Best Practices to follow in Angular Development– Part I

Best Practices to follow in Angular Development– Part I
Angular is one of the most popular MVC pattern MVVM frameworks of the 21st century. Developed by Google, Angular is significantly used for building dynamic mobile, web, desktop apps using TypeScript, and HTML. The initial version of Angular was Angular JS. AngularJS development had created ripples in the software world when it released. Furthermore, this proactive team kept releasing updated versions at regular intervals to keep up with changing times. Recently, its latest version Angular10 was released in the market which created a buzz in the software world.
But to meet the high-end requirements of modern-day users, it is essential to not only use the next-gen framework like Angular but also follow a certain set of standard development practices. So in this blog, we have enlisted some of the top Angular app development practices that developers can learn and follow. But before we get started, let us have a quick look at the benefits of following these practices, rather tips.
Noticeable Benefits of Following the Angular Development Best Practices
  • Helps in Creating a Clean Code
  • Aids in Maintaining the Coding Standards
  • Helps in Minimizing the Developmental Time
  • Ensures a Minimal Score on the Bugs and Issues
  • Ensures Improved Performance of the End-product
  • Makes Code Management and Debugging Easier

Highlights of the Top Angular App Development Practices

Rules to follow for Angular Coding Styles
Following certain standard coding styles instead of the common styles during Angular app development can ensure the writing of simple and adaptable code and a good user-experience. Here are the rules to be followed for Angular coding styles:
  • The code per function shouldn’t exceed 75 lines
  • The code per file should not exceed 400 lines
  • It is good to declare the values of variables with ‘const’ if those values are intact
  • While sharing feature area for all slider components, developers should use a custom prefix
  • You can use shortcuts for files with similarly naming conventions. For instance, you may use hero.component.ts|html|css|spec for naming different files with the same names
  • In case you usually prefix the names for database, table, field, etc., avoid this practice for Interface names like AbastractShape and iShape
  • Apply single responsibility symbol to services, components, and symbols since it allows to create a more readable and cleaner app format.
Best Security Practices in Angular
Security is of utmost importance in any application. In Angular, security lapses can result in a dangerous threats, for instance, cross-site scripting. This issue can result in the passing of controls on the client side resulting in the alteration of the web pages. For avoiding such attacks, the developers should be aware of some security practices in the Angular framework as mentioned below:
  • Maintain the Angular Libraries on Regular Intervals
  • Update Angular libraries for every new update from Google
  • Prevent the XSS cross-site security issues
For doing this, it is necessary to consider the measures like DOM sanitization service, Offline template compiler, sanitization and security contexts, context security policy, etc. These will help to keep the attackers away from client-side apps ensuring higher security.
Routing in Angular and related Practices to Consider
Routing in Angular is performed to either display or hide components as and when needed by the users. Routing makes the components available for the development process whenever required, thus reducing constant trips to the server. However, bad routing practices can result in disorganized Angular apps at some point. So, for ensuring these issues don’t exist, the developers need to understand some basics about adding templates and components into the app along with the appropriate functioning of the routes. Have a glance at the best practices concerning Angular routing:
  • Developing the routes module wise
  • Routing with lazy loading
  • Organizing routes guards
  • Lazy loading routes with Preload
Preventing Observable Memory Leaks
Unlike any other framework, Angular, too, has observable memory leaks. Observables are of great use in Angular as they help in streamlining important data. But at the same time, leaks in observables can cause critical issues in mobile app development. Please follow the below-mentioned tips to avoid these leaks:
  • Use ‘async pipe’: these are built-in attributes that come in handy when the developers need to mark the components for emitted values. Also, they unsubscribe automatically from observables and thus prevent unnecessary memory leakages.
  • Use ‘take(1)’: This is an operator that allows you to get the data just once and helps to easily avoid memory leaks.
  • Use ‘takeUntil’: This is another operator that should be used when you wish to monitor second Observables and destroy the subscription; once the Observables gets completed or emits the value; thus, preventing the Observables to be leaked.
Usage of Template Directive
In Angular, ‘ngFor’ comes as a built-in template directive and is used for building new templates in the applications for every item. So, the Angular developers can rather use ‘trackBy’ directive every time they use ngFor. So, instead of rendering the complete DOM tree, ‘trackBy’ will help in creating customized and unique identifiers for every item.
Utilizing the most powerful accessibility tool- Angular CLI
Angular Command-Line Interface (CLI) already follows all the standard practices during Angular app development. It eases out the development process. It helps to test, debug, maintain, and deploy the applications. So, the developers should use it for developing an initial-level structure for the Angular app. They must use Angular CLI for the generation of new modules, directives, services, components, pipes, classes, etc. while creating any files and folders, instead of doing it manually. The usage of this interface decreases JavaScript fatigue and complexity.

A Few Other Recommended Practices

  • Naming Conventions for readability and maintainability
  • Maintaining the folder structure properly
  • Utilizing service workers for ensuring that the apps become highly responsive
  • Isolating all the API hacks in one place
  • Breaking down the larger components into multiple smaller components
  • Ensuring proper documentation of code, every variable, and the methods used
  • Using state management libraries for managing state transitions
In our upcoming blog, we will explain these practices in detail and also include some more tips and practices that all the Angular development services should follow. Also, here is our blog on the “Potential mistakes that developers must avoid during Angular development!

Key Takeaways:

For designing a comprehensive application that becomes lucrative as well as popular, it is essential to implement the best developmental methods. So here, we have mentioned some of these methods which are tried and tested by the experienced Angular developers who have worked on versatile projects for years. Every Angular/Angular JS app development company should consider these tips and train their developers beforehand to refrain from any major mistakes in the projects.
With this, we come to the end!
We hope this blog was an insightful read for you and the practices mentioned here will make your Angular app development quite simpler and interesting.
If you have any such practices to share with us, do comment below.
We would like to hear about your experiences too!

An Overview of New-age Location-based Apps and their Development Procedure!

An Overview of New-age Location-based Apps and their Development Procedure!
location based apps

Significance of Location-based Applications

Location-Based Services (LBS) are one of the most trending services nowadays. These services are utilized in countless applications like on-demand apps, travel and transportation-related apps, banking apps, social media apps, event planning apps, etc. to name a few. From Instagram to Uber, from Runtastic to Tinder, these apps have impacted millions of peoples’ lives positively. They have eased out several tasks of day-to-day life and made the customer experiences more comfortable.
Here are some top predictions about the location-based services and their applications.
  • The LBS market is expected to cross $39.2 Billion by the year 2025, as projected by MarketsandMarkets!
  • Another report by Fortune Business Insights forecasts that by 2026, the LBS market size will cross $66.61 Billion.
It is evident from these stunning reports that the LBS and the location-based apps are high in demand. These are being leveraged by several entrepreneurs, start-ups, and business enterprises across the globe at a fast pace.

Top Functions of the Location-Based Tracking Apps

  • Communication: Businesses can register their address or any related places on maps. People can add reviews, leave feedback, and also refer to these reviews. Businesses can even link certain content on the map.
  • Marketing: Geo-location technologies are used in incentive marketing campaigns for creating interaction mechanics with end-users.
  • Information: Customers can get real-time information about the location of a person, place or a bus/train, etc.

Major Types of Location-Based Apps using Geolocation Technologies

On-demand Apps like Uber, Zomato, etc.
Social Networking Apps Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.
Location Tracking Apps like Google Maps, Waze, etc.
Dating Apps like OkCupid, Tinder, etc.
eCommerce Apps like Amazon, eBay, etc.
Travel and Tourism Apps like TripAdvisor, Expedia, Booking, etc.
Health and Fitness Apps like MyFitnessPal, Nike Running Club, etc.
Photo Location Finder Apps like Explorest, Google Photos, etc.
Weather Apps like Weather by Apple, Yahoo Weather, etc.
Some of the examples of the location-based apps developed by us are as below:
  1. MastR: This is an eCommerce app that enables customers to do virtual shopping. The product categories displayed are based on the location of the product. It also enables scheduled pickups and deliveries.
  2. BeachCaddy: This app enables end users to request assistance from beach caddies to help them carry beach items. Travel of caddies is tracked through the application.
  3. Otego: It is restaurant management and a food delivery app. Orders placed by the customers can be tracked on the map.
After looking at these live examples of location-based applications, we are now going to discuss the mobile app development process used for creating apps using geo-location technologies. So let’s commence.

How to Create a New-age Location-based App?

location based app development

Step 1: Thorough Market Research and Finding a Reliable Tech Partner

You should first decide which type of location-based app you want to build by studying its scope in the market. Market research is mandatory to get the answers to questions like-
  • What is my target audience?
  • How my app idea will benefit them?
  • Who are my competitors?
  • What innovation can I offer to my target audience?
  • Should I develop an MVP or a full-fledged mobile app?
  • How to go about the location-based app development process?
  • Which are the top mobile app development companies and whom can I partner with?

Step 2: Deciding the Apt Geolocation Features

It is essential to integrate some core geolocation features and functionalities in your app to make it highly beneficial to the users. These functionalities include Map view, GPS coordinates, user location detection, location history, route mapping, location-based notifications, etc.

Step 3: Selecting the Right Technology Stack

Selecting the right tech stack for geolocation app development is a necessity. Find below the list of a few set of tools required for location-based apps to choose from:
Web:
  • HTML5 geolocation API
iOS:
  • Google Places API
  • Google Maps API
  • Google Maps SDK
  • Core Location API
  • Apple MapKit
Android:
  • android.location package
  • Google Maps API
  • Mapbox
  • Google Location Services API
  • Google Maps Directions API
  • Google Distance Matrix API
  • Yandex Maps
  • MapView class
  • Open Street Map

Step 4: Wire-framing, Designing the UI, and Developing the App

The next step is creating several visual prototypes of the app that match your app idea/concept. After wire-framing, design a user-friendly and responsive app UI. Now begin with the development of a feature-rich location-based application. Pay attention to detail, and get your app developed by an experienced team.

Step 5: Applying Safety and Security Measures

Ensuring data safety is of paramount importance, especially because location-based apps carry sensitive data. So, consider all the existing legal regulations of different countries you are going to target and strictly adhere to their safety regulations.
Follow the below-given practices too for making your app secure:
  • Using multi-factor authentication
  • Using an SSL certificate
  • Encrypting communications
  • Using App Transport Security for iOS or Network Security Configuration for Android
  • Not storing high-importance data on user devices
  • Encrypting sensitive information with algorithms like RSA or AES-256

Step 6: Final Testing of Complete App

The last step is to carry out rigorous testing of the app. Make sure that the app meets all the code requirements. Test-driven development (TDD) is another effective approach. These will help you reduce the potential bugs, and enhance the app quality.

Final Thoughts

Needless to say, location-based apps are enjoying extreme popularity across diverse industries. Owing to their vast benefits, almost every mobile app development company in the market is utilizing this functionality in some of their apps.
So, do you have a great idea for developing a location-based application? Or do you want to enhance your existing app with this amazing functionality? Reach out to the world-class location-based app development company in Texas, USA, for further assistance.