Agile iPhone Development

Drew CrawfordNews

At DrewCrawfordApps, we practice an agile development methodology based on multiple small sprints and continuous delivery.  This is because agile methods provide higher productivity, lower costs, result in higher quality software, and happier clients. Higher Productivity and Lower Costs According to VersionOne’s 2010 study, 66% of agile practitioners report faster time-to-completion for software projects.  More than half of all respondants report that … Read More

What maintenance is needed for an iPhone app?

Drew CrawfordNews

Many clients want to know the ongoing cost structure for their application after development.  Relative to the high upfront cost to develop an application, the ongoing costs are usually low. Maintenance tasks typically involve: Fixing crashes or errors reported by users of the application.  Our automated bug tracking software helps us monitor bugs in the wild.  If the client has … Read More

The high cost of simple

Drew CrawfordNews

When the iPhone was unveiled in 2007, it was a revolutionary device on many fronts, but chiefly because it was simple to use. But it’s not enough just to have the idea of producing a simple phone.  Everyone knew that phones were too complicated.  It was a different matter to actually build one.  This is what was so hard.  Simple … Read More

The Peace of Mind of Fixed Quote Projects

Drew CrawfordNews

There are two types of software contracting arrangements.  One is called “Time & Materials”, which means that you’re paying for the developer’s time.  The other type is called “Fixed Quote” or “Fixed Bid”, which means you’re paying for a project. According to the Standish Report, 71% of software projects are challenged or fail completely, and the average budget overrun for … Read More

How much does an iPhone app cost? Part III

Drew CrawfordNews

In Part I, we introduced the different types of applications.  In Part II, we introduced the development team and gave some rough figures for how much each component costs.  Now, we’re going to play with the numbers. It should cost much less! Sometimes it does.  Certain applications may simply not need certain components.  Coke or McDonalds may not need a … Read More

How much does an iPhone app cost? Part II

Drew CrawfordNews

In Part I, we explored the different types of applications.  Once you have identified the type of application and the complexity of your project, it’s time to meet some of the people who will bring your app to life! Development Any iPhone or iPad app is going to involve developers, people who write the software code.  Depending on the firm, these … Read More

How much does an iPhone app cost? Part I

Drew CrawfordNews

We get this question over and over.  Let’s walk through the numbers. App Types iPhone or iPad apps are not all alike.  You have several different kinds of applications. Each of these application types may require a slightly different skill set, have a different time and cost profile, and require developers with different expertise.  Counterintuitively, it can sometimes be a … Read More

Against cross-platform development

Drew CrawfordNews

The siren call of “write once, run everywhere” is one of the more pervasive myths in computing.  The goal, of being able to write the software once and have it work on other platforms, with no or minimal development effort, is a very attractive one, given the time, expense, and risk of software projects.  Unfortunately, it is largely a myth. … Read More

How long will my app take?

Drew CrawfordNews

This is an important question that’s vital to making important decisions about any software project.  Unfortunately, the state of the entire software industry is that time estimates are almost never accurate.  According to the IEEE, the international engineering standards body: This is only one of the latest in a long, dismal history of IT projects gone awry… What’s more, the … Read More

Five Myths about Outsourcing iPhone App Development

Drew CrawfordNews

When you select a developer for your iPhone or iPad app, you’re making the most important decision about your project’s future.  The right partner will make or break your project.  Whether you’re a Fortune 500 firm developing an enterprise app, an entrepreneur chasing the dream, or a startup looking to grow your user base, you want a product that you … Read More