Mobile Apps for Business: App Refactoring or When to Update an App

Mobile Apps for Business: App Refactoring or When to Update an App 

Introduction to App Refactoring

Times have changed, your website have been redesigned, your logo looks different, but your app was left in the past. Maybe, you fill ashamed about that. You start to think over how to make an app better and leave this great shame behind, and you find out that app refactoring is the way.

App refactoring – process of changing parts of an application to improve its performance, add new features, refresh design without changing its basic functionality. 

Definition from Wikipedia:

Code refactoring is the process of restructuring existing computer code – changing the factoring – without changing its external behavior. Refactoring improves nonfunctional attributes of the software. Advantages include improved code readability and reduced complexity to improve source code maintainability, and create a more expressive internal architecture or object model to improve extensibility.

Suffice to say, you may have good ideas which should be realized in your brand new redesigned application. It’s important that your refined app should deliver better experience to your clients, to people who care about your business.

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App refactoring – process of changing parts of an application to improve its performance, add new features, refresh design without changing its basic functionality.

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Difference between Upgrade and Update

Yes, there is the big difference between these two processes, and we are going to find out it. First of all, we should look at common definition of these words. Here they are:

Upgrade - raise (something) to a higher standard, in particular improve by adding or replacing components.

Update - make (something) more modern or up to date.

From the definitions above, it’s easy to conclude that app refactoring is a process of updating an application to current needs of a market.

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It’s easy to conclude that app refactoring is a process of updating an application to current needs of a market.

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To clarify everything, let’s remember operating systems (OS). E.g., when you download updates from Windows Update application you may notice that your system start to work faster, or you find new features, programs and services. When you press “update” button you don’t expect your system to download a completely new version of OS, but you expect the old one to work better.

Another example, we know that car manufacturers also update their cars with different options, sport packages, body tuning etc. They call it restyling. Manufacturer can install more powerful engine to a family car, and happy clients will notice better performance, but basic functionality of that model is still here, because it’s the update. Moreover, producers sell updates by giving clients choice to buy different versions of a car, so they may notice a great difference between basic version and premium one.

Let’s come back to mobile application refactoring. New design, features, better performance – it’s an update.

Reasons to Update Your App

A lot of factors influence on decision to update a mobile app, but the crucial one is when your app do not attract new users. Moreover, old users do not use it anymore or even delete it. Bugs, performance problems, old-fashioned design and many other reasons could be the end point of your decision-making pass and they may push you to start refactoring of your application.

The most popular reasons:

Top reasons for refactoring a mobile app

To Update, or not to Update: That is the Question

There are different points of view on this issue, but  you should know some of the pros and cons before your app will be updated or rebuilt from scratch.

Pros:                                                                                     

Quick adding of new features

It will cost you less to add features to your app rather than to build new one from ground up. For instance, you can add Facebook plugin to an existing app and enlarge the quantity of your Facebook page fans without making a new mobile app.

Easy user interface (UI) updating

A low cost of app redesigning: you can easily rebuild your mobile app to match you new brand style.

Stability & performance improvements

After bugs were fixed, useless features were removed and your app was optimized you will get like-a-new app which your users will like. Moreover, they will suggest it to other potential users, to your prospects.

Usability improvements

Usage of your app may be refined without developing a new application. Pay less and deliver more pleasure experience to your clients with your refined mobile app.

Cons:

“Poor code”

“Cheap programmers” were hardly working to make your app nice & cool, but they failed. I will be honest, you should start over, but this time find someone who will make it right. By the way, you lose more money if you will hire professional programmer to work with useless code. In 98%  cases he will suggests you to build your app from the ground up.

Last but not least

Time is a valuable thing, because it costs a lot. By refactoring a mobile app, you save your money and bring positive experience to your clients. Small changes make the big difference, and allows you to overwhelm your competitors.

Leave your comments, email me or catch me on Twitter at @ivanzaichuk 

by Ivan Zaichuk, Founder & CEO of IvZ Solutions