Android application development is the process of creating mobile products for devices running the Android operating system. The official Android Studio development environment, the Kotlin and Java programming languages, as well as the powerful SDK (Software Development Kit) tools are used for this.
In this article, we will look at the main advantages of the Android platform, reveal the features of application development, give recommendations on the choice of technologies and tell you how to create an effective mobile solution for business.
Creating Android software opens up new channels for companies to interact with customers, expand their market presence, and automate business processes. The huge Android user base makes this platform particularly attractive.
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Advantages |
Description |
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Huge audience |
More than 3 billion active devices worldwide (according to Google data for 2023) |
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Open source code |
Android is based on the Linux kernel, which allows you to customize the system for business needs. |
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Wide range of tools |
Access to SDKs, APIs, libraries, and frameworks for convenient development |
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Integration with Google services |
Support for Play Services, Firebase, Google Maps, AI tools and other services |
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Support from the largest manufacturers |
Android devices are produced by Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo and other companies |
The Google Play app Store occupies a leading position among digital platforms for the distribution of mobile content. Its scale provides developers with a convenient support infrastructure.:
optimized mechanisms for publishing and updating products.
interactive communication channels for solving emerging issues.
An extensive and active community of Android development specialists who are ready to share their experience and offer practical solutions to technical problems.
The Android app has the ability to send push notifications to interact with users, and built-in analytics will help analyze their behavior and personalize content.
FaaS (Function as a Service) technology in Android development allows you to optimize costs by paying only for the server resources used. The applications are easily integrated with payment systems and CRM, making customer service more efficient.
Application developers mostly write code in Java or Kotlin. To create an Android application, Android Studio is used — a convenient program with all the necessary functionality. Developers have access to many ready-made tools (APIs) that simplify working with devices. Application design is usually created according to the principles of Material Design, a modern design style from Google.
When analyzing these languages, differences in build speed can be noted. For example, the initial compilation of an application in Kotlin requires about 15-20% more time compared to Java, and the final build is faster, which equalizes the overall efficiency of both languages.
Code security also plays a significant role. When using Java and Kotlin, the compiler strictly checks the correspondence of data types, preventing errors related to incorrect mixing, for example, strings and numbers. At the same time, Kotlin offers tools that make type management even easier and more reliable.
As for popularity, Kotlin already ranks in the top 30 of the world ranking of programming languages according to TIOBE. This fresh language is actively expanding its field of application, responding to the constantly changing demands of developers, which confirms its rapid development in the industry.
One of the popular tools is Flutter, which allows you to create high-quality Android and iOS apps with a single codebase. Developing on Flutter reduces time and effort by making it easier to maintain and update applications. We wrote more about this development option in this article.
The choice between cross-platform and native development depends on the goals and specifics of the project. For complex applications with intensive interaction and hardware or specific services, it is better to use native development, which ensures maximum performance and fine tuning.
For startups or projects with a limited budget and time, cross-platform solutions such as Flutter and React Native allow you to quickly develop MVP and test ideas, but with some compromises in speed and interface customization.
Android has powerful APIs for working with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and AR. It works with Google Cloud and Firebase, which allows you to create scalable applications with cloud storage and data synchronization.
Android apps can be used on various types of devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart watches, televisions, cars, and IoT devices. This means that developers can reach a wide audience and use tools that work on different platforms.
Android has a flexible system that combines many different approaches from different manufacturers. Diversity makes the Android ecosystem interesting and rich, but it also requires developers to pay attention to detail and adapt interfaces to different devices. This is especially true in cross-platform development, where it is important to find a balance between native recommendations and universal design.
There is a stereotype that Android devices "slow down". This is often due to misperceptions or the use of older phone models, as well as comparisons with the iPhone. In fact, Android does not "slow down" if the device is of high quality and the application is written correctly.
Android uses limited resources efficiently, maintaining the state of applications, even if there is not enough RAM. This makes the application more stable, even on devices with lower specifications.
Developers use psychological techniques to get users to come back to the app again. The emotions they receive when interacting with the software (for example, positive reactions to likes or achievements) are fixed in memory, which contributes to the constant use of the platform.
For example, Instagram (owned by Meta, a company recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation) uses trigger psychology when a user returns to the app in order to experience positive emotions associated with receiving likes or other rewards again.
Another example of an approach to creating an engaging experience is our case study, Womansy. The women's health platform has an intuitive interface, personalized recommendations and a visual atmosphere of care that creates a sense of comfort and trust for the user. This may encourage you to log into the app regularly to monitor your health, read useful articles, and better understand your body.
Android application development is a methodical path that requires attention to every element — from the initial concept and strategic planning to the final release to the market.
Preliminary analytical work plays a fundamental role in the success of a digital product. Deep immersion in the business context and the research phase significantly reduce the risks of failure, allowing you to create a truly necessary solution that accurately meets the needs and pain points of the target audience.
We adhere to a clear structure of communication with clients. Our development workflow is completely transparent to you.
Weekly reviews:
At the end of each key stage of the project, we make a presentation:
At the end of each month, we provide:
You will always be aware of the project status and will be able to monitor the work process.
A simple MVP can be implemented in 1-2 months, while a full-featured product with server logic, authorization, analytics, and a custom UI may take at least 4 months. Creating a roadmap for the development of a mobile application helps to plan deadlines and resources realistically.
The price of an Android application depends on the amount of functionality, the complexity of the design, the need for a backend, integrations with external services (for example, payment systems, CRM, cards), and the choice between cross-platform and native development.
At LighTech, we select the optimal team for the project tasks and help optimize the budget without loss of quality.
