This is an overview of my thoughts on the mobile development space and options for building that first MVP in a cost effective manner leveraging cross-platform development tools and PAAS for data store, Push Notifications and Analytics. Summary - you dont need to know objective-C, Swift or Java to build a mobile app --- and you dont need a Ruby, PHP, Node Express, MongoDB, SQLServer developer to build backend

1. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
So You Want Build a
Mobile App
Aaron K. Saunders
CEO Founder Clearly Innovative Inc

2. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Who Am I
● Founder of Clearly Innovative Inc
● Author of Book on Mobile App
Development published by Wiley
● Adjunct Professor at Howard University
teaching mobile development
● In software development for over 20+
years
● Undergraduate Degree CS, MBA IT &
Strategy

3. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com

4. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Conversation Starters...
● Building, writing software is hard and not
for everyone so don’t feel bad if it is not for
you.
● Hackathons are not the solution to your
development challenges.
● Use free, open source resources to get
you started, then find the best process for
you to learn.

5. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Building a mobile
application is not
building a company, it is
just an app!

6. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Does anyone care
other than you?

7. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Does
anyone
care other
than you?

8. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Just An App – Other
Concerns
● Where is the content coming from?
● What is your marketing plan?
● Where is the website?
● How will you get noticed?
● Who will support the app/website/data
storage
● What will keep people engaged?

9. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Don’t Forget About
User Experience and
User Design… Mobile
apps don’t come with a
user’s manual

10. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
http://www.uxbooth.com/articles/12207/

11. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
What’s An App -
Terminology
● Mobile Web Application/Site
● Web Based Hybrid Mobile Application
● Javascript-Hybrid Mobile Application
● Native Mobile Application

12. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Mobile Websites
● Web site modified to support web
browsers
● This is the baseline that you should look to
support
● Google has modified search to prioritize
mobile enabled sites
● Can be addressed using responsive
design or mobile specific frameworks
when building app

13. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Web Based Hybrid
Mobile Applications
● A website packaged in a native container
● Popular Framework is Apache Cordova
aka Phonegap
● Provides access to native functionality
through plugins
● User’s download application App Store &
Google Play
● The User Interface is still web based
technologies

14. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Web Based - Hybrid
Frameworks
● Ionic Framework - AngularJS
● jQuery Mobile
● Touchstone - ReactJS
● Sencha Touch
● KendoUI
● Intel XDK

15. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
http://phonegap.com/2012/05/02/phonegap-explained-visually/

16. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Javascript - Hybrid
Mobile Applications
● Programing in Javascript - compiling with
libraries to generate native code
● Provides access to native functionality
through javascript libraries/APIs
● User’s download application App Store &
Google Play
● The User Interface is NATIVE not
HTML/CSS

17. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
JavaScript is Everywhere
Where is My Data
Stored?
http://sdtimes.com/the-future-of-javascript-is-almost-now/

18. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Javascript - Hybrid
Mobile Frameworks
• Appcelerator - Javascript
• Xamarin - C#
• ReactNative - Javascript
• RubyMotion – Ruby
• Telerik – Full Suite of tools Native & HTML
• (Telerik )NativeScript - Javascript

19. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Why Does This Matter?
• This information is to educate you on options
for your mobile development solution.
• You don’t have to learn objective-c, swift,
java, C# to get your project jumpstarted.
• Educate yourself to protect yourself and your
vision.

20. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Where is My Data
Stored?

21. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Where is My Data
Stored?
• Build & Host your own backend
• Let some one else build it for you

22. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Hire a Team?
• Database Developer
• Operations Resource
• Ruby, PHP, NodeJS or Resource
• $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

23. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Not So Fast… Do I
have any clients yet?

24. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Integrated Backend
Platform Solutions
• Kinvey – Data, Analytics, Push, 3rd Party API
• Parse – Data, Analytics, Push
• Appcelerator - Data, Analytics, Push, 3rd
Party API
• Backand - Data, Analytics, Push
• Ionic – Analytics, Push

25. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Data Integration
• Most have JavaScript libraries
• All Support REST API
• Some are free, others have starter pricing
• IMHO, Best & least expensive way to get
Solution up and running

26. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Quick Summary –
Getting the MVP Built
• There are more cost effective ways to build
the initial MVP of your mobile solution than
build a native objective-c, java application;
know your options

27. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Quick Summary – The
WHOLE Product
• Your PRODUCT is more than an application,
factor in all aspects of a complete solution to
make sure your vision can be achieved

28. Transform Your Vision Into A Mobile Solution | build@clearlyinnovative.com
Quick Summary -
BackEnd
• You don’t necessarily need to hire a Ruby,
PHP, NodeJS resource to build your
backend database, there are more cost
efficient options for the early phase of your
solution