopping cart, integration with social networks, catalog of services, news section. Minimum fee for creating an application: $59 per month.

8. Appsmakerstore. Allows you to create applications not only for Android, but also for 5 other platforms. Interface in 23 languages, including Russian. Key Feature designer: ready-made templates for various projects: trade, beauty salons, restaurants, etc. Monthly usage - 9,78$.

9. TheAppBuilder is a free designer that provides ready-made standard templates for business, creative, news, sports, and educational projects. But there is one minus - the application will have built-in advertising. It is offered to disable it for $5 per month.

10. AppsGeyser. The builder offers free conversion of website content into a mobile application. You can sell your creations, as well as place your own advertising in them.

Now let's look at creating your own application using examples of specific constructors.

How to create an Android application: choosing a template in AppsGeyser

To work with this designer, no registration is required - just click on Creat now on the main page.

Creating a blog application in AppsGeyser

So, how to create a mobile application for Android as a blogger yourself:

Select the type of blog: RSS, Tumblr, WordPress, etc. Next is its email address and color scheme for your future application.
Now the name of the mobile program being created.
In "Discription" place a concise and informative description of the application (even though the interface is in English, you can enter text in Cyrillic).
Select an application logo from the proposed options or upload your own.
To create a download file for your project, click on Creat App. To do this, you must register in the system.
In your AppsGeyser personal account, you can download your creation to your own smartphone, as well as place it in the Google Play store. If you enable monetization, the app will display in-app advertisements and you will be charged a fee for users viewing them.

In your personal account you can also monitor the number of downloads, edit the application, create push banners, and publish the project in other stores.

How to create an Android application in "Guide" format

Using the same AppsGeyser, it is also possible to create an instruction application, a user manual.

This is also done in a few simple steps:

Customize the color scheme of the mobile program and the way the guide steps are displayed: one at a time or several on the active screen.
The editor will help you upload the necessary text, links, videos or pictures necessary for clarity. To add photos, use Imgur hosting. Copy the link of the image on this resource into the Image URL.
At the end of the work, add a description and logo of your application, then click on Creat App. The application has been created - all that remains is to check its functionality and publish it on Google Play.

Creating an application for the store

Let's look at how to create Android applications from scratch for online store owners. For example, we will use another constructor - Mobi Cart, specializing in this area. The service supports the Russian language, works in both paid and free mode. The latter is limited to adding no more than 10 products.

So, how to create an Android application:

The first point is registration. Next, in your personal account, click on Creat Application.
Upload logo - upload your store logo. At this stage, you also choose the color theme of the application.
Selecting tabs and pages that will be in your application: “News”, “My Account”, “Home”, “Shop”, “Contacts”, etc.

Store settings in Mobi Cart

To configure your online store, click on Store Settings:

Enter the name, admin email address, currency.
To use Google Maps, you need to register an API key - then it is copied into the window.
Check the box free shipping, if your store offers it. For cash on delivery, select the markup amount (if it is, for example, 12%, then 1.12 is written in Cash On Delivery).
Shipping indicates shipping costs for a specific region. This process is labor-intensive, since you specify the price manually for each region.
In the Tax section, Russian stores indicate the price including VAT, so check the box here Prices to include tax.
In Payments Gateway, specify the payment systems you work with. Be careful - Mobi Cart does not support the popular Yandex.Money.
Languges is the language of your mobile program. Russian is not set by default, so you need to register the translation of the proposed commands manually.
App Vital - here the name of the program and the countries whose residents will be able to download it are indicated.
Images - application logo, Home Gallery - picture on the main screen.

Adding product information to Mobi Cart

The next important step: adding your product line to Store Builder. This can be done using any method convenient for you:

using a CSV file containing all information about the assortment;
using the designer plugin to synchronize your site with the created program;
manual entry of information in your personal account.

For the latter method, two sections are used: Departments and Products. Adding is done using the Add Product button. Next, enter its name, price, category, and detailed description.

Other useful options for a store in Mobi Cart

Let's touch on options that may be useful to those who are interested in how to create an Android application themselves:

More Pages - information displayed on the program pages.
Push Notification - manual creation of push notifications. Here you can choose to send to both all users and specific recipients.
News Tab - copying news into the tab of the same name from Twitter or RSS sources. Enter the username here for the first and the URL for the second.
Publish News allows you to submit news to the app yourself.

By going to Create Application - Submit Apps, you can create an apk (installation) file by agreeing to the license agreement. When you choose the paid version, your application is automatically uploaded to Google Play; if you choose the free version, you will have to do this yourself through the Play Console. Instructions for registering in this system, as well as for downloading your own Mobi Cart application into it, will be sent to your email inbox.

Thus, creating an Android application using mobile program data designers is a task that any confident PC user can handle. After all, this process on most services can be carried out without even knowing the basics of programming.

How does the Android development process work? Let's highlight a few basics:

In Java files, you describe program logic—what you want your application to do.
In XML files you develop layouts - the appearance.
Once the application is written, you need to use a build tool to compile all the files and package them together into an .apk file that can be run on Android devices and/or publish on Google Play.
All utilities and files that are used to create an Android application are combined into an integrated development environment (IDE). An IDE is a program that you will open to edit your code files and compile and run them.
Previously, the standard IDE for Android development was Eclipse, but it has now been replaced by the more functional Android Studio, a Google product.

You will, of course, find deeper processes going on behind the scenes of the above steps. For example, advanced users will want to know the role of the Dalvik virtual machine. At the end of the article there will be links to useful resources, which every Android developer should be familiar with. The first one is the official documentation from Google.

Let's download and install Android Studio.
Let's learn about launching and testing applications on Android devices and emulators.
Let's create a simple Android application that displays "Hello World" on the screen of a mobile device.

At the end of the article you can read useful recommendations to novice developers from the company.

Installing the Android Studio development environment

It's really tempting to start reading documentation and writing code to find out what the platform is capable of. And we will do it soon! However, to start working with the Android platform, you need to set up a development environment.

For those new to Android programming, it is especially important to take your time and methodically follow each step. Even if you follow the steps correctly, you may need to troubleshoot a small environment setup issue depending on your system configuration or product version. To do this, use search services. One can especially highlight the resource StackOverflow.

It is important not to let any pitfalls hinder your ultimate goal of learning Android programming. It is known that even professionals sometimes experience certain problems with setting up their working environment. In such cases, command line knowledge is important. If you'd like to become more familiar with this tool, there's a link to a good introductory one below.

Along with training in syntax, it is important to train yourself to have the mindset of a successful programmer, which will not accept the error message file X not found as a final verdict. This kind of thinking is easily trained by you in cases where you do not give up and look for a solution to the problem that has arisen.

Go to Android page Studio developer.android.com/studio/index.html and find the download button latest version for your platform.

Click on the download button and you will be asked to read the terms and conditions of use software product. After carefully reading (as you always do) and accepting, the download begins. This will probably take a few minutes. After this, you can install Android Studio just like any other program. The initial download page contains installation instructions for Mac and Windows.

Now that you have Android Studio installed, let's launch it! Launch Android Studio. The program will ask if you want to import your settings. Since you're starting from scratch, just select the second option and continue.

You should see a beautiful loading screen in Material Design style.

Once the download is complete, you will be taken to a welcome screen.

Even if you just downloaded Android Studio, you may not have the latest version. To avoid problems with versions in the future, click the "Check for updates now" button and, if necessary, follow all instructions to obtain the latest version. Sometimes Studio will automatically inform you that there is an update with a screen like this:

In this case, always select Update and Restart. Great! We have successfully completed the installation of the development environment.

Creating the first Android project

It's time to create the first project. Let's start with something simple. Programmers usually call the first program “Hello World”. Let's follow this tradition and then make a few small changes to make the app use your name as a greeting. At the end, you can download it to your device and show it to your friends. Android Studio has a small step by step tool, which will help you create your project. Click "New Project" on the start screen:

Fill it out like this. Feel free to replace "example" in the package name with something else to remove the warning at the bottom of the screen. You can also set the project location by pointing to any folder on your hard drive

For drop-down SDK versions, note the Description section at the bottom of the dialog box. It explains what each setting does.

Install the minimum required SDK as shown in the screenshot. This sets the minimum version of Android required to run the application. Choosing this value for your own projects is a matter of balancing the SDK capabilities you want with the devices that will be supported.

For more information about API versions and their use, there is a special Dashboards page on the website for Android developers https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html.

After selecting the version, the starting template selection screen opens. You can create an application that already interacts with the google maps api and displays the map. In our test example, select the Empty Activity and click the “Next” button.

And now you are at the last step of the application creation process. Before you click Finish, pay attention to a few things. This is the first time you come across references to the main architectural components of any application.

- this is the first, but not last mentioned words Activity. In the Android context, an Activity is usually thought of as a "screen" in your application. This element is very flexible. When Android Studio creates the MainActivity class, it inherits it from the Activity class in the Android SDK. Those familiar with object-oriented programming will understand this concept, but for beginners, this basically means that your MainActivity will be a customized version of the Activity.

Layout Name- the layout of what will be shown to the user is defined in special form Android XML. You will soon learn how to read and edit these files.

Click Finish. It will take some time to create and download the project. After some time, Android Studio will complete the build of your project. Of course, the project is still empty, but it has everything you need to run on an Android device or emulator.

After loading the project, you view the layout file in XML format. Before we move on to Android programming, let's talk about how we can run this application. It's time to say "Hello world!"

Running an application on an emulator

Now it's time to say a few words about the emulator. Android Studio comes with software that can emulate an Android device to run apps, browse websites, debug, and everything else on it.

This feature is provided by Android Virtual Device (AVD) Manager. If you wish, you can set up multiple emulators, set the screen size and platform version for each new emulator. This functionality is very useful because it saves developers from having to buy multiple devices to test programs.

Click on the Run button in the form of a green arrow.

You'll have to wait a while for the emulator to load and once it's ready, you'll see something like this:

Congratulations! You've made your first Android app!

And so... Why and how did it work?

To start making changes and adding interesting features, you need to gain a working knowledge of what's going on behind the scenes. Take a look at the Android Studio project section with files and folders on the left side of the screen. You may need to click the small tab on the edge (see below) if the project explorer is not currently visible.

Browse your folder structure for a few minutes and double-click on files to see their contents in the main window. If this all seems mysterious, don't worry!

Android project structure: Team

Every good team is made up of people who perform their assigned roles. Do you want to get the job done right? You need the right team. Android projects have several key elements, and each of them has a specific role to play:

Java: Professional

This is the part of your code that is responsible for the application logic. Your code will be located in the src\main\java directory in the main project folder. To learn Java, I recommend Bruce Eckel's book "The Philosophy of Java";

Resources: Artist

It's not enough to just make an Android application, it must also be stylish. Your app will never stand out if it doesn't have clear icons and images, well-designed layouts, and maybe even smooth animations.

When initialized, the folder contains the following folders:

drawable, which stores icons. Now there is only the standard application icon.
layout with XML files that represent screen designs.
menu with XML files of lists of elements that will be displayed in the action panel.
values with XML files containing sizes, colors, string constants and styles.

AndroidManifest.xml: Boss

This XML file informs your system of hardware requirements and software application and contains its version name and icon. The manifest also contains information about all Activities in the application. Do you need the work done by your application? Talk to your boss first.

Making changes

Navigate to res/values/strings.xml and double-click the file. When you open the file, you will see two string resources in XML.

These resources are used in different places, but it's very convenient to have all the text used in your application in one file. If you need to translate it, or if your fellow marketer asks you to remove all the unnecessary links, it's easy to make all the changes here.

Change the hello_world string that the application displays on the screen. Change its contents to something more personal, such as using your given name. You'll get something like:

Matt is learning Android!

Click Run. The application should restart and you will see a personalized message:

We congratulate you - you have completed your first project and learned how to edit the source code. The first step in Android programming has been taken. We wish you good luck on this difficult but incredibly interesting path! If you need professional Android application development, contact Infoshell specialists.

The Android operating system is one of the most popular mobile platforms in the world today. Almost every owner Android smartphone I would like to receive a unique application that will suit him in a particular case, but it is not always possible to find such an application. In this article we will talk to you about how to make an Android application yourself using free methods.

Due to the rapid development of the Android platform, some functions of the described programs may change, so to clarify any details, write in the comments. Last edition - 01/20/2018.

Naturally, progress does not stand still and with the development of the Android OS there are more and more opportunities for creating various kinds applications that fit it. And if recently, only a specialist who studied this at the institute could create it, now he can do it any owner of a phone or tablet Android in online mode.

Users can create their own application to please themselves unique program. Or they can do it in order to earn some money. Today the Internet provides all the opportunities for this.

The tools described below will allow you to create your own application in several stages.

Some of the presented programs allow you not only to do, but also monetize immediately his. Also, any of the created applications can be placed on the Google Play system.

Four ways to make an Android app yourself

Below you will find four “tools” that will allow you to create such an application quickly and without much knowledge. Such programs are reminiscent of construction kits that allow you to create everything you need block by block, a good analogy with assembling the familiar LEGO construction set.

All programs presented here were selected according to the following criteria:

Convenient use. Naturally, these offers will not be used by trained specialists, but by ordinary users, like you and me. That is why the application should be very convenient, functional, and easy to use.
Intuitively simple interface. Logically speaking, this point seems to follow from the previous one, which means the program should not only be convenient, but also intuitive.
Great functionality. The wide variety of ways to create an application is a definite plus. Although all the programs presented, on average, have the same functions, with the exception of some minor details.

Below we will take a look at a selection of tools that will help you create your very first application.

App Builder - a simple tool for creating applications

This option is a good way to create your own applications quickly. Without a doubt, the good news is that you can use it without investing a penny, which means for free. Although there are also disadvantages here, at least in the fact that it is completely English(after the update in December 2017, Russian language was added).

Program features

There is a huge selection of templates for creating an application. If you have some simple application in mind, then this program will easily help you select a template;
After creating the application, you can monitor its statistics;
If you create an app and it passes review, it can be easily and fairly easily listed on the Google Play Store.

AppsGeyser - a site for creating high-quality Android applications on your own

Official website - https://www.appsgeyser.com

This tool is better than the previous one, because there are many more opportunities for creating your own application. The site allows you to create your own program in just a few minutes. This editor is the simplest of all that we have encountered. The list of applications that it will help you make is very large, starting from a regular browser and ending with your own messenger.

Benefits of AppsGeyser

The application is written quite quickly, literally in a couple of clicks;
It allows you to create simple games for Android, because you must admit that not every tool today can do this;
Once the application is ready, it can be easily placed in the Google Play store;
In addition, you can monetize your program directly through the AppsGeyser service. This useful feature, because by showing your imagination, you can also make money from it;
Create, edit, publish an application online in your personal account (so that the results are saved).

IbuildApp - a powerful engine for developing your own projects

This tool deserves a really thorough look. As we discussed above, you don't need to know a programming language to create Android apps. The development platform is so simple that creating your own application will be very simple. The process will only take a few minutes, but the result will be obvious.

The IbuildApp website has both paid tariffs (development of an individual application, with further development) and free templates, of which there are a lot.

Russian official website - https://russia.ibuildapp.com

Let's see what it can do:

A huge archive of topics on a variety of subjects: these could be restaurants, cafes, sports activities, as well as many other topics that allow you to choose anything you want. All you need to do is select something specific, and then edit it to suit your needs;
It also has built-in ways to promote the created application. The program not only helps you quickly create an application, but also promotes it. In other cases, this process takes a very long time;
In addition, you will be able to connect the application to the advertising network, which means you will earn money from it.

AppsMakerstore - platform for creating simple programs

Official website - https://appsmakerstore.com

The fourth cool platform that is designed to create Android applications. Probably one of the most important advantages is that using the AppsMakerStore website you can create programs that will be multi-platform (for example, on Android, iOS and Windows Phone)

Let's look at the advantages of the platform:

Work with the designer takes place online;
Possibility of free registration;
Writing applications using ready-made layouts, while a huge selection of templates on the topic is provided to each user.

Video instructions for creating an application using APK Creator

That's all, we hope that you found what you were looking for and were satisfied with our selection. This set of tools will become something special for a novice programmer and will allow you to understand the intricacies of creating simple applications for free.

Disclaimer:
This article is a free artistic retelling and translation of the introduction of the book "App Savvy
Turning ideas into ipad and iphone apps customers really want "

It may be of interest to people who are just coming into the world of mobile development and are wondering where to start. If you are an experienced businessman who already has a stable income from your own mobile applications- most likely, it will seem useless and obvious to you.

It's true that top developers live very well - after all, the most popular applications are usually games such as Angry Birds or Doodle Jump, receive millions of downloads. When you figure that you can earn $1 on every download, and look at the colossal download volumes of these apps, it's very easy to look at the App Store and see only wads of money floating past you.

Business Insider: Angry Birds Maker Rovio Reports $200 Million Revenue in 2012, image from techcrunch.com

At this moment, it is very easy to think “Why not me?”, make your own application - and face the harsh reality, which is usually very different from the cloudless existence of such leading developers. Statistics show that more than half of the paid apps on the App Store don't even get 1,000 downloads a year, which means that after deducting Apple's commission for all your work, you'll only get about $700 - so if I were you, I wouldn't indulge optimism, looking at the amazing performance of popular games.

Does this mean that if you are new to mobile application development, you should immediately abandon this idea? Not necessarily, but in any case, first I suggest you face the facts and study everything that is already in the App Store - then you will realize that you have very little chance of coming there and immediately launching a very popular application. I don't want to say it's impossible, but many successful iPhone developers have created many, many apps before reaching their goal. The main thing you will gain from launching your first application is the knowledge and experience of developing applications yourself.

When you study the market, you may feel like you can't succeed. My advice to you in such a situation is to think more broadly. Develop not an application, but something that has value for you and for people not only as a program on the phone. Solve real problems for users, make it easy and relaxed for them - and then you can create an application that will become really popular.

But before you start developing your mobile application, do not forget to think everything through. What sets successful mobile app developers apart is that they treat development like a business. They calculate the cost of development, the cost of entering the market, think over a way to return investments - and this allows them to make a stable income from development, and not try to draw a lucky lottery ticket.

The more time you spend studying the market, the more clearly you will learn to distinguish real opportunities for making money from illusory ones. Think of app development as an investment, and you'll learn how to interact with clients, media partners, and build your own library of design elements and code that you'll use across all your apps.

Once you learn to understand the economics of the App Store, make the right connections, and start building your library, you will have a significant advantage over people who are just wandering around the App Store trying to find a place in the sun.

Unlike others, you won't come to the App Store filled with emotions and delusions of grandeur of your idea. On the contrary, you will be able to objectively assess your capabilities and understand how much money and time you will need to invest in your application, and how you will return your investment.

Introduction
Strategy
Chapter 1: Evaluating your mobile app idea
Chapter 2: What Should Your Application Have?
Chapter 3: From Idea to Concept

Development
Chapter 4: Finding a Team: You Need Help
Chapter 5: Getting a Working Application
Chapter 6: Improving the application before adding it to the App Store

Launch
Chapter 7: Getting Ready to Upload the App to the App Store
Chapter 8: Building Our Marketing Strategy
Chapter 9: Measuring Success and Considering Future Developments