In 2022 mobile applications are on the rise, and many business owners are slowly discovering the benefits of having a mobile app. Still, the mobile app development process can be pretty complex and even more complicated for those with no prior app development knowledge.

So, in order to fully leverage the power of mobile apps for business, business owners should first learn more about the app development platforms that will help them build an app bespoke to their business profile and goals.  Mobile app development platforms will allow you to build your application fast, explore all the benefits of having one, and finally make you understand why investing in an app is a smart business move in 2022. 

But first-What is an app development platform? What are the benefits of app development platforms? Read more and find out all the answers.

What Is An App Development Platform?

When it comes to building a mobile app, there’s no getting around MADPs- mobile application development platforms. These platforms are actually software that allows businesses to build, test, and sometimes even deploy mobile apps. It is a collection of app development tools, services, and technologies that enables business owners to design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain their mobile apps across different platforms, networks, and devices. That’s why MADPs are also referred to as cross-platform mobile app development.

Mobile application development is complex because an app has to be compatible with all devices and mobile platforms to gain success. So, designing one app sometimes includes creating many codebases to ensure that compatibility. However, developers have to maintain only one codebase with a mobile application development platform, making MADPs a great high-tech-low-cost solution for many businesses. 

The Benefits Of Using A Mobile App Platform

According to the newest research, as much as 42% of developers worldwide are using some type of cross-platform or framework to develop applications. The reason is apparent- it makes their job so much easier by having to write just one code instead of a code for each device, platform, or network. 

However, business owners should know that app development platforms have other benefits that directly impact their brand's relationship with its user.

Here are the main benefits of app development platforms for businesses:

1. Helps Your Brand Stay Consistent

Keeping your business application consistent across all platforms will make your consumers' life more manageable. Instead of being greeted with a new user interface every time they switch devices, they'll be welcomed to an environment they're already familiar with. Mobile app development platforms can help you stay consistent with the UI and UX of your business application.

2. You can Market Faster

Since there's no need for developers to create a different application for each platform, they can quickly build and publish your business app and market them on app stores simultaneously. In terms of business, this means you can reach all your potential customers and consumers at once, be they Android, iOS, or Windows users.

3. Easy Implementation

One of the features most application development platforms have is the ability to convert any type of code into a different one. That means that a developer can write the code in HTML and later convert it to other platforms. In terms of business, this lowers the cost of building a mobile application. Instead of hiring a full-stack developer, you only need a developer proficient in one programming language.

4. MADP Makes Maintenance Easier

The mobile industry is forever evolving and constantly updating, so bugs are inevitable in making the mobile application run perfectly. However, multiple codes mean bugs and fixes become a hassle, and managing a business application for all devices and platforms becomes very difficult.

Mobile application development platforms allow you to fix bugs on just one codebase and make instant improvements for all devices. You also won't have to run as many tests, and the deployment will be quick and easy, making the support part streamlined and hassle-free.

What Is The Best Mobile App Development Platform?

The three types of mobile app development platforms- Native, Hybrid, and Mobile Web- can all be used to build a successful business mobile app that will attract consumers and increase revenue. However, knowing which one to use is a different matter entirely. Depending on the type of business, products, target audience, and budget, business owners should carefully select the platform with the most potential to ensure success.

Native Mobile Apps

Native mobile apps are built for a specific mobile platform, like Android and iOS. The developers building native mobile applications usually use Objective-C or Swift for iOS and Java for Android to build the app's code.

When To Use It: 

• If you are making an operating system-specific business app, building native apps will utilize the device's hardware like GPS, Bluetooth, or Camera better. 
• Gaming apps are also better when made native because those apps will have the best performance, thus providing the best user experience.

When Not To Use It:

• If you're developing a cross-platform app, bear in mind that you'll have trouble finding one developer who knows many different programming languages. Even if you do, expect their rates to be higher than most and considerably affect your budget.
• Furthermore, native apps require APIs to control the content, so you'll need to have a technician on board skilled at developing APIs. Be warned that developing API is troublesome and costly.
• You'll probably want to stay away from building native mobile apps if you're on a tight budget but want to build a cross-platform mobile app. Native mobile development and maintenance are both very costly.
• If you are developing a blog mobile app or news site, you won't get much out of a native mobile app. The native mobile app leverages the device's capabilities like camera features or gesture to increase user experience. If the only thing your mobile app is offering is information and content, there's no need for you to create a native app.

Hybrid Mobile Apps

One part native, one part web- hybrid apps are web content in the form of a local repository. The code is usually written in web languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

When To Use It:

• If you are creating a cross-platform business mobile app, hybrid apps may be your best choice. This is because they can be ported to multiple platforms and save considerable time and money while doing so.
• When your mobile app development budget is on the low side, it's good to build a hybrid app because it doesn't require resources with specific programming requirements. By using third-party libraries, the native code can be wrapped over the existing layer making development affordable while still getting the benefits of reaching more users.
• If your app requires it, the hybrid will give you many opportunities for monetization for in-app purchases and advertising.
• Hybrid mobile apps are easy to build now there are so many great tools with cloud IDE, CLI, debugger, and remote online building tool all in one.

When Not To Use It:

• If your business app requires you to alter the platform's hardware features, hybrid may not be the best solution for you. Changing the code may result in getting rid of some features to make your app work, and you'll never be sure if those changes will only cause more bugs or not.
• Do you want a fast mobile app? Well, then, you should reconsider making a hybrid mobile app. Unfortunately, hybrid mobile app rendering may include some additional time lag so the data is not processed as fast as it is in native data, which gives hybrid apps only moderate performance.

Mobile Web Apps

Mobile web apps are not really applications but more like a website with functions similar to a native app. They run through the web browser, but they are designed for a mobile app by single-time coding.

When To Use It:

• Only one code is needed to make a Mobile Web Application before you deploy it to multiple platforms at the same time. They are an excellent choice for multi-platform usage.
• Also, if your mobile application offers more content than functions, like, for example, a news app, a mobile web app would be the best pick for you.
• And because your web apps are not bound by app stores, there are no rules when it comes to mobile web app development. This gives your app the benefit of introducing web app updates quickly, with your users seeing them within the app instantly. 

When Not to Use Them

• Suppose you are developing a business app that requires high-quality graphics or low latency for something like online gaming, online trading, and VOIP services. In that case, you're not going to get the level of performance you need with a mobile web app. That's because the mobile web depends on the internet speed.
• The drawback of mobile web apps is that they should be developed across different devices and fit the content to any resolution. In addition, the added coding increases the overall mobile app dev expenses.
• Finally, mobile web apps can offer only a subscription-based monetization model and have little to no monetary benefits.

As you can see there’s no one perfect application development platform and by using the correct one you’ll be able to build an app that not only caters to the users, but also fits your business goal, model, and budgeting. So, before you dive deeper into mobile app platforms, make sure to determine the target audience of the app and what you want to achieve with your business mobile app. Furthermore, make sure you check out all the top trends in app development like 5G and VR because they may impact which type of mobile app you need to build. 

What Are The Drawbacks Of Using An App Development Platform?

As the title says, while there’s ‘’the Good’’, there’s also ‘’The Bad’’ and ‘’The Ugly’’ of the mobile app development platforms. The drawbacks are something business owners must learn about in order to avoid spending more money than necessary, but also ensure a hassle-free mobile applications dev process. 

There are several drawbacks to using MADPs and creating a cross-platform app:

• Low Functionality and Performance

Since cross-platforms are not built for just one specific platform, you may not be able to leverage the functionalities of all smartphones to their fullest potential. For example, developers could be having a hard time trying to make use of the different devices' cameras and microphones. 

Also, native apps use at least half less CPU power than any corresponding cross-platform app. The same goes for memory usage- native apps are far less demanding on the hardware. And on top of it all, these types of applications require an additional layer of rendering which often impacts the speed and overall performance of the app.

Moreover, when you build an app with a cross-platform framework, the more complex apps are at a higher risk of issues running on one of the platforms. Cross-platform frameworks also have delayed access to the latest Android and iOS updates. In order to bypass the bugs and errors, you need to have high-quality code at the base of the development and proper testing.

• Limited Customization Options

Cross-platforms aren't as flexible in UX components as native mobile apps. In other words, cross-platform apps are limited in terms of layout, and this can badly impact the user experience.

• Inefficient code

The main advantage of MADPs can also become its major flaw- almost every developer can use them to create a mobile application for a business. However, this risks developing inefficient code, which, when translated for other platforms, just doesn't perform well.

For business owners having a mobile business app that doesn't work could mean losing money instead of earning. In addition, having an in-house app development team can cost thousands, and freelancing developers are sometimes hard to reach and manage.

Knowing how to hire the right app development company you can trust can be your saving grace. App development companies can offer much more than having a developer build your app through MADP. With such a company, your mobile app idea can be developed to the fullest because most of these companies offer more than just their developers. Besides building an efficient code, they also provide market analysis, marketing strategies, and target audience research. They can help you determine your mobile app's goals and milestones while coming up with a user-friendly interface, impeccable design, and ensuring your application includes all necessary features. 

Why You Should Hire Quantox to Make Your App Idea A Reality?

To its clients, Quantox provides more than just mobile business applications. We give our clients a choice to take advantage of all the benefits of having an app that will improve their brand's performance. By taking on a cumbersome development process, writing immaculate code, and creating efficient mobile applications, our clients are free to focus on product innovations. In addition, our expert developers always focus on end-user experience and conversion, which allows us to take your idea to a whole new level. Let's Talk about your new business application!

DISCLAIMER: 

All products and company names are trademarks™ or registered ® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them. In addition, any product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks or images featured or referred to within the article are the property of their respective trademark holders.

These trademark holders are not affiliated with Quantox Technology, our products, or our websites. They do not sponsor or endorse Quantox Technology or any of our products.

As one of the fastest developing industries, the mobile phone industry has brought us many innovations in the past decade, and software solutions capable of changing all aspects of our lives. Today, almost everything can be done through or on a smartphone, leading to the rise of mobile apps as a crucial part of our day-to-day lives. With the accessibility and connectivity that comes with our phones, it's clear to understand why having a mobile app is a smart business move. A business can offer convenience and rapidity to their users through their mobile app, catering to consumers via phones and reaching a broader scope of their target audience.

However, not many business owners know how to build a mobile app, so they are usually looking to hire a good and reliable software and app development company to build one that will ensure their brand's success. And with so many service providers, there's bound to be some stress over choosing the right app development company. So, to help you find the perfect app developing partner, we've presented a few important points you need to follow and shed some light on mobile app development companies and their services.

What do Mobile App Development Companies Do?

A mobile app development company is an agency specializing in designing and building apps and software solutions for all types of businesses and, more importantly, for various app development platforms and devices. Their development team can build any kind of app for mobile devices, smart devices, web, wearable technologies, smart TVs, tablets, and much more.

Their work includes programming the apps and creating an app concept, databases, admin panels, and APIs. Also, they'll be in charge of testing your mobile app, launching it on various app stores, and performing regular maintenance. But more importantly, a mobile app development company will take on the task of creating a design unique to your business brand and focus on giving the best user experience possible. This will allow your brand's voice and vision to come to life, reach your target audience faster and stand out from the competition with its functionality and consistency.

How to Choose the Best Mobile App Development Company?

Your business will benefit the most if you manage to find a company with extensive experience, proven performance, and knowledge of the latest technology and industry trends and business skills. Here's what you need to do in order to snatch a great app developing partner:

#1 Define Your App Development Needs

Before you even start thinking about searching for a mobile development company, you need to sketch your business app goals and needs. For example, are you a retailer and need an eCommerce mobile app? Do you offer content rather than goods? The answers to these questions will impact the technology and app development tools needed to create your mobile business app. Therefore, it would help if you had your app development needs laid out before you take that initial consultation with an app development company of your choosing because it's up to you to translate those needs to them and their developers in order for them to do their job well. If you fail to communicate what your mobile business app is all about, the values it should bring, and the problems it should solve for your users, you'll make it impossible for the development team to build a wholesome and effective app. 

#2 Do Your Research: Check Out The Company's Portfolio

Checking a company's portfolio has never been easier. Today, most app development companies present their portfolio online and are happy to advertise their projects. Once you have your list of companies, go online and search for the projects they were involved with. You'll gain a clear sense of their technical expertise and industry domain. You can always ask them to show you examples of projects they've worked on similar to yours to gain insight into their experience. This will help you know whether the company is proficient at handling projects like yours and what their results were.

#3 Ask For References And Read Online Reviews

Testimonials and reviews are one of the most valuable clues you can find and learn more about the company's reputation. Happy clients and diversity in clients are clear signs you've found a great app development company. Likewise, people dissatisfied with the service and product are more likely to share their experience in an online review. This will allow you to determine the company's flaws, whether it was a one-time mistake or something that the company has had issues with for a while now. Now, thanks to the reviews, you know which companies you need to stay away from.

#4 Ask The Right Questions Before Hiring

The more questions you ask, the more you know about what awaits you when you start working with an app dev company. However, you should always ask those most important questions rather than being hung up on some minor details. Make sure you see the example of their previous projects, learn all you can about the cost of their service and hidden expenses (if any), and their maintenance and support services. Learn as much as you can about the services they offer and which part of the mobile app development they'll be in charge off. For example, most companies provide UI and UX services, but some don't. On the other hand, some companies may include developing a marketing strategy or giving you a complete market analysis of their price. Always clarify what you're getting for the cost of their service.

Here are some questions you need to ask your app development company:

• What is their Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
• How much will the app cost?
• How long will it take to build the app?
• Should you build an Android or iOS app, and can they build both if needed?
• Who will manage the project and how?
• How will they test the app?
• Will they submit the app to the Stores?
• Can they refer you to a client in your sector?
• Do they offer maintenance and support services?
• Are they willing to sign the NDA (Non-disclosure) agreement?
• How can they handle your security concerns?
• How do they specify the code ownership?
• What is their approach to design?
• How many developers will be available for your project?

#5 Keep Communication Open Throughout The Entire Process

A company that does not offer feedback regularly is not really a company you'll want to work with. However, the more experienced app development companies will make an effort to include you in the app development process by giving you at least a weekly report on the mobile app dev process. They'll also notify you of any changes, issues, or setbacks that may impact your business app's price or timeline. This type of transparency and honesty on their part means you have chosen an app company you can trust. Look for a company that will give you at least a weekly update and keeps you posted throughout the whole development process. Don't be alarmed if the company is notifying you of issues and problems they've encountered while developing your app- this is an honest approach and a good communication practice on their part. With a company like that, you'll be sure there will be full transparency in work and that they're not trying to cover up their mistakes.

Why You Should Trust Quantox As Your App Development Agency?

By being passionate and creative and collecting the best talents from the industry, Quantox became an award-winning mobile app development company. With an objective to provide top-quality app development services bespoke to our client's requirements and exceptional communication, we've become known as a leading mobile app development company in 7 different countries and one worth trusting in. If you need an expert mobile app development company that caters to your brand's needs, Quantox is happy to help you. Let's Talk!

DISCLAIMER: 

All products and company names are trademarks™ or registered ® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them. In addition, any product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks or images featured or referred to within the article are the property of their respective trademark holders.

These trademark holders are not affiliated with Quantox Technology, our products, or our websites. They do not sponsor or endorse Quantox Technology or any of our products.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear exactly how much we can, and we do rely on technology to help us in our day-to-day life. The mobile application market has been burning since the first lock-down and in 2020 it was worth $318 billion. According to Statista, the mobile app market is expected to climb to $613 by 2025- a growth promising many opportunities for mobile software developers to build and deliver extraordinary mobile applications. This is why mobile apps are considered a smart business move in 2022.

With the technology advancements, consumer demands, and many other factors, mobile app trends are on the rise, but also hard to keep up with. Staying up to date with the latest mobile app trends is the most vital thing for businesses that want to leverage mobile apps to boost user interaction, retention, and increase sales. Furthermore, with the rise of mobile application trends, it becomes clear why investing in an app is a smart business move, one every business needs to consider. 

What are the Application Development Industry Trends in 2022?

caption mobile app development trends 2022

Armed with the tools for app development that will help you dominate your market, following these app development trends can be a game-changer for your company and your business mobile app.

• 5G

Where once 5G was just an idea in the making, now it has become an industry standard. With 5G everything we do on our phones from this year on will be faster and more efficient. While some application development trends end up being just a one-year trend, 5G will change the way mobile apps are being built. With so many advantages of the 5G coming with every new device, developers have more opportunities to create faster, more efficient, and innovative apps.

Furthermore, it will be easier for businesses to move to 5G in 2022 because many mobile operators stated they will dedicate as much as 80% of their profit to building 5G networks until 2025, according to GMSA Mobile Economy 2021 Report. Also, 5G technology may pave the way for Open-Ran, an open radio access network, which is an industry-wide standard for RAN interfaces that support the exchange of information between vendors' equipment.

• Mobile Commerce

Another thing the COVID-19 pandemic changed significantly is the way people go shopping. With the restrictions and lockdowns, people globally had to rely on the online eCommerce sector. To stay afloat, many businesses and retailers relied on mobile apps to earn profit during the crisis. And it worked. Not only that, but mobile apps during the pandemic also provided a much-needed sense of normality to all people by allowing them to shop for groceries, clothes, and other essentials.

Now, however, businesses are facing much larger competition and the only way to come out on top is to leverage an eCommerce business app.

Not only is an eCommerce app easy to use and gives easy access to products and services to its users, but it's also a great marketing tool. By using mCommerce platforms as a marketing channel, you directly connect to the end-users. Now, all it takes is a few push notifications of the latest deal, or a newsfeed informing them about the new offer, and you'll have better chances of reaching your target customers. Furthermore, if they decide to purchase your service or a product, this type of app will offer faster transactions for them, and they can get what they want in a shorter amount of time.

Mobile eCommerce can also increase in-store sales. Your users may use your mobile eCommerce app to check for product availability, pricing options, and reviews. By the time they come to the store, they've already decided to purchase your product.

• Blockchain

One of the biggest concerns of mobile app users is the misuse of their personal data. Blockchain technology trends can solve this issue because it provides decentralized databases. So, those mobile apps that use blockchain technology for security purposes become end-to-end encrypted. This means no person or company has the rights to the data or to modify the data. E-banking systems and e-wallets use blockchain technology for safer digital transactions and knowing how to find an app development company you can trust is imperative if you want to build this type of mobile application.

Keeping duplicate records and third-party validations can make any system vulnerable to fraud and cyberattacks. Blockchain is a members-only network, meaning you'll be receiving timely and accurate data, which can be shared only with those to whom you specifically granted access. As all transactions are recorded permanently, they are immutable, and not even a system administrator can delete them. And lastly, every transaction can be sped up with something called a smart contract- a set of rules which is stored on the blockchain and can be executed automatically. So, when it comes to security, blockchain is guaranteed to give you that and then some.

• Augmented Reality Technology

All the latest mobile app development trends include AR as a way to give a personalized experience to the end-user. Sellers and retailers can use AR to showcase their products in a more realistic way and even give their customers an option to try on clothes virtually before making a purchase. 

However, AR is not just a great trend to follow for retailers. Google Maps has something called ''Live View'‘; a feature created with the help of augmented reality technology. It lets you see the route in real-time on real-world images. We also must mention Pokémon Go which paved the way for AR in mobile app development with its unique and revolutionary way of using AR to engage its users.

Out of all trends, AR offers the most unique digital experience to the users. The best thing about it- your users don't need any special platform, hardware, or software to enjoy it. AR was first labeled as a gaming and entertainment technology, but there are so many examples of AR being used by businesses to increase user engagement. Those are the businesses that also managed to stand out from the crowd and cast a shadow on their competition by using AR to its full capacity. With AR they were able to come up with more creative campaigns that increased their position in the market.

• Wearable Technology

No matter how convenient and easy mobiles are and how they've absolutely minimized the user's effort needed to handle one, we still need to use at least one hand for them. Driving with the phone has even become punishable by law since mobile phones prove to be a distraction during rides. 

This is the reason why wearables have gained such popularity and the industry has been growing more each year. Manufacturers and developers today are designing several different versions of smartwatches and smart earbuds and all of them allow their users to take phone calls and navigate their destination while being engaged in another activity. Today, wearables are an industry valued at over $44 billion and one of the top mobile application trends.

Mobile-first Approach in Application Development

Cell phones today are being used more than ever and are embedded in our daily routines. With their busy schedules, people have just a few moments to check for news while waiting for the train or an appointment. All the downtime we have is being used to ''check something online'' and it's no surprise that on average people use their phones as much as 5 hours per day. 

The term ''mobile-first'' was coined by Google CEO Eric Schmidt back in 2010 when he first recognized that developing and designing applications for mobiles has great potential. Mobile-first approach was supposed to fix the problem of desktop applications giving a low-quality user experience when switched to mobile, which was always a problem between different app development platforms. However, if the applications were created and designed with the mobile-first approach, prioritizing features and capabilities of this app development platform, developers would get a space where they can be creative about how to engage users. 

The ''Mobile-first'' approach is specifically important in design. The mobile-first design means that you start designing a mobile app from the mobile end, which has more restrictions. Once you satisfy the mobile platform criteria you can expand the app's features to create a desktop or a tablet version. This method is also called progressive advancement. However, if the designers decide to do it the other way around, start building the app from an advanced end like a desktop then gradually cut some functions or content to make it compatible with the mobile end, this method is called graceful degradation.

How to Get Started with Quantox App Development for Your Business?

Quantox Technology prides itself on staying on top of the latest mobile app development trends but also on using our in-house genius to come up with new and innovative ways our clients can improve their customer retention and user experience. With more than 16 years of knowledge and experience in the app development industry, we can accurately predict what the future app development trends will be and ensure our clients are one step ahead of the game. The future of mobile apps is with Quantox! Let’s Talk!

DISCLAIMER: 

All products and company names are trademarks™ or registered ® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them. In addition, any product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks or images featured or referred to within the article are the property of their respective trademark holders.

These trademark holders are not affiliated with Quantox Technology, our products, or our websites. They do not sponsor or endorse Quantox Technology or any of our products.

When it comes to developing software for either a company or an individual, questions like ''How much will this cost'' and ''How much time will this take?'' are inevitable. One of the most important things that a project depends on is the cost of software development.

It's only natural for the clients to wonder whether they can afford software development and if it will be done within the desired timeframe. Most of the sales meetings will revolve around this question. However, many clients often don't realize how many different factors impact the cost of software development because the highly complex estimate process is not transparent to them.

Still, when it comes to everything you need to know about software development in 2022 and all things related to making a good estimate, it's easy to get lost in a sea of information. That's why we decided to try to explain and help you understand this process better. The points we present to you will clarify the difference between Time and Effort and show you additional factors used to come up with a valid software development project estimate.

Average Cost of Software Development

If you are a start-up owner, having a precise estimate of the software development cost can help you plan your budget better. However, if you don’t have a detailed discussion with an IT company about the costs, all you’re going to get are vague answers.

This happens because more than just one factor determines the cost of the software. An app that requires only backend processing is much cheaper than one that’s connected to external systems and involves financial transactions. Still, a project’s complexity level is only one factor.

Other vital factors are the technology and people-hour required to build the software. The consensus online is that software development can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000. If the app can be built in under 700 hours, the cost will be in the lower price range, but if you want the same app to work across all platforms (web, Android, iOS…), the cost will rise to a 6-figure price.

Please take note that the prices listed in this article do not reflect the actual pricing of Quantox Technology but are rather a reflection of an analysis related to the average software development costs in the industry.

Main Factors of Estimating Software Development

The perfect software development cost estimate will consider that we are not living in a perfect world, and circumstances that are out of our control can happen often. Things like staff availability, deployment process, and the time it will take to access the system, or a database will affect the timeline of the project and, therefore, can affect the cost.  However, the following factors are the most important to explore if you want to learn how to determine the cost of software development in 2022.

• Platform

Different platforms like Android, Web, and iOS have a different volumes of users, and depending on which platform you’re building your software, you’ll be able to reach a different number of possible users. However, developing a cross-platform app takes means that the cost of software development is going to go up. A cross-platform app is deployable on all platforms with the same codebase. Still, you need an experienced team to save time on building this type of app, and it may not even be the best solution for products that include streaming, graphs, and dashboards.

Your next solution is to build a native app for each platform meaning one codebase for iOS native to this platform, and a different code for Android. However, this solution is also the most expensive one as you’re building two separate applications. You can always do what most start-ups do- focus on one platform until you achieve a certain level of success and expand your budget. After that, you can easily take on the cost of building the same app for all other platforms.

Now you're probably wondering, "But what about the cost of the software development technology?". If you opt for one of these 10 software development trends in 2022, like augmented reality, virtual reality, or blockchain, it may cost you more. However, you're still paying a developer, engineer, or programmer for the job. Most of these technologies do not require a special type of equipment to execute a project successfully- it's the knowledge and effort of the person working on it that's going to cost a little bit extra.

• Type of software project

Software development projects can be divided into the following types starting from the lowest level to the highest:

• Web Development: a custom web-based software development
• Software Integration: the existing software's capability is expanded by adding custom code. Here we include plugins, or packages like Office, data flow manipulation (NetSuite to QuickBooks), and similar.
• Software Modification: large-scale enhancement of the already existing software
• New Software Development: custom development of brand-new software.

Depending on the type of the project, we'll need a different team with a different amount of development effort. Once we have all the facts, we will reach the final estimate by combining this information with the project size analysis and team analysis.

The Size of the Software Project

This step can be a bit trickier because the size of the project sometimes doesn't correspond to its complexity. A large project can sometimes be more straightforward than a small but highly complicated project. Generally, software development projects are divided into small, medium, large, and enterprise.

• Small Software Project: Small software projects are considered those that will involve minor changes like making bug fixes or making minor changes to the user interface. All communication with the client will be them saying, "I want this changed/fixed," followed by "Here is how we changed/fixed it."

• Medium Software Project: In this category, we can include a small mobile application or web interface- anything where we have a single source of data. Medium-sized projects do include more minor tweaks and fixed, but also solutions and integrations. The interaction with the client is not as limited, and you may expect a few sessions or regular weekly check-ins.

• Large Software Projects: Almost everything is included in large-scale software projects: syst4ems integration, databases, security, logging features, framework, thinking hard about maintainability and scalability while creating multi-party applications across all known platforms. The client interaction is often daily, with weekly status calls being made to the higher-level management.

• Enterprise Software Project: Think of a large project and multiply it by a dozen. Enterprise-level projects are almost always built upon an underlying framework. Security, error handling, and logging are much stricter, while data integrity has become vital for these applications. Support systems are built to be "bulletproof" and handle as many as three concurrent faults without the user noticing anything. A great example is an Uber mobile app. In these types of projects, the client and the IT team become one, and their interaction includes daily status reports and calls across teams and divisions and weekly status calls to the higher-level management.

• Size of Development Team

When it comes to the size of the development team on one project, usually, we'll have at least three roles- a Project Manager, a Developer, and a QA Tester. However, depending on the size of the project, these three can expand the scope of their work, and we can have a developer who's also in charge of a testing phase. Larger projects, however, prefer to assign one role to one team member to get the job done.

• Location

Hiring software developers anywhere in the US or Western Europe may overwhelm your budget because their hourly fee averages around $100/hour. The developers based in eastern Europe proved that they could build software applications without compromising the quality and at a much lower rate. Asia can also offer software development professionals at a lower rate, but time zone, language barriers, and cultural differences proved to be a challenge for any type of project.

• Hiring Options

The IT industry allows you to find the best developers in the world to work on your software. You can hire a software developer in three different ways- as a freelancer, within an in-house team, or by outsourcing a development company.

-Freelance Software Developers: While there are a lot of great freelancing platforms where you can find amazing software developers for a low price, there’s practically little to no guarantee that your project will be completed successfully, if at all. There’s also no way for you to control the freelancer and the progress they are making on your project.

-In-house: Having an in-house software developer means hiring the one to work on your project from the comfort of your own office. That way, any issues or bugs can be resolved on the spot. However, the recruitment process can be time-consuming, even with the help of LinkedIn or Glassdoor. You’ll also find that having an in-house software engineer can require more investments in salaries, taxes, and equipment as well. Also, you’ll find out that software developers need a lot of really helpful software development tools to allow them to build and integrate your new software app, and this is something that will also have to come out of your budget.

-Outsourced: Software Development Outsourcing has a much more significant impact on the cost of software development. While developing software in-house does provide a certain amount of security to the client, the cost of outsourcing software development outweighs the additional security by reducing the cost by 40%. 

This happens because there's a gap between developed and developing countries like India and Mexico. With outsourcing, you can cut costs and still get a top-notch product. All it takes is a bit more focus on choosing the best software development partner in 2022 to get your project completed.

Our methodology for estimation of Software Development Cost

At Quantox, we recognize that there are no two businesses that are the same, and similarly, the apps and software we create for our clients are all unique. However, to start-up and business clients, knowing the cost of software development is imperative to plan their budget.

Our systematic process allows us to give our clients a precise cost estimate. When you show your interest in working with Quantox Technology, we make sure to schedule a meeting and discuss your idea in detail. We will ask you detailed questions regarding your app or software but also related to your goals and business requirements. You'll receive your cost estimate with an architecture diagram within seven (7) working days.

If you are satisfied with the project cost estimate, we can present a few options to start building your app the best way.

 How Quantox Can Help Your Business with Software development

Quantox Technology has been developing tailored software solutions for more than a decade, and we have a track record of creating accurate software development cost estimates. By including the non-technical factors that impact the cost of software development, our clients have a clear picture of what it takes to digitalize their ideas. If you need a software development cost estimate, Quantox Technology will be glad to assist you with it. Let's Talk!

You can learn more about how to estimate the cost of software development in our free eBook “The Ultimate Guide to software development in 2022”. Find out more about the 2022 programming trends and software development tools that can help your business grow.

Uplift for further steps

Quantox leaders are awarded the "EY Fast Growing Entrepreneur 2021" prize by the global auditing and consulting company Ernst & Young.

Vuk Popović and Filip Karaičić on behalf of Quantox Technology have been recognized among the most successful in 2021. at a ceremony which was held in Belgrade last month. This is the tenth year in a row that E & Y, through its global “Entrepreneur of the Year™” program, supports and promotes entrepreneurial achievements among individuals and companies that demonstrate vision, leadership and success.

Quantox is a story about vision.

Proof that ideas and dreams come true.

Vuk Popovic, founder, says:

"For me, being an entrepreneur means never stopping to learn and develop. Tackling technology 15 years ago as an entrepreneurial endeavour - with willpower, effort and persistence - has made Quantox an international company with more than 500 experts working in 13 development centres in 7 countries. It took courage and the vision remained the same -  improving our environment, the city, the country and the whole IT sphere and the world of technology by improving ourselves. "

According to Vuk, it was not easy at the very beginning, but each phase of development had its own challenges and achievements.

“One of the first goals was to primarily enable people across our country to work in the IT industry for global clients from their home city. The sudden changes and challenges in the last two years when we switched to remote work have shown how flexible we are and company still has continued to grow rapidly due to such circumstances, which was additionally influenced by the market situation. Today, the company cooperates with clients from over 15 countries around the world and various industries - from small brands to large international companies, which is a great motivation to be even better. One of the biggest challenges is achieving stable and sustainable growth and that is what we are constantly striving for - to grow stronger and improve quality, every day. This award is certainly an extra push in that mission."

Filip Karaičić, CEO of Quantox Technology, confirms that the journey took a lot of years, effort and energy, but after expanding into new foreign markets, doubling the number of employees in the last two years and the first domestic acquisitions, the company is more than ever ready for new steps forward.

"The end of the previous year was marked with the first Quantox’s acquisition in Serbia and we entered the spring of 2022. stronger for another domestic company and new team members. We are growing and pushing the boundaries and we are glad to be recognized in that stride. The IT industry is one of the fastest growing, providing constant dynamics and new opportunities. We believe that our position also brings the responsibility to encourage the progress of each individual, company as a whole and thus contribute to an even better positioning of Serbia on the global IT map. "

Plans for the future are a further expansion of expert teams and development centers in Western European countries, entry into new markets, and new acquisitions in the country and the region. "With the further expansion of expertise, we continue our mission to create an environment that encourages a progressive and innovative approach to digital challenges," concludes Filip.

During the previous years, more than 200 companies with 222 candidates participated in this program in the Republic of Serbia, and it’s a great pleasure to be chosen in the narrowest circle of visionaries with recognized achievements. 

The winners are chosen by an independent expert jury and selection is based on success factors such as entrepreneurial spirit, financial indicators, strategic direction, regional or international market presence, innovation, and personal integrity.

Great honor and motivation for the whole Quantox team!

As the world enters deeper into the digital era, it becomes clear that software development and the software industry, in general, will become essential. As a result, the software industry has already become the fastest-growing industry globally, and it continues to grow even more every day.

This phenomenon becomes easy to understand when we look at all the areas of our lives powered by software. Everything is powered by, controlled, or maintained by some type of software, from our homes, appliances, and bank accounts to medical equipment and even state security.

Creating software is not an easy task, and there's no one more important in the software development process than those who will create the software- software engineers and programmers. Thanks to their skill and meticulous work, we can have a myriad of software designed to meet our every need as human beings and society.

As such, software is essential for companies that want to be at the top of the market and stay there. The biggest benefits of having sustainable and secure software within an organization are increasing work efficiency and improving micromanagement.

However, software development is anything but arbitrary — the software development process is an incredibly detailed process that includes analysis, software development cost estimate, design, and development even before programmers begin writing the code. When backed up by the best development tools, programmers will have a much easier time creating, maintaining, debugging, and editing applications, programs, and frameworks. This is why finding the right software development partner that will handle all stages of the software development process is the most important thing for all companies. 

What is a software development tool?

Software development tools can also be called software programming tools because they are computer programs designed to make programming easier. They are used by software developers and programmers to write the code, but also to maintain and edit the code if needed. Software development tools can also be used for the support and debugging of other programs or applications. So in a nutshell, software development tools are software that makes software development easier and in some cases, possible.

There are thousands of great software development tools today and choosing the right one can be stressful and daunting. However, the reason why there are so many software development tools is that each one corresponds to a different need or preference. So, while having a choice can be confusing, it’s much better than having no choice or a limited one. And when it comes to choosing the right development trend, including a programming tool, finding the one that will suit all requirements can be considered as a jackpot.

Choosing the right one will depend on the project’s requirements, mainly on the framework and methodologies established in the early software development stage. Apart from that, there are also a few factors to consider before picking those development tools that will be the backbone of the project. In other words, the most important thing you need to know about software development is that developing tools are just too vital for software development to be overlooked.

Factors to consider while selecting a software development tool

The software tool is only as good as its software development process. Before a programmer starts writing the code, every detail such as specifications, framework, programming language, design, and goal must be determined. Likewise, having these in place will also help when choosing a perfect software development tool. The following factors will help you choose the best developer tools.

Must Be Applicable to the environment 

You wouldn't teach a fish to fly, so why would you use a Windows Desktop application for web deployment? Again, it's imperative that the software development tool is relevant to the given project's environment and applies to it perfectly.

Company Standards

Software development tools can also be used within a company to standardize. With a development tool, the company can move developers quickly between projects and creates one standard across all projects. 

Is the Tool Useful?

The collection of software development tools in the project must be, in fact, applicable to the project from the first software development phase to the completion of the project. 

Prior Experience With the Tool

A development team's experience with development tools should be taken into consideration. If the team is familiar with a software tool and the same tool could be useful to the project, it's a classic case of a win-win situation with a promise of a better workflow throughout the project.

Learning Curve

All developing tools have a learning curve, and some are easier to integrate into a team, while some are more challenging to add. Things like how much effort and time is needed to use the development tool should play a significant part in the decision-making process.

List of Best Software Development Tools

There are software tools for creating, and there are developing tools for debugging- for this reason, there are different categories of programmers' tools. The top 10 software development tools in 2022 are listed below.

1. Developer tools

Embold

As a software analytics platform that can analyze source code and uncover issues, Embold can save plenty of time and energy on fixing bugs and ensuring a program has security and maintainability. 

Best Features:

o   Embold plugins allow the developer to see the errors and vulnerabilities as they code before making commits.

o   Anti-pattern detection makes sure there is no compounding of unmaintainable code.

o   Easy to integrate with GitHub, Azure, Bitbucket, with plugins available for IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse

o   Faster and deeper checks across ten programming languages

2. IDE Tools

NetBeans

Written in Java, the fastest web, mobile and desktop framework, NetBeans is a great open-source development tool. It uses C/C++, PHP, Java, JavaScript, and more.

Best Features:

o   NetBeans works with any operating system- Linux, Mac OS, Solaris, Windows, etc.

o   With features like Smart Code Editing, writing bug-free code, easy management process, and rapid UI development, it's no wonder it's the best IDE tool in 2022.

o   NetBeans 8 IDE offers code analyzers, converters, and editors that make updating the newest edition of Java applications easy.

o   Contributes to the learning curve of new developers and helps them understand the application structure with a well-organized code.

3. Database Tools

DBSchema

The ultimate virtual database designer tool, DBSchema, is used as a management tool for any database. 

Best features:

o   DBSchema supports NoSQL and SQLite, MySQL, Redshift, MongoDB, Showelflake, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL, etc. 

o   DBSchema allows the use of virtual keys to finding data from multiple tables.

o   'Query Builder' allows developers with minimum SQL experience to crate database queries visually.

o   Accessible test data generating for database admins and developers with 'Random Data Generator.'

o   Builds interactive chards, tables, and report sheets with 'Report Generator.'

4. Frameworks

Bootstrap

Bootstrap is the best open source and free framework for those developers building responsive websites and mobile-first software with CSS, JS, and HTML. It's a tool to use to develop faster but simpler websites.

Best Features:

o   You can customize it according to each project's requirements as an open-source tool.

o   Its built-in components are used in accumulating responsive websites with a drag and drop facility.

o   Application building is enabled by Bootstrap's plug-ins, pre-build components, responsive grid system, Sass variables, and mixins.

o   Great when it comes to quick ideas modeling and building web applications.

5. Cloud Tools

Azure

Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing service, can design, deploy, test, and manage web applications or any hybrid could application thanks to Microsoft's global network of data centers.

Best Features:

o   Offers various services like mobile services, storage, messaging, media services, data management, CDN, virtual network, etc.

o   Azure supports many programming languages - .NET, Python, PHP, JavaScript, and more.

o   A detailed pricing list is available on their website.

6. Data Science Tools

Dataiku DSS

As a collaborative data science software platform, Dataiku DSS is used by data scientists, data analysts, and engineers to prototype, build and deliver their data products.

Best Features:

o   With Dataiku, DSS developers can profile the data visually at every stage.

o   80+ built-in functions allow developers to enrich, blend, and clean their data.

o   Dataiku DSS allows developers to build and optimize models in Python or R and also integrate any ML library through code's APIs.

7. Source Control Tools

GitHub

GitHub is probably the first thing most beginner programmers learn. GitHub makes code review and code management easier as a collaboration tool and development platform. Its users can build applications and software, manage projects, host, and review their code all in one place-GitHub.

Best features:

o   Easy code documentation and hosting from the same repositories.

o   GitHub project management tools are task-oriented, helping programmers co/ordinate easily and stay aligned.

o   Useful in large teams because of its code security, integration with other developing tools, and an option to access control among the team members.

o    It can be hosted on servers, and a could platform, and it also runs on Windows and Mac OS.

o    For open-source projects and public use, GitHub is free. However, their pricing plan for developers, teams, and organizations falls in the 'cost-efficient' category.

8. Prototyping Tools

Axure

Axure is mainly used by product managers, IT consultants, and business analysts worldwide to provide them with a way to produce wireframes, prototypes, and create documentation.

Best features:

o   Axure RP can generate prototypes in HTML and provide a link for sharing

o   It will be one of the best developing tools in 2022 because it allows several people to simultaneously work on the same file.

o   Runs on Microsoft IIS with either a MySQL or Microsoft SQL server database

o   Helps with creating and maintaining widget libraries

9. DevOps Tools

Codenvy

Codenvy is a cloud development environment that can be used for application coding and debugging and sharing projects in real-time.

Best Features:

o   As a cloud-based IDE, you don't have to install or configure Codenvy

o   It can be integrated with Jira, Jenkins, Eclipse Che extensions, or other private toolchains.

o   It can also be customized using IDE extensions, commands, stacks, editors, RESTful APIs, server-side extension plug-ins, etc.

o   It can run across platforms- on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. It can also run in a public or private cloud.

10.  Notification Tools

Send Bird

Send Bird tool is used as a messaging and chat API for websites and mobile apps. It prevents spam from flooding chat rooms and offers scalability for a greater audience volume.

Best Features:

o   Send Bird can read and track the status of messages sent.

o   Customer support and product recommendation are bot-assisted.

o   Offers Call-backs & Push Notifications

o   Read Receipt & Delivery Status

How Quantox Can Help Your Business with Software Development?

The success of your project can depend on what type of software development tool you choose but having the right kind of people working on your project is more vital to the success of your project. By choosing Quantox as your software development and IT solutions partner, you ensure your project is in 'safe hands'- those that will give you a high-quality code, keep the communication and the highest level, be flexible to meet your and your project's requirements and provide you with the top-notch IT service. Launch your projects with the best software development solutions at Quantox Technology and IT Solutions. Let’s Talk!

In our free ebook "The Ultimate guide to software development in 2022" we cover everything you need to know about Software Development. Learn how software is developed and how it can help your business.

 DISCLAIMER: 

All products and company names are trademarks™ or registered ® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them. In addition, any product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks or images featured or referred to within the article are the property of their respective trademark holders.

These trademark holders are not affiliated with Quantox Technology, our products, or our websites. They do not sponsor or endorse Quantox Technology or any of our products.

Is your business regularly dealing with day-to-day fires? You know that in-house staff is very busy and you have problems finding and retaining new people? The answer to overwhelming IT issues that you are experiencing can be outsourcing. Whether you are a small business or a big enterprise, there are some parts of your IT department that can be handed to a third party to manage and organize. Simply put, it is hard to do internal 24/7 monitoring and management of an entire, often cumbersome, IT infrastructure. Many of the issues that can happen incur additional costs and potential business disturbances. Further failures, hardware, and software disasters, operation disorganization can be prevented. Additional costs can be prevented. Use some help. Provide support to your IT people, too.

What do you get from Outsourcing?

If you do research about outsourcing, you will find dozens of reasons why outsourcing is profitable and how it can impact your business. Let us highlight some of the most important that tells exactly what you get:

Money

Additional in-house expertise that you need can be a really expensive investment. New recruitment, employee onboarding, more payrolls - all of this usually demands you to first enlarge your HR team, before you even start recruiting the experts you need. As you may already be very well aware, all of this costs money. And a lot of it. Not only are you paying full employee packages for the IT experts that you need, but you are also paying the same for recruiters and other staff you might need to onboard all those new people. Of course, we must not forget the fact that this will take a lot of time, further costing you money as problems are not being handled, upgrades are not being installed, and more.By providing you with just the right experts at just the right time (usually yesterday), outsourcing can save you enormous amounts of money.

Resources

No more waste. No more resource mismanagement that doesn’t yield the wanted results and productivity. By choosing an outsourcing business model, you will have access to the widest range of resources that you don’t have in-house or you cannot afford to bring in-house. A larger resource platform also means you get to make smart moves and balance between proper task processing and quality customer service. An outsourcing partner will help you reach that balance and guide you on how to use these resources.

Time

Free your schedule of simple tasks and use your energy to develop ideas and potential new projects that can generate more income. Outsourcing gives you more time to focus on tasks that require your dedication. Let someone with more experience or someone more knowledgeable handle the work that distracts you. On the other hand, by involving a third party in your project, you are giving your business much-needed time and also a chance to reach sustainable, effective growth.

Storage

Your business needs don’t match your storage capacity? A simple solution is to outsource your data storage. Why? New assets are not necessary. On the other hand, the usage of modern technologies is possible without having to hire new IT staff. The highest costs in internal data storage are in administration and backup. If you handle this to an outsourcer, you will experience an overall cost drop. Do not worry about risk mitigation, because your outsourcing partner has automatically saved your data offsite and has a fully integrated system for data restoration within the business requirements.  

Bussines Focus

Closely tied with time management, business focus is something that you can lose with an overwhelmed IT department and unsatisfied employees. With all issues you have to deal with, you simply don’t have time to focus on core things, business goals, and growth. An outsourcing partner can be a valuable, long-term partner. A partner that will provide you time that, currently, you don’t have. You need a professional outsourcing management strategy that can save you from internal and external fires and potential damage to your business’ very foundations.

How to get the ‘outsourcing benefits’ full potential?

Let be honest, outsourcing projects can fail. But, failure can be prevented. Success depends on both sides, and, in most cases,proper communication is the right recipe.

Steps for strong Outsourcing partnership

If you want to build a strong relationship with an outsourcing partner, you need to work on:

Clear requests

Techspeak and bizspeak are something that both sides need to avoid. Do not use terminology that the other party doesn’t understand. Speak as clearly and succinctly as you can, provide clear requests because that will lead to a product that you can use. There is no textbook that you can follow to 100% guarantee successful communication. Maintaining outsourcing relationships can be challenging andit relies on transparency, clear goals, and demands, delivered in a timely manner. When you choose your outsourcing partner, always pay attention to their strategy of delivering unique value outcomes. The Quantox approach also consists of the best practices for communication and well-established plans for request delivery.

Detailed project

For a proper outsourcing strategy, details are a must. Details will help you present your vision and goals in the most effective way, reducing the chances of miscommunication, mistakes, and subsequent corrections. Invest time and effort in explaining your project, what you want to get out of it, and what you want your customers to get. You have a totally new range of resources in front of you, but only a detailed project can fully use them.

Transparent communication

Achieving the right relationship is possible only with good communication. Do not hide crucial information, good or bad. Avoid long delays in actionable feedback, keep in touch with your partner and inform them regularly of the current status. Let them know how you feel and what your expectations are. Be transparent and expect transparency from the other side.

Approach to internal resources

Network discovery is a part of setting up a quality outsourcing partner process. It requires a careful approach to your internal resources. Engineers and the sales team will need information about servers, firewalls, antivirus software, and other technical parts that are used.

How can Quantox help you save your business?

Regardless of the industry, you operate in, our way of reaching the predefined goals is based on an open and transparent environment.This trust makes us easy to work with, while still providing you with an extremely professional team and a high-quality product.Through constant development and improvement, we have learned to listen and understand the clients’ needs. This helps us provide the service that will supply your business with the most perfect solutions. Tonnes of business ideas brought to life through brave and sometimes even crazy steps. None of Quantox’s over 160 finished projects would be possible without a team from 7 different countries that we rely on. All our expertise, experience, ideas, and unique strategies can be at your disposal and provide you with different perspectives. Perspectives that will set you free from feeling that your vision is not fully developed or that some opportunities were missed. You need a new strategy for a journey that, through trust and good communication, will lead your project to a functional reality. Let’s find out together how we can make it happen.

written by MLADEN PAIĆ

Object Calisthenics are basically programming exercises, formalized as a set of 9 rules.
By trying to follow these rules as much as possible, you will naturally change how you write code. Of course, it doesn’t mean you have to strictly follow all these rules, all the time.

Here are the 9 rules for writing a better code:

1. Only One Level Of Indentation Per Method
2. Don’t Use The ELSE Keyword
3. Wrap All Primitives And Strings
4. First Class Collections
5. One Dot Per Line
6. Don’t Abbreviate
7. Keep All Entities Small
8. No Classes With More Than Two Instance Variables
9. No Getters/Setters/Properties

#1: Only One Level of Indentation per Method

Having more than one indentation level is often considered bad for readability and maintainability, it's not easy to understand the code without executing step by step in your head, especially if there is a loop in another loop, or if there are multiple conditions nested.

By following this rule, code will be split into separate methods. The number of lines will not be reduced, but the readability will be improved significantly.

#2: Don't Use The ELSE Keyword

If else cases can get hard to read, and they don't really bring any value to the code.
An easy way to remove the else keyword is to implement an early return solution.

#3: Wrap All Primitives And Strings

To avoid Primitive Obsession, all the primitives should be encapsulated within objects. If the variable of your primitive type has a behavior, you MUST encapsulate it.
Objects like Money, or Hour for instance.

#4: First-Class Collections

The collection class should not contain any other member variables. If you have a collection of elements and you want to manipulate them, you should create a dedicated class.
Each collection gets wrapped in its own class, and all the behaviors for filtering applying rules are encapsulated inside of it.

#5: One Dot Per Line

Method calls should not be chained (this does not apply to Fluent Interfaces and Method Chaining Pattern, any other class should respect this rule). It's directly related to respecting the Law of Demeter. Objects should talk only to closest friends.

#6: Don't Abbreviate

If you keep writing the same name over and over again, that will probably lead to code duplication.
If the class/method name is too long, it probably means that it has more than one responsibility, violating SRP. Naming is a big thing and can improve your code a lot. Abbreviations can lead to confusion because not everybody will understand what abbreviation means, so the trade-off is not worth it.

#7: Keep All Entities Small

“No class over 50 lines and no package over 10 files.”
The idea behind this rule is that long files are harder to read, harder to understand, and harder to maintain.
This is obviously very hard to apply (not even applicable to some languages like PHP, but it can be adapted), but IMO classes/methods should be somewhat short and this rule should be applied to some concern, but respecting these exact numbers (50 lines, 10 lines) is not crucial. As long as your classes are not more than 100-200 lines (especially in languages like PHP), it's not that big of a deal.

#8: No Classes With More Than Two Instance Variables

This rule relies on RULE 3 (Wrap All Primitive and Strings), and its benefits are high cohesion, and better encapsulation.
The main idea is to distinguish two kinds of classes, those that maintain the state of a single instance variable, and those that coordinate two separate variables. Two is an arbitrary choice that forces you to decouple your classes a lot.
IMO this doesn't have to be exactly two instance variables but should be kept to a low number and it can be applied like in the following example:

#9: No Getters/Setters/Properties

As long as you don't use the result of the accessor to make the decision outside of the object it should be okay. Any decisions made upon the state of the object should be done inside of the object itself. That's why getters and setters are bad, they violate Open/Closed Principle directly.

In the end, some rules are very easy to follow and they will improve your coding a lot, other ones are not the easiest ones to pull off. It's up to you to decide when and which one you want to implement and practice them in your spare time.

One Rule For Better IT Solutions- Quantox!

Quantox programmers and developers are a team and as such they've adopted coding practices which makes the code understandable for every team member. By having a clean code we can all participate in creating a better, stronger and safer applications for our clients. Here, a good organisation is the key, and we start at how we write your code. Let's Talk!

Being an entrepreneur and starting a business story of your own, always carries a lot of courage but also a lot of risks. You work every day, try your best to prove yourself, and be recognizable on the market.

When you achieve a certain success and that success, at some point, leads you to some major and crucial changes. Anyone who has participated in a process of building a brand knows how long-lasting and well-thought-out it is. That is why any major change in it leads to serious decision weighing. Reason - you’re getting into rebranding. There are many questions. How to name the company? Is it better to give some symbolic, hidden meaning? Will the market understand our new message? Time will tell if you made the right decision.  

The time showed us that, after many consultations and suggestions of the whole team, we did the right thing by choosing the path called Quantox Technology. Word Quantox as itself has no specific meaning. For us, on the other hand, it means a lot. It is a symbol of an idea created 15 years ago and which has been successfully implemented and continued to grow. A word that has weight today, that carries one brand and that is recognizable to the wider IT community.

For us, Quantox means responsibility. Responsibility for each accepted project, no matter how challenging. From the idea, through strategy to the presentation of the finished product and its future maintenance. Responsibility for meeting deadlines, respecting everyone’s time and obligations. Responsibility for the normal functioning of all our 10 offices, especially during a pandemic.

‍Quantox represents stability. We are thinking of 300 families. Kovid, various changes in the law, did not shake us. There was no withdrawal or radical moves. On the contrary. We kept the team, we kept the job. We also opened the jubilee  10th office. We came out as winners and that is the success of the company itself and all of us who are part of it.

‍Quantox is a synonym of progress for young people. We are proud of our professional development program. Great attention is paid to creating the whole process of practice, choosing the right mentor for each individual candidate, and also measuring the final results. The success of interns and their further employment is really on a high level.  This program, among other things, helped us to enrich our team with extremely high-quality people.

‍Quantox is a domestic brand. It originated in Serbia. We live, grow and prosper in Serbia. Yes, we have stepped into new markets, but we are pleased to introduce all our international colleagues to Serbian customs. Our people selflessly and openly share their knowledge and experience.

That is why there are no boundaries for us. We are one team, we are a Serbian brand and wherever we do business, everyone knows where we come from.

Besides programming, there is an opportunity for developers to join internship programs as mentors. It is a special challenge, but also a pleasure when you successfully transfer the acquired knowledge to younger colleagues. A responsible but also demanding approach is necessary, so here is some good advice that you can apply during the program.

‍Get to know your mentee When you take on the role of mentor, one of the important tasks is to get to know the person you are mentoring. This will help you to understand the obstacles that the mentee encounters and thus finding an adequate solution will be easier. From my personal experience, during the internship program, really positive reactions occur when, as a mentor, you show interest in the mentee's hobbies and if your work plan is in the line with his interests, the results are even better. When a candidate works according to such a plan, he is additionally motivated, goes a step further, and will, very likely, dare to step out of the comfort zone.

‍Communication is the keyMentoring brings responsibility. You need to be there for candidates. Of course, we are not talking about the obligation to answer the questions immediately, especially when other projects are active, but you should not go to the other side and not answer for hours. It is necessary to harmonize communication with the mentee, to respond to all doubts in an adequate time, and encourage candidates to discuss and express their opinions and potential task solutions. Very often candidates are reluctant to ask questions because they feel they are stealing your time and don’t want to bother, they think those questions are too basic. In that case, you have to step up, encourage them and make it perfectly clear that you are there for them. This prevents the creation of any potential communication barriers. You have to be able to listen, let the candidate express his idea, and give your own if you have one. These steps show that you are interested in your interns, in their work and thus make a significant contribution to strengthening their self-confidence.

‍Plan and goals All these steps that I am talking about are some of the ways of motivation and encouragement. However, you have to keep in mind the main reason for mentoring - interns came to learn and progress, and therefore it is necessary to set work goals and a plan according to which those goals will be achieved. It is a good idea to start with smaller tasks, which can be quickly realized. In that way, the mentee has the impression that he is progressing and there will be fewer chances for them to be demotivated and give up. It is necessary to go gradually, in smaller steps, which will eventually lead to the realization of more serious goals and challenges. Don’t make plans that take 3 or 4 months to complete, because these are people who are often without any previous work experience and who can really drop down if big tasks are put in front of them. One of the suggestions could be to give a candidate a chance to break one larger task into smaller ones, for him to get used to such a working system. This can be followed by some of your personal examples where you got to the solution by dissolving a big goal into several smaller ones and working on them step by step. So, at the beginning of the internship program, stick to tasks that can be solved in a couple of hours, and later you can set bigger challenges.

‍Checkup It is recommended to take your time for monitoring the mentee’s work and progress. To be more specific - use spontaneous conversations with your candidate and find out how far he has gone and whether he needs any help. Also, an official meeting once a week where you will together check all tasks and problems from past days will benefit both sides. Keep a record of your conversations, notes on problems encountered and solutions agreed. These records will help you later to see if the mentee has followed your recommendations or he found other solutions.

‍Constructive feedbackWhen you are a mentor, your opinion of someone’s work has a lot of significance. That is why it must be honest, and provided promptly. This means that you have to react immediately if you notice any mistake. Giving feedback can sometimes be uncomfortable, but it is necessary if you want a candidate to progress. If your opinion has a negative connotation, make a plan on how you will say it as well as mandatory steps on how to resolve the problem and prevent further possible mistakes in the future. By doing so, you make it known that you are aware that a problem exists and that you want to work together to solve it.  If you show some examples of solving mistakes and misjudgments, you have also contributed to the candidate not giving up. Of course, there is more than just negative feedback. Highlight, praise a good idea, solution, or significant effort to achieve the goal. What is by no means allowed - not providing an opinion and not giving any feedback to the candidate.

‍Mentor student Mentoring can be challenging, sometimes it can take you more time than you planned and require a lot of patience. However, it awards you significant progress. A good mentor never stops being a student. Don’t be surprised if, at the end of the internship program, it comes out that you are the one who learned a lot, maybe more than the candidate themselves. TOMISLAV NIKOLIĆ

For many years, we have been interested in the development potential of local communities that lack the opportunity for growth. We want to create those opportunities by providing support for the local Startup scene in Ćuprija.  Today, fortunately, we can witness numerous examples of fantastic Startup stories that have been realised and set off on the path of further success. However, the reality is a little bit different. Many people have great business ideas but not enough investment to go a step further in development and ‘launch’ their product or service. Many questions arise here - how to start, what are the necessary steps?Quantox Technology has decided to help implement these steps. Providing all the necessary technical support, we want to give that much needed `push` for a maximum of 10 Startups registered in Ćuprija. With an investment of up to 50.000 euros, which will be reflected in technical support and consulting, we want to help business stories that arise far from large IT centers.All Startups registered on the territory of Ćuprija will have the opportunity to apply and Quantox will, as a technical partner, support the growth and development of the local community.All information, as well as application forms, you can get via mail startup@quantox.com Let’s start up together!

written by KIM NOVAK

Wouldn’t it be great if all of the code we work with was written in a way that it’s completely clear what it does? And that we could easily make changes without breaking it? Sounds good, but it’s not that easy to do so. To get to that level we need to change our mindset a bit.

React apps grow very fast. The project gets more and more components, the codebase grows, and just when you think you are done with a component and forget about it, there are change requirements for it. You analyse the code of that component, try to understand what the author had in mind, even if the author is you, and you stumble upon a condition that you have no idea why the author put it there. You start trying to understand why that condition is there and which use-case can trigger that path and that takes some time. Could all of that be escaped? Yes, at least partially. As a React developer, with or without experience we encounter these situations on a daily basis. What can we do to improve code quality and make our components reusable and maintainable?

Improve Naming

You can improve naming by analyzing how the libraries you use named and designed the API you are consuming. Sometimes we tend to use names that are too descriptive, and you (most likely) won’t see such cases in the libraries you use. When naming functions or variables I ask myself these questions:

• What would the most intuitive (instead of the most descriptive) name for this be?
• Is there a standard? If everyone names the variable ‘i’, if I name it ‘x’ it might be confusing
• Is it clear what it represents?
• How much information can I get out of the context that my variable is in? If it’s clear that the variable is related to the context it’s in, there is no need to repeat that information in the variable name. (User.id instead of User.userId)
• Keeping names simple and intuitive makes the code more readable. Easy to read code is easier to understand and thus easier to maintain.
  
  Examples:
• filterWhenTimeUpdates() → filter()
  When a time update is an event that we will respond to by calling the filter function. In code it could be something like this:
• useEffect(filter, [time]); Which makes it clear that we will trigger the filter whenever the time is updated
• shouldFetchNewData → shouldFetch
  You most likely won't have a case where you would fetch old data
• hourOfDay → hour
  We would automatically put an hour in the context of the day
  allComments → comments
• It is used with the same meaning in mind as just comments. Usually, when the arrays are filtered, we don't mutate the array.
  

useLayout({                           useLayout({
columns,                              columns,
rows,                 →               rows,
spacing                               spacing
});                                   }, [columns, spacing]);

We can borrow the idea from built-in React hooks and design our hooks in the same way. We can pass a list of dependencies to our custom hook as a separate parameter. This way, in one component we can have this hook triggered onMount only, while in the other component it can be triggered whenever column or rows data changes. Since we are passing the list of dependencies as a separate parameter the same way that built-in hooks do, it will be intuitive to React developers what our intention was.

Don’t Put (a lot of) Logic Inside of the JSX

The Component will be easier to maintain if the JSX part or the Presentational part of the component contains as little logic as possible. If we had the need to refactor or modify the component for some reason, we could do it a lot faster if most of the logic comes from non-JSX parts of the app.

Reuse Selector Pattern Idea

If you have worked with Redux you’ve probably heard of the Selector pattern. This pattern lowers the amount of effort we have to put in when the data structure changes. A selector is a simple function that receives some data and returns only a (selected) piece of that data.
Data structures tend to change in the early days of development. When that happens, if we are using the selector instead of accessing the data directly in our components, we only have to make a single change. That change would be inside of the selector. If we didn’t use the selector we would have to make changes at each place the data was directly accessed.

What if we were to do something similar everywhere in our components?

If we don’t depend on the data structure or the source where that data came from, every change that occurs will be easy to implement. The goal is having to make changes in a single place only.
How can we achieve this?
We could write selectors and/or use object and array destructing. Note that this takes up more memory, but the code becomes easier to maintain.

Comment Your Code

You probably read that comments are bad and that code should be self-documenting. My opinion is that code can’t say everything. I have been in so many situations where I had no idea WHY the programmer wrote some piece of code. Not to be confused with WHAT the code does because that we can read and understand. What we cannot know is which use-cases the developer had in mind when the code was written. Maybe we will break something if we modify that code. There could be some business rules that cannot be explained with code or at least the person who wrote the code didn’t manage to do so. If the author of the code had left comments on why that piece of code is there, it would have saved our time. The problem with comments is that they usually aren’t maintained. People modify the code and not the comment. So the comment ends up having false statements. Thus, maintaining comments would be another tip. A stale comment could be worse than no comment if it misleads you.

Extract

When the component has more than a couple of hundred lines of code it gets harder to read (I prefer to keep it under 300 lines of code). More often than it happens in smaller components, the order of defining things gets easily messed up. It’s easier to maintain logical units when the component is fairly small. From my experience the bigger the component gets, the messier the code will become.
How can you ensure that your components stay small? By extracting! You can extract utility functions, custom hooks, new components, constants, type declarations and/or mock data to separate files.

Organize

Establish rules when it comes to organizing code. Make sure each directory and each file are organized the same way. Strive for consistency. Organized and consistent code will boost your performance because you won’t have to scroll through the whole file to find something, you will know exactly where to look first.

We can always apply these tips inside our React components and make them easier to maintain and reuse.

Our Developers Know How To React!

Using React to it's fullest potential is not an easy task, but Quantox React developers are up to the task. Their goal is to improve the code quality and make the components reusable and maintainable, and create strong React apps and solutions for our clients. Do you want to build a React app? Let's Talk!

written by N. Stevanović

What is Grid?

Grid is a very useful CSS tool.  It is a two-dimensional system for website layout organisation and it helps a lot to present and place elements on it.  It can be compared to flexbox which is a one-dimensional system. The one-dimensional layout has elements in one row or column, and in a two-dimensional system elements have to be arranged in various columns or rows. Otherwise, both systems are better than the old ways of arranging layouts. The old way involved the use of float and in-line block options, within which the appearance of a website was often very uncertain. By using the Grid tool, you can solve layout problems and develop your website more efficiently.

When Do We Use It?

In most cases, Grid is combined with a flexbox tool. This combination can improve the whole layout organisation through the website development process.

Example

• In the picture below we have one container with container class and child elements (elements contained in a container) called item.

• We need to adjust the CSS by setting display: grid

• After container making, the next step would be to put sizes for columns and rows by using grid-template-columns and grid-template-rows options. Please note that here the sizes in pixels are given arbitrarily, while in a specific code you have to enter the exact pixel size for each row and column so that the layout turns out as you imagined.

• Setup of child elements by using grid-column and grid-row would look like this:

This completes the initial creation of the container with the grid elements and you get a nicely planned layout of the site. As with flexbox, the way grid elements are arranged is not crucial because CSS itself allows their reallocation. This is why creating a mobile layout application is much easier, because, through just a few lines of code in CSS, a grid layout made for a desktop can be adapted to a mobile one.  

When Can it Be Difficult to Use Grid?

Problems can occur if older versions of browsers that don’t support Grid are used. Fortunately, there is a Can I use website so that can be easily checked. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, you should carefully study the documentation before using this tool to avoid making any room for possible errors.

Quantox- Using CSS Grid for Better Results!

Quantox has the best way of implementing complex design layouts with CSS Grid. Masters of all trades, we know what to use and when to use it for incredible web development results that will promote and boost your business. No web design is to complicated for Quantox. Let's Talk!

As the title itself says, Ivan is a man with many talents. Besides coding, his passion is also fishing. He is a former amateur actor but also a painter, so when inspiration knocks on the door, it often means that his family will soon enjoy one more beautiful canvas.For the past 5 years, he has been part of our team in Čačak.  In his opinion, colleagues would probably characterize him as a strenuous man, but just so you know - when we asked our designer to do graphics for Ivan’s interview, her instant reaction was - Đorđević? The best team lead ever :)Thank you for your commitment. We congratulate you and can not wait to spend many more years working with you.

• Do you remember your first day at work?

Absolutely. It was much more relaxed compared to previous jobs.

• Who or what influenced you the most to become a programmer?

A friend from college who I tried to overcome, but without success :)

• What is that people mostly do not know about you?

I suppose a lot of things, especially because I am an introverted person.

• What would you never give up?

Coffee.

• Which of your professional qualities you consider to be most valuable?

Stubbornness always helps me to push till the end and not to give up even when it seems that I will not make it.

• How would your colleagues describe you?

Probably as a ‘strenuous’ or ‘hard’ man.

• How do you start your day at work?

Like most of us - with a cup of coffee.

• We know that you have a lot of talents. Tell us about the hidden ones :)

Acting and writing were things that I did a long time ago, and they are part of the past. Nowadays, when I’m not in the best mood, painting is sometimes a choice. When partying with friends is on the menu, me singing on the mike is definitely part of the night (even though I’m not a good singer at all, but others think that is not true :))

• The weekend is your time for?

Family, nature, fishing, a good movie.

• If you were not a programmer, you would be?

Probably doing some work related to cybersecurity or working in a department of high-tech crime :)

Initial recruitment steps in a fast-growing IT industry can be really challenging. The range of technologies and activities that developers use is really wide, and every day we have additional frameworks or language that show up and promise to put PHP out of use and charm developers, at least temporarily. Our job, as IT recruiters, is to recognize, approach and show interest in a certain profile of the candidate (often in a short time). It is important that we know what the company needs in the first place and that we base our search on that. What makes this process a lot easier is a large number of widely available tools. This time our focus will be on the LinkedIn Premium feature of Smart Search.

Why Premium profile?

Although it increases the initial cost of the recruitment process, it is really helpful to overcome many challenges that this process has. Advanced search and suggestions supported by artificial intelligence are very useful. There is a possibility for the direct contact of candidates without the need for connection and if a larger team uses paid services there is a possibility of organizing and tracking candidates in one place. This way, paid services to facilitate coordination and efficiency.

Advanced search advantages  

As with regular search, we use Boolean syntax during the advanced search because it makes it easier to search and target specific profiles. Quotation marks, parentheses, NOT, AND, and OR operators still have significant application.

For example, we will start with the maximum qualifications for the position itself, and use the NOT operator for systematic filtering and finally finish with the minimum qualification. Eg: A,B,C - desired qualification      D,E - must have the qualification and finally      F - implicitly desired qualification.

Beside Boolean, what else can be used?

Filters are something that a regular LinkedIn account doesn’t allow, at least not to the extent that is available within a Recruiter account. Filters are very useful in narrowing the criteria because we can target specific experience, skills, companies, schools/institutions, years of experience….

Example

We received a request for a new React position. It is stated that knowledge of JavaScript, React, Redux and MaterialUI is mandatory. It is desirable that the candidate knows and understands the Java language (because the Backend project was written in Java), and we want to target candidates from the Serbian market. Since the position is directed towards the medior level, we don’t want to go too much wide in our search, but to determine the years of experience in the industry. In that case, our filters will look something like this:

Advantages of LinkedIn Premium

LinkedIn Premium enables:

• Better and more relevant search results
• Creating a database of candidates for certain positions
• InMail contacts
• No limits for the searched number of profiles

When not to use a Premium profile?

If it is available to you, there is no reason why not to use its filters and all other advantages. However, it is a totally independent question whether the scope and specificity of the position you aim to fill justify investing in Premium features.These are just examples of the possibilities offered by Boolean and Premium filters. We encourage you to experiment, add, subtract and modify search parameters. The result will be closer to what you need if you can define what you are looking for. Happy hunting! Igor S & Igor S