Mobile Engineering
Mobile App Development for iOS and Android
We design, build, and ship mobile apps for iOS and Android with one codebase, a dependable backend, and automated releases that scale with your team.
What you walk away with
- One codebase, both app stores
- A backend and app built by one team
- Predictable, automated releases
- A native feel without native cost
Overview
A mobile app is more than a set of screens. It is a product with a backend it depends on, a release pipeline that has to satisfy two app stores, authentication, push notifications, offline behavior, and a quality bar that users judge in the first thirty seconds. Most apps stall not because the UI is hard, but because the backend, releases, and store process were treated as afterthoughts. We treat them as part of the build from day one.
We build cross-platform apps with React Native and Expo, which lets one codebase ship to both iOS and Android without sacrificing native feel. This approach cuts cost and timeline meaningfully compared with building two separate native apps, while still giving you native modules where you genuinely need them. We have shipped production apps wired end to end to a backend, with OTP authentication, real-time features, and push notifications live on both platforms.
Release engineering is where we differ from most shops. We codify build, signing, and submission with automated pipelines so releases are predictable and your velocity scales with the team rather than breaking under it. Our guide on React Native CI/CD with EAS describes the exact approach we use. Behind the app, we build the same production-grade APIs and infrastructure covered in our REST API guide.
Whether you are launching a new product or replacing an aging app, we handle design, build, backend, and store delivery, and leave you with clean code and a release process your team can run.
Most mobile apps stall on the backend, the release pipeline, and the store process, not the screens. We engineer those from day one.
Capabilities
What we build for mobile
One React Native and Expo codebase that ships to both iOS and Android with a native feel.
Production APIs, authentication, and data layers your app relies on, built and hosted by the same team.
Reliable push on both APNs and FCM, wired into your backend and lifecycle events.
Codified build, signing, and submission through EAS so releases stay predictable as the team grows.
OTP, passwordless, or social sign-in with secure session handling and account management.
We handle the App Store and Play Store submission process, metadata, and review requirements.
Why Dude Lemon
Why teams choose us for mobile development
Most mobile projects slow down at the seams: the backend, the release pipeline, and the two app stores. Because we build the backend and the app with one team and codify releases from the start, those seams disappear. You ship a polished app and keep shipping updates without the process breaking.
One React Native and Expo codebase keeps cost and timeline sensible while still feeling native, and we add native modules only where a feature truly needs them. The result is a product that looks and performs the way users expect, delivered faster than two separate native builds.
The parts of a mobile app that decide success
Users judge a mobile app in seconds, but the things that make or break it are mostly invisible. A dependable backend that responds quickly, a release pipeline that lets you fix a bug the same day, push notifications that actually arrive, and authentication that does not frustrate people are what separate an app that retains users from one that gets deleted. The screens matter, but they are the easy part.
Because we build the backend and the app together and automate the release process from the start, those invisible parts are solid from the first build. You can ship updates without a fragile manual ritual, respond to store feedback quickly, and trust that the app behaves the same way for every user on both platforms. That reliability is what lets a mobile product grow instead of stalling after launch.
How we work
A clear path from idea to production
We define the core flows, the platforms, and the backend the app needs, then produce a technical plan and a realistic timeline.
We design the screens and the data and release architecture together, so the app and its backend are planned as one system.
We build core flows first and put a testable build in your hands early, then layer in features against real usage.
We set up automated build, signing, and submission with release gates, so shipping updates is routine rather than risky.
We handle store submission and support ongoing releases, monitoring, and feature work on a retainer.
Engagement and pricing
Custom pricing, based on project scope
Every project is scoped individually. After a short discovery call you receive a clear written estimate, with no obligation. The engagement types below show how we usually structure the work.
A focused first version on both platforms with core flows and backend.
- Core flows on iOS and Android
- Backend and authentication
- Release pipeline and store submission
A full product with richer features, real-time, and push.
- Full feature set
- Real-time and push notifications
- Automated releases and monitoring
- Staged delivery
Ongoing engineering for a growing mobile product.
- Dedicated engineering time
- Roadmap delivery
- Release and support SLA
Mobile App Development FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Should I build native or cross-platform?
For most products, React Native and Expo deliver a native feel from one codebase at meaningfully lower cost and timeline than building separate iOS and Android apps. We use native modules where a feature genuinely requires it. We will recommend fully native only when your requirements clearly justify it.
Do you build the backend too?
Yes. We build the production APIs, authentication, and infrastructure your app depends on, using the same patterns covered in our REST API and deployment guides. Having one team own the app and its backend removes the integration gaps that slow most projects.
Do you handle App Store and Play Store submission?
Yes. We set up automated build, signing, and submission, prepare store metadata, and handle the review requirements for both stores. We also build the release pipeline so your team can ship updates reliably after launch.
Can you add push notifications?
Yes. We implement reliable push on both APNs for iOS and FCM for Android, wired into your backend and lifecycle events, with the device registration and token handling that keep delivery dependable in production.
Can you take over an existing app?
Yes. We audit the current codebase and release process, fix what is fragile, and improve architecture incrementally. We recommend a rebuild only when the existing code genuinely cannot support your roadmap.
How long does a mobile app take?
A focused MVP on both platforms is often eight to fourteen weeks including backend. A larger product runs longer and ships in milestones so you see value early. We provide a realistic timeline after scoping.