6 smart steps to build a web app efficiently – Start today!

The article is original: https://flatlogic.com/blog/6-smart-steps-to-build-your-web-app-efficiently/

Web apps are everywhere now. Spotify, Google Drive, Canva…These are just a handful of well-known examples.

In fact, 65% of users do not download apps. They do not want their phones cluttered with unused icons to become digital junkyards. Especially when web apps often provide the same value without the commitment of a download.

Read our article, where we’ve broken down 6 major smart steps you need to build a web app that wins the hearts of your customers. Here, we demystified the common complexities of web app development and revealed how to do this without writing a single line of code!

Dive in!

Step 1. Ideation

The ideation phase is the critical first step in web app development, where you conceptualize your vision and define the purpose of your application. This step sets the foundation for the entire project, ensuring you build an app that meets user needs, aligns with your business goals, and stands out in a competitive market.

80% of apps fail in their first year. 25% lose their customers after their first use. Most often, the reason is a lack of a clear value proposition. If your app just duplicates tens of others, it would not stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Another research shows that no market need is one of the most common reasons for failure. Either way, try to focus on your core vision. Think about:

What problem does your web app solve?

Identify the specific problem or gap your web app will address. Understand the pain points of your target users and how your app will provide a solution. When you build a web app, validate your ideas through feedback to ensure you solve the right problems.

Problem: Users struggle to organize and prioritize tasks.

Solution: Create a user-friendly task management app with intuitive features like drag-and-drop prioritization and automated reminders.

Who is your target audience?

One of the first things you need to build a web app is to understand who your app is for. Define your audience based on demographics, behaviors, and preferences. This will guide design and feature decisions to ensure the app meets their expectations.

Example: For a fitness tracking web app, the target audience could be tech-savvy individuals aged 20–40 who are interested in health and fitness, frequently use smartphones or wearable devices, and seek an easy way to track their workouts and stay motivated.

Pro tip: It’s also good to consider who might not benefit from using your app and why.

You can also create an empathy map to understand your users’ needs, pain points, and motivations better. An empathy map helps you visualize different aspects of your audience’s experience, including what they see, hear, think, feel, and do.

What unique value does your app provide?

To build a web app, establish what makes your app unique compared to competitors. Your Unique Value Proposition or UVP could be a feature, design approach, or pricing model providing users with distinct value.

Example: A project management app that combines task tracking with real-time collaboration tools tailored for remote teams

What are your short-term and long-term objectives?

Short-term goals are immediate, achievable goals that set the stage for your app’s initial success. Long-term are broader goals that drive the sustained growth and evolution of your web app over time. Use both to build a web app.

Example for a short-term: Launch the MVP within six months with core features such as user authentication, task management, and reminders.

Example for a long-term: Achieve a user base of 100,000+ within three years.

Web apps Vs. Websites

Another important question you should ask yourself is do I use a web app? Maybe, a website might serve your purpose just as well?

Think about why every web app has a website, but not every website has a web app.

To clear things out, we’ve prepared the list highlighting the key differences between these two options so that it would be easier for you to make a wise decision.

Interactivity
Webapp — Highly interactive, allowing users to input data, perform tasks, and use features in real time.

Website — Typically less interactive, focused on providing information, though it may have forms or small interactive elements.

1. Complexity

Webapp — More complex in design and functionality, often requiring backend servers, databases, and more advanced coding.

Website — Generally simpler in design with less complex functionality; focuses on content presentation.

1. User authentication

Webapp — Requires login/registration for personalized experiences and access to specific features.

Website — Mostly open access; some websites may have login areas but not essential for the site’s main function.

1. Updates

Webapp — Frequently updated to add new features, improve functionality, or ensure compatibility with evolving technologies.

Website — Updated mainly for content changes such as blogs, news, or product information.

1. Performance

Webapp — Can be slower due to interactive elements, especially if internet connectivity is poor.

Website — Tends to load faster since most websites are static or have fewer dynamic elements.

1. Development time

Webapp — Typically takes longer due to its complexity and need for interactivity, databases, and API integration.

Website — Generally quicker to build, especially if using templates or content management systems.

1. Cost

Webapp — Typically more expensive to develop and maintain, especially for larger or more complex web apps.

Website — Usually less expensive, especially for basic informational sites or blogs.

1. Mobile compatibility

Webapp — Typically designed to be responsive or as mobile-first, allowing full functionality on mobile devices.

Website — Also responsive, but may not provide the same level of functionality as a web app on mobile.

1. Other capabilities

Webapp — May offer limited offline capabilities if designed for it

Website — Usually requires an internet connection to access content.

As you can see, the website is more about static experience. App development is richer in features and more interactive but requires more knowledge and time.

To be sure you are on the right road, try to ask your future customers the following questions:

What is the problem you are trying to solve?
How much time do you use the Internet daily? Will it be OK for you if an app needs an Internet connection?
How do you access the Internet? F.e., with the prone, laptop, etc.
What features would you like to have in your web app?
How quickly would you expect the app to load and perform tasks?

You can ask these questions through surveys, interviews, or even social media polls.

Define the app’s functionality

Think about the core functionalities your web app needs. Do not try to make your app a “can-do-everything” thing. Rather, focus on the main problem you want to solve. Remember, apps with more features take more time to build.

Think of it as a bicycle. If you want to cover long distances quickly, you need essential parts like wheels, pedals, and brakes. Do you need to prioritize, in this case, a stereo system or a cup holder? Definitely not. While your experience of riding such bicycle could be fun, it would not help to get from A to B.

The basic functionalities of a web app include:

• User interface components (search bar, navigation bar, error messages, etc.)
• Data storage and management (this includes encryption, databases, caching mechanisms, etc.)
• Dynamic content (it should change based on clicking buttons, filling out forms, and other user interactions)
• Cross-browser compatibility
• Client-server interaction components
• Responsiveness
• Integration with third-party services
• Analytics and reporting

Additional features may include:

• Advanced search and filtering
  For example, for a shopping app, you can filter products by price, color, or size.

• Offline access
  This feature helps users to reach an app even without an internet connection.

• Accessibility features
  Ensures inclusivity and makes the app usable by people with disabilities. This includes a keyboard navigation for those who can’t use a mouse or a screen reader compatibility.

Do not forget about user workflows
To build a web app, it is important not only to understand the core components and features of your app, but to know how your users will interact with it.

For example, the picture above illustrates what users can do in a common to-do app. The process is quite simple yet effective. They can add new tasks, enter the task details, and set specific deadlines.

By mapping out the user flow, you can ensure that each feature and action aligns with the overall user journey. Consider the most common paths your users will take. What do they need to do first? How do they move from one action to another?

Design

First impressions matter. Your users do not know what happens behind the scene and the frontend. All they interact with is an interface.

Walk in the shoes of your users and ensure the UI is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate.

This stage starts with creating a sketch that outlines your app’s basic structure and flow.

From here, you’ll move to create:

User interface mockups — How will your app look? Focus on color schemes, typography, buttons, and other visual elements
Prototypes — They are created with the help of such programming languages as HTML, CSS, or JavaScript

Development

Once planning and design are sorted, it’s high time to start the actual development process. On the very basic level, development rests on two stages: frontend and backend.

Let’s examine each in detail.

What is frontend?
Frontend is all about what users see first. It’s like the face of your app. The main goal of frontend is to create a visually appealing and interactive user interface.

Note, while both a design stage and frontend development focus on the user interface, they serve different purposes and require distinct skills. The design stage is all about planning and visualizing how the app should look and feel. At the same time, frontend development is about building and implementing the design using code.

Key functions:

• Managing the layout and design of the app
• Enhancing interactivity and responsiveness
• Ensuring the app performs well on various web browsers and devices
• Basic functionalities like validation, dropdowns, etc.

What is backend?
Backend is like an engine that powers your app. It uses programming languages like Ruby, Python, .NET, Java, and others.

Key functions:

• Storing, retrieving, and updating data in databases
• Verifying user credentials and managing permissions for secure access
• Processing user requests and returning responses to the frontend
• Facilitating communication between the web app and third-party services or other apps

Together, both front and backend ensure your app is appealing to your users and functions properly. Ideally, every aspect of your web app should satisfy each of your users’ demands and pain points. Make sure your development team fully understands the user journey and business goals.

The average time to build a web app is 18 weeks. However, there are ways to do everything at a much greater speed. For example, with Flatlogic’s code generator, you can build a web app in just 5 minutes and see the results in the time your competitors are wrestling with intricate coding, debugging, and deployment processes. Speed is a highly important factor. It could put you miles ahead in the race to market.

Testing

Test, test, and doubletest your app again. Before making your app live, you need to be 100% sure it’s efficient and bug-free. The sooner you detect the potential mistakes, the cheaper and less tough it will be to remove it

Pay specific attention to the following:

• Main features
• Buttons
• Forms
• Links
• Transitions
• Performance

Even after you are sure your app is 100% good, it’s always fine to launch your web app initially in the beta version.

Key testing types

Unit testing
Focus on individual components or features to ensure each works as expected. For example, verify that a form correctly validates input or that a button triggers the right action.

Integration testing
Test how different components of your app interact with each other. For instance, ensure data entered into a form is correctly processed and saved in the database.

Performance testing
Measure how your app performs under different conditions, including heavy traffic. Tools like JMeter or LoadRunner can help simulate user loads.

Functional testing
Verify that your app’s features meet the requirements. This involves testing user workflows, such as signing up, logging in, or adding items to a cart.

Usability testing
To build a web app, observe real users interacting with your app to identify areas where the design or navigation could be improved. Ensure it is intuitive and accessible.

Cross-browser or cross-device testing
Test your app on various browsers (Chrome, Safari, Edge, etc.) and devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure consistent functionality and appearance.

Security testing
Protect user data by testing for vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), or weak encryption. Use tools like OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite to identify potential security issues.

Regression testing
After making changes or updates, ensure no existing features are broken. Automated testing tools like Selenium or Cypress can help with this.

Pro tip: We recommend testing your app not only at the end but through the whole development process. Also, do not forget to test it even after release.

Launching

This is the final stage, where you have to deal with hosting and deploying your app.

Hosting means your web app will be stored in the cloud environment (such as Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure). After that, your app becomes accessible to users via a web address or URL.

Pro tip: Always have a backup and rollback plan in place in case something goes wrong during deployment. This ensures minimal disruption to your users.

Remember, launching your app is not the end of the story. You need to constantly monitor performance, update the features regularly, scale, and fix all bugs and issues. One of the best ways to stay afloat is to collect and analyze user feedback.

Traditional development VS. Web app application builders

To build a web app, you need to choose from two main approaches:

• Traditional development method — it implies creating everything from scratch. While it allows for complete customization, its drawbacks are significant time and technical skills. If you need to tap your market and outperform your competitors quickly — it’s not the best option.

Web application builders — with their help, you can build apps at a greater speed and with less code.
With Flatlogic’s web app generator, you can build an app in minutes and for a highly reasonable price you don’t find on the market — just $33.

Features of our web apps:

• Customizable templates
• Pre-built design
• Scalable infrastructure
• Advanced analytics
• Integrations & APIs
• Data security
• Real-time updates

Technical details:

• Both frontend and backend
• Three roles: super-admin, admin, general user
• Backend languages: Node,js, Lavarel
• Frontend languages: React, Angular, Vue
• Database options: MySQL, PostgreSQL
• Cloud-based system

Summing up…

To build a web app is no small task. Remember: a good process produces good results.

By following the six smart steps we’ve outlined, you’ll not only simplify the process but also create an app that stands out in today’s competitive digital landscape. And if you want to simplify your workflow, you can always benefit from Flatlogic’s code generator.

Ready to turn your idea into reality? Let’s build it together!