The web application goes through various stages that people are generally unaware of before the beautiful web pages shine on the internet, before the owner’s eyes water with ecstasy, BEFORE: The online software gets a tonne of users, turns into a money-making behemoth, and delivers the ultimate in customer satisfaction.
Hours and hours are spent developing the perfect UI/UX; monitors are crammed with thousands of lines of code; designers and developers argue over why the button is a pixel off from the real design. Gallons of coffee were drunk down the neck, of course.
Okay, the process of creating a web app may appear perplexing to most of you, but it is equally crucial to understand. And if you want to engage a web development business to construct one for you, you need to know how you want your project to be built. We’ve outlined the seven stages of the web development life cycle in this blog, as well as the typical web development approach that we use at Next Big Technology.
Table of Contents
What is the Standard Web Development Methodology?
1. Recognize the client’s requirements
2. In-depth investigation and analysis
3. Make a plan
4. Create a design
5. Expansion
6. Deployment and Testing
7. Maintenance and Post-Deployment
Also read : Why Next Big Technology Is the Right Platform for Your Web Development Solutions?
1. Recognize the needs of the client
The design and development stages are typically thought to begin the web development process, however, they really come later. Understanding the client’s needs is the first and most important phase (which is sometimes overlooked).
Identifying and comprehending the actual needs of the consumer’s aids in the provision of the ideal solution. When customers have a technological background, it might be a lot easier to comprehend their needs and the level of intricacy they need in their projects. When customers are completely unfamiliar with the online and programming worlds, however, we ask questions and seek clarity to better assist them.
2. Thorough Research
Each application is distinct from the others. As a result, during this stage, our team conducts research and collects as many essential data as feasible for the project. An online employment marketplace is not the same as an e-commerce web app that sells men’s clothing. Deep study and analysis of the industry, target audience, competitors, project motto, results, and other factors give the insights and information needed to create an excellent web app.
One of our projects, for example, Getlitt is an online book reading platform featuring a large collection of children’s books. As a result, in order to have an effect, we conducted extensive research and analysis in order to develop an app that would encourage youngsters to read books online. The appealing aesthetics, as well as elements such as gamification of the platform and the addition of amusing characters, were created with youngsters in mind.
3. Make a plan
Didn’t we state that the most important step is to understand the client’s needs? Here’s another one to add to the list: planning. A road map to the destination is a strong strategy backed by extensive study and analysis. We identify deliverables, sprints, and Gantt charts at this stage, along with a predicted timetable and resources to complete it.
Various other significant choices, such as sitemap formulation, wireframing, layout planning, UI/UX, and technology stack selection, are taken at this stage.
Choosing the sitemap is a vital aspect of the planning step. It’s a web app’s ordered framework that connects distinct pages based on their hierarchy and relevance. It makes it easier for people to traverse the website. Take a look at the diagram below.
Wireframes and mockups, on the other hand, provide a visual representation of the web pages. On paper or using sophisticated software, a low-fidelity wireframe without any visuals or branding can be made. There are several tools available on the market that make building a wireframe simple. All of the planning is done with the customer’s input so that the client understands how his project’s blueprint is created.
4. Create a design
It’s time to design each page of the web application after we have the wireframes and sitemap. Graphic designers add unique images, logos, colors, fonts, animations, buttons, drop-down menus, and more to the approved wireframes at this stage, depending on the project requirements. As a result, your web app gains a distinct identity.
The user experience is heavily influenced by the application’s design. As much as 94 percent of a user’s first impression of a website is based on its design. As a result, it’s critical to ensure that your web app appeals to your target audience on a visual level. Even the tiniest aspects, such as graphic shadows or the color of the call to action button, must be meticulously considered. In reality, the website’s colors play an important part in giving users a better experience. Consumers create a first opinion of a product within 90 seconds of the encounter, according to a study, and 62 percent to 90 percent of those judgments are based on color. Furthermore, different hues might elicit various feelings. As a consequence, thinking about colors when creating might help you get better outcomes.
5. Development
So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of the web application, which is to say, the construction of such web application. This is the stage in which the designs that have been authorised by the client are translated into a functional model. It is possible to separate the development process into two phases, which are called the front end and rear end.
Front end Development
The front end, as the name refers, is the development of the client-side app that is seen by the users. An HTML page with animations and effects is created from the previous stage’s designs. Additionally, JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React, Vue, and Meteor is utilized to implement more advanced features. A web app that is both responsive and mobile-friendly has become a must in today’s world of smartphones and tablets.
Development of the backend
The construction of the server-side program, which is the heart of the frontend and transforms the user interface into a functional web app, is referred to as the backend. Backend engineers build the server-side program, database, business logic, and everything else that goes on behind the scenes.
Also read: What are the most popular Stacks in 2021 – Web development trends
6. Deployment and Testing
After the web app is constructed and before it is deployed to the server, it undergoes a series of thorough tests to guarantee that it is free of defects and difficulties. The quality assurance team conducts tests such as functionality, usability, compatibility, and performance to guarantee that the web application is ready for users and launch. Additionally, testing aids in the discovery of methods to improve the web app in the near future. The web software is deployed to the server using FTP once the quality assurance team has given it the green light (File Transfer Protocol). At Next Big Technology, we utilize BeanStalk, Github, Bitbucket, and FileZilla to deploy web apps to servers.
7. Maintenance and post-deployment
The web development process does not finish with the launch of the custom website development. The web development business must do numerous post-deployment duties, including supplying clients with source code and project papers, working on their input, and providing post-deployment support and maintenance. This stage is equally important since the web app’s true function begins once it is made available to consumers. Additional revisions based on customer input, support, and maintenance, as well as new updates, are all required.
Conclusion
The web development company process is divided into numerous stages, beginning with a thorough grasp of the client’s requirements, followed by extensive research and analysis, design, development, and beyond. And it may be a time-consuming and intimidating endeavor at times. However, owing to the many materials available on the internet. There are several articles and courses available to assist owners in delving deeper into this process. There are also seasoned web development firms that provide services to clients.
You now understand what the web development lifecycle entails. So, whether you’re a well-established company trying to expand its online presence or a startup with a fantastic concept, nothing should stop you from pursuing your dream of creating your own web application.
Thanks for reading our post “Web Development Process – A Guide to Complete Web Development Life Cycle”, please connect with us for any further inquiry. We are Next Big Technology, a leading web & Mobile Application Development Company. We build high-quality applications to full fill all your business needs.