Skip to main content

Phase 2 - Develop Your App

Now that you have your app submission approved, you are ready to start developing your app! You should have received an email from your DevRel letting you know that account is whitelisted! It will also include links that will help you to develop your app and outline the next phases of your app development journey.

But before you jump into the development of your app, take some time to review the guides and best practices. These guides are designed to help you with your app's user interface (UI) design, ad placement (for monetization), and other important principles that will take your app from good to great!

The steps in this phase are designed to help you optimize the time you spend developing your app. At the end of this phase, you will be ready to submit your app to the DevRel QA team.

Step 1 - Deep dive into the framework​

Before you develop your app, review the differences between the frameworks in the Framework comparison table. Then use the documentation to review the available APIs in your chosen framework. Overwolf’s documentation is separated by the framework, so review the APIs in the Overwolf Native client section, and in the Overwolf Electron section to better understand how to work with its components to build engaging in-game apps. In addition explore Game Events, and Overlay APIs to learn how to interact with game data and overlay features.

Overwolf provides you with sample apps for each of the framework to give you a head start in your development efforts.

Step 2 - Setup your environment​

After your app idea has been approved and your account is whitelisted, you gain access to Overwolf’s development tools. Now you can develop your app in your favorite development environment with all your favorite development tools. Overwolf recommends that you use an IDE such as VSCode, however any text editor will do. IDEs have useful features like code completion, in IDE API documentation, integrated version control, debugging tools, and more. These tools will enhance your development experience and expedite development of your app.

Step 3 - App optimization​

Overwolf’s general best practices will help you create a seamless user experience that integrates smoothly with gameplay. You can enhance your app’s quality and usability by following Overwolf’s recommended best practices for user experience, design, and functionality.

UI/UX design essentials​

Follow and apply these key design principles to create a user friendly and visually appealing app:

  • Front App design essentials*—make your app’s interface clean and engaging for players, balancing functionality with aesthetics.
  • UI consistency—maintain a cohesive visual style that aligns with Overwolf’s platform standards and is easy for users to navigate.
  • Responsive layouts—ensure your app is adaptable to different screen sizes and resolutions.

App-specific design experience​

Follow these guidelines to tailor your app’s functionality and design in order to create a unique experience that enhances gameplay and provides value to players.

  • Personalization—offer options for users to customize their experience within your app.
  • Inspiration from other apps—explore similar apps on the Overwolf Appstore for design ideas and feature inspiration. This will help you make your app more engaging and suited to individual preferences.
  • Learn about app-specific experiences—provide the best possible user experience and increase user retention.

Functionality​

Follow the guidelines below to enhance your apps functionality. Making your app useful to the user is essential for ensuring your app's success.

  • Hotkey reminders—remind users of hotkeys for easy navigation without disrupting their gameplay.
  • *Second screen support–ensure your app works smoothly on a secondary monitor, offering flexibility for multi-screen setups.

Next steps​

So, have you read through all the steps above? Have you familiarized yourself with your chosen framework? Have you set up your development environment to help you develop your app? Have you optimized your app using the best practices in the guides referenced above?

Excellent!! Now you are ready to move onto the next phase of your journey!

This is where you will pre-test and submit the first version of your app for review and QA by the DevRel team!. Overwolf will test your app and verify that it meets the guidelines and standards above, and is ready for launch.