App Development

Our Specialities

A mobile app can be a transformative addition to any business, brand or customer experience.

An app was how Blackdog got started, so you can say mobile app development is in our agency's DNA. Needless to say we write apps for both iOS and Android (and should another mainstream platform arise, we'll support that too - that's a promise!). We have experience building apps from scratch, taking over development as well as working with an existing development team.

We're super flexible and how we work depends on what you or your business needs.

The Full Works

We take care of everything, from the code to the design to the listing on the App and Play Stores.

Flat fee payment structure based on app and design complexity.

Just the Code

You provide the design, graphics and layout then we do the coding.

Flat fee payment structure based on app complexity.

Consultancy

Already have a team of developers in place, but want to get our expertise? No problem, we'll jump in and work with the team on specific features.

Hourly fee payment structure.

How you can work with us

Our process for creating your mobile app.

Initial call

A no-obligation meeting to discuss your project’s requirements and how we are able to bring your vision to life.

Delving into details

We'll get into the fine details of how you want your app to work. There's no one-size fits all solution, so we'll get a good understanding for the needs of your project and how we can tailor the solution.

We'll use this information to generate a quote.

See more info here

UI Design

Next we'll focus on the design of the app (the user interface); how it'll look and feel. Generally we start with a colour pallet. We're happy to work with external graphic designers if you have someone in mind. We'll get your approval for the design before moving on.

UX Design

This is the user experience part of the design. It covers things like the placement of the menu and how the user navigates through the app's features.

Development

Time for the serious coding! We offer both native and cross-platform development.

See more info here

Internal Testing

We'll test the app extensively in-house before we will release it for internal beta-testing. This is a neat way of testing the actual app but not releasing it to the public. We request that you be a part of the testing process (not that you wouldn't be keen to see your vision brought to digital life!)

Release

And finally we're ready for sign off and to officially release the app!

This isn't the end of the road however as we hope we'll carry on being involved with the app's continued evolution and development.

The process should be as easy and hassle free as it possibly can be.

BLACKDOG EQUESTRIAN APP

An app that uses AI to automatically track the position of horse rider or the movement of a horse using just a phone. It gives feedback on biomechanical performance and makes suggestions for ways to improve.

In 2023, the BLACKDOG Equestrian App was aquired by Ridesum and its features integrated into their app.

Originally written in Java for Android and Swift for iOS, subsequently partially rewritten in React Native

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acquired by Ridesum 🔗

Image copyright © Siametric Systems Ltd

Selected examples of the apps we've developed

Copyright © Ridesum AB

Every app is different and, as such, has individual requirements. Our goal is to get the right set of options for your project, as we strongly believe there is no "one-size-fits-all" in app development.

Here are some of the considerations we'll discuss with you during planning:

Tailoring the App

Design and feel

Art and design may not be the most obvious starting point for a software development project, but the importance of the "look" of an app and it's overall "feel" cannot be underestimated. If you're working with us on the "Full Works" basis, we tend to start with a colour pallet before embarking on the specific design of the layout.

Native or cross-platform development

Excuse the jargon here, but native means we write two versions of the app; one specifically for Android and one for iOS (i.e. iPhone and iPad) while cross-platform means we essentially write one version app (using Flutter or React Native on request) with minor tweaks for each platform. The obvious question is why on Earth would you bother writing the same app twice (i.e. native) when you could just write it once (i.e. cross-platform)? And the answer is that it depends on the complexity and requirements of the app. If you have a complex app which, for example, makes heavy use of the phone's hardware like its GPS or movement sensors, writing native code can result in a better user experience; the app may run faster with more accuracy. If you have a relatively straightforward app, then cross-platform is a more economical choice because (not to state the obvious) it takes less time to write the app once than it does twice! There's a lot of nuance, but in effect it comes down to a trade off between development cost and app performance.

Authentication

Depending on the features of the app, you may require a user to create an account, normally using their email and a password. In almost all circumstances we will use third-party software (meaning written by someone else, not by us) such as FirebaseAuth or AWS Amplify Authentication that will integrate into the app for a seamless user experience.

Cloud storage and database requirements

If your app has user-generated content such as performance tracking (as in Enduro Fit), video analysis (as in Ridesum) or bespoke floorplan designs (as in the Freestyle Floorplanner App), the you're going to need a database to store that information. We also recommend that you use both an internal database (i.e. one that's saved local to the phone itself) and one that's cloud based in case the user loses their phone or buys a new one. We typically use Firebase as our cloud database provider, but can use AWS on request.

Monetisation

How is the app going to earn its keep? It might be that the app is completely free, to be used as a promotional tool for your business. Otherwise, you might consider an upfront download fee, in-app purchases that unlock features or grant use tokens, or a subscription based model. There are pros and cons to each option, which we can discuss. Please be aware that any transactions that are made through the App and Play Stores incur a 30% (or 15% for small businesses with revenue of less than $1 million) charge by Apple and Google respectively.

Animation and AI features

As you've hopefully seen elsewhere on the site, animation and AI are two of our specialities. Both can positively contribute to an app's design, either visually or in making powerful, expectation-exceeding features, but they need to be incorporated consciously, not just because we can!

This list might sound like a lot, but please don't get overwhelmed. We will walk you through each step and are happy to get as technical (or not) as you'd like.

Anchor Details

Platform

The term Platform tends to refer to the type of phone or tablet you have and the operating system than runs it.

iOS is Apple's mobile operating system that powers devices like the iPhone, and Apple Watch.

Android is the other major mobile operating system for all other non-Apple devices, with Samsung and Google being the most common.

Native Development

If an app is written natively, it means that the code is specifically written for either iOS or Android using a native programming language.

This means the app has to be written twice; once for iOS in Swift, SwiftUI or C# and once for Android in Kolin or Java. (these are the names of programming languages!)

By writing code specifically tailored to a device in its native language, you can get better performance, especially if the app is complex.

Jargon busting

Cross-Platform Development

Cross platform development means the app is written once in a language like Flutter or React Native and will run on both iOS and Android.

Writing once means the development time is less (and therefore more economical), but if the app is particularly complex it might not perform as well as if the code was written natively.

However, this is a good choice for straightforward apps that do not require extensive use of the phone's hardware.

Anchor Jargon

Hopefully everything you've seen or read on this page is all you need to make the excellent decision to work with us. However, if you need more reasons, then read on.

Why work with us

Proven record of success
At one point we had 3 apps in the top 10 of the paid sports category of the App Store. (By the way Equestrian and Country apps are one of our specialties). We've also had a client's mobile app, Polework Patterns, nominated for the 2023 Equestrian Business Awards.

No hassle
We operate a no-hype, no bullsh*t policy. Our goal is to build the best app for you and your business. We like to think we're an approachable bunch, always happy to answer questions, even if you think they might be silly. Chances are they're really not silly at all. Tech is full of jargon (see our guide above) that sounds complicated, but can be readily explained.