Launching a mobile app involves far more than writing code. Miss a step and you could face rejected App Store submissions, security breaches, or a product users don't want.
Phase 1: Concept Validation (Weeks 1-2)
- [ ] Define the core problem statement in one sentence.
- [ ] Identify your target persona: age, behavior, pain points.
- [ ] Conduct 5-10 user interviews with target users.
- [ ] Validate willingness to pay (even for a free MVP).
- [ ] Analyze 3 competitors. Identify what they do wrong.
Phase 2: Design (Weeks 2-4)
- [ ] Create information architecture (IA) diagram.
- [ ] Design user flows for the 3 core journeys.
- [ ] Build high-fidelity mockups in Figma.
- [ ] Conduct usability testing on the prototypes.
- [ ] Define brand: logo, color palette, typography.
Phase 3: Development (Weeks 4-14)
- [ ] Set up React Native with Expo or bare workflow.
- [ ] Configure CI/CD with EAS Build.
- [ ] Implement authentication (email, OAuth, phone OTP).
- [ ] Build all core features from the MVP spec.
- [ ] Write unit tests for critical business logic.
- [ ] Setup crash reporting (Sentry) and analytics (Mixpanel/Amplitude).
Phase 4: App Store Submission
- [ ] Register Apple Developer Account ($99/yr) and Google Play Console ($25 one-time).
- [ ] Prepare screenshots for iPhone 6.7" and iPad (Apple) and 16:9 phone (Google).
- [ ] Write compelling app store descriptions with keywords.
- [ ] Set up App Privacy section (Apple requires all data usage disclosed).
- [ ] Submit for TestFlight (Apple) and Internal Testing (Google).
- [ ] Address all review feedback promptly.
Key Insight: App Store review times average 24-48 hours for Apple and 3-7 days for Google. Factor this into your launch timeline.