Introduction
Android is an operating system (OS) from Google. Android is open source. Android has a huge market share. Android-powered smartphones are outselling other operating systems. Android supports the application. The hosannas sung in favor of Android can fill up an earthmoving truck! Android is touted as being app dependent, which is good news for smartphone users who can download apps entirely. However, application development is not without its difficulties, in fact some serious ones.
Disadvantages No, challenges!
The overwhelming presence of Android has unleashed a market for application development that is growing by the day. The Google Play Store, the online store that sells app items, is packed with apps of all shades and sizes. There are many users and the challenges encountered in Android application development are of equivalent proportions. So what are these challenges?
Multiple providers: Many smartphone manufacturers use Android as their operating system, albeit with many modifications. Libraries, features, etc. they are modified or removed, causing an annoying increase in fragmentation problems.
Lack of usage policiesAndroid creator Google has been quite lenient in allowing app developers to tweak and tweak it to suit their purpose. This no-rules approach has allowed all Tom, Dick, and Harry developers to run wild, resulting in bumpkin apps sharing silo space on the Google Play Store. How do we ensure that only quality apps access Play?
Diversity of software and hardware: Multiple versions of the software released in a short time pose an application compatibility issue for more than one version. In terms of hardware, the market is flooded with smartphones of all screen sizes, operating mechanisms and processing speeds that add to the headache of application developers to ensure satisfactory performance of their applications on these devices.
Blues marketing: Once an application is ready for sale, the application developer must pay Google an upfront fee to host their application. Google analyzes the application to detect and remove any malware, causing a considerable delay in the aspect of commercialization. The temptation to include ads in applications can provoke the ire of users. You also have to be attentive to the aspect of patents, so that no one files a plagiarism lawsuit.
Alternative solutions
While all challenges may not be eliminated with durable solutions, there are workarounds that should help you get by.
Software and Hardware: It must be accepted that a single application may not satisfy all mobile devices running different versions of Android. Diversity in hardware and software is a reality that must be accepted. Fortunately, today’s hardware shows flexibility to run different applications based on Android versions. Application developers must research the target devices and versions and decide which is the best option to target their applications.
Marketing: Once again, research plays an important role. Identify target users and devices so that you can earn revenue by using apps from this target group. This would also free you from the need to use ads in your app to drive away your users. However, make your app so easy to use that users don’t mind finding a couple of little ads to the side.
Conclution
The challenges can be endemic or scattered, but those involved in Android app development find ways to overcome them. Diversity on Android can be both a blessing and a nightmare depending on how we approach app development. To reiterate, thorough research and a passion to achieve the intended goal will allow one to navigate through the initial problems and launch their application successfully. Ready, Set, Go!