This document provides guidance on evaluating the technical feasibility of a mobile app idea. It discusses assessing an idea based on required data, integrations with third parties, need for backend services, and competitive landscape. Key questions are posed in each area to determine what is needed to realize the idea technically and whether it is worth pursuing. Integration risks with major partners like Twitter and Netflix are also highlighted.

1. Evaluating Your App Idea
From a Technical Perspective
Vance Lucas
http://vancelucas.com

2. Target Audience
• Limited technical knowledge/
experience
• Anyone interested in everything that
goes into making apps
• People who have app ideas, but don’t
know who to talk to or where to start

3. Who are You?
• Vance Lucas
• http://vancelucas.com
• Twitter: @vlucas
• Brightbit (local dev. shop) until 2014
• Consulting/Freelance afterwards
• Now full-time at NetSuite

4. Soundingboard.tv

6. This IS
• Pre-market validation of idea itself
• Technical feasibility determination
• “Is this idea even possible?”
• “Is this idea worth pursuing?”

7. This is NOT
• Good / Bad idea judgement
• “Your idea is [awesome|terrible]”
• Determination of success
• Market validation

8. Topics
• Idea
• Information
• Integrations
• Service
• Competition
• Money

9. Idea

10. • What is the idea?
• What problem does it solve?
• How do users solve this problem
currently?
• How will your app solve this problem
better?
Story: App Idea for Take-Out Menus

11. Information

12. • Does my idea require data or
information that I don’t have?
• How can I get this data?
• What will it cost (time + money)?
• How hard is this data to get?
• Will I own or control this data?
Story: App Idea for Road Trip Guide

13. Integrations

14. • Does this require integration with a
3rd party (Twitter, Facebook, data
source, etc.)? How deep?
• Does it cost money?
• What are the risks in integrating?
Story: App Idea to Cancel Credit Cards

15. Integration Risks
• Twitter: http://ryanmarkel.com/6446/
twitters-api-and-user-hostility/
• Netflix: http://techcrunch.com/
2014/06/13/netflix-api-shutdown/
• Snapchat: https://medium.com/
backchannel/snapchat-s-non-
vanishing-message-you-can-trust-
us-6606e6774b8b

16. Web Service

17. • Is a central database or web service
required for your app to function?
• Are you going to have a user login?
• Will any data sync across devices?
• Is any content “shared” with, or
“discovered” by other users?
• Is there any content not stored only
on a single user’s phone or device

18. You Need an API!
• Whole separate (large) project with
tight integration into your app
• Recurring costs? (domain, hosting, etc.)
• Risks? (security, availability, etc.)
if you answered “yes” to any of those…

19. Your API

20. Competition

21. • Are there any competitors?
• If so, how many? How big are they?
• Good ratings? Any complaints?
• How is your idea different?
• What is your unique value
proposition

23. Market Analysis
• How big is the market?
• # of apps in this category?
• # of searches for app keywords?
• # of downloads of competition?

24. Awesome Tools
• AppAnnie.com
• AppTrace.com
• XYO.net

25. Money

26. • How will this make money (ROI)?
• One-time purchases or subscription?
• Free with ads or in-app purchases?
• How does this align with costs?
• Remember 30% cut for app stores
• Does it even need to make money?

29. Game Time!

30. Notes App
• Integration with iCloud to
sync notes across devices

31. Camera+ App
• Simple integration for
sharing photos on Twitter,
Facebook, Flickr
• Integration with iCloud to
sync photos to all devices

32. Angry Birds
• Integration with Game
Center (iOS)
• Integration with Google
Play (Android)
• Push Notifications / GCM

34. • Web Service
• API for app + 3rd party developers
• Integration with MLS + others
• Integrations
• Google Maps
• Push Notifications

35. • Web Services Galore…
• Integrations
• Crawls every website in existence
• Way too much to list…

36. Need Inspiration?
https://twitter.com/search?q=#appidea

37. Questions?
@vlucas | vance@vancelucas.com
I’m writing a book!
http://soundingboard.tv/book