Writing an app project brief: the questions to answer before development starts
Goals, users, features, data, integrations, security: the questions to answer when writing the project brief for your app before development begins.
5 min read
Software development · Ajaccio, Corsica
Step By Step handles your custom software development from its studio in Ajaccio, Corsica: business software, web and mobile applications, websites and online shops. We start from your real processes, deliver in testable increments and stay on hand for maintenance.
What we build
Our software development studio covers the whole life of a digital project: internal management software, customer-facing apps, websites and online shops, and artificial intelligence built into those tools.
ERP, CRM, HR, quoting, invoicing or scheduling tools: business software shaped around the way you work, rather than the other way round.
iPhone and Android apps for your customers or field teams, native or cross-platform with Flutter, published on the App Store and Google Play.
Client portals, extranets, dashboards and SaaS platforms: applications that run in any browser, on a desktop as well as on a phone.
Fast, accessible showcase websites built to rank, easy to update, that present your business and turn visits into enquiries.
Online shops connected to your till, stock and accounting, so you can sell online without keying everything in twice.
AI agents, assistants and automations built into your software, taking over repetitive work based on text and documents.
Our approach
Working with Step By Step means working with a small team that takes your project from start to finish. Six principles guide everything we build.
AI tools help us write, review, test and document code. The time saved goes into what matters: understanding your business and polishing the user experience.
You talk to the people who design and build your software. Decisions are made quickly, with nothing lost between a salesperson and a developer.
Strong authentication, role-based access, encryption, backups and audit logs are part of the architecture, not a list of fixes at the end.
Python, React, Vue, Flutter, PostgreSQL, Supabase, Firebase and Docker: proven, widely known tools that keep your software easy to maintain and hand over.
REST or GraphQL APIs, connectors, imports and exports: your new software talks to your accounting package, CRM, email or existing website.
Security updates, fixes and new features: ongoing application maintenance keeps your software healthy long after go-live.
Choosing
Off-the-shelf software works when your processes look like everyone else’s. As soon as the way you work is what sets you apart, or your tools need to talk to each other, custom development becomes the better long-term investment.
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf (SaaS) | Custom development |
|---|---|---|
| Fit with your processes | You adapt your methods to the software | The software follows exactly how you work |
| Features | Plenty, many of them irrelevant to you | Only the ones your teams actually use |
| Integration with your tools | Limited to what the vendor provides | Connectors built for your needs |
| Long-term cost | Per-user subscription that grows with the team | Upfront investment, then controlled maintenance |
| Ownership and data | Data held by the vendor, dependence on its roadmap | Your code and data, hosting of your choice |
The two approaches often work together: we can connect a market tool you like to an application built for the part of your business that is truly specific.
Method
An application development project with Step By Step follows five phases, from discovery to maintenance. You see results early and every major decision is made with you.
We look at your processes, current tools and users. You receive a written proposal covering scope, priorities, phases and a quote.
Clickable screens or a first working version let you validate usability and user journeys before full development begins.
The software is delivered in short, testable increments. Every release is versioned, reviewed and tested before it goes live.
Deployment on infrastructure hosted in France, migration of existing data, user training and documentation.
Monitoring, security updates and new features as your needs change, with a team that knows your software inside out.
Quality
Professional software is more than screens that work. Every version we deliver meets the same baseline, whatever the type of project.
First call on us
Tell us about your development project: we will get back to you within one working day with initial ideas and next steps. The first conversation is on us.
Development section
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FAQ
Custom software development means designing a program specifically for one organisation, based on its processes and existing tools, instead of buying an off-the-shelf product. It can be business software, a web application, a mobile app or an online shop, built for the exact needs of your users.
Step By Step is a small studio in Ajaccio, Corsica, where the people you speak to are the people who design and build your project. Workshops take place by video call or on site, and we look after your software once it is live, with a single point of contact who knows it well.
Cost depends on the number of screens and features, the tools to connect, the number of users and your security requirements. After a discovery workshop we provide a detailed quote broken down by phase. Starting with a prototype or a smaller first release lets you confirm the value before committing the full budget.
We use proven, standard technologies: Python, React and Vue for the web, Flutter and React Native for iPhone and Android apps, PostgreSQL, Supabase and Firebase for data, Docker and serverless architectures for hosting, and REST or GraphQL APIs to connect systems together.
Yes. The code written for you is delivered in a versioned, documented repository using standard technologies. You remain free to develop it further with us or with another provider. Intellectual property terms are set out in the quote.
Yes. We start with an audit of the code, hosting and security, then propose a plan: urgent fixes, upgrades, new features or a gradual rebuild. The aim is to improve what exists without disrupting your day-to-day operations.
Yes. Maintenance covers monitoring, security updates to dependencies and servers, bug fixes and new features. Its scope is agreed with you according to how critical the software is to your business.