Mobile apps
iPhone and Android apps, one codebase for both
I write mobile apps in Flutter, where one codebase runs on iPhone and Android. I take the app from the idea, through a test version and in-app payments, to release in the App Store and Google Play. My own app, Bag Guard, was built exactly this way.
Bag Guard: the app I built for myself
Bag Guard turns an iPhone into an anti-theft alarm for your bag. You put the phone in the backpack, arm it with one tap, and when someone moves the bag the phone plays a siren at full volume. The app has 10 languages, in-app payments, measured button positions for 33 iPhone models and collects no data.
Why mention it? Because I have walked the whole road: the Apple Developer account, system permissions, tests on real phones, store copy and screenshots in 10 languages, terms and privacy policy, Apple’s review requirements. I will walk the same road with your app, without learning on your project.
What kind of apps I build
- Apps for your customers: bookings, orders, loyalty programmes, access to jobs and documents.
- Apps for your team: field reports, photos from the job, checklists, working time.
- Utility apps sold in the stores, like Bag Guard: one function done properly, with in-app payment.
- Apps connected to your website or business system, so the data lives in one place. See business systems.
How the work goes
- Call. We agree what the app does and what it does not do. A short list of screens instead of a thick specification.
- Mock-up. A clickable design of the screens on a phone, before any code.
- Test version. You install the app on your own phone through TestFlight (iPhone) or internal testing (Android) and send feedback.
- Release. Developer accounts, icons, screenshots, descriptions, privacy policy, submission for review. I answer Apple’s and Google’s remarks.
- Maintenance. New system versions every year need the app checked. We agree on that up front.
Why Flutter
One codebase for iPhone and Android means one app to write and one to maintain instead of two separate teams. Flutter is developed by Google, compiles to native code and allows custom animations and screens that do not look like a form. Where the app needs system features, such as motion sensors, audio or payments, I write native additions.
Questions and answers
How much does a mobile app cost?
It depends on the number of screens, whether the app talks to a server, and whether it has payments, accounts or notifications. A simple utility app is a different order of magnitude from an app with user accounts and an admin panel. Describe the idea and you will get a quote split into stages.
Do I need Apple Developer and Google Play accounts?
Yes, the app is published on your accounts so that you own it. The Apple account costs 99 US dollars a year, Google Play 25 US dollars once. I help set them up.
Will it work on Android?
Yes, the same code runs on both systems. We usually start with one system to get a test version sooner and add the other once the idea is proven.
How long does it take?
From a few weeks for a simple app to a few months for an app with a server and user accounts. The deadline is in the quote, once the list of screens is agreed.
Can you take over an existing app?
If it is written in Flutter, yes. Native apps in Swift or Kotlin I assess separately.