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DevOps – Normally Ignored but an Essential Element

DevOps

Although “silver bullet” methods to improve IT efficiency do not exist, DevOps produced findings that are hard to ignore. As its name indicates, DevOps practices combine software development and the principles of software operations to enable companies to develop their products more quickly and efficiently. For example, TIAA-CREF has seen significant improvements in its $40 billion business using DevOps principles.

Updates are released much faster and, as user expectations have begun to meet, “it regained the confidence that has eroded over the years.” The 2017 DevOps State report results indicate marked differences between DevOps principles-based high-performance organizations and non-DevOps organizations. The report says that high-performing organizations’ software usage frequencies are much higher (46 times more frequent), change lead time is much faster (440 times faster), and software change failure rate is significantly lower (five times less) than their lower-performing counterparts.

Despite these significant advantages, DevOps is a traditional example of a new, serious technological concept, which has all too often been misused or misunderstood. For many, the idea remains fluffy, and DevOps can even be elusive as a basic definition.

This vagueness could potentially affect groups and teams who are incorporating DevOps Principles, create strategic confusion, and hamper DevOps’ efficiency and effectiveness. “We are required to address some questions and determine the problem to be solved,” said an IBM DevOps engineer in an article published by IBM. As the design and maintenance of software gets closer and as businesses become increasingly dependent on cloud infrastructure, managers and project managers need to develop DevOps proficiency so that their teams can remain competitive and perform to their full potential.

DevOps software development should not be regarded as another vague motto, but as an important concept that could improve products and businesses dramatically. In this article, the objective is first and foremost to explain exactly what DevOps is to a relatively non-technical audience. Using particular examples, we will then discuss the principles, and why you and your organization should care about this concept. Amazon Web Services, the largest cloud player and therefore an important development expert for DevOps, uses the same definition: “DevOps combines cultural philosophy, practices, and tools that enhance the organization’s ability to provide applications and services at high speed: developing and improving products more rapidly than organization.

These different concepts are useful for an already well-seasoned audience in connected areas but may be too conceptual for managers with less technical backgrounds. Indeed, perhaps some confusion regarding this concept comes from the fact that it is often mentioned as a type of engineer, practice, and culture at the same time. While DevOps covers each of the elements, it is useful to start by looking at them individually.

DevOps people are essentially those that found interest in the management and development of systems and have chosen to combine their skills to create a better and more unified system.

They can maintain and actively iterate and improve the servers, networks, and other types of infrastructure systems of a company through software development. As Chikilian has said, A DevOps individual is someone that can build on software development foundations to help them, and businesses build better infrastructure handling tools.” Amazon puts it that the ‘combination of cultural philosophies’ refers to the mixture of strategies used by computer programmers with expertise in infrastructure or software operations. In breaking down the traditional barrier between these practices, DevOps is seeking to empower organizations to draw on the distinctive strengths, developers, and experts in infrastructure.

In the 2016 Nordic API Platform Summit, Emily Dowdle mentions that the removal of obstacles also contributes to alleviating the natural frozen relations between developers and experts and promoting a more comfortable work environment in collaboration.

With a knowledge of what DevOps and culture look like, it becomes more apparent what this technological concept means in practice. DevOps is simply said to translate complex manual processes with error-prone interactions into a measurable, easily scalable, instrumental approach. When a developer wants to create an atmosphere that allows enterprise customers to provide feedback, for example, he or she can launch an automated process where the DevOps team can issue a command (rather than handing off a piece of code to the infrastructure team) which accomplishes the task in question consistently, and quickly achieves the expected results, while facilitating collaboration.

In addition to the cultural shift mentioned above – from an enterprise that promotes software developers and infrastructure experts to a company that collaborates – companies need to understand several specific practices and instruments that are crucial for DevOps. Below are three of these most important practices (but certainly not the only ones):

Automation

DevOps plays a central role in increased efficiency by automating a range of slow, burdensome processes in software development and maintenance of infrastructure. The practice of sending relatively small but frequent software updates is a specific example Amazon cites. The system administrators who might otherwise have to perform these updates manually are responsible for this practice. As Amazon notes, this practice also benefits from the de-risk deployment of software by enabling managers to easily capture and fix bugs.

Continuous Integration

DevOps deployment methodology deals with the close co-operation of engineers and entire teams at a fundamental level. The practice of engineering sharing and fusion of code in a central location is referred to in continuous integration. “In the past, a team of developers could work alone for long periods and try to merge only after they’ve finished their work,” explains Amazon. Continuous integration enables engineers to work more effectively to avoid the bottlenecks associated with the development and integration of their code.

Ongoing Delivery

Continuous delivery referring to the practice that changes in a software product are automatically delivered and implemented as they are made. Continuous delivery is enabled with continuous integration, as code changes can be pushed to the whole system effectively only if the code is already central. Continuous delivery also depends on automation. An example of continuous delivery can the sending of small frequent systems updates. Continued delivery enables organizations to quickly implement changes and improvements, allowing engineers to focus their time more efficiently.

The use of DevOps practices has a range of advantages that have already been articulated, including higher efficiency, security, and organizational cooperation. This increase in efficiency is quantified in the 2017 DevOps report which reports that highly effective DevOps-based organizations spend 21% less on unplanned work or rework, and 44% more on new work.

However, in general, implementing DevOps practices successfully can have a profound impact on your business by improving efficiencies and execution in areas that are crucial and decisively unglamorous.

Sunvera can build your intelligent mobile or web software solution using DevOps. Contact us today to get a free consultation.

Real-Time In-App Chat and Communication Apps

Communication apps

You can build and run real-time in-app chat and communication apps, serverless architectures without infrastructure management for your applications and services.

Your application is still running without a server, but AWS does manage all servers for you.

AWS Lambda has been added with many triggers over time. You can answer any API call by calling a lambda function via tools such as Amazon Cloud Watch Events. By leveraging this, we can easily add other ready-to-use features to our application.

The chat application we are building represents a full server-free architecture that provides a basic chat application with added features.

Over time, AWS Lambda has grown to include a lot of functionalities. One such function is to use the Lambda function to include tools like AWS API which enhances the Amazon Cloud Event.

The results are completely operational, with the CloudFormation stack being launched, and with the API Gateway, AWS Lambda, and DynamoDB are what help the functionality of the chat services to be more effective.

Using platforms like Pubnub help you establish mobile chats that takes care of customer queries in real time. Using in-app chat, press notifications, location tracking, and more, you can leverage the power of the hosted real-time APIs.

Having a chatbot present at all times is a great way to let the customers engage with the app and allow them to be heard. Furthermore, as the users have most of their needs being met via Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms, it is pointless to develop a new app just for the sake of having a chatbot, the smarter way to approach it is by integrating the chatbots into the poplar platforms and let them learn from the interactions that they have with the users there.

Serverless is a cloud technology, where there are not many customized codes to write, communication protocols defined, server configurations installed, etc. A few sections later we take a short introduction to serverless, but for now, we want to stress why this is extremely important. The fortunes of many customers who wanted to build a chat solution and make it ready for production in 25 days have been changed. We can easily do this within 15 days by writing and integrating other services into it (Too much focus on server, need article to start off with the actual topic, which is in-app chat and communication apps.

The cost and time considerations of projects were the crucial and decisive factors when we see the work that Fortune 500 companies do, for example. Overrunning time may cost you the project twice or thrice.

Why is that not the problem when using the serverless system?

Serverless offers you the freedom to work on a managed infrastructure that reduces workloads drastically and allows you to use your vital resources for some other tasks.

No servers need to be managed from now on and instead focus on new features in your application. During the development and operation of an app, undifferentiated heavy lifting measures such as software installation, server management, patch coordinating, and scaling are provided to meet demand.

In addition to being proactive when it comes to customer service, the chatbots come in handy when the customers come on to the messenger to talk to someone, and if you do not have a customer service executive available, then the customers can engage with the chatbots who will keep them on the line. By doing so, the customer service executive can then take over the conversation by then.

If the app is gaining traffic but is unable to convert it into sales, then the chatbot can reach out to the customers with a form to ask them why they did not purchase anything. By doing so, the developers will have a clear idea about the reasons and have the data necessary to ensure that they can work on those issues and work them to convert traffic into sales.

How to create a chatbot?

If you are a coding geek then you can code a chatbot framework into existence, however, if you have no clue about coding and want to create a chatbot then you can do that as well. Let us go over both coding and non-coding options to create a chatbot.

Non-coding options

Several platforms are quite popular when it comes to creating a chatbot and are easy to use. Every step of the way, you will be asked to enter relevant information which will be used to determine how the chatbot will perform. Follow the following steps to better help you understand what your chatbot needs to be:

Know the kind of chatbot you want – This is where you ask what the chatbot needs to achieve. It can either be a simple chatbot that responds to greetings and is governed by rules which dictate how it performs. On the other hand, it can be an adaptive AI-powered chatbot that enables the chatbot to learn from the user interactions and grow.

Select the platform for the use of the chatbot – Where is the chatbot going to be deployed? Facebook, Instagram, or will it be hosted on your website? In any case, know where it is going to be deployed and again, it all boils down to the goal that you are trying to achieve with the chatbot.

Opt for the right technology stack – Once you have decided what the chatbot is going to be doing and where it is going to be working, then you can move on to the next step, which is choosing where and how to build it. You can either opt for a chatbot developer to design the bot for you or you can use the DIY platforms that are available online.

Design the Conversation

This is where you teach the bot what to do and if you have opted for chatbot development options of a developer then they will get it done for you, but if you have opted for DIY chatbot platforms then the process is as simple as dragging and dropping. Once done, then you can move on to testing and then deploying the bot in the field.

Coding Options

If you decide to code the chatbot into existence then you can opt for Python, as that is the most popular option for most chatbot developers. The reason why developers opt for Python is that it is equipped with Artificial Intelligence Markup Language, which makes life easier for developers when they create syntax for complicated chatbot features. In addition to this, Python is used to create all the conversational aspects that are hosted by the server.

In either case, you can opt for Sunvera as we enable you to unlock the full potential of your business by setting up a chatbot for your business, or other in-app chat and communication apps. In doing so, we help you gain more customers by having much more efficient customer service. We understand the importance of having responsive customer service and it is for this reason that we help you with your automated chat needs.

How Can We Use Agile Development Methodology to Reduce Costs?

Agile development

You can build and run real-time in-app chat and communication apps, serverless architectures without infrastructure management for your applications and services.

Your application is still running without a server, but AWS does manage all servers for you.

AWS Lambda has been added with many triggers over time. You can answer any API call by calling a lambda function via tools such as Amazon Cloud Watch Events. By leveraging this, we can easily add other ready-to-use features to our application.

The chat application we are building represents a full server-free architecture that provides a basic chat application with added features.

Over time, AWS Lambda has grown to include a lot of functionalities. One such function is to use the Lambda function to include tools like AWS API which enhances the Amazon Cloud Event.

The results are completely operational, with the CloudFormation stack being launched, and with the API Gateway, AWS Lambda, and DynamoDB are what help the functionality of the chat services to be more effective.

Using platforms like Pubnub help you establish mobile chats that takes care of customer queries in real time. Using in-app chat, press notifications, location tracking, and more, you can leverage the power of the hosted real-time APIs.

Having a chatbot present at all times is a great way to let the customers engage with the app and allow them to be heard. Furthermore, as the users have most of their needs being met via Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms, it is pointless to develop a new app just for the sake of having a chatbot, the smarter way to approach it is by integrating the chatbots into the poplar platforms and let them learn from the interactions that they have with the users there.

Serverless is a cloud technology, where there are not many customized codes to write, communication protocols defined, server configurations installed, etc. A few sections later we take a short introduction to serverless, but for now, we want to stress why this is extremely important. The fortunes of many customers who wanted to build a chat solution and make it ready for production in 25 days have been changed. We can easily do this within 15 days by writing and integrating other services into it.

The cost and time considerations of projects were the crucial and decisive factors when we see the work that Fortune 500 companies do, for example. Overrunning time may cost you the project twice or thrice.

Why is that not the problem when using the serverless system?

Serverless offers you the freedom to work on a managed infrastructure that reduces workloads drastically and allows you to use your vital resources for some other tasks.

No servers need to be managed from now on and instead focus on new features in your application. During the development and operation of an app, undifferentiated heavy lifting measures such as software installation, server management, patch coordinating, and scaling are provided to meet demand.

In addition to being proactive when it comes to customer service, the chatbots come in handy when the customers come on to the messenger to talk to someone, and if you do not have a customer service executive available, then the customers can engage with the chatbots who will keep them on the line. By doing so, the customer service executive can then take over the conversation by then.

If the app is gaining traffic but is unable to convert it into sales, then the chatbot can reach out to the customers with a form to ask them why they did not purchase anything. By doing so, the developers will have a clear idea about the reasons and have the data necessary to ensure that they can work on those issues and work them to convert traffic into sales.

How to create a chatbot?

If you are a coding geek then you can code a chatbot framework into existence, however, if you have no clue about coding and want to create a chatbot then you can do that as well. Let us go over both coding and non-coding options to create a chatbot.

Non-coding options

Several platforms are quite popular when it comes to creating a chatbot and are easy to use. Every step of the way, you will be asked to enter relevant information which will be used to determine how the chatbot will perform. Follow the following steps to better help you understand what your chatbot needs to be:

Know the kind of chatbot you want – This is where you ask what the chatbot needs to achieve. It can either be a simple chatbot that responds to greetings and is governed by rules which dictate how it performs. On the other hand, it can be an adaptive AI-powered chatbot that enables the chatbot to learn from the user interactions and grow.

Select the platform for the use of the chatbot – Where is the chatbot going to be deployed? Facebook, Instagram, or will it be hosted on your website? In any case, know where it is going to be deployed and again, it all boils down to the goal that you are trying to achieve with the chatbot.

Opt for the right technology stack – Once you have decided what the chatbot is going to be doing and where it is going to be working, then you can move on to the next step, which is choosing where and how to build it. You can either opt for a chatbot developer to design the bot for you or you can use the DIY platforms that are available online.

Design the Conversation

This is where you teach the bot what to do and if you have opted for chatbot development options of a developer then they will get it done for you, but if you have opted for DIY chatbot platforms then the process is as simple as dragging and dropping. Once done, then you can move on to testing and then deploying the bot in the field.

Coding Options

If you decide to code the chatbot into existence then you can opt for Python, as that is the most popular option for most chatbot developers. The reason why developers opt for Python is that it is equipped with Artificial Intelligence Markup Language, which makes life easier for developers when they create syntax for complicated chatbot features. In addition to this, Python is used to create all the conversational aspects that are hosted by the server.

In either case, you can opt for Sunvera as we enable you to unlock the full potential of your business by setting up a chatbot for your business, or other in-app chat and communication apps. In doing so, we help you gain more customers by having much more efficient customer service. We understand the importance of having responsive customer service and it is for this reason that we help you with your automated chat needs.Unlike the Waterfall Methodology, both testing as well as development, are worked upon side by side in Agile Development Methodology. This model allows for more communication between all the parties involved i.e., developers, customers, managers, and testers. Furthermore, this model is collaboration-centric, which means that communication is the key here and tasks are broken down into smaller tasks which are then given a deadline to finish by. Agile Development Methodology is more flexible than the former, as it allows for the scope of the project to change once the development has started.

The customer process is focused. This ensures that the customer participates constantly during all phases.

Agile groups are highly self-motivated so that the development plans can produce a better outcome.

This method ensures that development quality is maintained, and the process is based entirely on progress.

The customer and team, therefore, know exactly what is or isn’t complete. In the development process, this decreases the risk.

A proven and effective software model for creating software is Agile and Lean. Millions of software engineers have thus understood and seen the benefits of software development. Agile has benefits, to name but a few, from increased cooperation, higher quality, and better morals. However, what does that mean for less technical people in the enterprise? Agile ultimately leads to cost savings due to the underlying principles. What are Agile and Lean’s fundamental principles? Let us relate them to the cost of developing software.

Simplicity (note: that doesn’t mean it’s easy)

All Agile is deliberately simple, from team processes such as scrum through development practices like small unit tests. The easiest way to achieve results is to stop at enough and avoid over-engineering a solution, which results in missed deadlines and subsequent cost overruns.

Value of Business

Working software on comprehensive documentation is a vital element of the Agile Manifesto. Document reams before development add value-free costs. Documentation rams that are never used are waste. A development team focuses on business value in each activity, reducing the risk of overwhelming the cost and preventing costly activities which offer no value. Apart from that: “Agile” does not say “do not produce documentation” – instead, create “just enough” to satisfy your audience’s needs.

Throughout Quality

Agile encourages small workloads to be completed. Whilst “done” per team is subjective, the agile teams usually maintain a high standard of quality in 2-3 weeks. This reduces technical debt to a minimum. Technical debt is defined as technical problems to be addressed before it becomes more substantial and important as financial debt accumulates interest. For instance, a bug found now but not fixed until months later causes the code area where the bug lies to be learned again and a big context switch for a developing device.

Commitment and Responsibilities

The agile development methodology process and commitments are made far less than historical models of development such as a waterfall. It is unrealistic to ask a team to commit 18 months in advance to several projects with fixed dates, fixed functionality, and a fixed development budget. Because the team is essentially set up to fail, the delay costs increase with the failure to deliver. If the team fails to achieve quality, customer content decreases, affecting sales and revenue. Agile supports short-term (such as a calendar quarter) commitments with stretch objectives and holds the individual responsible. Developers have less trouble committing themselves to shorter times.

Quick and Unprecedented Delivery

The provision of software allows a fast feedback cycle, which reduces the risk that the wrong functionality can be developed to solve the problem of the user. Users cannot articulate exactly what they want without first seeing something in action. Fast delivery provides the user with an overview of your software and helps the team to make sure we do not produce features that are not used. Although software repair usually requires some time based on corrective user feedback, the cost is considerably lower than that of having to refurbish its functionality in larger chunks with long periods of several months.

Transparency and Cooperation

In general, agile and lean teams work much more effectively than in other software models. Agile, even with some of its necessary tools, encourage this collaboration. For example, agile teams use user stories to start a talk and collaborate on what needs to be built in real-time, rather than specifying requirements that take a few weeks to write and are updated when they reach the printer. This means faster marketing time, which contributes to sales.

In addition, Agile virtually eliminates the role of the project manager that is required for longer-term efforts. This means potential headcount cost savings.

As the progress of agile teams is transparent, no middle managers collect the status reports continuously. Development and metrics for teams using a software management tool like Jira are instead available at the click of a button and groups with Scrum or Kanban’s physical boards are updated every day. It is all less overwhelming.

However, since Agile relies on the concept that teams will not know how their outcome (or even a few delivery cycles) looks from day one, it is hard to predict efforts such as cost, time, and resources at the start of a project (and this challenge becomes more pronounced as projects get bigger and more complex). Incremental supply can help to make products available faster, but Agile methodology is also a major disadvantage. This is because the complete output often becomes very fragmented rather than a single unit when teams work for each component in different cycles.

Documentation occurs in Agile during a project and often “in time” to create the output, not at the start. This makes it less detailed and often comes down to the back burner. The fact that Agile needs minimal planning at first makes it easy to unlock new, unforeseen functionality. It also means that projects do not have an end as the “final product” is never clear.

Agile can influence the needs of a company, and leaders need to understand how they can do it and what they can do to support it. However, bear in mind that it does not mean “Agile” just because a team is saying it is. The team does not become agile, for example, with a “Daily Scrum.” The team must follow the core principles, leveraging support practices based on these principles, to fully realize the cost benefits of Agile and Lean software development. Using an Agile Coach driven by third parties to evaluate the use of Agile helps you to realize the cost efficiencies Agile and Lean are supposed to deliver.

In the end,  the cost of software development should not be a bother as Agile is a powerful software development tool that not only provides the development team with benefits but also offers its customers several important business benefits. Agile supports project teams with more controlled management of many of the most common project falls (such as cost, planning, and scope predictability). Agile is slimmer and more business-focused by reorganizing and reviewing the activities involved in custom software development.

Measuring project achievements are more accurate and relevant than the measures used in traditional methodologies, which Agile teams use in estimating the times and costs. In Agile, results are produced, and performance optimization is emphasized. Waterfall metrics demonstrate the close monitoring of the estimated cost and time of the project.

The Agile development methodology produces significant measurements like lead time, cycle time, and capacity, which helps to measure the performance of the team, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions to correct them.

With Sunvera, you can rest easy knowing that we will deploy the best Agile Methodology techniques to ensure that you can save on cost and time. By partnering with us, you can hand your app or software development project over to us, and then you will have more time on your hands to focus your attention on other needs of your company.

Creating Next-Level Games for Android & iPhone

Smartphone game production is growing constantly while the involvement of users in apps is simultaneously increasing. These days we do not use our mobile phones only as entertainment to perform actions such as sending messages or monitoring information. Thanks to technologies in the industry and certain platforms, games for Android and iPhone are becoming very popular worldwide. Moreover, today many people are playing with smartphones, tablets, and mobile games, and games can be a great business if ran properly – so there’s no excuse for you to not get involved.

And don’t stress, we’ve got you covered as always. If you feel frustrated and think it’s a tough task to create games, try this article about the 20 best mobile gaming engines, and find that you don’t need to be a specialist to develop an impressive game. Some are free, some are not.

The Play Store is full of gaming applications, but imagination and individuality are mostly a short distance away. However, if you want to create a top-class app, then simplicity, commitment, and users’ experience are very important.  The experts must also be trusted. In just one take, no idea gets a glimpse. Continue to improve the idea until you arrive at the best point.

Most downloads are provided in games like the Clash of Clans as the game has a story. It is the easiest part of any strategy for game development. Creating a fascinating story, in which people remain tempted to know what is next, is crucial to their popularity.  Your game characters must portray your story and, if it does so, then you have perfected the first step in making your game application for Android.

A fun strategy with controls takes a long time to consider how to build a successful game app. Check for easy access of elements involved per screen size. To keep players affixed, you can raise difficulty levels and unlock some points or powers each time a player wins a game.

It is not easy to entice players if they have many options. During the growth of technology game apps, the designer must look after the character, story, and art, as well as the look and feel of the game. It is much harder to create a game design than to build a standard app.

The size of a game app for Android/IOS is always a significant consideration. The display must never look cramped with design features to provide a great user experience. The visuals must be consistent with the gameplay logic.

How to make money from game development?

Developing a game requires resources such as talent and hospitality.

You can earn money with a free version of the app, but it is essential to have a monetization policy when designing your Android or iOS game app. Some of the most popular ways to do so are:

  • A pay-per-click income model to monetize your popular game. If you click on a clip or ad link, the player is paid, often in points. In return for viewing ad videos and/or going to invite more friends and family to participate in the game, the players get benefits of their own.
  • The other option is for the smartphone game app to be free, and the user may choose to use an Ad-free version with the compensated app alternative to appreciate ad-free gaming.
  • Known as in-app shopping, this is a perfect way to encourage players to continue playing while your app generates revenue. If the players can purchase gems or diamonds to release the next level, you give them a comparative edge at a cost of a dollar. You must always have a viable way of gaining funding from the app in your game app. It makes even more sense to enable options for buying gems with more users because of multi-player games.

What kind of games for Android and iPhone are popular?

Puzzle Games

The most famous genre in the world is jigsaw puzzle games. Brain puzzles are the highest level of involvement right from a simple puzzle into mathematical puzzles such as Sudoku. The most popular types of puzzles are brain puzzles or puzzle matching.

Casual games

Talking Tom games with a low study curve and players are fun as they find a place in most smartphones with simple rules to follow but are often not played.

Strategy-Driven Games

The success of games like Clash Royale and Clash of Clans are proof that strategic games are extremely popular. The developer focuses on strategy development in real-time while consistently improving on UI / UX and other features. Such games provide players with a sense of urgency and are very addictive.

Arcade Games

The highly competitive mobile gaming landscape was led by arcade games. These games are easy to build because they need no story. More attention is given to the difficulty levels. Since these are easy to play and the competitiveness is increased in real-time, arcade games for Android and iPhone are immensely popular with players.

What platforms help with game development?

There are a variety of gaming engines and tools that help develop fantastic gaming apps. Have a look at how to use these tools to make a gaming app for iOS/Android:

Construct 3.

You don’t need to be a coding buff to create a game app. Construct 3’s notoriety hit its peak as game designers don’t have to write a single piece of code. Driven by an adaptive GUI, it offers designers the best they could develop games instead of being caught up in coding and debugging routines.  Drag-and-drop elements ease development stress and in just three months you can create high-quality gaming apps.

Gamemaker Studio 2

GameMaker Studio 2 provides flexibility for both programmers and non-coders, combining coding and drag and drop capabilities. To add the functionality of GameMaker Studio 2, programmers can choose to combine their idea with a C-like programming language.

UNITY

If you are looking to create a free game app by using a framework to create games on current trends, Unity is the one for you. Unity supports both 2D and 3D game developments so that you can build powerful games if you aren’t familiar with the mobile game app computer language.

GODOT Engine

Godot is adored by the game design community because it supports 2D and 3D games. Godot Engine offers better performance than Unity and fewer bugs by using a cleaner code.

UNREAL Engine 4

UNREAL Engine 4 is a very future-oriented and mature instrument for developing games that make a difference. The engine’s core is ideal to support the next-gen of features and helps develop custom-made gaming applications.

Sunvera can help you develop your next-generation gaming app from start-to-finish. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Pros and Cons of App Development Software

App development software

We are living in the era of modern technology. Everything is becoming digitalized. Let’s take the example of apps; apps have made our lives much more accessible. They can do many innovative things that were just possible in dreams 50 years ago. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of app development software. But before discussing the main topic, let us discuss what app development software is.

Have you ever thought about how many apps are available in the Google Play Store? Currently, 3.04 million apps are sitting in the Google Play Store, and this number is increasing gradually.

App development is the process of building new applications, and one way this can be done is with the help of using different app developing software, like Flutter, Bizness Apps, Appy Pie, Zoho creator, etc., or with the help of coding and programming, and these applications can run on any platform like Android and iOS, etc. Developing an app with programming support is a difficult task. That is why some developers prefer to use software to build apps, but the main method to create an app is by using programming; many top-rated companies hire programmers for app development.

Coming back to the main topic, let us go over some pros and cons of app development software. Firstly, we will discuss the pros of these software.

Pros of App Development Software

Let us start to discuss the pros of app development websites and software.

Provide Elegant User Interface and User Experience

User interface and user experience (UI/UX) is the core element of an app. The design of the whole app depends on the quality of the user interface and user experience. User interface and user experience also give a tough time to the app developer, and app developers invest a lot of their time designing them as they are crucial for an app.

According to Forrester’s research, UI design has the power to boost the conversion rate of your site or app by 200%, and good quality UX design can raise the conversion rate of your site or app by 400%. The best app development website and software has the most attractive and engaging UI/UX templates that can surely decrease the bounce rate of your app. In short, if a developer is using an app development website or software, then he does not need to design UI/UX; he can use the already designed templates.

No need to use Programming Skills

Sometimes programming becomes a headache for many developers. Programming needs high-class skills, valuable experience, consistency, a focused mind, and total concentration. Many app developers are not ready for programming just because they want to save their time. So, to overcome this headache, many app development software is allowing the user to build an exceptional and high-quality app without doing any coding. This factor of ready-to-use software attracts many developers to switch from programming to an app development app.  App development software has custom-built features and some unique drag and drop options that only require you to provide your ideas and concepts to the team, and they will manage all the concepts and construct your whole app.

Complete Guidance and assistance

App developing software provides you complete guidance from start to end. A beginner can quickly learn app development with the help of software. They even benefit you after publishing your app, and they send you notifications regarding your app’s performance, updates, etc. When publishing your app, a good app builder reviews your application thoroughly and guides you if your app needs any modifications. Modern app builders have a unique feature that allows you to check your app before publishing it into the app store.

Cons of App Development Software

As we have discussed, the various software for building apps has many benefits, but on the other hand, they also have many cons. Let us discuss some of the cons of these off-the-shelf software.

Non-customizable templates and designs

Many companies design their app using pre-made templates and designs, but some top-notch companies and brands do not prefer these already made templates; they want to build their app according to their vision and expectations. So, in this step, most app development software fails; because most app builder software has only pre-made themes and templates, you cannot design your template according to your own vision. To develop a more flexible and valuable app, it’s better to choose an app builder that offers many customizable options and gives you complete control.

Do not have the ability to code and edit

Many app development apps give you full assistance, but still, you are limited in many ways. You cannot do some changes with customization because they do not have the ability for coding. You can say that you do not have complete control over your app and that may restrict you from modifying your app structure. Due to the limited features of in-app developing software, there are chances to lose some high-rated projects from your hand. So, this is the downside for app-building software. Always do good research on the features of app builder software before using them.

Need High budget

Significant and high-quality customization will give you an edge over other apps, but it also requires a high budget.

To use all the features of app builder software and access their services requires a high budget; otherwise, you cannot benefit from all the features and design the type of app which you deemed for. Most leading app development websites charge a remarkably high price to buy their premium service.

The app is not 100% yours

You may think that you can become the complete owner of an app that you build with the help of different app builder software, but that is not true. You cannot 100% become the owner. Your app builder platform has the right to remove your app at any time if you violate its policies. They even have the right to delete your user account.

Third-party services

Any app built by using any app development app or software does not have the option to integrate any third-party services. Developers are bound to use only the assistance of their app builder software. Most app development software has lost its worth due to this drawback.

Conclusion

So, as you see, most of these software have more drawbacks rather than benefits. So, it is crucial to choose the right app development platform that will give you more benefits, a lot of customizable options, and complete control.

Sunvera can help you build your custom business mobile app. Our employees have 30+ years of app development experience, and we have built apps for various industries, including but not limited to healthcare, agriculture, retail, real estate, and more. Contact us today to book a 30-minute call and discuss your business.

Sunvera Software Recognized as a Top Software Development Company in California by DesignRush

DesignRush has recognized Sunvera Software as one of the top 30 software development companies based in California. The DesignRush team has evaluated thousands of companies and agencies to create a comprehensive guide to help direct customers to the best companies within a particular area of expertise. Being included in this list is another significant milestone and achievement for Sunvera Software and a beneficial partnership with DesignRush. 

Sunvera Software was founded in 2012 in an Irvine garage by Ram Iyer. Since the inception of Sunvera Software, the company has grown and now has offices in Irvine, CA and Phoenix, AZ. Sunvera Software specializes in custom software development, including mobile applications, cloud migration, and emerging technologies. Sunvera Software has also branched out into different verticals such as healthcare, agriculture, and education since 2012. 

In the past year, we have been delighted to be included in a handful of top companies’ lists, and this is another one that we are excited about. As the leader in providing intelligent software solutions for small and mid-sized businesses, Sunvera is thrilled to be featured in this list among other top agencies in software development. 

Our approach is simple. We don’t provide services, we provide solutions. Sunvera makes business easier to manage by improving operational efficiency while reducing costs to run your business. Whether that is through a mobile app or a web-based solution, we’ve got you covered. Book a quick 30-minute call with us to get started!

What Makes the Samsung SmartTag so Special?

Samsung SmartTag

Samsung has recently revealed one of their newest products, the Galaxy SmartTag and the SmartTag+. The difference between these two versions of the Galaxy SmartTag is that the SmartTag + uses Ultra wide band technology combined with Bluetooth low energy signals that can give an exact location for your SmartTag through Samsung’s SmartThings Find service. SmartThings Find service can be accessed through the SmartThings app. The regular SmartTag device only uses Bluetooth low energy signals to find your device. The SmartTag+ uses the same bluetooth low energy signals as the regular SmartTag device, but it also uses Ultra Wide Band technology. The Ultra wide band technology used in the SmartTag + can enable Augmented Reality to help lead you to your device using your phone’s camera. If you are interested in using these features of the SmartTag + you will need to have a Galaxy S21+ or S21 Ultra. 

One reason why the Galaxy SmartTag is so special is that you can find your tagged device even if it’s out of range of Bluetooth. Samsung gives users the option to join SmartThings app which uses Samsung devices to help find others missing SmartTags. The way this works is that once you report your SmartTag’d device missing any other galaxy phones or devices that are by your SmartTag will alert the SmartThings app with your device’s location. All of this data transmitted between the SmartThings app and SmartTags will be encrypted and only the owner will be able to see the devices location.

Another feature added to the SmartTag is the ability to find your SmartTag even with a device that is offline. And, on top of this, Samsung has designed the SmartTag to be able to store a history of where the tag has been which can allow users to easily retrace their steps. Once you have retraced your steps and are near your SmartTag it will give users an option of playing a sound or ringtone outloud to help users easily find where it is. With these features, Samsung is making it almost impossible to lose anything again as long as you tagged it with a SmartTag. However, Samsung did not create this product just to find lost items. Samsung developed the SmartTag to also pair with a smart home and allows the SmartTag to be assigned an action for devices in your smart home. The SmartTag needs to be connected to an IoT device that is registered in the SmartThings app in order for these functions to be accessed. If you already own a Samsung device, it seems there is no reason not to invest in the SmartTag, as it is a device that can access and activate devices in your smarthome in an instant, and help you find any items you may lose at the same time. 

Currently the SmartTag+ is being sold at $39.99 for one and $64.99 for a two-pack. The standard edition SmartTag can be bought for $29.99. There is also an option of a two-pack and four-pack costing $49.99 and $84.99. 

Sunvera Software builds mobile apps with UWB capabilities. Schedule a free call today.

New Apps Will Need to Cater To These Three New PERMANENT Technologies

Mobile app

Building a mobile app requires doing plenty of market research, not just on the estimated number of people who will use your app, but also on the technologies that you will want to incorporate to your app. Here are three new permanent technologies that you will want to keep in mind when building new apps.

Ultra Wide Band Technology (UWB)

UWB technology is a recent development in technology. With newer phones and devices able to run off 5G, it will help the growth of UWB and ultimately lead to more UWB capabilities and features. One thing that UWB can do right now precisely tracks a device’s location. UWB has been seen in Apple’s AirTag and Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag+. UWB is more accurate when locating another appliance due to UWB using radio waves at high frequencies. Using radio waves at high frequencies makes it easier for devices to capture highly accurate spatial and directional data.  

Augmented Reality (AR)

AR technology has continued to grow over recent years and has been useful in helping users visualize things by bringing the real world into their phones. Two good examples of AR use cases are with shopping catalogs and Samsung’s new SmartTag+. Some companies have felt that AR can help make the online shopping experience more accurate and even lets consumers visualize how the clothing will appear in different environments. In the case of the SmartTag+, Samsung has developed the SmartTag to help find lost things, and by pairing AR within the SmartTag+, users will be able to use their camera to get an accurate description of the directions and distance you need to go to find your device. AR makes your surroundings come alive with data, images, and unique experiences super-imposed on the world around you

Virtual Reality (VR)

VR is similar to AR because both of these technologies have been growing in recent history, and companies are trying to find more ways to implement these technologies into their businesses. Marketers have been intrigued by VR technology because they feel it can help keep the attention of consumers. VR requires consumers and users to step into a wholly computerized, virtual world that is controlled by the brands and businesses that design it. VR is also becoming increasingly popular in today’s day and age due to the limited attention spans of consumers on the internet. However, with VR, the consumer has to be engrossed with one thing, and that is whatever is being shown in virtual reality. Six reasons for why VR is so important to include in your apps: High sensory impact, Story-living rather than telling, 100% of a user’s attention, emotional experiences, VR is transportative, and Flexibility. These six reasons are a great example of why new apps should cater to VR because it can allow you to capture users attention for longer while being completely focused. There is an immense amount of competition when it comes to the app marketplace, so VR is a way to stand out from competition. Because VR is still continuing to grow and improve, it is important developers focus on creating good, impactful VR to help their app become more successful

The difference between Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality is that virtual reality creates an environment built through computer technology. Augmented reality uses real-world data and combines it with virtual data and information to create a new, enhanced environment for users. So VR creates a whole new environment, whereas AR builds upon the existing environment with technology. 

Sunvera can build your next mobile app. Schedule a free 30-minute call with us today to discuss your new app.

How the Apple AirTag Works With Your Iphone

Apple AirTag

Apple has recently introduced one of their newest products, Apple AirTag. The AirTag is a small metal disc that can be attached to items to ensure you don’t lose them. The AirTag works in unison with your iPhones Bluetooth and Find My app. In addition, the introduction of Ultra Wide Band technology in newer iPhones can precisely track your AirTag, ensuring you won’t lose whatever item you have tagged. 

How it works is that your Apple AirTag will send a secure Bluetooth signal that nearby devices will then detect in the Find My network (hyperlink apple). The AirTag location information goes into the iCloud, where you will then be able to see your device on a map within the Find My app. If your AirTag is out of range of your iPhone’s Bluetooth signal, it will give you the location of where your AirTag was found last. From this point, it will continue to provide the most recent location until you move into range of the Bluetooth signal again, and once in range again, the Bluetooth tracking of the AirTag will resume. When in range, the AirTag has a feature to play a sound to help you find your missing item. Apple announced that the AirTag would work more efficiently with iPhones and devices with Apple’s U1 Chip, enabling Ultra Wide Band. The AirTag connected to the U1 chip can offer precise location rather than the general area due to Ultra Wide Band technology. So if you own an iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max, you’ll be able to see the distance to your AirTag as well as what direction you need to go to get to it (Hyperlink Apple). 

If you do not own the newer versions of the iPhone, the base-model AirTag works using Bluetooth signals for:

  • iOS 14.5 or later
  • iPhone SE, 6S or Later
  • iPod Touch 7th generation or later
  • iPad Pro 5th generation or later
  • iPad Air 2 or later
  • iPad Mini 4 

And even though you won’t get the direction and distance to your Apple AirTag, you will still be able to see its general location through your devices’ Bluetooth signal and the Find My app.

AirTag also has an option called Lost Mode. When Lost Mode is enabled you will get a notification anytime a device goes within the area of your AirTag, and Apple has added a feature that gives consumers the option of allowing their contact information to be tied to their AirTag so if found by a stranger, they will be able to contact you with the location of your AirTag. 

Apple has addressed that no location data or history will be stored on your AirTag. In addition, the owner of the AirTag will be the only person able to see its location. Even the devices that send the signals to and from the AirTag will remain anonymous. A few other features of the AirTag include long battery life and the AirTag is water resistant. Apple claims that your AirTag should be able to last over a year running off of a standard battery. 

Apple has announced that the AirTag will be available to purchase for $29, or sold in a pack of four AirTags for $99.

Sunvera Software is the best iOS app making firm in Orange County. We build intelligent iOS mobile applications with UWB compatability. Schedule a free consultation today.

5 Use Cases for Ultra Wideband (UWB) Technology

UWB technology

You may have been hearing the term ‘Ultra Wideband’ going around for quite some time now, but what exactly is it? Why are leaders in tech such as Apple, Android, and Google looking to incorporate UWB to their devices all of a sudden? After all, people only care about something  if it will directly benefit them, so we have compiled a list of five use cases for ultra wideband (UWB) technology, to benefit both consumers and businesses.

Social Distancing

UWB can be utilized to safely and easily conduct social distancing measures, whether you are an individual who walks into a crowded grocery store, or you are an executive leader who wants your employees to be spread out at work to keep your office environment safe. A handful of businesses are taking advantage of UWB to resume operations, including this museum. With the use of tags, people can be alerted as soon as they come into close proximity with another person, so they can quickly step away from them. 

Item Navigation

Imagine how much more efficient everyday processes can get if one could easily locate where they have lost something, or multiple items. Maybe you lost a remote, or as a business you are trying to locate lost carts and equipment. One specific use case is hospitals, which need a good medical device tracking system to save loads of time. As long as a tag is installed in the objects, they are easily trackable. 

Lock/Unlock Doors

For everyday convenience, try locking and unlocking your doors with UWB. This includes any and all doors including your house door, car door, office door etc. As you may or may not have heard, this luxury is available on the Iphone 11 and later Apple phones, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Just one way to make life simpler when you are running late!

AR/VR Headsets

The problem with the Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality headsets we see everywhere right now are that they are very heavy, since they use a heavy battery. UWB reduces the amount of battery needed for the headsets to properly function, and can make using them a lot more enjoyable. 5G Ultra Wideband is quickly transforming the world of AR/VR with a heavy (no pun intended) focus on user experience. 

Secure Data Transfer

Individuals can safely transfer data with one another without the risk of outside threats. This includes secure payments, or if you just want to share files and photos with someone. All you have to do is point your phone at their phone, and the transfer takes place. Companies can also transfer data through UWB.

These are just some of the many use cases for Ultra Wideband (UWB) to simplify operations and create overall better experiences. Keep in mind that UWB can work through various devices, and we did an entire post on 4 Devices That Use UWB. There is no doubt that this radio technology will have a greater presence in our lives just months from now. 

Since a handful of newer phones have UWB capability, this only means that there is a high potential to build mobile apps that are compatible with UWB, as it will soon become a part of our everyday lives, just as smartphones have transformed our daily lives. 

Sunvera builds next-generation mobile apps that work with UWB technology. Call us for a free consultation today.

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