App6 min read
What happens after your app launches: maintenance, updates and the work nobody mentions
An app is not finished at launch. Phones, stores and libraries keep changing, and an app that is left alone slowly stops working.
Launch day feels like the finish line. For the app, it is the start of a life in which everything around it keeps changing.
The six jobs
- OS updates. Each new iOS and Android version can change behaviour. Test against beta releases before users upgrade.
- Dependencies. Libraries release fixes and security patches. Falling far behind makes later updates harder.
- Crash monitoring. Real users hit problems testers never did. Watch crash reports after every release.
- Store policies. Rules and required API levels change, and an app that does not comply can be removed or blocked from updates.
- Server and API upkeep. Hosting, certificates, third-party services and their changes all need attention.
- Review and plan. Read usage data, talk to users, decide the next release.
Ways to keep it manageable
- Release small updates often instead of rare large ones.
- Keep a written list of third-party services and their renewal dates.
- Set alerts for crashes and server errors so you hear before users complain.
- Agree support terms with your developer before launch.
Our maintenance and support page describes the plans we offer for live apps and sites.
Common questions
- Does an app need maintenance if nothing is broken?
- Yes. New OS versions and policy changes can break or restrict an app that has not changed, so regular updates are normal.
- What does app maintenance cost?
- It depends on the size of the app and its integrations. Ask for a maintenance plan with a clear scope when you get the build quote.
- How do I know if my app is crashing?
- Use crash reporting built for mobile apps and review it regularly after every release.
This is what we do
Work of this kind is Maintenance & Support and Mobile App Development — the same hands that wrote this.
App maintenanceMobile appsSupport
A guide from the team at RiverPoint Web & App. It describes how we would approach this and makes no measurement claims. If you want to talk it through, get in touch.
