Internet giant Google has released a new piece of software allowing users to create Android apps without requiring any knowledge of complex computer code, but the move has frustrated professional developers.
Some say the decision will only exaggerate the fragmented nature of the Android market, and will create hundreds of new apps no one will buy and spam the app markets even more.
Google announced the App Inventor software in its blog, saying the product will make it “Easy for anyone” to create mobile apps for Android devices.
“For many people, their mobile phone – and access to the Internet – is always within reach. App Inventor for Android gives everyone, regardless of programming experience, the opportunity to control and reshape their communication experience,” the company said.
“We’ve observed people take pride in becoming creators of mobile technology and not just consumers of it.”
The company said it had already tested the software in classrooms, and wants non-professional developers to try it out. Users need to fill out a form before they can get started, and should watch an instructional video as well.
The apps market has exploded over the past two years, as developers quit their day jobs to create new and innovative programs. But the one barrier to programming is learning huge amounts of programming code – an obstacle that turns off many would-be developers with a good idea.
But professional developers say this new invention isn’t necessarily a good thing for the industry.
Keith Ahern, chief executive of development studio MoGeneration, says while it is good new developers will be able to access the Android market, he believes it could result in a flood of low-quality apps.
“What Apple enjoys is a lot of high quality apps, because the App Store doesn’t act like the internet. This type of software will make Google more like the internet, and it could devalue the Android platform even more.”
While Apple has been criticised for tightly controlling its App market, Google has received the same criticism for its largely fragmented software and apps culture.
“I think Google just have more work to do to find good quality apps, as they are not as mature in the whole app store ecosystem. Before Google reaches that level I think they have a way to go.”
But Rafif Yalda, developer at Melbourne-based studio Lookout Mobile, says this tool will fit a particular need for apps that don’t require a lot of polish.
“Not all of the apps need to have a polished user interface like you see on the iPhone. Sometimes in the business there are people still using old languages, and they don’t look pretty but they do the job.”
“I think this will help those people. It could aid a lot of quality non-robust apps. There’s two sides to this, but it’s hard to gauge how it will be at this point because the software is so new.”
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
