Checklist of Best Practices for Great Custom Software Design

App or software development is not cheap. How do you make it a worthy investment? Besides working with an expert Chicago custom software development agency, follow the industry’s best practices checklist.

This article lists five best practices:

• Clearly define your goals and requirements.
• Choose the right technology stack.
• Focus on user experience (UX).
• Plan for scalability and flexibility.
• Prioritize security.

Learn how to execute these tips in the article below! Let’s go!

Watch this video to learn how Digital Authority Partners designs software that works for your business!

1. Clearly Define Your Goals and Requirements

You can stop software development nightmares by knowing your objectives. Clarifying these can immediately answer some of the pressing questions that can provide direction to your project:

• Who is your target audience?
• How soon should you launch the platform?
• What is the best technology or programming language to create the application?
• What features must the application have?
• How much should the budget be?
• Who should compose your software development team? Should you build one in-house or hire an agency?
• How do you measure your performance? What are your key performance indicators (KPIs)?

Because your objectives will serve as a beacon, you should get them right. Use these steps to help:

• Identify your business's needs. Analyze your processes, pain points, and challenges.
• Engage stakeholders from various departments. Gather their insights and perspectives.
• Rank your goals based on their importance and impact on your business.
• Conduct feasibility analysis. Consider factors such as technical feasibility, resource availability, budget constraints, and time limitations.
• Clearly communicate the objectives to your development team or software vendor. Regularly communicate with them to track progress and make necessary adjustments.

2. Choose the Right Technology Stack

The technology stack is a comprehensive list of tools and frameworks developers use to build custom applications. These include:

• Back-end technologies such as Java, PHP, and Node.js
• Databases such as Oracle, MongoDB, and MySQL
• Front-end technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3
• Mobile development tools for Android and iOS
• Cloud platforms to run applications online

Custom software development is innovative, so choosing the right technology stack is essential. It ensures the application is efficient, scalable, and secure. Further, it speeds up the launch and lowers project costs.

3. Focus on User Experience (UX)

In 2007, the iPhone killed the long-standing Nokias and Blackberries, but not because of its features. Sure, its sleek design was nice to have. However, its benefits were what made it a sure win. Imagine combining multiple functions in one portable device, from cameras to sound. Plus, the touchscreen allowed the iPhone to be more interactive while conserving physical space.

The same idea applies to your software. Think of increasing engagement and satisfaction, and your app is less likely to meet a premature end.

A smart Chicago custom software development firm creates a user-oriented app following UX design’s fundamental principles. These include consistency, accessibility, user control, hierarchy, and simplicity. It also:

• Uses innovative design workflow tools to make the app more efficient.
• Analyzes user feedback and data to better understand their objectives and preferences.
• Tests the app in a real-world environment to see if it works and is easy to use for all types of users.
• Speeds up loading times by optimizing the app’s performance and size.
• Integrates cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and augmented reality to improve the user experience.

4. Plan for Scalability and Flexibility

Before TikTok, there was Vine, a Twitter acquisition that hosted short-form videos. It was a massive hit, with over 200 million active users at its peak.

However, after five years, the social media network discontinued it. The reason was that it could not catch up with changes in social media use and design, leading to declining revenues.

Because of its popularity, its competitors rolled out similar features with longer time limits. If Vine took six seconds, Instagram took 15. For content creators and brands, it meant longer exposure and engagement and higher chances for conversion.

Your software can succeed or fail, but you should be prepared for both. One strategy is to plan for flexibility and scalability by:

• Designing a modular architecture. Separating the components ensures that an issue in one part does not affect the rest.
• Maintaining code quality. Keep the code readable, efficient, and regularly maintained for faster development cycles.
• Continuing software upgrade. Update your system with new features to enhance user experience and offer solutions to customer needs.
• Taking advantage of market intelligence. Research competitor products and industry trends to anticipate customer requirements.
• Ensuring ample storage space and bandwidth capacity. This way, your platform can always accommodate a sudden surge in demand.
• Utilizing cloud computing solutions. This reduces hardware costs and makes maintenance easier.

5. Prioritize Security and Data Protection

In May 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) permanently barred a fertility app from disclosing user information to third parties. It also slapped a fine of $100,000 and prevented the software from storing data longer than its intended use.

Security vulnerability is dangerous and costly for any platform’s users and for the business itself. It specifically hurts small enterprises. They often fold because of a damaged reputation, a high data recovery price, and legal fees.

Make information protection and security a priority when designing custom software. Consider these ideas:

• Implement secure coding practices throughout the development process. Adhere to standards, validate user inputs, sanitize data, and use parameterized queries.
• Integrate a robust authentication and authorization mechanism. This way, only authorized users have access to sensitive data and functionalities.
• Use encryption techniques to protect data both in transit and at rest. Choose secure protocols (e.g., HTTPS) to encrypt data during communication and store sensitive information in the database or file systems.
• Conduct regular security and penetration tests. Perform static code analysis, dynamic testing, and security audits to proactively identify and address security gaps.
• Comply with different data protection regulations. Understand the data collection, storage, processing, and user consent requirements.
• Keep your software and underlying frameworks or libraries updated. Regularly apply security patches and updates to address known vulnerabilities or bugs attackers can exploit.

Summing Up

Designing great custom software is challenging. However, following these best practices makes it rewarding and increases your chances of success.

If you are looking for the right team, Digital Authority Partners (DAP) provides personalized platform development services and reliable experts to turn your dream project into reality. Contact us now to learn more about our custom software solutions.