Developing mobile apps for the Android platform is a strategic choice for businesses, considering its extensive global market share as a mobile operating system. Alphabet’s provision of Android as an open-source platform, coupled with regular updates and feature enhancements, has further contributed to its popularity. However, the varying penetration rates of different Android versions present a significant challenge.
Unlike Apple, Alphabet does not enforce regulations on the smartphones, tablets, and phablets manufactured by different companies. Consequently, devices running the same Android version can possess diverse hardware features. Therefore, developers face the critical task of targeting a wide range of devices powered by different Android versions when building mobile apps.
During the planning, development, and testing stages, developers must prioritize accessibility, functionality, performance, usability, and security to ensure a compelling user experience across various Android devices. They must also explore ways to deliver personalized user experiences tailored to different devices and operating system versions. Additionally, developers need to address several common challenges to build robust Android apps.
Exploring 7 Common Challenges Faced by Android App Developers
- Software Fragmentation
The market share of Android versions differs significantly. Recent data from Google indicates that the latest version, Nougat, has a lower market share compared to its predecessors, such as Marshmallow, Lollipop, and KitKat. Each Android version introduces new features and enhancements, necessitating the inclusion of specific functionalities to optimize user experiences. Simultaneously, developers must ensure their apps deliver rich and personalized experiences on devices running older Android versions. Consequently, targeting multiple Android versions is crucial for app popularity and profitability in the short term.
- Varying Hardware Features
Unlike other mobile operating systems, Android is open source, allowing device manufacturers to customize the operating system to their specific requirements. As a result, Android devices powered by the same version can differ in display screen size, resolution, camera capabilities, and other hardware features. Developers must guarantee personalized experiences for each user by leveraging their device’s hardware features when creating an Android app.
- No Uniform User Interface Designing Process or Rules
Google has not provided standardized UI design processes or rules for mobile app developers. Consequently, many developers build Android apps without adhering to any particular UI development standards. This lack of conformity leads to inconsistencies in app appearance and functionality across different devices, directly impacting the user experience. To maintain UI consistency, savvy developers opt for responsive layouts. Furthermore, comprehensive UI testing using a combination of real devices and emulators is crucial. However, designing a UI that ensures consistency across various Android devices can be challenging for developers.
- API Incompatibility
To enhance the functionality and interoperability of their apps, developers often employ third-party APIs. However, the quality of available APIs for Android app development varies. Some APIs are designed for specific Android versions, rendering them incompatible with devices running different versions of the operating system. Developers must navigate the challenge of making a single API work smoothly on multiple Android versions. However, achieving seamless app performance across various Android devices using the same set of APIs often proves challenging.
- Security Flaws
The open-source nature of Android facilitates customization by device manufacturers, but it also exposes the platform to frequent security attacks. Android’s massive market share has made it a target for security flaws and bugs, including Stagefright, ‘Certifi-gate’ mRST, FakeID, Installer Hijacking, and TowelRoot. To protect user information from targeted attacks and security flaws, developers must incorporate robust security features and employ the latest encryption mechanisms in their applications.
- Android Search Engine Visibility
Statistics indicate that the Google Play Store offers a significantly larger number of mobile apps compared to the Apple App Store. Moreover, a substantial percentage of Android device users prefer free apps over paid ones. Developers must adopt aggressive app promotion strategies to achieve higher download numbers and implement effective app monetization options. Crafting a comprehensive digital marketing strategy to target relevant users becomes crucial, with many developers seeking the assistance of digital marketing professionals to ensure their apps receive maximum exposure.
- Patent Issues
Users have a wide array of Android apps to choose from, often offering similar features and functionalities. Developers face the challenge of creating apps with unique attributes, as many inadvertently include features that resemble those found in existing apps within the same category on the Play Store. Unlike Apple, Google does not implement stringent guidelines for evaluating the quality of newly submitted apps. The absence of standardized quality assessment criteria often results in developers addressing patent-related issues. Some developers may need to modify their apps in the future to avoid patent conflicts.
In the current agile development environment, many Android app developers work closely with QA professionals and actively participate in the mobile app testing process. Consequently, developers must also address common issues related to Android app testing to ensure the successful deployment of their applications.