Product Vetting & Guidance
Your idea is important, and your hope to turn it into reality needs honest consideration, thoughtful reflection, and expert information. Lets talk about your idea and where a mobile app fits in your strategy.
We’ll start with the basics - how much does an app cost? You get what you pay for, and I won’t mince words. Paying a few hundred dollars, or even a couple thousand, might get you an app. If you do get an app out of it, you won’t get you the foundation for a product or a business.
Then, lets talk about your idea - is it technically feasible? Is it able to be turned into a solid, sustainable, maintainable product?
What does it really cost? Is it a worthwhile investment? Can you sustain continuous improvements and development over time, or is this for proof of concept?
And most importantly, how can I help guide the technical strategy which gets you from idea to app? What’s the roadmap to success? My experience in the mobile space will help me help you set this path.
Technology & Architectural Design
Given a solid understanding of your idea, how can it be built? What platforms, technologies, languages, cloud services, and integrations will make it a reality?
Through a careful review of your requirements, we’ll determine what makes sense - near term and long term. You’re building for iOS - is that just for iPhone, or for iPad as well? Mac? Apple Watch? Many factors influence the set of choices which should be made up front, and the paths aren’t always clearly marked.
Your technology stack, and the architectural design, are important to consider early in your project process. Solid decisions early mean that your investment isn’t wasted on throwaway code, poor planning, or technologies which aren’t sustainable, usable, or flexible.
Our role here is to consider the myriad challenges and opportunities and find the right solution to your unique needs - making your product idea something which can be built, sold, and extended for years to come.
We’ll consider your budget, compare your short term MVP goal (often, to find funding to build the long-term product) versus expanding to a full-blown product, match technology and design against your ability to hire and maintain a development team, and document the decisions and choices made.
Building a Development Team
If you’ve made it this far, getting your software built requires talent - the best team you can find.
You have options - a world full of developers. How do you know who can trust? What is the right price? How will your team represent your interests?
I’ve worked with individuals and teams from all over the world. Now, more than ever, you have amazing options for software teams.
I’m here to help you build that team.
Establishing budget, expectations, ownership, and working agreements
Recommending and evaluating developers or development companies
Optimizing the development cycle
Helping develop estimates and schedule
Evaluate pros and cons of onshore versus offshore contracting
Your needs are unique, and your team should be too. Lets build the right one for your success.
Code & Technology Reviews
When working with developers - on-staff or hired, you need to be assured that the day to day work they are doing to build your product are right. Often, a sole developer - or even a small team - needs validation and checks on their work.
We will fill this role on your behalf. Through careful code reviews, to evaluating ongoing technology choices and additions, we can work with your development team to make sure they’re building your vision.
By serving as peers in this process, we ensure that we’re not overriding your developer’s work, but rather ensuring that the needs of the project are fulfilled by professional work, clean code and tests, flexible and adaptable architecture, and a checkpoint to ensure that nobody gets lost in the weeds or over their head.
The way we perform the code and technology reviews is up to you - we can be deeply integrated into your team’s communications (looking at each line of code) to check-ins when you request one. Lets tailor a plan to meet your needs.
App Store Delivery
You’re almost there - its time to release your app!
Navigating Apple’s App Store entries, the release process, and the dreaded App Store review is stressful, confusing, and often thorny.
We’ve done it dozens of times - and can help you ensure that the process is manageable and successful, from writing your entry to screenshots to clicking “Submit for Review”.
Your initial release, updates, and effective communication to your users through the App Store is a powerful piece of your product strategy. We’re here to help.