Below are examples of drag and drop app development tools. The first video provides a good introduction of the affordances of this type of program. If you decide to give one (or more) of the tools a try, please post a review of your experience on the activity page.
Infinite Monkeys/
AppMakr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUwWgCLyO9w
What is it?
- an app development tool for iPhone, Android and HTML5 platforms
How does it work?
- allows you to develop and publish Android or HTML5 apps for free
- uses existing content and social media feeds
Who’s doing it?
- focuses on small business, restaurants, real estate agents, churches, bands, schools
Why is it significant?
- Infinite Monkeys acquired AppMakr to form the largest do-it-yourself app developer in the world. They both now use the same platform.
- provides > 40 functions
- offers a 100% free version of their tool
- every step has a help video (available in eleven languages)
- chat and e-mail support available
- creates professional looking apps
- instant (1 hr) access to apps (as opposed to a 10-15 days if published through Google or Apple)
- ranks 2-3 on a simplicity scale where 1 is easiest
What are the downsides?
- free apps contain adds
- developer accounts are required to sell apps through Apple ($99 US/yr) or Google ($25 US one time fee)
A more detailed review is found here (please note the pricing information does not appear to be up-to-date).
iBuildApp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bkhCoGEJD8
What is it?
- a drag and drop app developer for iPhone, Android and HTML platforms
How does it work?
- uses content from social media
- can create an aesthetic website if you can use html
- knowing CSS or Java coding allows you to make a more aesthetically pleasing app
- allows you to develop and publish apps to a limited number of users for free
Who’s doing it?
- focuses on e-commerce, companies, education, travel and entertainment
Why is it significant?
- offers a 100% free version of their tool
- forum support available
- 24/7 e-mail support available
- provides editable, ready-to go apps
What are the downsides?
- only offers a handful of templates
- customization options require upgrade to paid account
- 24/7 e-mail support only with paid accounts
- better suited to more skilled programmers who have access to pre-existing content
- need to know CSS or Java coding to take full advantage of the features
- developer accounts are required to sell apps through Apple ($99 US/yr) or Google ($25 US one time fee)
- most accounts have a limited number of users
- free apps have adds in them
- ranks 1 – 2 on a simplicity scale where 1 is the easiest
More detailed reviews can be found here (with slight differences in pricing as compared to website).
App Inventor
What is it?
- a drag and drop web development tool to create Android applications
How does it work?
- uses puzzle-shaped pieces to represent coded functions that users fit together to determine the app’s behaviour
- allows users to build the app either right on their phones or on an emulator
Who’s doing it?
- focuses on education
Why is it significant?
- designed for novices
- provides an on-line book with video tutorials to guide the creation of 12 progressively more difficult apps
- provides descriptions of all the tools and how they work
- provides a number of resources catalogued by type grade level and subject
- guides users through setup, as well as teaching a course or specific concepts using App Inventor
- provides forums with other users
- provides downloadable concept cards for ‘coding’ specific functions
- has an educational focus
This is an example of an educational app developed with AppInventor.
What are the downsides?
- the user interface is more complex than the other tools
- setup requires downloading software
- some users would prefer more training videos
- assumes students have/ are allowed cell phone access
- most of the reviews available are quite dated
- comparison with other platforms is difficult due to the educational rather than market focus
- the resources are spread across two websites http://appinventor.mit.edu/ and http://www.appinventor.org/
A more detailed review is available here.
Users comments are available here.
These are the winners of the 2012 MIT App Inventor App Contest.
Here is a summary of the tools’ features:
|
|
Infinite monkeys |
iBuildapp |
App Inventor* |
|
Functions |
★★★★★ | ★★★★½ | ★★★★ |
|
Design |
★★★★½ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
|
Service |
★★★★★ | ★★★★½ | ★★★ |
|
Ease of Use |
★★★½ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
|
Monetize |
★★★★½ | ★★★★ | ★ |
|
Analytics |
★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★ |
|
Publish |
★★★★½ | ★★★★ | ★★ |
|
Marketing |
★★½ | ★★ | ★ |
|
|
|||
|
User Rating |
★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★½ |
*based on limited personal knowledge and experience
Post your feedback on the activity page!
Thanks for the introduction to app-making. Something I aspire to learn more about in the years to come. Diane
You are welcome! We hope you found it informative and inspiring. It is also something I aspire to learn more about.
Did you have a preference for one tool over another? If so, please explain why.
Jackie
These are some great tools that I would love to look into more (maybe after this term is over and I have a few free minutes…)
Couldn’t agree more. This is really intriguing. I would love to try some of these out in more depth.
All three of these tools look really cool, and especially with Infinite Monkeys I can immediately see the potential for educators. I think I will give it a try!
This seems like a great learning tool, or good for personal use. I wonder how the limited functions lend to making apps that are actually competitive in the cloud market.
From what I have read, these tools are very popular with professional app developers as the templates give them a head start on the development process, and in combination with their skills, allow them to produce quality apps very quickly.
The success of apps will always be governed by the market. Sometimes simple is better. It depends on what people need/want and how relevant the app is, or can be made, to their lives. Something simple developed by an individual to improve/organize their own life may also be highly desirable to many others. You never know!
Thanks for all this info. I will definitely try it out when I have some more time…..and a great idea.
Cute video promo for App Inventor! Short on info, but definitely engaging.
The Infinite Monkeys video was worthy of watching – then app developer looks really powerful. Certainly must do a llot for the hospitality trade.
I appreciate all the research you have done in app building tools.
Thank you! I hope it was useful.