As the web app market stays competitive and the demand for secure solutions increases, considering web app architecture has become more important than ever. This “foundation” of web app development is the backbone of building an app for your business. A thoughtfully designed architecture ensures that your web apps remain responsive, secure, and scalable as your business grows. 

In this article, we’ll dive into the components, types, and models of web application architecture. With this knowledge, you’ll be well-equipped to confidently choose the right web app architecture for your needs. Keep reading to learn more!

What is a web architecture? 

The definition of web app architecture is broad and depends on the focus of your web applications. At its core, a web application architecture is a model that defines how the components of a web app interact with each other. For instance, a client-server architecture, where the client is the user interface and the server is the back-end, is a common model. The choice of architecture is closely tied to how the application logic is distributed between the client and server sides.

Technically, it’s the intricate skeleton of a web app, encompassing its elements, databases, systems, servers, interfaces, and all the communication happening between them. More abstractly, it indicates the complex logic behind responses to client and server requests.

When it comes to business benefits, web application architecture plays a keyl role in building web applications and planning for their needs, ensuring they deliver on speed, scalability, security, and other key quality attributes.

Components of Web Application Architecture

As the applications differ in complexity and functionality, the number of layers and components changes accordingly. In some cases, an app is simple enough to work as a monolith, storing all the web application design architecture in one place.

However, most web apps consist of multiple components, or tiers, that interact with each other. Typically, web application architecture is divided into two major groups: user interface and structural web components. Structural web components, in turn, include both client-side and server-side components.

When numerous components are involved, descriptions alone might not clearly understand the entire system. This is where a web application architecture diagram comes in handy, offering a visual representation of the components and their interactions. Let’s take a closer look at the key elements shown in this diagram.

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DNS

The abbreviation DNS stands for the domain name system. It’s a key element that matches IP addresses to domain names. In this way, a particular server receives a request sent by an end user.

Load Balancer

It directs incoming requests from app users to one of the multiple servers, which distributes the load more evenly when too many users are active at the same time. Generally, web app services exist as various copies mirroring one another to enable all servers to process requests in the same manner. Also, the load balancer is an element that distributes tasks to prevent them from overcharging.

Web App Servers

This component is basically an app deployment descriptor. It processes the user’s requests and sends responses back to an initial browser. To make this happen, it refers to the back-end infrastructure, including the database, job queue, cache server, etc.

Database

The meaning of this component is pretty much straightforward. It offers various instruments to perform, delete, organize, and update data entries. Mainly, web app servers interact with job servers without any intermediary.

Caching Service

The component grants easy and quick data storage and search. When the user receives the info from the server, search results can be cached. As a result, future requests will be returned much faster.

These are the scenarios when caching is efficient:

• Slow or repeated computation
• When a user receives similar results for a specific request

Job Queue (Optional)

This one has two components: a job queue and servers that process those jobs. Many web servers operate a large number of jobs of minor importance. A job that has to be fulfilled goes in the queue and will be operated according to the schedule.

Full-Text Search Service (Optional)

There are plenty of web apps that support search by text feature. After this, an application sends the relevant results to an end user. The whole process is called a full-text search, and it can find the requested data by a keyword among all the documents available in a system.

CDN

The abbreviation CDN stands for the content delivery system. This system sends static content, including images and other files. Basically, it includes multiple servers that are closer to the geographical locations of end users than an app’s database. As a result, CDN delivers content more effectively to users around the globe, drastically reducing load times.

What is a 3-tier Architecture?

The majority of web apps are created through the separation of their principal function into layers/tiers. Respectively, this enables you to quickly and effortlessly replace or upgrade those layers independently. It is called a multi- or a 3-tier architecture.

In a 3-tier web architecture, there are three layers/tiers:

• Presentation (client) layer
• Application (business) layer
• Data access layer

It’s possible to say that this modern web app architecture is the safest and most secure one. It can be explained by the fact that the client doesn’t access the data directly. Application servers can be deployed on multiple machine providers, which enables higher scalability, increased performance, and better efficiency.

Each tier can be scaled independently; therefore, this architecture can be scaled horizontally. In addition, it also significantly improves the overall data integrity as data will go through the app server, which is the one that decides exactly how and by whom data will be accessed. This fantastic perk is an easy and cost-effective solution in case of new company management.

Modern Web Application Architecture Layers

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the three web application architecture layers.

Presentation/Client Layer

When we talk about the presentation layer, we refer to the front end of an app. This layer includes such elements as static content and dynamic interface that are visible to end users. The environment of this layer is any browser. Among the technologies that are used in this case, we can name HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. The potential frameworks to choose from include Angular, React, and Vue.

Business/Application Layer

Speaking of the business layer, which is also referred to as the application layer, is a part of the app back-end. The web app’s back-end determines business logic and responses to browser requests that are sent to the presentation layer. It consists of the core application logic and outlines all internal flow for data and requests. In this case, servers, serverless cloud platforms, or PaaS are the most convenient environments. Among the programming languages that are used in this case, we can name C#, JavaScript, Java, Python, and PHP. The potential back-end frameworks to choose from include ASP.NET, express.js, nest.js, Spring, Flask, Django, and Symfony.

Data Access Layer

The final layer in this architecture is the data access layer, which plays a crucial role by closely interfacing with the business layer, retrieving essential information from the servers. Simultaneously, the data service layer acts as an intermediary, effectively segregating the business logic from the client side during request processing.

It is an app back-end part that contains databases and DBMS (database management systems) that collect, manage, and store data. The environment can be the same as the application layer. Among the Database management systems, we can name PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, MongoDB, Cloud Offerings, and so on.

All the layers work independently and communicate with each other through the relevant components.

Types of Web Application Architecture

A web application architecture type is a particular pattern under which the components interact with each other. The overarching layers might be divided into client-side architecture, server-side architecture, and a hosting approach.

Client Side

Single-Page Application Architecture

This web application architecture is designed to show relevant content only. To make this happen, it first loads the relevant web page and then dynamically updates the representation of its content with the requested information only.

In other words, it doesn’t refer to the server for loading new pages but sends requests for the needed parts of the webpage only.

Single-page applications contribute to smoother performance and a more intuitive user experience.

Pros of single-page app architecture:

• Faster performance
• Improved flexibility of UX

Cons of single-page app architecture:

• Increased testing time
• Possible loss of unsaved progress
• Slower first-load speed

Progressive Web Apps

Thanks to their unique format, progressive web apps are still among the most promising web app trends. They offer a convenient and effective user experience that is available from any browser and device through a shared URL.

Progressive web apps are widely used in entertainment, finance, and eCommerce industries. Their key benefits include lightweight, cost-effectiveness, cross-device nature, ability to attract web traffic, and a fully functioning app experience.

Pros of progressive web app architecture:

• Browser availability
• Mobile-first approach
• Increased traffic
• Effective offline performance

Cons of progressive web app architecture:

• Restricted browser support
• Narrow utilization of native APIs.

Server Side

Microservice Architecture

Microservices are the frequent alternative to an unreliable monolithic web application architecture. They disperse the functionality to deliver small and lightweight services separately.

In particular, they are loosely coupled and use APIs for communication if a sophisticated business problem arises. This peculiarity eases the developer’s life since it’s possible for individual service components to be built in different programming languages.

Thanks to its flexibility and stability, microservice architecture has gained popularity these days, with businesses like Amazon, eBay, and Netflix adopting it for their complex needs.

Pros of microservice architecture:

• Easier scaling up
• Better fault tolerance
• Simple-to-understand code base
• Independent module deployment

Cons of microservice architecture:

• Difficulties with testing and debugging
• Complex deployment

Hosting Approach

Serverless Architecture

In web application development, this type of architecture allows you to outsource both server and infrastructure management to a third-party cloud service provider. This way, a web app logic execution won’t intervene in the infrastructure running.

Choosing a serverless architecture is good for companies that want to delegate server and hardware management to a reliable tech partner and concentrate on front-end development tasks instead.

Also, this web application architecture type allows working on small functions in apps. The service providers that assist in server management are Amazon and Microsoft, among others.

Pros of serverless architecture:

• Absence of server management
• Highly scalable
• Minimized latency
• Speed and flexibility

Cons of serverless architecture:

• Security concerns
• High complexity

Advanced & Scalable Web Application Architecture

Digital technologies constantly evolve, creating new possibilities for web applications. As a result, their architecture also evolves to accommodate software to new demands and conditions in business. These days, the challenges in various industries require appropriate actions and implemented measures from software developers. Let’s see what business requirements impact software development most and how specialists can ensure the necessary characteristics of web applications using new trends and a properly designed architecture. 

Nowadays, three of the most demanded characteristics of web applications are improved scalability, reliability, and security. Business needs to be sure that custom software is reliable and won’t fail under load or malicious actions. To satisfy these requirements, developers continually enhance software architecture by implementing more advanced technologies and higher standards.

Today, most requirements regarding the scalability and safety of web applications are met with the help of cloud technologies. Web developers extensively use them for two main purposes: advanced storage and delivery of content and smart balancing of traffic load.

Cloud solutions are the most obvious and optimal choice of technologies for the architecture of most business web applications. That’s why a lot of web developers effectively use a wide range of cloud services provided by such IT giants as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Today, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform are essential tools that can be customized for all types of web applications.

Here are a few examples of uses and benefits associated with cloud services implementation in web app architecture.

Data Storage Tools

• Amazon S3
• Azure Cloud Storage
• Google Cloud Storage

Storing web app information in the cloud instead of an on-premise server makes data more accessible regardless of users’ location. Most cloud service providers offer several subscription plans with various volume and traffic load capacities. They ensure your information is kept safe and secure, which is an invaluable advantage for business.

Cloud storage also allows developers to optimize access time for users in target geographic areas. This way, customers or employees using a web application will experience fewer lags. After a web application is released, developers can add new cloud storage units, remove existing ones, and change the service subscription plan. This significantly improves scalability and optimizes app costs depending on the scale of the business.

Load Balancing Tools

• AWS Elastic Load Balancing
• Azure Load Balancer
• Google Cloud Load Balancing

Load balancers ensure the smooth work of a web application even at times of high traffic loads. This type of technology is especially useful for B2C or retail businesses. Usually, such high load periods are predicted and happen on a regular basis, for example, during holiday seasons. However, sometimes, they occur as a result of malicious attacks intended to disrupt the online operations of a particular company. The most common type is DDoS attacks, which can have a devastating impact on any online business. Load balancing technologies help to distribute excess loads across multiple servers using hardware or software components and predefined policies.

Caching and Content Delivery Tools

• Amazon CloudFront
• Azure CDN
• Google Cloud CDN and Media CDN
• CloudFlare

Software developers may implement a caching system in application architecture to optimize data access and improve app performance. Usually, an app cache contains the most frequently or recently requested information. It delivers data to a user device much faster than requesting the same information from a database on an application server. 

Depending on the architecture, a web application may have a global cache, a distributed cache, or an in-memory cache. Another widely used technology to handle caching is a content delivery network (CDN). It allows developers to reduce load on an application server by rerouting queries to a CDN server instead.

Web Application Architecture Best Practices

Here, we’ve gathered the top 5 recommendations for business owners to consider while working on web app architecture for their projects and building cooperation with tech partners.

• Think of a proper web application architecture at the earliest stages

Without a comprehensive structure, your application will turn into a labyrinth of messy elements and components that are too hard to handle.

• Don’t copy somebody’s success

The top mistake is picking a web application architecture of a successful company and simply replicating it. In reality, a successful architecture is one that corresponds with your business goals and ideas, not theirs.

• Pay attention to your technical limitations

It’s not always possible to get the best and most successful elements in your web application architecture. However, with the proper attention to quality attributes and realistic business expectations, you will get the maximum from all the components you have.

• Eliminate the problems right away

Don’t wait for the web app release to fix the problems in its architecture. The earlier you address the issues, the more reliable core features it will have.

• Create a checklist of successful web app features

To make sure your web app has achieved its goal, it’s good practice to note your expectations from the very beginning and discuss their possibility and measurable KPIs with your tech partner.

The possible checklist may include these features:

• System flexibility
• Reusable components
• Well-written code
• Scalability
• System stability
• Bug detection ease
• Adherence to security standards
• Fields for user feedback
• Crash prevention
• Ease of use
• Fast response
• Automatic deployment

Summing Up

A solid, fast-working, scalable, and safe web application architecture is necessary for every web platform-based digital product, especially for business. For this reason, it’s advisable that the architecture is developed and implemented by software engineering experts with experience in building similar solutions tailored to your specific industry.

Intellectsoft has been creating digital solutions for companies of all sizes in Fintech, Healthcare, construction, hospitality, logistics, eCommerce, and many other industries for over 17 years. We provide web development services to startups, SMBs, and enterprises worldwide and create solutions with the most efficient, safe, and flexible web app architecture.

So, if you’re looking for a development team that will ensure top-quality modern web application architecture, here are only a few reasons to choose our software engineering experts:

• Our talent pool covers dozens of programming tools and technologies for building web, mobile, desktop, cloud, and other solutions.
• We have successfully delivered over 600 digital solutions for businesses. Here, you can see our most prominent cases.
• Our engineering workforce is located in 21 countries across the Atlantic.
• The size of our clients varies from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 enterprises like Audi, Harley Davidson, Universal, Nestle, Melco, and others.

If you’re ready to explore the custom web application architecture we can create for your business, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team will ensure your product has the perfect modern web app architecture.

The post Web Application Architecture: The Basics appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Why Did We Choose These Software Companies?

To pick suitable candidates for this list, we have analyzed several crucial characteristics of companies that practice custom software development in Miami, including:

• The workforce size and pricing;
• The years of experience in the industry;
• The stack of employed technologies;
• The diversity of services;
• The number and scale of projects, and more.

Considering these aspects, we have chosen ten software companies in Miami for your consideration. Feel free to use our list to select a potential contractor to build a custom software solution for your business.

List of the Top 10 Software Development Companies in Miami

Below, you will find a brief overview of the ten Miami software development companies with impressive combinations of the characteristics mentioned in the previous section.

1. Intellectsoft

Intellectsoft is a global vendor offering digital transformation consultancy and software development services. This company has over 15 years of experience in assisting Fortune 500 companies, startups, and mid-sized companies. Thanks to a network of offices in major European and American tech hubs, including Miami, Intellectsoft effectively cooperates with its clients regardless of the time zone. The top-quality solutions created by this company cover almost every industry and bring new opportunities for businesses and their customers. For example, Intellectsoft developed a mobile app for Clayton Homes – the largest manufacturer of modular homes and other housing in the USA.

• Minimum Project Size: $50,000+
• Hourly Rates: $50-$99 / hr
• Industries: Fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce and Retail, Construction and Real Estate, Insurance, Logistics and Transportation, Travel and Hospitality.
• Major Clients: Harley-Davidson, Jaguar, Audi, Guinness, Ernst & Young, Eurostar, Cirrus Insight. 
• Number of Employees: 100+
• Foundation Year: 2007
• Tech Stack: C#, Java, JavaScript, Typescript, Kotlin, Swift, .NET, React, AWS, Azure.
• Clutch Review: 4.9 stars and 37 reviews.
• Google Review: 4.3 stars and 3 reviews
• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intellectsoft
• Location: USA (Miami, New York, San Francisco), UK (London), Norway (Oslo). 

2. SDSol Technologies

SDSol Technologies is one the oldest Miami-based software development companies. With over 1200 projects in its portfolio and more than 20 years of experience, this vendor focuses on solutions for accelerating digital transformation and business growth. However, one of the most significant projects of this company is the software system for cognition assessment and adaptive learning developed for the University of Miami.

• Services: Mobile development, Web development, IoT product development, UI/UX design.
• Hourly Rates: $100–$149 / hr
• Minimum Project Size: $1,000+
• Industries Covered: Education, Fintech, Gaming, Automotive, Real estate.
• Major Clients: Cartier, Corporate Caterers, University of Miami, Carprix.
• Number of Employees: 40+
• Tech Stack: ASP.NET, Java, PHP, Flutter, NextJS, React.
• Foundation Year: 1999
• Location: USA (Miami, Boston).

3. Mercury Development

Mercury Development is an award-winning software development company offering a wide range of services, from full-stack development to staff augmentation and QA for existing solutions. This IT company is among the first to harness the power of emerging technologies and new capabilities of IoT. Mercury Development mainly focuses on software for mobile and wearable devices and has over 1,500 mobile apps in its portfolio, including applications for such industry giants as Burger King and Fitbit.

• Services: Mobile development, Web development, Desktop development, Staff augmentation.
• Hourly Rates: $50-$99 / hr
• Minimum Project Size: $25,000+
• Industries Covered: Healthcare, Fintech, Automotive, Retail, Entertainment.
• Major Clients: Fitbit,  Dow Automotive Systems, Kensington, HSBC, Cisco.
• Number of Employees: 400+ 
• Tech Stack: Java, Swift, Javascript, React Native, PHP.
• Foundation Year: 1999
• Location: USA (Miami, Palm City, Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Serbia (Belgrad).

4. Koombea

Koombea is among the few software companies from Miami that prioritize Agile methodology. With over 1000 mobile and web apps in its portfolio, this vendor always aims to become a long-term strategic partner for all its clients. A user-friendly Vocal Teacher mobile app created for the renowned expert Liz Caplan is an illustrative example of the company’s proficiency, 

• Services: Web development, Mobile development, Project management, Quality Assurance, MVP development, UX/UI Design.
• Hourly Rates: Undisclosed
• Minimum Project Size: $50,000+
• Industries Covered: Education, FinTech, Healthcare, Retail.
• Major Clients: Flight Logger, Payix, LINC, Luna, Do It Center
• Number of Employees: 50+
• Tech Stack: Swift, Kotlin, PHP, Flutter, React, Angular, Ruby on Rails.
• Foundation Year: 2007
• Location: USA (Miami, New York, Chicago, San Francisco), Colombia (Barranquilla). 

5. Icreon

Icreon is among the largest vendors on our list, with several offices across the United States and abroad. This company has over 22 years of experience and more than 350 experts to deal with every challenge regardless of the industry. The client base of Icreon is incredibly diverse and includes Fortune 500 brands, small- and mid-market companies, and non-profit organizations. For example, Icreon performed the digital transformation of ASTM International, the global leader in the standards industry. 

• Services: Web development, Digital strategy, Cloud engineering, E-commerce development.
• Hourly Rates: $100-$149 / hr
• Minimum Project Size: $50,000 
• Industries Covered: Fintech, Manufacturing, Non-profit, Retail, Legal.
• Major Clients: Ferrari, Lincoln, Pepsi, National Geographic, BT Group.
• Number of Employees: 350+
• Tech Stack: Java, PHP, ASP.NET, React, Azure, AWS. 
• Foundation Year: 2000
• Location: USA (Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC), UK (London), India (New Delhi).

6. Tekrevol

Despite its relatively young age, Tekrevol managed to gather hundreds of skilled developers under its brand. It focuses mainly on mobile app development, from 2D and 3D games to social apps that connect enthusiasts with similar hobbies. For example, the company created several applications that promote health and fitness, such as Pure Plank and AMJ Workplace Wellness.

• Services: Mobile development, Web development, Web design.
• Hourly Rates: $50-$99 / hr
• Minimum Project Size: $25,000+
• Industries Covered: Education, Healthcare, Retail, Fintech. 
• Major Clients: Mobius Risk Group, University of Toronto, Oz Leasing, UCSF.
• Number of Employees: 300+
• Tech Stack: ASP.NET, C#, JavaScript, PHP, Swift, AWS.
• Foundation Year: 2018
• Location: USA (Miami, New York, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and more), Canada (Alberta), UAE (Dubai)

7. Jafton

Similar to many other software development companies on our list, Jafton is also focused mainly on mobile applications. The scope of its clients varies from world-famous enterprises to small and medium businesses. For example, Jafton created convenient shopping apps for such brands as Kroger and JOKR.

• Services: Mobile development, Web development, UI/UX design, Staff augmentation.
• Hourly Rates: $50-$99 / hr
• Minimum Project Size: $25,000+
• Industries Covered: Retail, Media, Fintech, Healthcare.
• Major Clients: Forbes, Kroger, SHEIN, Chevron, Royal Caribbean.
• Number of Employees: 120+
• Tech Stack: Java, JavaScript, Swift, Kotlin, Objective C.
• Foundation Year: 2013
• Location: USA (Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Frisco), UAE (Dubai)

8. Eagerworks

Eagerworks is quite unique in preferring Ruby on Rails as a go-to technology for its various projects. This company has helped several startups rise to success with their dedicated approach to building high-quality software products. For example, Pilio was a project designed to help the environment by providing businesses with better control over energy consumption.

• Services: Web development, Mobile development, UI/UX design, Staff augmentation.
• Hourly Rates: $50-$99 / hr
• Minimum Project Size: $25,000+
• Industries Covered: Retail, Energy, Fintech, Automotive, Healthcare.
• Major Clients: Hurr, Pilio, Naxon.
• Number of Employees: 50+ 
• Tech Stack: Ruby on Rails, Javascript, Swift, Python, React, Node.js.
• Foundation Year: 2015
• Location: USA (Miami), Uruguay (Montevideo).

9. Singular Design

Singular Design uses the Agile approach combined with low-code and no-code technologies to create fast and efficient solutions. The company has created several applications that promote environmental awareness in collaboration with Planet Love and Animal Conservation.   

• Services: Low-code and No-code development, Mobile development, Web development, UI/UX design.
• Hourly Rates: $50-$99 / hr
• Minimum Project Size: $25,000+
• Industries Covered: Healthcare, Fintech, Automotive, Retail, Entertainment.
• Major Clients: Burger King, Disney, National Geographic, Harvard Builders Club.
• Number of Employees: 50+ 
• Tech Stack: SQL, PHP, Python, Bubble, Flutter, WordPress.
• Foundation Year: 2011
• Location: USA (Miami).

10. Alpha Bravo Development

Alpha Bravo Development takes a personalized approach to the unique needs of small and medium businesses. This young software development company from Miami helped over 100 clients turn their ideas into custom-made effective solutions to reach new customers and optimize workflow.

• Services: Mobile development, Web development, UI/UX design.
• Hourly Rates: $100-$149 / hr
• Minimum Project Size: $25,000+
• Industries Covered: Fintech, Education, Retail, Healthcare.
• Major Clients: Non-disclosed.
• Number of Employees: 100+ 
• Tech Stack: React Native, Angular, Laravel, NodeJS.
• Foundation Year: 2017
• Location: USA (Miami).

Wrapping Up

Though Miami does not have the same diversity of software development companies as New York City or San Francisco, there are still plenty of them. If you need to create a custom software solution from scratch, modernize your existing solution, or perform a complex digital transformation of your business, consider Intellectsoft as your partner. 

We have offices and talent hubs in several cities across the world, so we are always within reach, regardless of your time zone. As a software development company with 15+ years of experience, we offer a wide range of services and solutions for most industries. Here are a few examples:

• Cloud solutions;
• Blockchain development;
• Business process automation;
• Proof of concept (POC) and minimum viable product (MVP) development;
• End-to-end system integration;
• Discovery projects;
• Product-oriented delivery;
• Master data management;
• AI, ML, IoT, and other solutions.

With over 600 successfully delivered solutions, we have published dozens of case studies on our website to showcase our expertise. So, if you are looking for experienced software developers in Florida, contact us, and we will deliver a top-quality custom solution for your business.

The post Top Software Development Companies in Miami appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Source: Electronic Health Records Market Analysis Report 2023-2027

The leaps in technology in artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) — allowing seamless sharing of data and processes between platforms —  have forced medical companies to reinvent the wheel for the better by looking for new and innovative solutions in their healthcare platforms.

Consider telemedicine, which has experienced a massive surge in popularity over the past few years. With improved accessibility and ease of use, the technology is expected to generate $240 billion in profit by 2032.

In this article, we’ll examine the landscape of software development in healthcare by defining it, breaking down its complexities and inner workings, and making predictions for the future. 

By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll appreciate what these platforms have to offer and clearly understand how to maximize them to make your healthcare organization more efficient in the future.

What is Healthcare Software Development?

In simplest terms, healthcare software helps organize and perform the countless interactions and administrative tasks that take place daily between patients, medical professionals, and health administrators. 

These platforms specialize in streamlining interactions, improving the quality of care, and ensuring privacy and accuracy of record-keeping in hospitals, clinics, research labs, financial service offices, and medical equipment providers.

Software development for healthcare systems establishes an ecosystem where healthcare services gain higher quality and accuracy.

Machine learning has accelerated the development of software for healthcare, with some of its many benefits, including making it easier to digitize patient records and diagnose illnesses. Of course, Big Data and e-health have also played a part in revolutionizing software development for healthcare.

Main Types of Healthcare Software Development

This technology is requested for maintaining clinical workflow and optimizing everyday operations. It assists in keeping medical records, setting appointments, managing finances, and accounting activities.

Electronic Health Record Software

The design allows the maintenance and management of patient data in electronic records. The reports stored include information about allergies, laboratory conclusions, the medical history of a patient, and demographic statistics. It’s worth noting that EHR can be integrated into an ERP system for healthcare, which will grant even wider functionality for any healthcare institution. 

E-Prescribing Software

The technology allows sending medical prescriptions directly to drug stores and pharmacies. It strengthens the connections within the healthcare industry and serves the patient’s comfort.

Urgent Care

This healthcare software category unites numerous apps that help patients get emergency aid without attending the doctor’s office.

Hospital Management Software

This set of technologies optimizes hospital management. These solutions assist in billing, assigning insurance, managing patient information, and administrative work.

Healthcare CRM

This software type works with customer management. The main task is maintaining better client relations —  meaning better care quality, contact management, and accurate performance reports.

Telemedicine Software

Medical professionals like doctors, therapists, or psychiatrists can examine and diagnose patients remotely using video conferencing and file-sharing tools with this type of software.

Laboratory Information Management Systems

A LIMS provides more accurate results in laboratory settings by managing samples, collecting data from those samples, automating workflows, and integrating instruments into the environment.

Radiology Information Systems

This medical imaging software is great for tracking patients and their images, scheduling appointments, reporting results, and invoicing. A RIS system improves the quality and speed of patient care and diagnosis in radiology departments.

Pharmacy Management Systems

A pharmacy management system will ensure a safe and well-run pharmacy by managing expired drugs, re-ordering stock, sending SMS reminders to patients, storing and backing up data on all customers, and many other beneficial processes.

Health Information Exchange Software

This software, also known as HIE, allows all medical personnel to safely and quickly share patients’ private health information with other organizations, resulting in faster, more efficient, and ultimately more reliable care.

Billing and Revenue Cycle Management Software

This software is designed specifically to track the billing and revenue across a patient’s life cycle, painting a complete picture of the cost of treatment for each customer.

What Do Healthcare Software Development Companies Do?

The greater demand for technological solutions in the medical sphere caused the appearance of narrow-specialized healthcare software development companies.

They assist non-governmental organizations, hospitals, and medical schools through various optimization services. At the same time, the requested enhancement range calls for finding a truly reliable software development partner.

From the standpoint of medical institutions, the reason to introduce IT solutions is mostly cost-oriented. Among all, a hired software development company should solve the task of greater financial efficiency through cost optimization.

Here, the technologies can provide data to control financial KPIs, emergency analytics, and client behavior. With these parameters, the spending on a healthcare software development company becomes justified.

Below are 3 types of services that healthcare software development companies offer.

Healthcare Software

All the technologies to assist data management and improve care quality, such as:

• Enhancing diagnostics.
• Intelligent imaging and radiology.
• Healthcare operations and resource management.
• Security and compliance.

Healthcare Apps

Using your mobile device to track your health can include:

• Telehealth and remote monitoring.
• Virtual assistants and chatbots.
• Personalized treatment through AI.
• Patient engagement.

Custom Solutions

Task-oriented software or a mobile solution designed specifically on the customer’s request addressing issues like:

• Digital transformations.
• Patient-centric approaches.
• AI and machine learning applications.
• Data exchanges.

Healthcare software development companies mainly focus on task-oriented solutions to provide the most accurate result and ensure client satisfaction. Nevertheless, the highest aim of any technological introduction is to establish an all-in-one healthcare ecosystem. And so, a high-end software development company always offers a comprehensive set of services for healthcare organizations — involving IT consulting, mobile/web development, cloud technologies, and IT outsourcing.

While there is still a lot of uncertainty and challenges around the digital transformation in the Healthcare Industry, our expertise allows us to consider a variety of technologies, use cases, and solutions for a software consultancy.

Intellectsoft has strong domain expertise for advising the right solutions to solve particular business challenges and avoid pitfalls while delivering and deploying them. Find these and other answers to your questions by getting in touch with our healthcare experts.

Cost of Software Development in the Healthcare Industry

If you’re in the market for healthcare software development, you can expect to pay in the ballpark of $200,000 for outsourcing to $388,000 or higher if you want all the work done in-house. Of course, these costs will differ based on your budget, timeline, and specific needs, which we’ll break down further: 

1. Type of Collaboration

Your first priority is to decide what type of team you want to work with. If you have enough resources, hiring an in-house team that will work by your side is an attractive possibility. 

The solution with the fewest headaches is to select an outsourcing team of software engineers who deliver software of the same quality as an in-house team but at significantly lower prices.

2. Team Composition

Another factor that shapes the development cost is team size and expertise. Consider that all the details, such as the number of employees, their experience and skills, and the technological stack of software developers involved in the project, might also affect the final price.

3. Project Complexity

The cost of your project will be defined by the type of software or medical website you want to develop. Such details as design complexity as well as the number of features that you want to include will play a crucial role in the final budget.

4. Development Timeline

This component is directly connected to the software development complexity. The more complex your software is, the more time-consuming and, respectively, costly your healthcare development project will turn out to be.

5. Team Location

If you opt for an outsourcing team of software engineers, the price will also vary depending on the region. If you want to get the best quality-price balance, it’s recommended to consider American destinations.

What is Custom Healthcare Software Development?

No two healthcare institutions are alike. That’s why custom healthcare software development services are necessary to hone in on clients’ specific needs. Among various advantages, it can help medical entities establish a secure and unified platform for storing medical information. As a result, each applicant can get results of higher inclusiveness, performance, and scalability.

In general, clients request custom healthcare software development when they need a specific solution to one of these problems:

• Optimizing the work with patient records.
• Facilitating communication between caregivers and patients.
• Encouraging collaboration between healthcare professionals.
• Integrating seamlessly with existing systems.
• Compliance with regulatory standards like HIPAA.
• Ensuring the smooth formation and interchange of individual health plans and strategies.
• Facilitating telemedicine and remote care.
• Providing a better accuracy of diagnoses.
• Cutting extra expenses.
• Incorporating new technologies like chatbots, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR).

You can request a custom solution if you have any of these requests.

SDLC in Healthcare

Here are the typical steps for leading the medical software development process (or software development life cycle):

• Requirements setting. Determining the organization’s needs and collecting the appropriate information.
• Prototype development. Conducting assessments and gathering details to propose a raw solution.
• Get feedback. Stakeholder involvement in the proposed solution is critical before moving forward.
• Design and programming. Establishing a technological solution.
• Software testing. Verifying the absence of errors, bugs, and other problems.
• Final adjustments. Validating the software solution and ensuring regulatory compliance before delivering it to a healthcare institution.

For custom software solutions, there is a slight change in the process:

• Select the target audience. Identify the tastes, preferences, and typical behavior of clients.
• Sketch the software architecture. Establish a detailed idea of healthcare IT solutions that meets the needs and demands of your target audience.
• Incorporate feedback. Make sure the solution fits the client’s problem before continuing.
• Elaborate UI/UX design. A customized solution requires closer attention to the usability and intuitiveness of an app.
• Protect the technology. Involve encryption for data protection.
• Ensure compatibility. Ensure the software can easily be incorporated into the IT infrastructure of an institution.

What’s the Future of Development in Healthcare?

Deloitte says the software development healthcare industry is on the verge of significant disruption. The focus will almost solely be open yet secure platforms, customer-driven care, and easy data exchange.

This direction especially strengthens the human-centered approach in healthcare, linking numerous solutions in the area, including optimization of treatment plans, easy tracking of health progress, and availability of online professional consultations.

From the business standpoint, this approach results in greater brand management, reputation increase, and better service delivery.

The key trends of software development in medical fields are:

• Focus on self-care and online communication (via a patient portal, especially). The focus should be accessibility and user-friendliness. The needs of specific demographics, such as the neurodivergent community, should be addressed.
• Involvement of blockchain innovation. This technology significantly contributes to sector democratization. Specifically, blockchain safely discloses internal operations, making the exchange more transparent, trustworthy, and collaborative.
• Expanded EMR software. In the new reality, each medical record will become digital and link all the specialties separated currently. 
• Telemedicine. This innovation creates close remote connections between physicians and patients, eliminating all the traditional barriers between them.
• AI. Diagnoses become more accurate, and you gain the ability to individualize treatment plans.
• VR/AR. Uses for this technology are endless, including training for medical professionals and patient education.
• Chronic disease management tools. Mobile apps or wearable devices to help our aging population could be a game-changer.

Even though the prospects of healthcare IT solutions seem bright, we still have a way to go. Any new software should vigorously address safety concerns since this is one of the most common hurdles for contemporary digital solutions. Also, the management of Big Data should be a priority.

Summing It Up

Intellectsoft offers high-quality assistance in designing and developing various kinds of healthcare software. By consulting with us, you can be sure the solution provided will serve you long, integrate into your digital ecosystem successfully, and manage the data accurately.

At Intellectsoft, we empower companies and their workforce with cutting-edge transformative solutions and data-driven insights. We’ve provided advanced digital solutions for various healthcare organizations, including the dental industry, where our software increased revenue and attracted new patients.

Are you and your organization ready to shift your mindsets and get the most out of our innovative IT solutions? Talk to our experts and learn more about the latest healthcare software technologies and how your business or project can benefit from them today!

The post Healthcare Software Development: A Complete Guide for 2024 appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

However, it goes without saying that a comprehensive digital transformation also requires specific skills and professional expertise to ensure the business needs are aligned with the technological solutions envisaged. Therefore, this expert is integral to making it all happen.

To clarify this topic, it is necessary to define solution architecture. In the context of software development, an architecture represents both the structure of the future software product and the plan of building it in order to meet client’s requirements and solve their specific problem. This definition may seem vague and generic, but only because customers’ problems are different, so they demand different solutions, usually with a unique approach.

The concept of a solution architecture is rather complex and includes many aspects required to create a custom software solution with a specific purpose. That’s why there are several subtypes of architecture that handle various functional and non-functional requirements and aspects. For example, they include business, information, security, system, technology, and so on. 

In this article, we will explain in-depth what a solutions architect’s role is, what the required skills and responsibilities are, their average salary, as well as why having a solutions architect is critical for organizations and projects.

What is a Solutions Architect?

Before we dive into the topic, let’s clarify who is a solutions architect in general.

An architect is one of the most significant and client-facing roles in the IT industry. Its importance is nonetheless often overlooked or even completely ignored by companies at both ends.

For a software solution to work effectively, scale, and meet the set business needs, it must have a well-thought-out solution architecture that accounts for numerous technical and customer nuances. Put simply, the long-term success of any IT project relies on the input from a solution design architect, who needs to have:

• Wide-ranging technical expertise
• Business analysis skills
• Project management skills, etc.

Having a clear vision for the project and a clear understanding of the client’s business needs, a solutions architect maps out the parts that will constitute the software solution and how they are going to work together.

These specialists start very early in the project, laying out what is to come. Their tasks usually begin with choosing the right technology for the business problem(s) and managing architectural concerns to ensure more productive and effective outcomes.

An architect is responsible for translating the vision for the project to the development team and plays a pivotal part throughout the entire systems development lifecycle. They are also involved in future updates to the solution.

One of the main reasons why a company should employ this expert is to successfully design and develop new technology solutions that align with its business needs, as well as fill in the communication gap between technical and non-technical experts involved in an IT project.

As the process is always heavy on the budget and highly risky, every company should have an architect to implement new solutions and scale them successfully. This specialist can be introduced to a company’s enterprise structure through software architecture consulting services.

Solutions Architect vs. Enterprise Architect vs. Technical Architect

There are three main types of specialists that are in charge of architecture in the IT industry. These roles or specializations determine the focus and scope of an architect’s tasks:

1. Solutions Architect or Infrastructure Architect
2. Enterprise Architect
3. Technical Architect or Software Architect

Let’s look at the differences between these three architect types.

What is an Infrastructure Architect?

Usually, when someone mentions infrastructure architects, they refer to solutions architects with all the responsibilities that were described in the previous section of this article. The name “infrastructure architect” usually highlights the fact that this specialist designs and implements software solutions based on the current infrastructure of the customer’s business. 

In many cases, the necessity to fit within the existing infrastructure is a crucial requirement that determines the choices and adds certain restrictions to a project. So, the primary task of an infrastructure architect is to ensure that the software solution will have a certain structure, tech stack, and other features that will enable its seamless integration into the current system. 

What is an Enterprise Architect?

An enterprise architect has a much larger scope of work compared to other architect specializations. This specialist develops and proposes strategic technological initiatives to the business’s top executives and explains their benefits. Based on strategic plans, an enterprise architect designs complex enterprise ecosystems. Overall, the work of these specialists is much more business-oriented than the tasks of their solution and technical counterparts.

What is a Technical Architect (Software Architect)?

As the name suggests, a technical architect focuses on engineering aspects of architecture and usually does not make financial or strategic decisions, unlike infrastructure or enterprise architects. These specialists determine how exactly software technologies should be used to meet the customer’s demands. So, if enterprise architects use strategic thinking and decide what needs to be done, then technical architects are tacticians who decide how things should be done.

Here is an image that illustrates the focus areas of three architect types:

Solutions Architect Role and Responsibilities

A solutions architect is responsible for creating a comprehensive architecture for a software solution and providing strategic direction throughout the development process.

This person needs to ensure that the new solution fits into the existing enterprise architecture from technical, business, user, and other perspectives.

They cooperate with all the teams involved in the development process and need to know how every product and service works in solution architecture. These professionals need all their knowledge to oversee the successful delivery of a quality end product to its end users.

As the job title implies, this specialist primarily focuses on solution-level decisions and evaluation of their impact on a client’s overarching business objectives and outcomes.

In most cases, a solutions architect’s responsibilities revolve around ensuring that the software solutions align with a client company’s resources, risk identification, and planning. Here are some of the main responsibilities of a solutions architect:

• Creates and leads the process of integrating IT systems for them to meet an organization’s requirements.
• Conducts a system architecture evaluation and collaborates with project management and IT development teams to improve the architecture.
• Evaluates project constraints to find alternatives, alleviate risks, and perform process re-engineering if required.
• Updates stakeholders on the status of product development processes and budgets.
• Notifies stakeholders about any issues connected to the architecture.
• Fixes technical issues as they arise.
• Analyzes the business impact that certain technical choices may have on a client’s business processes.
• Supervises and guides development teams.
• Continuously researches emerging technologies and proposes changes to the existing architecture.

What Skills and Experience Should a Solutions Architect Have?

To successfully design, create, and lead the development of a software solution, an architect needs to have a certain skill set. Let’s take a closer look at the most important skills of a solutions architect below.

Superior Communication

Being able to communicate effectively with stakeholders, project managers, developers, and software vendors involved in the software development process is essential for a solutions architect. As an architect has a central role in any project and leads every team on it, ineffective communication can lead to big bottlenecks. So, this specialist should be able to clearly explain, understand everyone’s point of view, listen, advise, and influence.

Project and Resource Management

Although solutions architects are not directly involved in project development, they still need to ensure that project resources are being used efficiently and impactfully. They should be business-minded and capable of identifying the most effective solution at every turn for every part of the architecture. It is their responsibility to focus on business goals, including hiring new people, and understand how to achieve them in the set timeframe and within the given budget.

In-Depth Analysis

Software architecture and systems integrated into it are numerous details that work together. An architect needs to be very attentive to those details, as overlooking something may hinder the development process, lead to breakdowns, or make the software solution inefficient. They also should be able to understand the technical specifications of many different software solutions and hardware and perform analysis of different business layers. Architects are also responsible for the project context from the very beginning to the current moment. They need to remember all the details of the projects and ideas to validate and approve them on time.

Risk Identification and Management

An architect must be capable of analyzing and identifying potential short and long-term risks that may cause technical issues and impede business operations in the future.

Technical Skills

Expectedly, the role of a solutions architect requires technical education and hands-on experience across all major areas of the software development process, as well as hardware engineering expertise (for software projects that rely on hardware).

Thus, a solutions architect should have at least 6 to 8 years of experience in the following areas:

• Business analysis
• IT infrastructure
• Software architecture design
• Cloud development
• DevOps

Solutions Architect Certification

One crucial thing that we also want to mention related to the IT solutions architect is their certifications, which are needed to validate their skills and qualifications. The certifications are aimed at assessing the overall knowledge, abilities, and experience of specialists and at proving their proficiency.

There is a wide variety of certification platforms available that offer training, access to plenty of learning materials, tests to practice the knowledge, etc. Nevertheless, the exam can be taken without any previous preparation in case a professional has a deep understanding of the architecture principles along with solid experience in the IT industry.

It’s worth noting that there are different certifications available for IT solutions architects. Here is a brief overview of the most popular ones:

AWS Solution Architect Certification

This certification targets professionals of different levels of seniority who work with AWS technologies while developing apps and systems. The exam lasts 130 minutes and requires a registration fee, depending on the exam type. The minimum experience needed for this test is at least 1 year working in the field. The certificate is valid for 3 years and requires recertification once it expires.

Azure Solutions Architect Certification

This specific exam will be suitable for specialists working with Microsoft Azure and possessing advanced knowledge of Azure infrastructure. The price for the certification varies from one country to another.

Google Cloud Architect Certification

This exam will be suitable not only for solutions architects but also for any experts dealing with Google Cloud technologies. The exam lasts 2 hours and requires a registration fee. According to Google’s recommendation, it’s better to take this exam with at least 3 years of experience. In addition, it’s also crucial to do the recertification every 2 years.

ITIL Certification

It’s a well-recognized set of qualifications that consists of 5 different levels to fit different experiences and seniority levels. This exam will be suitable not only for IT solution architects but also for people who want to obtain managerial positions in the IT field. The costs for this exam, as well as for training, depend on the country.

Key Processes in Solution Architecture

In terms of software solutions, architecture involves multiple processes performed either simultaneously or in stages. These processes are mainly correlated with the duties of solutions architects described above in this article. Let’s quickly recap the most important of them:

1. Analysis. It is vital to define and understand business requirements, existing infrastructure, and the overall purpose of the future solution.
2. Evaluation. An architect evaluates the feasibility of applicable software technologies and determines the most appropriate choice.
3. Design. Being the essential task of an architect, designing a solution architecture involves creating the outline of the future solution and mapping the steps for its building and integration. 
4. Supervision. This process partially doubles or complements the similar task of a project manager and ensures that the development team follows the design and business requirements. 
5. Documenting. The architect’s design must be properly documented so that the development team can follow it. Detailed technical documentation is invaluable during the development process and after the product’s release, as it benefits both developers and customers.

When Do You Need Solution Architecture Consulting?

When it comes to building from scratch, changing, or upgrading your software solution – the earlier, the better. 

• At the ideation stage. A solution architect plays a vital role in creating and implementing software architectures that both meet the client’s business requirements and make software or the entire infrastructure function at its top capacity and efficiency. For this reason, an architect should be engaged in the project right from the very beginning, before the designing and development processes even begin. This specialist analyzes and estimates the initial requirements, evaluates the technical aspect of the future project, makes the specifications clear, communicates with stakeholders, and more to make sure the client receives the most efficient solution.
• When creating an MVP or PoC to present to your investors. A solution architect suggests the most efficient set of tools and technologies that would fit the budget. Also, this specialist will help to translate the complicated technical language into the one that is clear and understandable to the investors who operate in business, i.e., into the “money” language.
• When starting the development process. In addition to designing the architecture, a solutions architect needs to make sure the entire development team fully understands the requirements and their tasks. Moreover, as the most crucial team member, an architect needs to do everything in their expertise and power to lead the product-building process and make it as smooth as possible. The position of an architect is highly demanding and requires an extensive set of knowledge and expertise in multiple IT-related fields. Such specialists will be in even bigger demand in the future because of continuously emerging new technologies and industry trends.

Here at Intellectsoft, we have delivered over 600 digital solutions of different types and complexity to businesses, from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises like Mitsubishi, Harley Davidson, Melco, Intel, and many others. We have 15+ years of experience in providing business solutions for multiple industries like fintech, healthcare, construction, logistics, eCommerce, and others. Over these years, we have gathered a top-skilled team of prominent experts, including software architects.

Our software development services include web and mobile solutions development, product engineering, UI/UX design, as well as QA and testing. Additionally, we offer comprehensive IT consulting and outstaffing services like dedicated teams. 

If you want to learn more about the solutions we have already delivered, we welcome you to check our top client cases and see the level of our expertise in various industries, including yours.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to get the top-quality, effective, and cost-efficient solution from our solution architects and other software development professionals working here at Intellectsoft.

The post Solutions Architect: Role, Responsibilities and Required Skills appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

However, creating Android apps may be difficult, especially for newcomers. That’s where Android development frameworks come in. They are an organized body of pre-written code that can be utilized to accelerate and streamline the development process. 

According to statistics from Statcounter, over 70% of the overall market share of mobile operating systems belongs to Android.

There are different frameworks for Android app development available. And each of them has its unique features, advantages, and disadvantages. Yet, whatever one you select needs to be the right framework. This is crucial to the success of your project as an Android developer or someone with a plan to create an Android app.

The finest Android frameworks that will enable you to create reliable and effective apps in 2023 are what we examine in this article. This review will help you pick the best framework for Android app development that meets all your requirements.

What is an Application Framework?

An app development framework, as you might have figured, is a unique tool that offers pre-made templates, components, and structures that can be utilized to create apps. Frameworks for Android app development offer pre-written code that may be reused, which may accelerate the development process. Its main goal is to create the architecture for different types of applications by offering standardized procedures and guidelines. Additionally, it can help increase the quality of applications. Some of the various software architectures it focuses on include:

• The native OS-specific apps for different operating systems
• Hybrid applications (multi-platform apps)
• Web applications (accessible through a web browser)

Android development frameworks have a component structure and customizable front-end interface. It enables easy designing of an app and code reuse, with the base code centralized in one location. In summary, Android frameworks help programmers create apps faster.

The creation of numerous Android frameworks that can standardize and accelerate deliverability to Android devices is thus based on the popularity of this mobile operating system. Flutter Framework, React Native Framework, Ionic Framework, Xamarin Framework, NativeScript Framework, and Cordova Framework are some of the well-known Android frameworks that developers may now select from.

Focusing on the most admired Android frameworks is undoubtedly necessary to find the best resources for creating high-quality Android OS applications. Let’s now look more closely at the best frameworks for Android app development to see which ones will enable you to produce worthy Google Play apps.

Top 8 Android Frameworks in 2023

Different Android frameworks offer different strengths and features. Because of that, it is essential to take certain things into consideration before choosing the most suitable for respective projects. Some typical things that must be considered are performance, cross-platform compatibility, user-friendliness, and availability of community, to mention a few. However, here are the best frameworks for Android app development in 2023.

Flutter Framework

This first framework on our list is developed directly by Google. The Flutter framework is designed to assist developers in building progressive cross-platform applications. It uses a single codebase to produce apps for different platforms. This makes it a great choice if you want to create a single app or program that can be used across numerous platforms.

Apps built using the Flutter framework frequently outperform native apps in terms of speed. This is because Flutter employs an operating system-integrated graphics engine called Skia. With this, Flutter apps are able to utilize the device’s native hardware to produce slick and responsive user interfaces.

Flutter is also renowned for its stunning and expressive user interface. Programmers can take advantage of the Dart programming language, which enables the creation of incredibly configurable and dynamic user interfaces and is used to generate Flutter widgets.

Key Features of the Flutter Framework

• Apps built on Flutter apps are often high-performance, and they can be as fast and sometimes even faster than natively built apps.
• The Flutter framework builds apps on a single codebase for different operating systems, including Android, iOS, web, and desktop. This means developers can save time and money by not having to work on new codes.
• The Dart programming language allows developers to create highly customizable and interactive UIs for the widgets.
• A large and active community of developers means there are always new plugins and features.

The Flutter framework is a great choice if you need a high-performance, cross-platform framework that also offers a beautiful and expressive UI. Flutter also has a sizable and vibrant development community that can offer guidance while learning to use.

React Native

JavaScript programmers can construct native mobile apps using the open-source framework React Native. It was created by Facebook in 2015, and since then, it has become especially popular as an Android framework.

React Native uses the JavaScript library to create user interfaces. Its apps look and feel like native apps since they are rendered using native UI components. This makes React Native an excellent alternative for apps where the performance is critical or needs to be integrated with native features.

React Native is renowned for being simple to use, so developers who are comfortable with JavaScript may pick it up fast. Many Fortune 500 firms and major firms like Instagram, Walmart, Airbnb, and Tesla utilize the framework to create native mobile apps. The React Native framework community is still expanding, and 14% of the top 500 US applications currently installed use the framework.

Key Features of the React Native

• Uses Code Push feature – an option that helps to push out the app updates immediately, without the user having to consent and reload the app on his Android device.
• Supports incorporating external third-party plugins.
• Spot the bugs much easier with the use of the declarative programming approach.
• The “Hot Reloading” feature speeds up building new features and bug fixing.
• The possibility to share non-UI dependent codes.

If you are looking for a framework that can help you launch customized, cross-platform, high-quality apps much easier and faster, then React Native is a great option.

Ionic Framework

Ionic is another well-known open-source Android framework. It is publicly approved by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and makes it possible to build hybrid apps using web technologies like HTML and JavaScript. Another benefit of this framework, apart from its cross-platform functionality, is the large size of its developer community. It is especially advantageous for new users because they can get support there. It also has the capacity to incorporate AngularJS. These things put together have given it a reputation for simplicity among developers.

The Ionic framework powers 15% of the apps in the Google Play Store and also claims to have around 5 million developers worldwide, according to Ionic.

Key Features of the Ionic Framework

• The framework extends capacitor with a large collection of mobile-optimized UI components in addition to using web technologies that are familiar to the majority of developers. It integrates with JavaScript frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue, making it incredibly user-friendly for developers.
• A sizable and vibrant community of Ionic developers constantly creates fresh resources, plugins, and components. This implies that there are many options available to you when designing your app, making it simple to acquire assistance and support when you need it.
• Apps built using Ionic may be designed to feel and appear native. This is because Ionic uses native APIs to access the hardware and OS of the device.
• Ionic also makes it possible to view changes to the app immediately through a feature known as hot reloading.
• Ionic apps are modular, which means they are composed of a number of tiny, independent parts. This makes it simple to reuse code and make necessary app updates.

Ionic is a wonderful option overall for creating hybrid apps. It is simple to learn and use and has a sizable developer community. It can be utilized to produce high-quality, cross-platform apps for various startups and web development firms across industries, from the health and insurance sectors to hospitality IT.

Xamarin Framework

If you decide to use Xamarin to build your app, you will get a great tool for cross-platform mobile app development. Because of that, you can create native programs for Android and iOS that share code written in C#. Most companies prefer this framework when they want cross-platform functionality but don’t want the stress of having to maintain the creation and storage of separate codebases for each one. Xamarin also comes with thorough documentation, and this makes using the framework simple to learn.

Key Features of the Xamarin Framework

• Apps perform like natively created ones as they are built in C# and then compiled into native code for each platform.
• Developers are able to share up to 90% of their code between platforms, thus saving both time and money.
• Developers can use simple visual designers to create user interfaces.

• There are built-in debugging tools for troubleshooting your mobile application.

Because of its reliability, major corporations like Microsoft and Kellogg’s often use the Xamarin Framework in creating programs. Data also shows there are over 13,000 apps built with this framework. Indeed, if you are looking for a cross-platform app development framework that offers native performance and cross-platform development, or you are looking to develop a mobile app for your business, Xamarin is a good option to consider.

NativeScript

NativeScript is an open-source framework that helps programmers create native mobile apps by utilizing Angular, TypeScript, and Vue. Although Progress Telerik originally created it, nStudio currently maintains it.

One of NativeScript’s standout features is the access to native Android APIs it gives. This means that NativeScript apps can be just as quick and effective as native Android apps when using the platform’s native offering engine. Numerous native Android features, including geolocation, push notifications, and camera access, are also supported by NativeScript.

The use of JavaScript by NativeScript is another unique feature of this framework. Due to its popularity, developers generally find it easy to learn and use NativeScript. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that several major industries, like Microsoft, Walmart, and IBM, also depend on NativeScript.

Key Features of NativeScript

• Apps created with NativeScript are potentially as quick and responsive as native-built Android apps due to their use of native Android APIs.
• NativeScript is built with JavaScript – a popular and widely used programming language.
• NativeScript supports TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript that ensures type safety.

Is what you’re after a hybrid solution — one that allows you to incorporate the best of both native and web application development? If so, NativeScript is worth taking a closer look at – it offers a unique platform capable of helping you create cross-platform apps using third-party libraries!

Apache Cordova

This framework was formerly known as PhoneGap. Apache Cordova is an open-source framework that allows developers to use web technologies to build hybrid, cross-platform apps. Apps are developed using a container that displays web content in a native app. As a result, it’s possible to develop and deliver apps fast.

This Android framework is well-known and is a popular choice for enterprise app development. Major companies like IBM and Cisco also use it to create their mobile apps.

Key Features of Apache Cordova

• Development and delivery of cross-platform apps are possible on this framework.
• It is great for new programmers.
• Native plugins can be used to augment Cordova apps.
• Cordova is a well-known framework with a significant developer community. It is simple to locate assistance and support when creating Cordova apps.

Framework7

Framework7 is considered a relatively recent Android framework, though it allows the development of cross-platform apps. It is already popular among mobile app developers due to its array of distinctive features. In fact, Framework7 is the top-ranked cross-platform mobile framework on GitHub.

Key Features of Framework7

• Both Android and iOS devices have a natural look and feel when using Framework7 apps because Framework7 leverages native components and APIs.
• A rich UI library with over 60 components, including buttons, forms, tables, and more.
• Robust routing mechanism that makes switching between screens simple.
• Built-in state management system to monitor the status of your app.

According to a recent poll among developers, apps built with Framework7 are of very high performance, usability, and design level. This Android framework is perfect for someone who needs a user-friendly but feature-rich tool. Regardless of one’s competency in programming, this option is a suitable choice for all.

JQuery

JQuery Mobile is a framework for Android development that employs HTML5 technology to develop incredibly responsive platforms that can operate on an assortment of systems, from Android and iOS to Windows, Symbian, and Blackberry. It is built on the JavaScript jQuery framework. According to a 2023 Stack Overflow study, JQuery is recognized as the third most popular framework and is used by 22.87% of developers. It is also used to run some popular mobile applications, such as the Foursquare and Starbucks apps.

Key Features of JQuery Mobile

• The layout of JQuery Mobile applications is automatically changed to fit the size of the screen they are being presented on. This implies that regardless of the device’s screen size, your app will look amazing.
• JQuery Mobile API makes it simple to design compelling and interactive user experiences, even for beginners.
• JQuery Mobile apps load content and switch between pages using AJAX. This gives your app a quick and responsive feel.
• You can utilize the theme roller feature included with JQuery Mobile to alter the appearance and feel of your app. And if you’re in the mood, you can even develop your own themes.
• For JQuery Mobile, there are a variety of plugins that give the framework further functionalities. For instance, plugins that increase support for charts and social media integration.

The JQuery Mobile provides a powerful and easy-to-use mobile framework for Android development.

Wrapping Up

With this overview, it’s clear choosing the best Android framework for your specific needs and requirements can be a tricky task. But you don’t have to let this overwhelm you. If you are seeking the ideal framework for your project or Android frameworks that ensure high performance and support cross-platform usage, Intellectsoft will help you! We provide top-quality Android app development services. Rest assured, we will deliver high-performance apps and programs with cross-platform features. 

Backed up with over 15 years of knowledge, Intellectsoft is a front-runner in the mobile app development sphere. Our experienced developers are experts in identifying the latest Android frameworks that would satisfy your peculiar needs. 

Allow us to aid you in deciding the best framework for Android app development to employ for your future software product. Our team of experts will ensure you have an app that ticks all the boxes of your project needs. We guarantee that your app will have all the functions needed to reach the aims of your project.

The post 8 Best Android Frameworks for App Development in 2023 appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

This article will cover many benefits of applications for book lovers and describe some new features and improvements over reading traditional paper books. We will provide the list of best book apps for iPhone and Android devices for you to choose from. So, if you are a book enthusiast, here is our guide on finding the best ebook app to enjoy literature, manage your digital library, and discover new levels of reading experience.

Reading App – What Is It?

These days, Google Play, App Store, and other application marketplaces contain many software products for book lovers. They appeal to various tastes and preferences by offering a wide range of literature genres for young and adult readers. However, unlike traditional libraries or bookstores, most book-reading apps also give access to audiobooks and text-to-speech engines. This functionality brings a whole new level of experience, immersion, and convenience to literature lovers in comparison with the “conventional” reading of printed books.

So, as you can see, the name “reading app” is an homage to traditions and does not reflect the full range of features in modern software products developed for book enthusiasts. Today, the best ebook apps offer their users many ways to enjoy literature in different formats on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other digital devices. 

The choice of a favorite software product to enjoy books now depends on the user’s personal preferences. For some people, the best book reader app is a tiny software that is focused on imitating an ink-and-paper look of traditional books on a device screen. For others, the preferred ebook app is a modular software suite that supports dozens of file formats, allows both reading and listening to books, has a built-in shop and a library of purchased books with a rating system, and many other features.

How Can a Book App Enhance Your Reading Experience?

These days, various software products that provide access to digital books offer their users many ways to enjoy literature. The most crucial change is the possibility to listen to books or even switch between reading and listening modes. This allows users to enjoy better immersion in storytelling and offers more convenience due to a hands-free experience.

Book apps also have many useful features for enthusiasts who are devoted to “traditional” reading. Those features may vary from small quality-of-life improvements to new possibilities that bring the reading process to a new level. For example, a small but convenient feature of changing the font and adjusting its size has a huge benefit by making reading much more comfortable.

Some of the best book reader apps have integration with online stores that sell digital books. This feature allows users to purchase rare works of literature that may be hard to find in traditional bookshops. Usually, similar to other types of stores, they have ratings and user comments to help users choose literature according to their tastes.

One of the most popular features in most ebook reading applications is the library which stores downloaded books. This way, users can have hundreds and even thousands of books on a single device. Before the age of smart devices, such an opportunity was unthinkable, and now it is a mundane reality we have already gotten used to.

7 Best Apps for Book Lovers: Subscription-Based Choices

Let’s take a look at the top 7 paid reading applications that are well worth their price. A little warning for you: some of them are technically free to download. However, you will have to pay to use the intended features of these apps. So, consider the pros and cons of each application and make a choice based on their prominent features and your preferences.

1. Amazon Kindle – an Obvious Choice for Amazon Users

One of the most feature-rich apps for book lovers.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Subscription price: Kindle Unlimited – $9.99 per month, Amazon Prime – $14.99 per month or $139 per year.
• Interesting feature: You can sync and track your reading progress on multiple devices.
• Pros: A well-designed environment to choose, buy, borrow, and read books.
• Cons: Many synching and performance issues.

The Amazon Kindle software has been around for over a decade and still remains one of the best ebook apps. Two types of subscriptions offer different levels of in-app access to the content, and you can buy books directly from Amazon. The app has many features for convenient shopping and reading on a wide range of supported platforms.

2. Blinkist – the Best Reading App to Discover New Ideas

One of the best reading apps for fans of nonfiction literature.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Subscription price: $14.99/month without a trial period or $89.99/year with a 7-day free trial.
• Interesting feature: Gives users 15-minute versions of concentrated insights from books and podcasts.
• Pros: Offers many titles on self-improvement and science.
• Cons: The “free” plan is extremely limited, and subscription plans are costly.

Blinkist is the top choice for people who like to get useful insights on a regular basis. The app has crash courses on a wide range of topics. Users can read and listen to full-size books and podcasts or extract the main ideas from them.

3. Bookly – a Reading App That Tracks Your Reading Sessions

An excellent choice for people who are interested in building a reading habit.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Subscription price: $19.99/six months.
• Interesting feature: You can track your reading time and set goals for further reading.
• Pros: The app has ways to motivate and reward its users.
• Cons: Time tracking may be distracting for some users.

Bookly is a convenient app that will keep you motivated to read. It tracks your reading sessions and shows you the time you have spent reading, the number of read pages, and the amount of pages left to reach your current goal. Similar to other book-reading apps, it has a bookshelf and a rating system, so you can sort and rate your digital library.

4. ComiXology – a Top Choice for Comic Book Fans

The best collection of content from the most popular publishers of comics and manga.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Subscription price: $5.99/month with a 30-day trial.
• Interesting feature: You can link your Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Prime accounts to get access to even more titles.
• Pros: An all-in-one app to read digital comics and build your personal library of purchased titles and editions.
• Cons: Somehow, Amazon managed to make this app worse with the recent updates.

Many comic book lovers will say that ComiXology is the best book app for iPhone and Android devices. Its library has over 230,000 comics, graphic novels, and manga from such famous publishers as DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, and many others. You can read the all-time classic issues or the latest stories about your favorite superheroes.

5. Epic: Kids’ Books & Reading – a Fun Ebook App for Young Readers

The best book reader app for kids. 

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Subscription price: $9.99/month and free for educators and students during the school day.
• Interesting feature: Dictionary lookup, quizzes, award badges, and reading buddies for better learning and entertainment.
• Pros: Personalized profiles for up to 4 children, multilingual books for reading and listening.
• Cons: Some content may be restricted and unavailable in some countries.

Epic is a kid-friendly, teacher-approved digital library that offers over 40,000 books, learning videos, audiobooks, and other content for children. If you want to get your kids into reading, this is one of the best book apps in this category.

6. Scribd – a Massive Library on Your Device

The top subscription-based choice that is well worth its price.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android, Fire OS
• Subscription price: $11.99/month with a 30-day free trial.
• Interesting feature: Unlike other apps, Scribd also offers a large selection of documents and sheet music.
• Pros: Over 1 million titles of fiction and nonfiction works, 60 million documents, and other content.
• Cons: Drains your device battery rather quickly, especially when playing an audiobook.

Scribd is a comprehensive library app that offers millions of books, magazines, audiobooks, podcasts, and documents. The cherry on top is the selection of sheet music, which is a rare sight in other reading software. All these features make Scribd one of the best subscription-based reading apps on Android and iOS devices, as well as Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets.

7. Wattpad – a Reading App That Supports Aspiring Writers

One of the best cross-platform reading apps for book lovers and storytellers.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Subscription price: (Optional) $4.99/month for Premium or $7.49/month for Premium+
• Interesting feature: Writers can join writing contests and win partnerships with publishing houses.
• Pros: A lot of original content written by app users.
• Cons: An abundance of in-app ads, most books require purchase, and the free version has severely limited functionality.

Wattpad is a bustling community of readers and writers that offers many ways for talented authors to get discovered and make money. On this platform, you can publish your work and even get a partnership with publishing companies or movie studios. If you love to discover original works from talented but unknown authors, Wattpad is one of the best apps for book lovers.

Top 5 Best Free Apps for Book Lovers

Let us review the five most popular free book apps for Android and iOS. Though they may lack certain features in comparison with paid software, these free applications are solid choices for any book fans.

1. Goodreads – a Great App for Discovering And Reviewing Books

Join the most popular online community of book readers using Goodreads.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Interesting feature: Users can scan book barcodes or covers to add them to their lists.
• Pros: Personalized recommendations, billions of book reviews, and many social features.
• Cons: You cannot read books directly from this app.

Goodreads is the most popular online service that unites millions of book fans. Though this app does not have reading functionality, it is almost essential for any book enthusiast who wants to stay in touch with people with a similar passion for literature.

2. Hoopla Digital – a Free Library App with Incredible Functionality

If you want an all-in-one software suite for ebooks, audio, and movies, this is your choice among the best free book apps.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Interesting feature: In addition to mobile devices, this app is adapted for Android Auto and Apple Carplay.
• Pros: Incredible selection of content in various formats.
• Cons: Users cannot preview books before borrowing them.

Hoopla Digital makes the most out of your library card by offering tons of content for free and without ads. This app has everything for you to enjoy novels, comics, magazines, audiobooks, movies, and other works available in libraries.

3. Inkitt – an Altruistic App for Readers and Writers

Top choice for people who love modern independent authors and finding hidden gems.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Interesting feature: The app has a vast library of free novels and stories in different genres that are exclusive to this platform.
• Pros: Completely free and without ads.
• Cons: Most books are written by inexperienced or independent authors.

Inkitt is an app that offers many fiction books for free. Besides, it allows its users to join a community and share feedback on independent literature. The hand-picked selection of stories and many features for comfortable reading make Inkitt one of the best free reading apps that also allows publishing stories.

4. Libby by OverDrive – For Users Who Still Have Their Library Cards

This is one of the best free apps for book lovers to enjoy the services of local libraries.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android.
• Interesting feature: Use your library card information to borrow books, magazines, and audio content.
• Pros: A large catalog of free content for reading and listening.
• Cons: The book search functionality needs improvement.

Support local libraries with the help of this amazing app. Libby allows you to borrow and read books and magazines using your mobile device and library card. It also supports audiobooks and allows listening to them on your smartphone or using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

5. Serial Reader – a Small App for Fans of Classic Literature

Break down classic literature into 20-minute reading episodes per day.

• Available platforms: iOS, Android
• Subscription price: Free, several optional features unlock with a one-time payment of $2.99.
• Interesting feature: Users can sync their reading progress with their Goodreads accounts.
• Pros: You can add your own DRM-free books in the epub format.
• Cons: Offers a tiny selection of books compared to other reading apps.

Serial Reader is one of the best book apps to make a habit of reading in small amounts. The digital library contains only 900 classic titles, but you can add your own books, and this app will divide them into short issues for daily reading.

Summing It Up

Ebook reading apps remain one of the most popular types of software for mobile devices. If you want to create such an app with a custom set of features or an innovative approach, Intellectsoft can do this for you. Our expertise in iOS app development and Android app development allows us to deliver a wide range of solutions, as proven by our cases.

We have over 15 years of experience, which allowed us to gather a solid team of experts and hone our skills. So, if you need custom book-reading software, use our extensive mobile app development services. Our specialists will take care of all aspects of the development process, as well as perform consulting, post-release support, and other vital steps. Contact our managers and let us turn your idea into a top-quality software product!

The post 12 Best Reading Apps for Book Lovers: Get Millions of Free Books appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

More and more different software development methodologies are introduced within the tech industry. In most cases, all of those were first presented during the past decades, when a particular case required the use of a new development model that can fully meet the project’s characteristics, requirements, and goals. And, all the innovative approaches used were to make the development more productive and boost the desired results.

By the end of 2023, IT spending on enterprise software is expected to reach over $755 billion worldwide. As a substantial amount of these costs are invested in the software development branch, developers are now looking for the most optimized and effective software creation methods.

Different types of methodologies in software engineering can significantly eliminate the time, resources, and costs needed for project realization. However, due to the vast number of these methodologies currently existing, it becomes more and more challenging to pick up the best model for each specific case.

In this article, Intellectsoft’s best experts will analyze all the available different software development methodologies within the industry, as well as define their strong sides and possible drawbacks so you could come up with the most beneficial yet efficient software development models that ideally fit your project.

Let’s get it started!

What Is a Software Development Methodology?

To understand the types of development models existing, it’s important to learn the project development basics first.

The software development methodology refers to the development SDLC (software development life cycle) model, which is focused on organizing beneficial yet effective project development processes from the idea and planning to front-back & back-end development, testing, and software launching.

In other words, it is a so-called app development lifecycle that applies different formats, approaches, and techniques and helps to:

• Effectively organize the workflow
• Eliminate time for the project development
• Reduce the costs needed to develop a software
• Track the process of creation
• Provide a set of norms for the effective communication
• Improve the quality of the final product and more

Today, there are 12 standalone types of software development methodologies that introduce different models of project creating. However, each of those has its unique advantages and possible drawbacks, so it’s essential to analyze the core gist of your project as well as learn the pick up the most effective

As for 2021, one of the leading technological approaches practiced for software development is DevOps methodology, which is used in every third project (35.9%), says Statista.

But, in practice, it’s more efficient to review all the options available on the market and define which of the software development methodologies can fit your program best.

Types of Software Development Methodologies

As you already know, there are various types of different software engineering methodologies aimed at improving SDLC.

However, having reviewed them you can find out there’s no one outright winner – for each specific case, the strategy will be different based on the project’s characteristics, requirements, main goals, core features, and more.

Thus, the detailed comparison of software development methodologies can simplify the choice and help you to define the most winning option for each app development project individually.

Here is a list of software development methodologies we’ll look into:

1. Agile Software Development Methodology

The main focus of this methodology of software development is the project/product itself. That is why, it presupposes various constant alterations based on users’ and customers’ feedback, as well as internal changes related to the work of engineers.

The agile software development methodology is free of rigid frameworks on the one hand. While, on the other hand, the software development process is divided into short time boxes, thus offering real results and feedback truly fast.

Major Benefits

• Problems are detected and fixed at the early stage
• Higher flexibility to the plan and easier adapting to different project changes
• Eliminated time of project deliverables
• Enhanced communication with the clients, and their close engagement to each stage of the software development process
• Top-notch quality of the final product
• Mostly fits smaller, young companies that are more flexible and open up for the active communication

Possible Drawbacks

• Lack of understanding the solution specifics before their implementation
• The high risks of ignoring the project documentation and requirements
• Insufficient predictability of the budgeting, marketing plans, sales, and more
• Requires immediate responding to issues and feedback in real-time
• Easy to get lost in details and be pulled off the project course

2. Waterfall Development Methodology

The absolute opposite of the previous approach, this methodology is strict and linear. A new stage can only be started if the previous one is completed. In other words, each phase gradually flows into the next one.

What is more, there is no going back to the previous stage. This approach is easy to understand as it presupposes a strict sequence of completed tasks. Waterfall software development methodology is often regarded as a classic representation of software development.

Major Benefits

• The project plan is simple and straightforward, with all the goals, requirements, and important aspects defined before the software development process
• All the processes are easy to understand
• Enforced discipline and better keeping the timelines
• All the steps of testing scenarios are planned in advance
• No financial risks due to the high planning accuracy
• The outcomes are easy to predict, as they meet all the requirements and criteria outlined in project documentation, so the companies get exactly what they were expected to develop

Possible Drawbacks

• The planning stage can be too challenging to organize the entire process
• Low flexibility and inability to implement the changes once the software development process is started
• The immediate changes to the project can result in additional spendings that are usually enormously high
• A longer time of delivery
• Weak for long or ongoing projects

3. Extreme Programming Method

One of the software development approaches is suitable for unstable projects, as it implies engaging with the customer as much as possible. What is more, it presupposes considerable flexibility.

Extreme programming methodology is believed to boost the quality of software owing to its ability to adapt to dynamic changing demands. In addition to that, constant feedback and communication is the key to an efficient and happy team environment.

Major Benefits

• Significant customer involvement results in high-quality products
• Stable final product due to the continuous software testing
• Pair programming eliminates the errors that may occur during the software development process
• High level of flexibility and the ability to immediately implement the changes
• Code stays clear and comprehensive
• No rush to keep the timelines – developers work at their own pace

Possible Drawbacks

• Efficiency is much dependent on the people involved
• Vague and unknown future results
• Clients must always be engaged in the software development process
• Comparatively large time and high costs investments
• Is too challenging for the small teams, as they might not possess all the necessary skills and knowledge

4. Lean Development

Value for the client is the essential core element the whole approach revolves around. If something is worth it, it should be done immediately; if not, it should be removed.

The lean software development methodology is one of the software design methods which focuses a lot on loss reduction. That is why the whole project is examined significantly beforehand to eliminate any wasted time or money. As value is the core component, feedback plays a crucial role itself, so that the actions are taken fast.

Major Benefits

• Perfect for a low-budget project and rigid time limitations
• The team is focused on delivering on-demand tasks
• Provides fast deliverability by eliminating waste and useless processes
• Is easily scalable – ideally fits for large projects, unlike most of the other software development methodologies
• Cutting out tasks allows getting more time for the core processes and implementing the high-value features to the final product
• Enhanced teamwork enables focusing on meaningful and impactful work with a greater sense of purpose

Possible Drawbacks

• Success is much dependent on the working capacity of a team
• Low experience and lack of expertise might not work if the team works independently
• Cutting too many things can lead to a loss of project focus
• Risks of the delays due to certain bottlenecks or low resource levels
• Requires excellent documentation to ensure all the aspects are developed correctly

5. Prototyping Methodology

Based on the waterfall approach and having a significant focus on customer feedback. There are some initial requirements, developers provide samples, and only after customers evaluate the functionality of samples, the final development begins.

The gist of this software development methodology lies in the name itself – prototype methodology. In other words, before getting down to business, there will be painstaking research and prototyping to avoid unnecessary risks.

Major Benefits

• The prototype model can become a great information source for UI/UX improvements
• Enhances the system functionality by analyzing the actual look and feel of the system being developed
• High involvement of clients and final consumers during the developing process
• Easier and more effective detection of errors and issues
• High flexibility of the app developing process, that enables adding the missing functions or redoing the existing ones
• Reduced time and costs due to the early detection of the critical issues

Possible Drawbacks

• Too much client involvement can affect the process by slowing it down
• Possible budget increase, as the management cost may go beyond the money limit
• Increased complexity system that can enlarge beyond the original plans
• Developers can reuse the existing prototypes that don’t always meet the client expectations instead of creating the new product from a scratch
• The risks of the development overdoing with too much effort, time, and costs invested

6. Dynamic Systems Development Method

There are two main focuses: a strict time frame and an assigned budget. The idea is to manage to provide successful and effective software within a particular time limit and not exceed costs. Users’ involvement is of high importance as well. The dynamic systems model presupposes continuous feedback to deliver maximum functionality within the agreed requirements.

Major Benefits

• Time-boxed yet predictable project deliverability
• Developing processes are delivered at a standard level of quality, that can be improved through the analysis of documentation, software testing, and periodical reviewing of the outcomes
• Great communication between developers and clients
• Reaching the needed functionality as fast as possible
• Producing enough design work upfront (EDUF) to get a more concrete idea of what product client needs
• High control under each stage of the project development

Possible Drawbacks

• Requires considerable costs for development
• The approach will not fit and meet the needs of a small organization
• Doesn’t stimulate the developer creativity
• Projects are mainly focused on complying with the documentation and standards while can neglect some of the more sophisticated options available
• Requires an experienced team of developers with deep expertise in both business and technical aspects

7. Feature Driven Development

Features are regarded as a sort of user feedback. Planning, designing, and building are all feature-based. This approach involves iterations to boost functionality and deal with varied complexities. Feature-driven development aims at organizing the work of a large number of teams within a big organization.

Major Benefits

• Mostly fits large-scalable, long-term, and ongoing projects
• Provides a detailed understanding of the project’s scope, major goals, and context
• Breaks the feature sets into smaller chunks and regular iterative releases, thus reducing the risks of errors and enabling delivering the specific features in shorter time frames
• Utilizes the pre-set standards to simplify the developing procedure
• Enables any developer with appropriate experience and expertise to handle the tasks
• Based on a user-centric approach, where the outcome depends on the user opinion

Possible Drawbacks

• Cannot be applied by small organizations and for smaller projects
• Requires several experienced developers to monitor the process
• Difficult to guarantee a strict deadline
• Doesn’t provide the written documentation for the clients, only the communication among the developers during the project launching cycle
• Is more focused on individual code ownership instead of the shared team model

8. Rational Unified Process

The idea of this approach lies in having four stages of the developing process. ‘During each of the phases, all six core development disciplines take place – business modeling, requirements, analysis and design, implementation, testing, and deployment’, according to study.com.

The main focus of this software development methodology is to craft effective software of high quality without expanding the budget and missing the time frame.

Major Benefits

• Provides reliable, accurate, and strict documentation
• Eliminates the risks by taking into consideration the clients’ evolving needs
• Requires less time for integration when completing the software development life cycle
• The reuse of components allows reducing the time of project completion
• This development model can be studied through the online pieces of training and tutorials available on the Internet
• Incorporates the most effective practices of Waterfall by combining them into a more iterative process that is more flexible for changes

Possible Drawbacks

• Requires an expertized yet well-trained developer for this methodology to ensure the project success
• It May be too difficult to make the head or tail of the rational unified process model
• This development model doesn’t allow to reuse of the pre-made components
• Not effective for the big projects with multiple development systems, as it can cause more issues and confusion during the testing process
• The delivery process may be too time-consuming for certain types of projects

9. Spiral Development Model

The main idea is to eliminate the risks at the early stage of the project. The developing procedure goes from smaller levels to the big ones gradually. This approach combines waterfall ideas with iterations.

Each stage involves setting goals and receiving feedback from a client. Moving from one phase to another in a spiral model implies completing and removing the risks before moving forward.

Major Benefits

• Best fits mission-critical and long-term projects which require professional risk analysis and thorough control
• The process of the estimation of the costs is pretty easy yet straightforward
• Features the fast achievement of progress
• Repeated development helps to eliminate the possibility of risks and effectively control the system quality
• The specific functions or changes can be implemented at earlier and later stages
• Leaves a lot of improvement opportunities taken from the customer feedback

Possible Drawbacks

• Not suitable for small organizations and projects
• The danger of failing to meet the agreed budget and time limit
• Requires accurate following the spiral model project development protocol
• Demands a strict risk assessment expertise
• The correct risk analysis can be conducted by the expertise developers only

10. Joint Application Development

This approach implies significant interaction between users, designers, and developers. There are workshop sessions to facilitate and increase the development process. During the session, the following people are involved: a facilitator, end-users, developers, observers, mediators, and experts.

What is more, in joint application development there is a considerable focus on eliminating errors at the early stage, thus saving the expenses needed to correct the mistakes later on.

Major Benefits

• Valuable information is achieved within a short period
• Immediate elimination of errors and resolving the differences, which greatly boosts the software quality
• Features accurate project requirements focused on improving the system quality
• Reduces the time and costs needed for the project development
• Enables close communication between the team members and client, which greatly speeds up the development process
• Allows team members to push each other for faster yet high-quality deliverables

Possible Drawbacks

• Can be quite a time and energy-consuming model when it comes to planning
• Requires significant budget for the project launching
• Needs highly experienced and expert professionals
• Depending on the project size, it can be more difficult to align goals and maintain the overall project picture
• The clients usually make a huge laundry list of demands with making them all “high-priority”

11. Scrum Development

Easy to understand and effective when it comes to achieving results. The working process is divided into sprints. All the assignments for each sprint are set beforehand and are then discussed after this period.

Thanks to this approach, it is easy to get a response to emerging problems early, and as a result, solve them immediately. Scrum software development methodology is by far the most flexible. For this reason, it easily deals with projects having changing requirements.

Major Benefits

• All the stages and processes are clear and transparent
• Light control goes together with constant updating that keeps all of the team always on guard
• Removing the errors and project issues becomes much easier
• Implies high engagement of clients
• Enables frequent updates of the progress, which are proposed on the regular meetings
• Clients can trace the various project processes and measure the development performance

Possible Drawbacks

• The costs and time needed can often be uncertain
• No deadlines for the product delivery
• Big projects cannot be managed with this approach
• Only expert professionals that are constantly up to the tasks can be involved, with no beginners
• The test team must conduct regression testing after each sprint, which is one of the most notable difficulties of this methodology

12. Rapid Application Development

It is clear from its name that the main goal of this approach is to achieve fast results. To do so it uses the assistance of other development methodologies. It focuses on fast prototype releases and iterations.

As a result, quick feedback is received, errors are eliminated and the desired results are reached. It is as flexible and adaptable as possible. The main focus is to adjust so that the software is crafted, functional and effective fast. Rapid application development methodology includes 5 stages: analysis and quick design, prototype cycles, testing, and implementation.

Major Benefits

• The client is encouraged to take fast reviews and constant feedback for the improvements
• Enables easy change of the core functions when the software is in the testing phase
• Minimizes the risks since the early stages of development
• Reduces the time of development by setting the deadlines for the project completion
• Is mainly focused on delivering the business problems important for the end-users
• Applies the use of automated tools that allows creating the prototypes easier and much quicker

Possible Drawbacks

• Not suitable for small projects
• Requires highly expert developers and a strong collaboration between the teams
• The stages are not strictly defined, which impacts the overall project structure
• The development costs are comparatively high
• All the requirements should be outlined before the development process starts

Why Should You Adhere to a Software Development Methodology?

Following concrete software development methodologies can significantly impact the quality of your final product, its usability, and the profits gained after the software release. Additionally, the most beneficial software methodology can impact the time and costs of the specific project development.

Having analyzed the detailed software development methodologies list, you can now have a more concrete idea of which models could fit your project best and deliver a high-quality yet feature-rich software product after implementation.

Whatever type of software methodology you’ll choose, you can always have a clear understanding of the project flow and provide the most effective updates in time.

How to Choose the Appropriate Software Engineering Methodology

As you can see, there are so many various enterprise software development methodologies, and it’s not very easy to choose between them. Each model has its own pros and cons that are important to take into account. Now, let’s take a look at a few very effective tips that will help you choose the right one between the variety of IT methodologies.

1. Evaluate Your Flexibility

In this particular case, flexibility refers to your ability to easily adapt to new requirements. Before deciding on your future software development methodology it is important to define the level of flexibility of your software requirements and specifications. For instance, web and app development can be very unpredictable with frequent requirements changes. In this case, Agile can suit perfectly. If your team values predictability and stability, Waterfall is the most suitable solution.

2. Define End-Users of Your Software

Knowing well your end-users as well as their expectations will help you pick the right methodology. It’s important to understand if the needs of your clients are fixed and consistent or if they vary a lot. If they are fixed then a non-iterative approach will be the best. A more collaborative approach will be better in case the needs of your end-users can fluctuate and they might require new features after the product launch.

3. Keep in Mind Project Size

An important characteristic such as project size and complexity can also determine the matching methodology. If you have an ambitious project that requires a lot of resources you can consider Agile methodology. In contrast, Waterfall will be suitable for smaller teams that require fewer people involved in the development process and can fully benefit from this option.

4. Determine Software Development Time Frame

Timeline also plays a paramount role while choosing the software development methodology. For example, if you have a long-term project you have to ensure that the chosen methodology can account for the potential staff turnover and infrastructure changes that should be accommodated. In case no strict deadline is determined, Waterfall can be one of the suitable options. If you want to work through sprints with defined deadlines, Agile or any other iterative-based approach can be perfect.

5. Take Into Account Team Location

Last but not least, is the importance of your software design and development team location, especially when you work with an outsourced team. In this case, the Waterfall methodology will be one of the best to achieve smooth process coordination and coherence but you don’t have to limit yourself. On the contrary, Agile methodology requires constant meetings and discussions which won’t be convenient with remote developers and will be more suitable if you have local engineers.

How We Work at Intellectsoft?

Intellectsoft has years of experience delivering software solutions to clients from all over the world. We have established our own Software Development Life Cycle that we follow with our clients to ensure clear expectations and top-notch results.  There are 7 main phases that we stick to, and it starts with project planning. Our team conducts the initial planning that includes budget projections, creating a schedule with KPIs and milestones, and defining team composition as well as the scope of each development phase.

Once the first stage is over, Intellectsoft’s business analysts analyze all project requirements and write software specifications to meet business objectives and performance requirements. After, UI/UX professionals work on software mockups while our solutions architect designs the solution infrastructure.

The development phase is led by a project manager throughout all development stages. It’s worth noting that Intellectsoft uses Scrum methodology in most cases.

We put together and deploy a development team with a dedicated project manager that works with the client in accordance with the project plan throughout all development phases. Development is performed in agile sprints according to the Scrum methodology. Our experts prefer this software application development methodology as it is easy to understand and it helps to achieve tangible and accurate results. No matter what issue appears in the middle of the development process, we are able to detect and address the problem effectively thanks to the Scrum development method. Our team also appreciates its flexibility, clarity, and transparency.

When the development phase is over, our QA team conducts thorough software testing to eliminate errors and ensure the highest quality level. Only when it’s done, we can tackle software deployment so the solution is available to end users. In addition, Intellectsoft is committed to building long-lasting partnerships, therefore, we offer software maintenance even if a client might require some new features or changes.

Consider Intellectsoft Youк Trusted Software Development Partner

At Intellectsoft, we know how important it is to plan each stage of the project development to achieve the best product quality. That’s why our team of developers provides an individual approach to each client’s idea and dedicates lots of time to thinking over the slightest details that can improve the overall product performance.

Intellectsoft is a software development and IT consulting company that has already been in the software development market and is ready to implement the best practices and experiences for our client’s growth.

We’ve got deep expertise in launching projects within different industries and are now ready to provide a variety of software development services for delivering the best outcomes for each of our clients!

Our team collaborated with dozens of renowned companies all over the world as well as Fortune 500 businesses. Check out our most prominent client cases to see what software solutions we built as a response to our customer’s business challenges.

Do you already have the concept we can start working with? Don’t hesitate to share your ideas with us as we are ready to assist you in your digitalization journey.

Contact our team today to get a professional consultation regarding your project and discuss what benefits you can gain from day one!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are different types of software development methodologies, with each of those having its unique characteristics, valuable benefits, and possible drawbacks to be aware of.

Having learned the most important qualities of the development methods available on the software market today can not only eliminate the time, effort, and resources needed to get the project completed but also can radically improve the overall process of app creation.

Moreover, knowing the software methodologies list in detail can provide you with a better understanding of which of the models can be the most winning option for each specific software development project of yours!

The post Top 12 Software Development Methodologies appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

Unfortunately, the notorious events in Ukraine that started in February 2022 after the beginning of the full-scale war between Ukraine and Russia made their own effect on the IT outsourcing market.

In the last decade or so, Ukraine has been quickly growing in popularity as a software development outsourcing destination among the world’s leading companies compared to other countries. As its software outsourcing market keeps expanding, more and more IT-focused organizations, technology startups, and fully-fledged Research & Development (R&D) centers of global companies emerge in Ukraine.

During the past 6 months, the situation in the country destabilized the market a little bit but versatile Ukrainian professionals adapted quickly to the new reality and wouldn’t let the circumstances undermine our international image as the top outsourcing destination in the world.

In this article, you will find the freshest information that will show how the market of IT outsourcing services has changed in Ukraine after the Russian invasion. You will be able to get familiar with the latest salary updates for software developers as well as will get first-hand priceless tips on how to hire Ukrainian software engineers and what are the possible risks. Let’s get started!

Ukrainian Software Development Talent Pool

Software development in Ukraine is growing and enhancing year by year. On the territory of Ukraine, there are approximately 5000 IT companies.  The number of dedicated Ukrainian software developers in 2022 has reached 240k. It’s worth saying that this number grows 25-30% annually.

The country is becoming a popular destination for software development outsourcing due to its beneficial and promising technical environment, effective education, and devoted employees.

100 out of Fortune 500 corporations already have offshore development teams in Ukraine.

20% of the world’s IT leaders choose Ukraine over other popular outsourcing destinations in Europe (Poland, Hungary, Romania, etc.).

The following aspects influence the decision to work with the Ukrainian IT market:

• Qualified and experienced professionals
• Lower salary rates
• High-quality of delivered products and solutions
• Convenient time zone
• Easy communication

It is no surprise that companies like Google, Samsung, ABBYY, NetCracker, eBay, Skype, etc. employ engineers to work on their projects.

Risks of Outsourcing to Ukraine in 2022  

Needless to say, the great advantages of hiring dedicated developers in Ukraine carry some risks as well. Ukraine is one of the biggest destinations for IT outsourcing, but there are still some overarching risks that should be considered when recruiting Ukrainian developers, especially after the Russian armed invasion.

• Work disruption

Taking into account the situation in the country, there is a possible risk of disrupted telecommunications and energy supply networks. In addition, access to the Internet might also be occasionally interrupted.

Nevertheless, these risks are mitigated by IT companies. Most companies have relocated their specials overseas or to safe regions, but the probability that something might go off track is always present, and not only in Ukraine.

• Possible violation of deadlines

Again, the war in Ukraine undermined the emotional condition of many employees. It goes without saying that there are certain project deadlines and clients expect everything to be done on time but sometimes there could be possible delays as personal factors always play a significant role.

However, companies including Intellectsoft implemented our best business continuity plans to keep the processes smooth and deliver results in a timely manner.

• Team composition alterations 

Generally, the team composition is discussed at the beginning of the collaboration between an offshore vendor and a client. During the discovery phase, an outsourcing partner defines the number of people who will work in the software development team in Ukraine including developers, designers, and project managers.

These are people who are going to work on a project to build the requested software. And many business owners are concerned about the potential mobilization of specialists.

It’s crucial to mention that this outcome is unlikely. Only if the employee has their own desire to stop working, your team can be possibly recomposed to substitute the missing specialist with the required qualifications.

Even though Intellectsoft experiences a lot of pressure because of the war between Ukraine and Russia, we still make it our priority to follow our mission and put effort into digitizing businesses and implementing their solution ideas into reality.

We do all possible to support in all possible ways our software developers and other employees as their well-being is the basis of an effective business. As we have mentioned before, we have ensured a safe working environment for our colleagues.

During the past months, we were able to deliver all the planned tasks and our clients stay happy with the results we deliver and don’t plan to stop our partnership.

To make it possible, we invested a lot of resources to improve the emotional well-being of employees through psychological training. Everyone can work in a remote way from any place in the world so everyone stays productive and comfortable.

Intellectsoft also makes everything possible to make our own contribution and we regularly support the Armed Forces of Ukraine to stimulate victory.

Why Is Ukraine Good In Software Development?

Outsourcing software development in Ukraine is a major IT trend thanks to its highly skilled developers with outstanding ingenuity and problem-solving skills, cost-effectiveness, and a favorable geographical position. The main cities of Ukraine boast well-established tech centers, seasoned developers, and a constant influx of new talent, all thanks to its excellent level of technical education.

10 Reasons to Hire Developers in Ukraine

In this section, let’s explore the many reasons why Ukraine has become an attractive country for IT outsourcing and why world-famous companies recruit Ukrainian developers for their important projects:

1. Extensive talent pool

A vast talent pool is a major reason why software development outsourcing is booming in Ukraine. After the U.S. and India, Ukraine has the highest number of IT employees.

In 2021, there were approximately 200,000 tech employees in the Ukrainian IT market and in 2022 this number has grown to 240,000.

What’s more, the software developers pool in Ukraine is expected to cross the 200,000 mark in the coming years. According to SkillValue, Ukraine holds the eighth spot on the list of the world’s top countries with highly skilled programmers, with an average score index of 91.26%.

2. Skill diversity

Apart from general college or university education, Ukrainian software developers pay much attention to self-education and always keep up with the latest industry trends. You can find here specialists who use the following languages in coding:

• JavaScript
• Java
• C#
• Python
• PHP
• C++
• TypeScript
• Swift
• Kotlin
• Ruby

These languages are among the most popular ones.

Software companies that offer their services to outsource usually have experience working for companies that come from various industries, including eCommerce, Healthcare, FinTech, Retail, Hospitality, Game development, etc. They have all the necessary resources to complete projects of any complexity level and provide suitable solutions.

3. Reasonable rates

Ukraine is one of the most cost-effective IT outsourcing countries in the world across different software development categories. Compared to neighboring countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, Ukraine offers more affordable outsourcing rates and a more diverse tech talent pool.

If you want to hire a highly skilled software developer while saving a significant amount in development costs, Ukraine is a great choice. Ukrainian developers charge between $25-$50 whereas developers with the same skill sets in North America or Western Europe will cost a project at least $100 per hour.

4. Convenient time zone

Ukraine’s time zone is one to two hours ahead of most European countries. This makes Ukraine a convenient destination for nearshoring as well as offshoring. European clients can work and communicate comfortably with Ukrainian developers due to insignificant time differences.

If the client company is located in the U.S., Canada, or Australia, they can still get in touch with the developers without any impact on their own working schedule. Simply put, Ukraine’s location allows for better monitoring and easy project communication and control as compared to other outsourcing destinations like India, the Philippines, or Vietnam.

5. English proficiency

English is not widely used in Ukraine, but many people are fluent in it, and the number only keeps increasing. Approximately 80 percent of software developers in Ukraine have an Intermediate or higher level of English.

Also, it is worth mentioning that the vast majority of software development companies in Ukraine offer free in-house English lessons that help their employees improve their English skills and vocabulary on a regular basis. So, the level of English of Ukrainian developers lifts the language barrier and enables them to work on any international project.

6. Education

Every year, over 36,000 students graduate from local universities in Ukraine with IT-related degrees. They are obsessed with technical innovations and technologies including Ruby, Python, C++, C#, PHP, and JavaScript.

Additionally, the World Economic Forum has listed Ukraine among the top 10 countries worldwide for producing around 130,000 graduates annually in engineering and tech-related fields. In Ukraine, students are offered various educational opportunities to join the tech community. In collaboration with local IT companies, regional IT markets frequently launch educational programs at universities and colleges.

7. Culture fit

It seems that every nation can find a common language with the Ukrainian developers as they are tolerant, all-rounded, and have excellent communication skills.

As Ukraine is situated in the central part of Europe, it combines western and eastern values that give the way for easy communication.

8. R&D centers 

Nowadays there are over 100 R&D (Research and Development)  Centers in Ukraine and their number keeps growing.

Ukraine is one of the largest R&D partners in the USA. The main areas of expertise are connected with Big Data, AI, eCommerce, Cloud computing, telecommunications, etc.

9. Fertile environment for startups

Taking into account the above-mentioned info, Ukraine has a comfortable environment for a startup ecosystem. 500 new entrepreneurs appear each month that offer challenging ideas and projects, complex tasks, and a chance to contribute to product development.

Startups attract talented engineers who can use their knowledge and ideas, receive investments, and close profitable deals.

The list of the top Ukrainian startups includes the following companies: Grammarly, Petcube, Clickky, Kwambio, Augmented Pixels, SolarGaps, GitLab, TripMyDream, Cardiomo, etc.

10. Quality

Quality is another advantage you get when you work with local IT services.

Offshore teams consist of experienced, skilled, and educated employees who do their best to suit customers’ requirements and deliver products or solutions of the greatest quality. No wonder Ukraine ranks among the top countries for international outsourcing.

Ukrainian Software Development Hubs

Leading IT companies in Ukraine are located in big cities. The biggest IT hubs are Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa. They host not only big, medium and small outsourcing companies but also startups, R&D centers, and other IT-related organizations.

Let’s take a closer look at every city that contributes to the progress of the IT industry in Ukraine:

• Kyiv. The capital and most populous city of Ukraine, Kyiv has the biggest number of IT experts (40 percent) in the country. Kyiv, together with Lviv, is home to almost half of Ukrainian developers. It is said that 43 out of the 50 biggest Ukrainian IT companies have their development centers in Kyiv. Kyiv is one of Ukraine’s fastest-growing cities and has the highest level of business activity among Ukrainian cities. Major global companies have their offices and R&D centers situated in Kyiv

• Kharkiv. Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine and has a long-established engineering tradition, which includes building software systems. The country’s important business hub has a well-developed IT outsourcing industry with over 25,000 IT professionals and almost 450 active tech enterprises.

• Lviv. A big and beautiful city located near the borders of Europe’s developed countries, Lviv is one of the most popular cities among Ukrainian software developers and IT outsourcing companies. Of 800,000 people living in this city, over 20,000 work in the IT industry. There are around three hundred and seventeen IT companies in Lviv that offer software development services to clients located in Western Europe, the U.S., UK, and many other countries. Also, a lot of conferences focused on the IT field take place in this city.

• Dnipro. Another big IT hub in Ukraine is Dnipro. It is home to nearly 12,000 IT experts and over a hundred and seventy software development companies. The city boasts a highly educated and experienced IT talent pool.

• Odesa. The southern city of Ukraine offers great opportunities to tech-savvy people who also want to work in close proximity to the sea. What is surprising is that Odesa offers higher salaries to software developers than other Ukrainian cities, making it a quite popular destination for IT talent. It is estimated that the number of IT professionals in Odessa has grown from 6,000 to 10,000 in recent years.

10 Steps to Hire Developers from Ukraine 

Following are the 10 steps that should be performed to hire top Ukrainian software developers. If you have a big project or plan to scale, it is better to delegate the hiring duties entirely to a trustworthy outsourcing partner.

1. Select a company

Make a primary analysis, and then narrow down your list to 2-3 options. Select a company based on client reviews and what your partners/associates have to say. Top managers usually have many connections and can easily acquire an informative overview of a range of potential IT partners.

2. Inquire about the chosen vendor

Before the commencement of communication, it is important to find out as much as possible about your vendor. This includes inquiring about the vendor’s how many years the vendor has been operating in the industry, pricing, procedure for candidate selection, skills, etc. If several vendors fit your initial requirements, find out the information regarding their services and prices and compare them.

3. Provide enough project/job details

Try to provide as many details as possible regarding your project or position you need to fill. The more details, the better the outcome.

4. Set up a dedicated team structure

If you have an approximate team structure for your project, discuss it with your partner. In reality, you may need more or fewer developers for your project.

5. Familiarize with your recruiter

Once the negotiation stage ends and you sign a contract with the chosen company, you get a recruiter for your project. To know that you and your recruiter are on the same page and can develop a long-term work relationship, you need to communicate your requirements/preferences to them to get an effective result.

6. Check your email frequently

Knowing that the Ukrainian IT market is growing fast, most of the candidates have numerous job offers to choose from. So, once you have contacted the recruiter, you need to check your emails regularly. The candidates’ resumes or any questions asked by the recruiter may need to be reviewed/answered as quickly as possible so that the candidate is not hired by any other organization before you make a decision.

7. Interview candidates

Enlisting an IT recruiting company has its own benefits. If you work with an IT outsourcing provider, you will have a recruiter assigned to your project. In any case, a recruiter arranges a fitting schedule for you and your candidates to conduct an interview. You can then determine the duration of the interviewing process, completion criteria, etc.

8. Provide feedback

Needless to say, both the recruiter and candidate expect to receive feedback from you. If anything goes wrong, the recruiter should know what needs to be adjusted.

9. Recruit developers

Before you make a decision, double-check whether a candidate fits the position but don’t take too long as the candidate may accept the offer from another employer.

10. Get started

Once you hire the right candidate for your project, it is time to introduce him to the rest of the team. Like the in-house staff, do the briefing, share the responsibilities, and introduce the working toolkit.

Average Salaries for Software Developers in Ukraine

The average salaries of software developers in Ukraine range from two thousand dollars for junior positions to more than five thousand dollars for senior-level positions. The salary depends on the level of expertise, technologies, demand, and location. Let’s take a look at average monthly/yearly salaries.

Consider Intellectsoft Your Trusted Software Development Partner

There is a very high chance that hiring a Ukrainian from a reliable outsourcing partner may be the most effective and impactful move your business has made in years.

Intellectsoft is a trusted programming service that has operated in the market for more than 14 years already. Our main goal is to help companies across various industries digitize their operations and achieve exponential business growth through technology implementation.

Our company has a big number of professional engineers who have extensive experience and possess a wide range of technical skills to fit your needs and build a software solution that will transform your business’s future.

We have collaborated and successfully delivered more than 300 projects for our clients throughout the globe. Intellectsoft works in such industries as healthcare, fintech, construction, hospitality, and others.

Our team has been working on both short- and long-term projects of different complexity. Of course, we have encountered a few challenges as well such as time zone differences, but with our dedication and professionalism, we are able to make everything possible to ensure smooth communication with a client and ensure high-level efficiency.

We have an extensive talent pool that includes engineers with unique niche skills, and regardless of project size and scope, you can stay cost-efficient.

Each employee brings their qualifications and best practices to the table to deliver the most quality services and support the solution even after its launch. You can hire app developers with specific skills that match your goals.

Take a look at our portfolio to see what solutions we have created for different companies across industries. In addition, get familiar with an exhaustive list of services offered by Intellectsoft.

If you are interested in a long-lasting partnership and want to give life to your software idea, feel free to get in touch with our experts to discuss your idea and start implementing it into reality with Intellectsoft.

The post Hiring Ukrainian Developers in 2022: What are the Risks? appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.

In 2017, we at Intellectsoft had a customer who asked to make an MVP (“minimum variable product”) on Flutter, a commercial cross-platform app development kit from Google.

The decision to invest in MVP is a common stage in software development, serving as a proof-of-concept and an early app version with the main features included. Our task was to create an MVP to show off to competitors, not accelerate the development process or cut expenses.

Flutter was new to the market, so the app development experienced inevitable challenges. In conversations with the client, we mentioned the rawness of the development language, problems with possible scaling, and lack of tech talents acquainted with this development platform. But the customer still wanted to try.

Unfortunately, all the predicted challenges came to light. The project was hard to scale and lacked the required resources due to low business priority.

For Intellectsoft, the takeaway from this case is straightforward: technology is not an end in itself. The well-built development strategy brings business benefits. And so, the choice between native and cross-platform tools depends on your business aims too.

5 Main Differences of Native vs. Cross-Platform App Development

1. Responsiveness. Since native code accesses the device’s internal resources directly, native apps generally demonstrate better performance.
2. Value-for-money. Cross-platform apps are made faster and cheaper.
3. App stability. In a long run, native apps demonstrate more stability and work well for long-term projects.
4. UI/UX design. Generally, native apps are more attractive and effective in terms of user interface and user experience.
5. Safety. Native app development deals with encrypted and obfuscated infrastructure, while cross-platform apps need extra measures to ensure security.

What Is Native App Development?

This type of app development deals with the platform’s native language and native APIs/frameworks to link to internal functions, meaning Java or Kotlin (with its JDK) for Android and Obj-C or Swift (on its SDK) for iOS.

Thanks to these specifics, native apps provide a better user experience, demonstrate higher performance, and can be personalized. Moreover, access to the devices’ features allows building complex yet stable and secure functionalities.

7 Advantages of Native Development

1. Smooth work. Native technologies connect with the device’s functionality, which makes processing fast and steady.
2. Compatibility. Thanks to seamless integration with hardware, native apps can take photos, track locations, and add events to the calendar.
3. Safety. The minimum of layers and technologies make native apps secure.
4. User experience. In terms of UX design, native apps can have sophisticated layouts, greater personalization, and engaging animations users like.
5. Easy-to-use SDK. For developers, native app building possesses numerous tools that make the process faster and cheaper. In this regard, software development kits are extremely helpful and streamline the development process with up-to-date and mostly ready for implementation parts of code and libraries. In case something is not clear, it’s easy to find and understand the technical guides and official documentation.
6. Optimization. Native apps don’t overload the battery with complex processing, and users can use them longer.
7. Maintenance. Updates like AI, IoT, and adding extra features and easy to implement on native apps.

3 Disadvantages of Native Development

1. Expensive to start. Although native apps possess value-for-money in a long run, the initial cost of their development is high. Each platform requires separate investment, and the development expenses are generally 30-40% higher than going for the cross-platform app development option that covers all the devices at once.
2. Time to market. Native development is complex and requires more attention on each stage, which delays the date when the app is ready to launch.
3. Different codebases. Android and iOS app development are completely different, and the developers need to duplicate each feature by using two separate codebases. Because of this, native app development requires two separate teams at times.

Best Cases of Native Apps

Thanks to its benefits and efficiency indicators, native app development is highly popular these days. You can find native apps among games, messaging platforms, and navigation tools.

Among the loudest examples of native apps, there are:

• Spotify
• Waze
• WhatsApp
• Pokemon Go
• Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg initially invested in a hybrid app, but soon recognized the mistake and build a native version for iOS)

What Is Cross-Platform Development?

You need a single database to build a cross-platform app running on several devices. Due to this advantage of repurposing, the development itself becomes faster and cheaper. The majority of code, meaning 70-95%, can be reused in another platform, which makes building for Android and iOS smooth.

In this regard, React Native, Flutter, Ionic, and Xamarin cover the most tasks for both operating systems. According to Statista, Flutter is the leading framework for cross-platform development, covering 42% of the market. Next is React Native, possessing 38%. It’s a perfect technology to build an app so feel free to hire dedicated React Native developers. The full picture is shown in the table below.

Source: Statista

4 Advantages of Cross-Platform Development

1. Repurposing of code. Cross-platform apps are easy to adapt to multiple devices thanks to 80% of code that can be reused.
2. Cost-effectiveness. Cross-platform development cuts costs and saves time on the development stage, compared to native development.
3. Fewer developers are needed. The development is not complex, so you won’t need to recruit separate teams to build Android and iOS apps.
4. Access to a broader audience. Cross-platform apps are the best option to showcase your app to more people and/or the new market.

4 Disadvantages of Cross-Platform App Development

1. Unstable performance. The general usability of the codebase comes at its cost. The lack of specification sometimes causes delays.
2. Simplified UX. Compared to native apps, some features and layouts are unavailable for cross-platform apps. In this situation, the elaboration on the cross-platform user interface is very important for getting satisfactory results in terms of user experience.
3. Relying on external libraries. As there is almost no support to SDKs, developers can face difficulties in integrating new features.
4. QA is a must. Without several rounds of testing, cross-platform apps are likely to disappoint users with numerous bugs, safety issues, and incompatibilities.

Best Cases of Cross-Platform Apps

Many famous brands go for cross-platform app development when there’s no need to concentrate on a single platform. Among the well-known examples, there are:

• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• VLC
• Adobe Reader
• OpenOffice

How to Choose between Native and Cross-Platform App Development?

After clarifying the key features and functionality behind each development type, the question of picking the most appropriate one is easier.

Factors to Consider Native Apps:

• Mobile-first service
• Plans to make money with an app
• Strong competitors in the niche
• Your business is big
• Your app is a game
• Your app will have complex features and needs access to the device’s hardware
• You care about top UX

Factors to Consider Cross-Platform Apps:

• Minimal budget for development
• Need to enter both Android and iOS
• Testing ideas
• Quick launch to market
• You are a startup
• You build an MVP with minimum features

The post Native vs. Cross-Platform App Development: How to Pick? appeared first on Intellectsoft Blog.