How to Build High-Performing Web Apps in 2022

Intro

In contrast to native mobile apps, web applications provide users with more flexibility and functionality, as they can be accessed via the internet browser and will adapt to whichever device you use at the moment. Not to mistake them for websites (especially considering how many of them provide a great deal of interactivity today), web apps can also function as downloadable apps to access from your desktop only.

However, it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to build a high-performing web app that will ensure a seamless experience for hundreds of thousands of users. As such, you must approach the development as thoroughly as possible to cover all the most important aspects of the process with due attention to details – from application type and tech stack to design, quality assurance, and post-launch support.

Join us as we go through the most critical steps of web app development – only then will you be able to build a high-performance web application in 2022.

Choose the Right Tech Stack

The first thing you need to do is pick the right tech stack for your web app project. The technology you use will determine the app’s speed, security, scalability, and other vital performance characteristics.

A tech stack is a combination of technologies that will help you build and run your application – programming languages, frameworks, databases, frontend and backend tools.

As of today, the most popular web app development frameworks are Ruby on Rails, Django, and Express.js, while _Nodejs _development services provide a runtime environment that helps developers write server-side applications in JavaScript.

If you are interested in the latter, you can visit the following link to learn more about its advantages: https://tsh.io/services/web-development/node/

As for the databases, MySQL is used in most web applications, as it’s an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS). However, PostgreSQL has been gaining more and more popularity in recent years due to better integration with frameworks.

As such, the most common tech stacks used in web app development are the MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, Node.js) and the LAMP (Linux, Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, PHP).

Decide on the Web Application Type

The next thing you need to do is decide on the type of web application you want to create. Let’s have a closer look at three of the most commonly occurring web applications out there:

• Single-page applications (SPAs) that function as a single HTML page. SPAs use HTML and JavaScript features that serve as their frontend and a separate framework consequently serves as their functional backend to create fluid and responsive web apps without having to reload the page. The most popular examples of SPAs are Gmail, Airbnb, and Netflix.
• Multi-page applications (MPAs) consist of a number of static pages. MPAs load each new page from the server when a user clicks on a link. The most popular examples of MPAs are e-commerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress, as it’s important for e-commerce businesses to have separate product pages so that search engines can index them properly.
• Progressive web applications (PWAs) that offer an app-like experience within a web browser. PWAs are designed to work offline and can be installed on the user’s device like a regular app. The most popular examples of PWAs are Spotify, Notion, and Twitter Lite.

You will be able to determine the most suitable type of web app, depending on its purpose, your business’s operation type and target market, as well as the project’s specific requirements.

Design a User-Friendly Interface

Once you know what type of web app you want to create, you need to design a user interface (UI) that would be both visually appealing and user-friendly. The UI is what the users will see and interact with, so it’s important to make a good impression from the very beginning – from first sight, actually.

There are several key elements you need to consider when designing a UI for your web application, such as:

• typography,
• white space,
• color scheme,
• imagery,
• overall layout.

You should also keep in mind that the UI needs to be responsive – it should adapt to various screen sizes and devices.

Conduct Thorough Quality Assurance Testing

Quality assurance (QA) is a process that helps ensure that the web application meets the required standards and functions correctly. QA testing covers various aspects of the app, such as functionality, usability, security, performance, and compatibility.

There are several types of testing that can be conducted, including:

• Unit testing covers the smallest pieces of code.
• Integration testing focuses on testing how different units work together.
• System testing tests the web app as a whole to check if it meets the requirements.
• Regression testing is conducted after changes are made to the code to ensure that the new changes haven’t affected the existing functionality.

Running these tests will help you prevent possible issues and ensure that you deliver the best user experience for your customers.

Keep the App Scalable

Scalability is the web application's ability to handle an increased or decreased number of users without affecting its performance. As your business grows and the number of users increases, you need to make sure that the app can handle the increased load.

There are two types of application scaling – vertical and horizontal. Vertical scalability means that you add more resources to the existing server to increase its capacity. Horizontal scalability, on the other hand, implies adding more servers to the network to distribute the load.

Ensure Post-Launch Support and Maintenance

Your work doesn’t stop once the web application is launched – you need to make sure that it continues to perform well. This is where post-launch support and maintenance come into play.

Post-launch support includes monitoring the app for bugs and errors, as well as providing users with customer support, while proper and regular maintenance will cover activities such as updating the app with new features, security patches, and performance enhancements.

Both support and maintenance are essential elements to ensuring that the web application continues to function correctly and provide users with a seamless experience.

The Bottom Line

Building a high-performing web application is no easy feat – it requires careful planning and execution, as well as a great deal of attention to detail, even after the launch.

Hopefully, considering the steps outlined in this article, you now have a better understanding of the web app development process. This way, you’ll be well on your way to creating a tool that provides a seamless experience for hundreds of thousands of users and helps your business grow. Good luck!