admin – Rockwolf – Android, IOS, WP mobile application development company https://rockwolf-apps.com mobile apps development service provider Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:02:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Demystifying App Development: Common Myths and Misconceptions https://rockwolf-apps.com/demystifying-app-development-common-myths-and-misconceptions/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:02:05 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36768

Introduction

As someone who’s been immersed in the world of mobile app development for years, I’ve come across numerous myths and misconceptions that can prevent people from realizing their app dreams. Whether you’re a business owner looking to create an app for your company or someone who’s always wanted to develop an app, it’s crucial to separate fact from fiction. In this article, I’ll debunk some of the most common myths surrounding app development and arm you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions throughout the development process.

Myth 1: App Development is Too Expensive for Small Businesses

It’s a common belief that app development is a luxury only big businesses can afford. However, that’s simply not the case. With a wide range of development platforms, tools, and pricing models available, there are options to suit every budget. By working with a trusted app development company like Rockwolf, you can find the perfect balance between cost and quality to create an app that meets your needs without draining your finances.

Myth 2: You Need to Be a Coding Expert to Develop an App

I’ve met many people who think they need to be coding wizards to create an app. While coding skills can be beneficial in app development, they are not a must-have. Many app development platforms offer user-friendly, drag-and-drop tools and templates that make it easy for non-coders to create functional apps. Plus, partnering with a professional app development team can help you bring your vision to life without needing to master code yourself.

Myth 3: App Development Takes Too Long

The time it takes to develop an app can vary greatly, and it’s a common misconception that it always takes ages. Factors like the complexity of the app, the development platform, and the expertise of the development team all play a role in the timeline. While some apps can take months to develop, others can be completed in just a matter of weeks. By setting realistic expectations and working closely with your development team, you can ensure that your app is completed on time and within budget.

Myth 4: Once the App is Launched, the Work is Done

As an app developer, I can assure you that launching an app is just the beginning. To keep your app relevant and engaging, you need to continually update it with new features, fix bugs, and optimize its performance. Regular maintenance and updates are essential to ensuring that your app remains competitive in the ever-evolving app market.

Myth 5: If You Build It, They Will Come

I wish it were that simple! But merely creating an app doesn’t guarantee success. To attract users and generate revenue, you need to invest in marketing and promotion. This includes app store optimization (ASO), social media marketing, and targeted advertising campaigns. By developing a comprehensive marketing strategy, you can increase your app’s visibility and maximize its potential.

Conclusion

I hope that by debunking these common myths and misconceptions, I’ve provided you with a clearer understanding of the app development process. With the right knowledge, planning, and partnership with a skilled development team like Rockwolf, you can create an app that not only meets your needs but also stands out in the competitive app market. Don’t let these myths hold you back – embrace the exciting world of app development and unlock your business’s potential.

Unleash your business potential with a custom mobile app. Let’s create something amazing together!

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Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Using Kotlin https://rockwolf-apps.com/cross-platform-mobile-app-development-using-kotlin/ Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:19:41 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36748

Introduction

Kotlin is a popular programming language for developing cross-platform mobile applications. It allows developers to write code once and deploy it on multiple platforms, such as Android and iOS. Here are some of the benefits of using Kotlin for cross-platform mobile app development:

  • Code sharing: Kotlin allows developers to share code between different platforms, which reduces development time and costs.

  • Ease of use: Kotlin is easy to learn and use, especially for developers who are already familiar with Java.

  • Interoperability: Kotlin is fully interoperable with Java, which means that developers can use existing Java libraries and frameworks in their Kotlin projects.

  • Performance: Kotlin is a high-performance language that compiles to native code, which results in faster app performance.

Best practices

When it comes to cross-platform mobile app development using Kotlin, there are several best practices that developers should follow:

  • Design for multiple platforms: Developers should design their apps with multiple platforms in mind to ensure that they look and function well on all devices.

  • Use platform-specific features: While cross-platform development is all about code sharing, it’s important to use platform-specific features when necessary to provide the best user experience.

  • Test thoroughly: Developers should test their apps thoroughly on all platforms to ensure that they work as expected.

  • Optimize performance: Developers should optimize their apps for performance by minimizing resource usage and reducing load times.

Server-side frameworks for Kotlin

Kotlin is a great fit for developing server-side applications. It allows you to write concise and expressive code while maintaining full compatibility with existing Java-based technology stacks, all with a smooth learning curve.

Here are some examples of server-side frameworks for Kotlin:

  1. Spring: Spring makes use of Kotlin’s language features to offer more concise APIs, starting with version 5.0. The online project generator allows you to quickly generate a new project in Kotlin.

  2. Ktor: Ktor is a framework built by JetBrains for creating Web applications in Kotlin, making use of coroutines for high scalability and offering an easy-to-use and idiomatic API.

  3. Quarkus: Quarkus provides first-class support for using Kotlin. The framework is open source and maintained by Red Hat. Quarkus was built from the ground up for Kubernetes and provides a cohesive full-stack framework by leveraging a growing list of hundreds of best-of-breed libraries.

Best practices (backend)

When it comes to backend development using Kotlin, there are several best practices that developers should follow:

  • Design for multiple platforms: Developers should design their apps with multiple platforms in mind to ensure that they look and function well on all devices.

  • Use platform-specific features: While cross-platform development is all about code sharing, it’s important to use platform-specific features when necessary to provide the best user experience.

  • Test thoroughly: Developers should test their apps thoroughly on all platforms to ensure that they work as expected.

  • Optimize performance: Developers should optimize their apps for performance by minimizing resource usage and reducing load times.

Cross-platform frameworks that use Kotlin

When it comes to cross-platform mobile app development, there are several frameworks available that use Kotlin, Flutter, and React Native. Here’s a comparison of these frameworks based on various grounds:

Framework UI Business Logic Layered Architecture Interoperability Easy to go Native Integration with existing Projects
Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM) In KMM, we have to write native UI code separately for Android and iOS. Business logic is common but written in different languages: Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS. KMM has the architecture that separates the UI and business logic by default. Kotlin can interop with Java and other languages. It is very easy to write native code at any level of coding and at any layer of the architecture. KMM has the power to get integrated with any existing project.
Flutter Flutter uses canvas from native SDK of different platforms and draws its own UI component on that canvas using Material design specifications. Business logic is written in Dart. Flutter has a layered architecture that separates the UI, business logic, and platform-specific code. Flutter can interop with Java and other languages. It is very easy to write native code at any level of coding and at any layer of the architecture. Flutter has the power to get integrated with any existing project.
React Native React Native uses native components mapped to JS code. Business logic is written in JS. React Native has a layered architecture that separates the UI, business logic, and platform-specific code. React Native can interop with Java and other languages. It is very easy to write native code at any level of coding and at any layer of the architecture. React Native has the power to get integrated with any existing project.

Native developers will move toward KMM as from Android’s perspective it is Kotlin, the same language they are using in the development of their Native apps. If KMM is used by an Android developer then the iOS developer has to do a very little task, creating only the UI of the App rest he will get from the shared code of KMM. From the user’s perspective, they will get separate native apps.

Conclusion

Cross-platform mobile app development using Kotlin is an excellent choice for reaching a wider audience and minimizing development costs. However, it comes with its own set of challenges. At Rockwolf, we recommend carefully considering the pros and cons to decide if Kotlin is the right choice for your project. With proper planning, adherence to best practices, and a skilled development team, you can create a successful cross-platform app that caters to both Android and iOS users, all while reaping the benefits of code reusability and cost-efficiency.

If you’re looking for expert guidance and assistance with cross-platform mobile app development using Kotlin, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Rockwolf. We’re here to turn your app idea into a reality, and Kotlin is just one of the tools we use to make that happen. Contact us today to discuss your project and how we can help you achieve your app development goals!

Ready to develop cross-platform project? Reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you!

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Unlocking Efficiency: Exploring No-Code Mobile App Development https://rockwolf-apps.com/unlocking-efficiency-exploring-no-code-mobile-app-development/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:41:11 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36737

Hello there! We’re thrilled to have you here on the Rockwolf blog, where we love sharing insights about the ever-evolving world of mobile app development. Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s been making waves in the industry: “No-Code Mobile App Development.” What is it, and why should you care? Let’s find out.

Pros and Cons of No-Code Mobile App Development:

Let’s start with the good stuff, shall we?

Pros:

  1. Speed of Development: Imagine bringing your app idea to life at lightning speed. No-code platforms make it possible. They’re designed for swift app creation, perfect for when time is of the essence.

  2. Cost-Efficiency: Who doesn’t love cost savings? No-code development often means fewer hours billed, which can be a game-changer, especially for startups and smaller businesses.

  3. Accessibility: No-code tools are a game-changer. You don’t need to be a coding whiz to build an app anymore. Anyone with an idea can roll up their sleeves and get started.

  4. Iteration and Prototyping: No-code is a playground for experimentation. It’s easy to tweak and test your app as you go, making it ideal for refining your concept.

    Now, onto the other side of the coin.

Cons:

  1. Limited Customization: If your app requires highly specialized features and unique functionalities, you might find no-code tools limiting.

  2. Scalability: No-code can be like training wheels for your app. It’s great for small to medium-scale projects, but it might struggle to handle complex, large-scale apps.

  3. Dependency on Third-Party Platforms: Relying on external platforms means you’re at their mercy. Changes in their policies or services can affect your app.

When to Use No-Code Mobile App Development:

Now that you know the ups and downs let’s explore when you should hop on the no-code train.

  • Rapid Prototyping: For those moments when you need a working prototype ASAP to secure funding or attract users.

  • MVP Development: Building a Minimum Viable Product? No-code can help you get there faster.

  • Small to Medium-Scale Apps: It’s a no-brainer for apps in this category.

  • Limited Budgets: No-code development can help you achieve your goals without breaking the bank.

  • Non-Technical Founders: If you’re not a coder but have a brilliant app idea, no-code is your golden ticket.

Examples of No-Code Platforms:

Here’s a quick list of popular no-code platforms to explore:

  • Bubble.io: A versatile platform for web and mobile apps.

  • Adalo: Known for its simplicity and mobile app focus.

  • OutSystems: Ideal for more complex projects.

  • Appy Pie: User-friendly and suitable for beginners.

  • Thunkable: Great for building mobile apps with a focus on user experience.

  • Glide: Perfect for creating data-driven apps.

  • Zoho Creator: An excellent choice for business applications.


Exploring the Possibilities with Rockwolf:

At Rockwolf, we’ve always been passionate about helping our clients navigate the ever-changing landscape of app development. No-code is no exception. We understand that while no-code tools are fantastic for many projects, some require a more experienced touch.

That’s where we come in.

Our team combines the power of no-code development with our years of expertise in building mobile apps. We’ve successfully delivered projects across various industries, from healthcare to e-commerce, using no-code platforms. We bridge the gap between no-code’s accessibility and the complexity of your unique vision.

Stay Ahead in the No-Code Revolution:

The world of app development is evolving faster than ever. We encourage you to stay informed about the latest trends and innovations. Consider subscribing to our blog for regular updates on no-code development and more.

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, no-code development is a powerful tool in your app-building arsenal. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but when used appropriately, it can be a game-changer. At Rockwolf, we’re here to help you make the most of this exciting technology. Don’t hesitate to reach out and explore how we can work together to bring your app idea to life.

However, we’d like to emphasize that, while no-code development has its advantages, for projects where scalability, customization, and a seamless transition from MVP to a fully-featured app are key considerations, we recommend native mobile app development. Using Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS ensures a smooth bridge from start to finish. This approach allows you to create apps that are not only performant but also fully aligned with the unique needs of your project.

Thank you for joining us today on this exploration of no-code mobile app development. We hope you found this article valuable and insightful. Stay curious, stay innovative, and let’s build amazing apps together!

Ready to embark on your no-code app development journey? Reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you!

Discuss your project

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Unleashing the Power of Mobile Apps: Elevating User Experience through Performance Excellence https://rockwolf-apps.com/unleashing-the-power-of-mobile-apps-elevating-user-experience-through-performance-excellence/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:09:00 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36725

I’m thrilled to take you on an adventure through the key aspects of mobile app performance improvement. So sit back, relax, and get ready to discover how we combine cutting-edge tools, clever tricks, and a touch of humor to deliver exceptional apps that leave a lasting impression.

  1. Performance Profiling: Unleashing App Potential Imagine you’re a detective solving a performance mystery! With our trusty profiling tools, we dive deep into your app’s performance metrics, uncovering hidden bottlenecks and areas in need of improvement. It’s like shining a bright spotlight on any sluggishness or hiccups, giving us the power to optimize every nook and cranny of your app.

  2. Elevating Efficiency: The Resource Management Magic Let’s play a game called “Optimize or Be Swamped!” Our developers are masters of resource management, juggling memory, CPU, and battery consumption like seasoned magicians. They’ll make those image files disappear (in size, not visually) and wave their wands to conjure efficient data caching, resulting in lightning-fast responsiveness and happier battery life.

  3. Minimizing Network Latency: Speeding Past Slow Connections Ever felt like you’re waiting for a sloth to finish a marathon? We’ve got a need for speed! Through clever data compression and caching techniques, we minimize network delays, ensuring your app loads faster than a cheetah chasing its morning coffee. It’s like having the Flash on your side, making your users’ experience smooth and delightful.

  4. Aesthetics and Experience: Where Beauty Meets Functionality They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we believe it’s also in the hands of the UX/UI designers. Our talented team will create an interface that’s as visually stunning as a sunset over a tropical paradise, while still optimizing UI rendering for blazing-fast performance. Your app will be a joy to use, with an intuitive flow that even your grandma could navigate with ease.

  5. Code Optimization: The Art of Digital Wizardry Picture our developers as the Gandalfs of code optimization, wielding their staffs (read: keyboards) to conjure spells that make your app run smoother than butter on a hot pancake. They’ll fine-tune algorithms, eliminate redundant computations, and master the art of asynchronous programming to ensure your app’s main thread is as swift as an Olympic sprinter.

  6. Performance Testing and Monitoring: Superheroes in Action Let’s put on our superhero capes and dive into the world of performance testing! Our automated testing tools simulate real-life scenarios, stress-testing your app to ensure it remains unshakable, even under the weight of a thousand users. And with our vigilant monitoring systems, we’re like the Batman of performance, catching any issues before they can wreak havoc.

  7. Battery Efficiency: Saving the World, One Charge at a Time We’ve all experienced the dreaded low-battery panic. But fear not, for we’re here to save the day! Our developers are experts in conserving energy, using power-saving techniques that would impress even the most eco-conscious superheroes. Your app will run smoothly without draining your users’ batteries faster than a superpower-draining villain.

  8. Optimal Data Storage: The Treasure Chest of Performance Imagine your app’s data storage as a treasure chest, and we hold the key to unlocking its full potential. We’ll select the perfect data storage mechanisms for your app, optimizing database queries, implementing data caching, and indexing like a seasoned pirate searching for the hidden loot. Your app’s response times will be faster than Jack Sparrow on a treasure hunt.

  9. Realizing Your Vision: Ever-Evolving Excellence Remember, we’re on this journey together! Regular updates and continuous improvement are in our DNA. We value your feedback, embrace user input, and constantly seek ways to enhance your app’s performance. We’re like the Iron Man of app development, always upgrading and refining to keep your users delighted and engaged.

  10. The Power of Collaboration: Building a Super Team Even superheroes need sidekicks! We carefully select and integrate third-party libraries and tools, ensuring they seamlessly complement our in-house expertise. It’s like assembling the Avengers of app development, combining the strengths of various tools and libraries to create a harmonious and high-performing app.


Conclusion: At Rockwolf, we don’t just build mobile apps; we create experiences that leave users in awe. With a blend of cutting-edge tools, clever tricks, and our commitment to excellence, we craft apps that perform flawlessly, making your users smile from ear to ear. Join us on this adventure, and let’s bring your app dreams to life!

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s make your app soar to new heights!

Stay tuned for more exciting insights, tips, and tricks in the world of mobile app development on the Rockwolf blog.

Looking to have your Android/iOS mobile application? Rockwolf Team can help you with making decisions about modern solutions for your product.

Discuss your project

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How to Build an MVP for Your Mobile Application https://rockwolf-apps.com/how-to-build-an-mvp-for-your-mobile-application/ Wed, 24 May 2023 18:28:45 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36718

As a business consultant with years of experience in mobile app development, I strongly advise my clients to start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) when embarking on a new project. Not only does this approach help to minimize risk, but it also allows you to focus on the most important features of your app and gather valuable user feedback before investing significant time and resources into the development process.

At Rockwolf, we specialize in helping clients build successful mobile apps, and we believe that building an MVP is the best way to get started. In this article, we’ll explain what an MVP is and why it’s important, and provide some examples of Android and iOS projects that should be started with an MVP.

What is an MVP and Why is it Important?

An MVP is a version of your app that includes only the most essential features needed to test your concept and gather user feedback. The idea behind an MVP is to create a version of the app that is functional but minimalistic, with only the core features necessary to test your idea and gauge user interest.

The benefits of building an MVP are many. First and foremost, it allows you to test your idea with real users and get feedback that can help you improve your app before investing significant time and resources into the development process. It also helps to minimize risk and reduce the cost of development by focusing on the most important features of your app.

What Kind of Android and iOS Projects Should be Started from an MVP?

At Rockwolf, we recommend that all of our clients start with an MVP when building a mobile app, regardless of the platform or industry. However, there are certain types of projects that are particularly well-suited to the MVP approach.

For example, if you’re building a social networking app, starting with an MVP that includes basic features like user registration, profile creation, and messaging capabilities can help you gauge user interest and identify areas for improvement before investing significant time and resources into the development process.

Similarly, if you’re building an e-commerce app, starting with an MVP that includes basic features like product listings, shopping cart functionality, and payment processing can help you test the concept and gather user feedback before investing in more advanced features like personalized recommendations and loyalty programs.

Interesting Cases

One interesting case study is the mobile app for the ride-sharing company, Uber. When Uber first launched, they started with a minimalistic MVP that included only basic features like ride requests, driver location tracking, and payment processing. By starting with an MVP, Uber was able to test the concept and gather valuable user feedback before investing in more advanced features like surge pricing and driver ratings.

Another interesting case study is the mobile app for the language learning platform, Duolingo. Duolingo started with an MVP that included only basic features like language lessons and quizzes. By starting with an MVP, Duolingo was able to test the concept and gather user feedback before investing in more advanced features like personalized learning plans and social sharing.

Here are some tips on how to build an MVP for your mobile app:

  1. Define the core features: The first step in building an MVP is to define the core features that are necessary for the app to function. This may include basic functionality such as user registration, login, and basic navigation.

  2. Prioritize features: Once you have identified the core features, prioritize them based on their importance and impact on the user experience. This will help you focus on the most important features first and avoid getting bogged down in less critical features.

  3. Create a prototype: Create a basic prototype of the app that includes the core features. This could be a simple wireframe or a functional prototype that allows users to test the basic functionality of the app.

  4. Gather user feedback: Once you have a working prototype, gather feedback from users to help you identify areas for improvement and determine whether the app is meeting their needs.

  5. Iterate and improve: Based on user feedback, iterate on the app and continue to refine the core features. This may involve adding new features, improving the user interface, or optimizing performance.

  6. Validate your idea: Before investing a lot of time and money into your mobile app development, it’s important to validate your idea to ensure there is a market for your product. Conduct market research to determine if there is demand for your app and analyze the competition to identify any potential gaps in the market.

  7. Use a lean development approach: The lean development approach involves building only what is necessary and focusing on the core features of the app. This helps to minimize risk and reduce the time and cost of development.

  8. Keep it simple: When building an MVP, it’s important to keep it simple and avoid adding unnecessary features. This will help you focus on the core functionality of the app and ensure a better user experience.

  9. Choose the right platform: Depending on your target audience and the features of your app, you may need to choose the right platform for your MVP. For example, if you’re targeting iOS users, you may want to start with an iOS app, whereas if you’re targeting Android users, you may want to start with an Android app.

  10. Set goals and metrics: To measure the success of your MVP, set goals and metrics that align with your business objectives. This could include metrics such as the number of downloads, user engagement, and revenue generated.

Conclusion

If you’re considering building a mobile app, starting with an MVP is the best way to minimize risk, focus on the core features of your app, and gather valuable user feedback. At Rockwolf, we specialize in helping clients build successful mobile apps, and we believe that building an MVP is the first step to success. Whether you’re building an Android or iOS app, or targeting a specific industry, starting with an MVP can help you validate your concept and build a successful app.

Looking to have your Android/iOS MVP mobile application? Rockwolf Team can help you with making decisions about modern solutions for your product.

Discuss your project

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AI in mobile application development https://rockwolf-apps.com/ai-in-mobile-application-development/ Wed, 22 Feb 2023 19:52:56 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36698

AI has been a part of mobile application development since the early days of the industry. They have been used to improve user experience and automate processes. Mobile applications are becoming increasingly popular as they can provide users with personalized experiences and help developers create more efficient applications.

Instruments:

AI-based mobile applications are developed using a variety of tools and technologies. These include natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), computer vision (CV), and robotics. Each of these technologies can be used to create different types of AI-based mobile applications. For example, NLP can be used to create chatbots that can interact with users in natural language, while ML can be used to create predictive models that can predict user behavior or recommend products or services.

Best Practices:

When developing AI-based mobile applications, it is important to follow best practices in order to ensure that the application is secure and reliable. This includes using secure coding practices, testing the application thoroughly before releasing it into production, and monitoring the application for any potential issues or vulnerabilities. Additionally, developers should ensure that they are using the latest versions of the tools and technologies they are using in order to ensure that their application is up-to-date with the latest security patches and features.

Trends:

The use of AI in mobile application development is growing rapidly as more companies recognize its potential benefits. As more companies adopt AI technology, there will be an increased demand for developers who are experienced in developing AI-based applications. Additionally, as more companies adopt AI technology, there will be an increased demand for tools and technologies that make it easier for developers to develop these types of applications.

Here there are some examples of AI based mobile applications:

  • Google Lens: Google Lens is an AI-powered app that uses computer vision to identify objects in the real world. It can recognize text, landmarks, and other objects in photos and videos.

  • Viv: Viv is an AI-powered personal assistant app that helps you find information, set reminders, and complete tasks quickly and easily.

  • Socratic: Socratic is an AI-powered education app that helps students learn by providing personalized learning paths based on their individual needs. It can answer questions, provide step-by-step explanations, and offer personalized study plans.

  • Robinhood: Robinhood is an AI-powered stock trading app that provides users with real-time market data and insights to help them make informed decisions about their investments.

  • Replika: Replika is an AI-powered chatbot app that helps users build meaningful relationships with a virtual companion through conversation and activities.

Perspectives for Businesses and Developers:

For businesses, AI-based mobile applications offer a number of benefits including improved user experience through personalized experiences; improved efficiency through automation; improved security through better authentication methods; improved scalability through cloud computing; improved analytics through data mining; improved customer service through chatbots; and improved marketing through targeted campaigns. For developers, developing AI-based mobile applications offers an opportunity to stay ahead of the competition by creating innovative solutions that leverage cutting edge technology. 

Conclusion:

The use of AI in mobile application development is growing rapidly as more companies recognize its potential benefits. As this trend continues to grow, there will be an increased demand for developers who are experienced in developing these types of applications as well as tools and technologies that make it easier for them to do so. 

Rockwolf is well positioned to provide high quality services related to developing AI based mobile apps due its experienced team which has expertise in various programming languages such as Java/Kotlin/Swift/Objective C/C++/Python etc., along with knowledge on various frameworks such as React Native/Flutter/Ionic etc., which helps them develop robust apps quickly & efficiently while leveraging cutting edge technology like Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning algorithms & techniques like Natural Language Processing (NLP) & Computer Vision (CV). Rockwolf also has access to various cloud platforms such as AWS & Google Cloud Platform which helps them scale their apps quickly & efficiently while ensuring high availability & performance at all times.

rockwolf-apps.com can help businesses with AI-based mobile development by providing a range of services such as:

 

  1. Developing custom AI-based mobile applications that are tailored to the specific needs of the business.

  2. Integrating AI into existing mobile applications to improve user experience and increase efficiency.

  3. Utilizing machine learning algorithms to create predictive models that can be used to make better decisions and improve customer service.

  4. Leveraging natural language processing (NLP) technology to create chatbots and virtual assistants that can interact with customers in a more natural way.

  5. Creating voice-enabled applications that allow users to interact with their devices using voice commands instead of typing or tapping on the screen.

  6. Developing facial recognition technology for authentication purposes, allowing businesses to securely identify customers without requiring them to remember passwords or PINs.

Looking to have your Android/iOS AI-based mobile application? Rockwolf Team can help you with making decisions about modern solutions for your product.

Discuss your project

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Kotlin vs Java: Which is Better for your Android app development? https://rockwolf-apps.com/kotlin-vs-java-which-is-better-for-your-android-app-development/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 19:01:00 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36601

A large part of the Android apps and the Android itself are based on Java. Java has been always known as the native Android language. But time did not stand still, so Kotlin as a modern language has came into sight and became the second official language for Android.

Kotlin is …

Open-source statically typed programming language. It is inspired by Java (fully compatible and interoperable with Java), but it has some significant improvements and additional features. In July 2011, JetBrains unveiled Project Kotlin, a new language for the JVM. The first version of Kotlin was released on February 15, 2016. In May 2019, Google announced Kotlin as the preferred language for Android development. Enterprise leaders who are making their Android apps with Kotlin: Uber, Netflix, Pinterest, Trello, Twitter, Evernote, Kickstarter, Gradle, Basecamp.

Pros of Kotlin

  • Kotlin provides built-in null safety support which is much needed, especially on Android, which is full of old Java-style APIs
  • Thanks to Java bytecode, you can use Java libraries and frameworks and be sure they will work with Kotlin modules.
  • Code in Kotlin is much smaller than the same functionality code written in Java, which means less room for error.
  • Kotlin has modern programming concepts such as delegates, extension functions, higher-order functions, and more to help developers build clean APIs;
  • Kotlin incorporates coroutines, as well as interoperability with Javascript for web development.
  • Kotlin app deployment is quicker to assemble and prevent applications from expanding the size
  • Kotlin script helps to configure projects in Android Studio for auto-completion aids, and it helps to reduce compile-time error detection.
  • Developers can benefit from a rapidly growing collection of open source projects on GitHub, many books, learning resources, and online courses;

Cons of Kotlin

  • Kotlin has a steep learning curve when switching the entire team to Kotlin.
  • Kotlin is slower than Java regarding compilation speed and some features of Android Studio like auto-complete.
  • Kotlin developer community is still smaller than Java (for example, at Stack Overflow)
  • There are few Kotlin developers available in the market for now. So, finding an experienced person is quite tricky.
  • Kotlin matches weak patterns, and code readability.
  • Small support community compared with Java and fewer libraries.

What Kotlin offers that Java Doesn’t

  • Coroutines A coroutine is a concurrency design pattern that you can use on Android to simplify code that executes asynchronously. Coroutines help to manage long-running tasks that might otherwise block the main thread and cause your app to become unresponsive.
  • Singletons A singleton is a design pattern in which a given class has only one single instance inside the entire app.
  • Extension functions It allows importing a reference to a View into the activity file, allows working with that view as if a part of the activity.
  • First-class delegation Effective alternative to inheritance implementation.
  • Null-Safety Kotlin solves the NullPointerExceptions problem by making all types non-nullable by default.
  • String Templates Developers can assign dynamic values directly to their strings and print statements in Kotlin using templates.
  • Primary Constructors Are used to initialize the class. It can be declared at the class header level allowing to automatically initialize the variables.
  • Lambda expressions and higher-order functions – specialized language constructs
  • Type inference for variable and property types You don’t need to define the data type of a variable explicitly as the Kotlin compiler will do it for you automatically.
  • Smart Casts Automatic handling of redundant casts without having to check type or having to cast inside a statement.
  • Declaration site variance and type projections Kotlin doesn’t have wildcard types. Instead, it has two other things: declaration-site variance and type projections.
  • Operator Overloading Kotlin allows you to provide custom implementations for the predefined set of operators on types. These operators have predefined symbolic representation (like + or *) and precedence.
  • Companion Objects In Kotlin, if you want to write a function or any member of the class that can be called without having the instance of the class then you can write the same as a member of a companion object inside the class. So, by declaring the companion object, you can access the members of the class by class name only without explicitly creating the instance of the class.
  • Separate interfaces for read-only and mutable collections Unlike Java, Kotlin has two different interfaces for working with collections. The plain Collection interface handles accessing data and then the MutableCollection interface handles modifying the data.
  • Data Classes The concept of Data Classes represents simple classes used as data containers and does not encapsulate any additional logic. It enables us to avoid writing a lot of boilerplate code.
  • Range Expressions In Kotlin we can create ranges using the rangeTo() and downTo() functions or the .. operator.

Pros of Java

  • Java is easy to learn and understand.
  • Works well for native as well as cross-platform apps, can work on any device, server, or operating system.
  • There are many useful and tested Java libraries, open-source ecosystems available for programmers.
  • This programming language is simple to use, compiling, and making debugging.
  • Assembling large projects is a simple process, thanks to the accelerated assembly with Gradle.
  • The build process is faster.
  • Creating modular applications and reusing the parts is easier.

Cons of Java

  • Java has limitations that cause problems with Android API design due to inherent limitations.
  • Java is slower compared with other programming languages.
  • Java requires more memory and so tends to be slower.
  • Java requires writing more code, which causes a higher risk of errors and bugs.
  • It is difficult to access some content that may be inappropriate for the devices you are using.

What Java offers that Kotlin Doesn’t

  • Ternary operator Java has a ternary operator that works like a basic if statement that evaluates whether a condition is true or false.
  • Primitive types that are not classes Char, double, float, and byte are primitive types that serve the sole purpose of containing pure, simple values of a specific type. They come with several predefined operations, they are not objects created from a class or structure in Java.
  • Static members Java creates a single static member instance that is common to all instances of the class. The static keyword reflects that the particular member with which the keyword was used belongs to the type itself, not an instance.
  • Wildcard types Wildcard types have several uses, including the type of a field, local variable, or parameter. Java allows developers to use this type system for advanced functionality.
  • Checked exceptions In general, checked exceptions represent errors outside the control of the program. Java checked exceptions are a feature that is still in great demand of developers. Kotlin gets rid of them to keep the code more concise, but many developers still prefer it.

Summary

Many companies are adopting Kotlin as the official Android programming language. The future of Kotlin as a new Android language is certainly encouraging. Although Java will remain a popular language for a long time to come and is unlikely to be completely replaced. Both Java and Kotlin can be used to create efficient and useful applications. But Google encourages developers to start building Android apps with Kotlin and is taking an increasingly Kotlin-centric approach to modern Android development. Many Android Jetpack libraries are either written entirely in Kotlin or support Kotlin language features such as coroutines. Finally, the main “Why use Kotlin for Android” argument might be the fact that Kotlin is designed to solve Java problems. A younger and more modern programming language has pushed Java out of this area. If you need to develop a mobile app for Android, you need to look for Kotlin developers. But remember that It can be a shock to switch an entire team to Kotlin at a time, so it’s important to make this transition slowly, one person at a time.

Looking to have your Android mobile application built using Kotlin? Rockwolf Team can help you with making decisions about modern solutions for your product.

Discuss your project

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Choosing Flutter for mobile application development https://rockwolf-apps.com/choosing-flutter-for-mobile-application-development/ Thu, 19 Mar 2020 15:41:00 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36463 What is Flutter?

Popular cross-platform conception could not be ignored by industry monster Google. So, React Native got his maybe main competitor for now.

Flutter is attracting a lot of attention from all the developers and customers. Many technological meetups, conferences and talk shows are referring to this particular cross-platform. The number of Flutter mobile apps in AppStore and Google Play have been increasing more and more.

Open-source developing framework for mobile applications also known as Flutter is utilized as a developing platform of mobile applications for Android and iOS. Flutter uses Dart as the programming language. You can start to meet Flutter from its home page or FAQ.

History

The first version of Flutter was known as “Sky” and ran on the Android operating system. It was revealed at the 2015 Dart developer summit, with the intent of being able to render consistently at 120 frames per second. During the keynote of Google Developer Days in Shanghai, Google announced Flutter Release preview 2 which is the last big release before Flutter 1.0. On December 4, 2018, Flutter 1.0 was released at the Flutter Live event, denoting the first stable version of the Framework. On December 11, 2019, Flutter 1.12 was released at the Flutter Interactive event, it was announced that Flutter was the first UI platform designed for ambient computing.

So, Flutter is considered as comparatively new platform, despite this, there are many famous companies who have already used this platform for their solutions, among them: Alibaba Group, Tencent, Abby Road Studios, BMW, Groupon, CapitalOne, Square, Ebay, EMAAR and, of course – Google. Thus even being new Flutter has influenced the market and has grabbed the space in the app development industry.

The developing platforms of Flutter are: Windows, MacOS, Linux.

Flutter is used to develop applications for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Google Fuchsia and the web.

It is interesting to know that Flutter UI elements follow specific guidelines. Flutter is freebie and open source product. Architecture based on reactive programming. Flutter is highly customizable and have fast widgets. Dart, which is used in developing, is objective-oriented programming language. The C++ rendering engine is used in it.

Advantages of using Flutter

Main but not unique advantages, which are true for almost every cross-platform frameworks:

  • Faster Development
  • Simultaneous App Updates on Android and iOS
  • Easier to Maintain and Develop New Features

All of the advantages above arise due to the main feature – same code. Developers can use the same code base for both Android and iOS apps.
The flutter development process requires less coding, and thus, one can launch faster. If developer need to add/modify feature during the maintenance, he/she just has to make it in one place for both the platforms together.

  1. High Performance. Performance of an app is very important always. Main factors impact the performance: response time, CPU usage, frame number, request number, etc. Flutter offers stable 60fps, that is the rate at which synchronously screens display a clear and smooth picture. Compared to React Native and Xamarin, Flutter framework is ahead.

  2. Hot reload feature. Flutter’s architecture has hot reload function, Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation, which allows developers to observe any change made to the code in real-time. So, no one need to re-start the app to carry on after every code modification. Updated source code can be inscribed to the app in functioning condition.

    The widget tree is automatically created by Flutter to provide the real-time. The hot reload feature makes the process speeding and improved. Developers can test new features, catch the bugs before they appear, get UI refreshed during the process without any hassle. Immediate updates is very convenient feature for devs, of course. Consequently, improved productivity assists with fast iterations.

  3. Easy to learn. Dart is simple to learn. Developers with little coding knowledge can start to develop prototypes and apps with Flutter framework. Sometimes you don’t need any mobile development experience to use it. But, in any cases, it would be problematically to create and distribute mobile application, even if not native, without deep knowledge of all the aspects of mobile apps development process.

    Moreover, Google is popular for developing well-structured and detailed documentation, which is something that React Native has an issue doing. You can go through these documents as well as video lessons and Codelabs’ practical lessons. Courses are available on Udacity and Udemy, and you can even join many Facebook communities.

  4. Perfect for MVP. The app developed using Flutter looks native on both the platform Android and iOS. If one business wants to present its products in a short time, then Flutter can be right solution. This feature provides an idea to the investors about the final look of the app.

    It would cost much more, if you have to develop two separate applications for Android and iOS from the beginning.

  5. Widgets. Flutter offers ready-designed Widgets for the look and user interface. Regardless of the size of the screen Widgets look natural, easily customizable, fast and extensible. Widgets are an absolute declaration of the user interface, unified object model that can be used for the app itself and for the entire screens. While other frameworks have separate layouts, views, view controllers. widgets as a unified object model.

    Flutter’s unified object model gives the opportunity to have every object (fonts, buttons, paddings, etc.) as widget. Developer can combine widgets to form layouts, and you can decide to utilize widgets on any customization level.

    But this tool has disadvantage as well, to be described further.

  6. Future-proof: Instant Fuchsia Support. Do you know about new and promising operating system Fuchsia from Google?

    There is contradictory info today what this OS can be and what is for, but there is probably that Fuchsia OS will replace Android in future. It is interesting that Flutter is a native framework for Fuchsia applications. If you decide to develop an application in Flutter, you will be ready to release it on Fuchsia from once it becomes actual. This can give your product an early adopter boost.

Disadvantages of using Flutter

  1. Still Only for Mobiles. Flutter can only be used for mobile applications development. Flutter is not supported by web browsers now.

    But looking at the roadmap of Flutter, we shouldn’t wait long for support for desktop and web applications.

  2. IOS problems. Flutter for mobile development has been created by Google. Google is the main competitor of Apple. Google has a direct interest in the quick fixing of bugs and making updates for Android. IOS developers worry about iOS support by Google Flutter not without reason.

    For example, IPhone settings were created on the framework to allow for possibilities of Cupertino widgets. But these and other design features were updated later and were based on iOS 10 features even though iOS 11 had already been released for a while.

    It is fair to assume that Apple, for its part, is entitled to update often both the policy and implementation of its mobile platform. Thus, Flutter realization is always in state of the catching up with changes.

  3. No third-Party Libraries. Third-party libraries play a significant role in automating software development for developers and relieving the requirement to program everything from the start. Though Flutter offers several important libraries but still lacks some functionalities which are required for the development process. Even if you have required libraries declared by Flutter, it is the high risk available that these libraries were well-tested. Sometimes, there is no other option for developer than start to invent the wheel again.

    Flutter official resource of free packages is still improving, and its tool list is still experiencing growth.

  4. Massive Size of the App. The framework Flutter could disappoint developers after the “Hello world” app got to 5Mb. For example, in comparison with Kotlin that is 550Kb and native Java that is 539Kb. But Google is working hard in optimizing the size.

  5. Stability Problem. Flutter is new, and its instability is natural. Many developers complain about the failure to work out changes in the user interface of Android and iOS. Many frustrating small unexpected issues occur from time to time.

  6. Widgets. Widgets in Flutter arranged in trees, which helps in rendering, but can lead to excessive complexity of the structure. Not trivial applications can need many layers of code to form a basic object. Therefore, adequate planning of the structure is essential in advance.

Some words about Dart

Dart is used for Flutter’s development and has both advantages and disadvantages. It is object-oriented programming language. Though, without fear or favor it is not as great as programming languages like Java orC#. It is not natural to start developers’ career with Dart, so it can be not easy to find new Flutter developers for your team. Experienced developers who tried to learn Dart usually have mixed impression…

Conclusion

Should be noticed as usually for any known cross-platform frameworks: you will get your app faster, you will save your money, you will be able to validate your business idea quicker. These are true very much in case of MVP development. But if you plan to implement many platform-specific features or different UIs for both platforms you will lose all the advantages of that framework.

There are some specific advantages of using Flutter. Hot reload, widgets, Google’s strategical plans would be very attractive for developers and designers.

Disadvantages must be taken into consideration too. Both parties Business Owners and Developers will not like instability, iOS problems, the unsupporting web. If these can be acceptable – well, if not – try to believe in Google and just wait for future upgrades or use other cross-platform frameworks or at last use Native approach.

For us in Rockwolf there is no doubt that Flutter is currently one of the most exciting tools in the market to develop mobile applications.

We advice to use it especially to e-commerce and tech-related companies and startups who want to enter the market faster and cheaper with a product that fits the definition of MVP.

Looking to have your mobile application built in React Native, Flutter, Kotlin, Swift? Rockwolf Team can help you with the making decision about Native/Cross-platform for your product.

Discuss your project


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Choosing React Native for mobile application development https://rockwolf-apps.com/choosing-react-native-for-mobile-application-development/ Tue, 10 Sep 2019 15:38:50 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?p=36438 What is it

React Native (RN) is a JavaScript open-source cross-platform mobile framework, designed for building truly native apps for mobile platforms (Android and iOS). It’s based on a JS library made by well-known Facebook site called React. Thus RN uses the same design as React, letting you compose a rich mobile UI from declarative components.

Main conception

React Native provides the benefits from both Native and Hybrid Mobile Apps.

RN lets you build apps using only JavaScript. However, unlike other hybrid mobile technologies you are not building Web App wrapped in a native container. JavaScript code-base is compiled to a mobile app identical to Android app using Java or iOS app using Obj-C.

Sounds a bit unreal. However, React Native allows to accelerate the building mobile applications across different platforms, thanks to the possibility of reusing most of the code between them.

In addition, at the back-end framework level, javascript (particularly Node.js) has begun to adopt event-driven architecture and models for application design. Because that kind of architecture is a programming approach rather than a language, event-driven apps can be written in any programming language. The architecture allows for minimal coupling, making it an excellent choice for modern, distributed application architectures. Aside from that, there are numerous other platforms in the market, such as vantiq, that might be able to provide visual editors, scripting editors, a rules system based on SQL and JavaScript, testing tools for debugging, tracing, and logging, and a visual tool for distributed deployment. These platforms are driven based on the events, making them effective in real-time data. If you’re wondering what is event driven architecture, you can read the blog posts that discuss about it to learn more.

History

There were many other attempts to do something similar before, for example:

  • PhoneGap – implementation of native components on web technologies launched in WebView

  • NativeScript – similar ideas as in React Native based on XML, JS, CSS

  • Xamarin – from Mono developers for Linux, applications are written in C #, this is Microsoft’s project.

Mark Zuckerberg mentioned about idea to bet more on native instead of HTML in 2012 He promised to deliver a better Facebook mobile experience. Jordan Walke found a way to generate UI elements for iOS from a background JS thread. Then they organised an Facebook team Hackathon to work at prototype and find the solution for the ability to build native mobile applications with this technology.

React Native was developed in 2015 by Facebook team and since that time the interest in this framework was rapidly growing. Now thousands of apps are using React Native. Among them: Facebook, Tesla, UberEats, Walmart, Bloomberg.

Let’s try to review strong and weak sides of React Native.

Pluses

  1. Faster development process. Let’s bring your app from specification to release in a shorter time frame. React Native uses some tricks like Hot and Live Reloading feature enables developers to refresh your emulator instantly without recompilation. We can iterate quickly. That’s important.

  2. Shared code-base between both iOS and Android. Major code-base can be shared across platforms. This reduces the complexity of developing two separate native apps and keeping them synced. Developer doesn’t need to switch between Xcode and Android Studio any more.

  3. More than hybrid apps. Other hybrid frameworks like Cordova or Ionic limit you to the features developed by their technologies. Some even render your entire app in a WebView. This solution does not allow to use native user interface as well as some of a mobile device functionalities available via API. But RN provides the possibility to write native code at any point.

  4. Modern development tools and JavaScript features. RN development uses JavaScript development environment with all new JavaScript features. Examples of dev tools: remote debugging plugin; Inspector like in web browsers which allows to inspect elements on simulators; performance panel to help you achieve 60 FPS animations.
    Separately, I can highlight the Node Package Manager (NPM). RN developer can use this the best dependency management and ecosystem. Developer doesn’t need to download all resources on every single launch, reduces the painful workspace regeneration and sharing issues with Cocoa Pods, as well as manages dependencies with nested resolution to avoid incorrect versioning.

  5. Open Source, Facebook supported. RN is built by Facebook and it is open source software. This helps the developers to suggest changes to make the app more efficient. RN is free to use. Moreover, it allows developers (look here for an example of one) to fix bugs and even add their own features while they are designing the app.

  6. Strong Community. React Native has one of the most active open source communities. Professional Android, iOS, Web developers bring new development concepts, suggest solutions of the most typical problems, reconsidered traditional architecture. Useful information, tricks and tips, issues solutions are available in a wide variety.

Minuses

  1. Performance still have to be considered. Using the aforesaid third-party libraries and bridges reduces a mobile app performance. In addition, smartphone memory and processor use native components, which also affects performance.

  2. Longer debugging. React Native increases speed of development, but as well increases the duration of the debugging process.

  3. Not really open-sourced. Yes, React Native is open-source software, but it is owned by Facebook, controlled by them. It is possible to become risky in case of some factors. Facebook can easily stop the development of React Native, can stop the support, and problems will begin. What is more dangerous – Facebook can refuse developers using their framework on their projects for some reasons. Here I can recall how it was painful when Facebook bought Instagram and closed access to it’s API for newer developers.

  4. Native code still required. To use some functions like accelerometer or camera you have to use native components, so there will be a separate code for Android and IOS. Developer can use third-party libraries, but they don’t cover every native function yet. Also, bridges have to be developed to link JavaScript and native components. This can increase development time, but only in case of platform depended specific functionality.

  5. Concurrency. When we want to do some heavy computation like encryption or data transformation, all user interactions will be stuck because all JavaScript code is run under a single-threaded JavaScript engine. That is not good for an app concerned with user experience. Here the developer can do some tricks with the help of JavaScript message queue, the heavy computation still awaits there and gets ready for blocking the main thread. If you’d like to learn more about thread priority in java, you can head online and watch some related tutorials or read up on the topic.

    On Cocoa, we have the wonderful Grand Central Dispatch, which abstracts thread management for us to do concurrent jobs. If we want to manage real threads on our own in RN, we can use leaking abstractions. We need to write a native module creating another JSVirtualMachine and exposes API to React Native. This can be the solution. But you should always consider performance issue in comparison between JavaScript and native solutions.

So, when it is worth

Consider these if you decide to develop in React Native

If you plan to build an app with RN and maintain it over a longer period of time, you need to prepare for more frequent updates than in native technologies (you need to update your app both when the platform has been updated and when new components have been added to React Native). This is not a disadvantage, as React Native is regularly updated and new useful components are created (monthly). But you have to remember about making more regular updates to your app. In the past developers struggled with the update process, but since version 0.59 you can make updates without any concern. Also share your plans with you mobile development partner to minimize potential risks – a mismatch between the technology and the development plans.

When is native mobile development better?

Note, that all of the recommendations below may become as less relevant as more new versions of RN are released…

  1. Apps with complex user interfaces. JS allows to build fast and smooth apps. If your application’s user interface requires too much interactions, then React Native maybe not the best choice.

  2. Apps that are designed for a single OS. The app will exclusively available on Android devices or exclusively available on iOS devices.

  3. Media players, Utilities, complex features. Apps like antivirus software, battery monitors, media players almost always use native features and APIs provided by the underlying platform. So, such apps can be coded much more easily using native languages.

    Complex features, for example:

    • QR codes scanning
    • OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
    • AR (augmented reality) / VR (virtual reality)
    • Voice assistants

When is React Native development better?

  1. Short-term game. For example, for promotional campaigns. There is no complex features and the application will not live for long, so there is no need to worry about future scale and support.

  2. Convert a website into an app. RN works on JS and websites use the same technology. That’s why, if you need to create a simple application that will show the data from your website, you can easily use React Native.

  3. When planning simple standard features.

Conclusion

There are very clear advantages and disadvantages to going with React Native. Performance really does matter, as do developer costs and speed of development. The decision you make will depend on the exact details of your situation. The app your building, the amount of funding you have, and the skillset of your team and future team members.

A startup is often about iterating on ideas, and you don’t know what’s going to work and what isn’t. Developing mobile apps for startups for 3 platforms is important. But one should not later realize no one wants to use them which would be a real shame.
RN is a good choice not only for small companies, but also for large ones. Remember Tesla, Walmart, and Uber Eats?
Yes, they use RN only for part of their products, but this is maybe because they are almost sure that they will have huge revenue even if they spend much for separate teams of Android and iOS developers and so make their main products slightly better for millions of users.

Looking to have your mobile application built in React Native, Flutter, Kotlin, Swift? Rockwolf Team can help you with the making decision about Native/Cross-platform for your product.

Discuss your project


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Decred Wallet https://rockwolf-apps.com/project/decred/ Wed, 19 Jun 2019 23:05:37 +0000 https://rockwolf-apps.com/?post_type=dt_portfolio&p=36422

Decred Wallet – mobile wallet for the decred mainnet blockchain. Decred is the cryptocurrency project from TOP100 by coinmarketcap.

Features:
– Privacy-preserving Simplified Payment Verification
– Hierarchical deterministic keys (BIP0032)
– Built on dcrwallet with gomobile.

Decred Project: https://decred.org/
Code at https://github.com/decred/

Executives

Project Lead: Decred Team

Developers: Rockwolf Team

UI designer: Decred Team

Skills used

Android Development 50%
iOS Development 50%

Technology

Android SDK, IOS, Swift, Go Mobile, Java

Client

Company: Raedah Group

Country: USA

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