How to Build an AR App-A Begineers Guide

Here is the step by step guide for you on how to build an AR app:

​Step 1: Define the Idea and Purpose of Your AR App

The first step in how to build an AR app is to clearly define the idea and purpose of your app.

You have to define the following things in this step:

• What kind of AR app will it be?
• What features will your AR app have?
• What is the purpose of your AR app ?
• Why should users use it?
• What value does your AR app add to the  augmented reality world?

Step 2: Choose the AR App Development Platform

The second step in how to build an AR app is to decide on which platform your app will run.

Some of the main platforms that support AR apps are:

• Android
• iOS
• Windows
• Web browsers

Once you have decided on a platform, the next thing is to choose the development platform to build your app based on the idea and purpose defined in the previous step.

Some of the major AR app development platforms are:

• For Android: ARCore by Google, EasyAR.

• For iOS: ARKit by Apple, Reality Kit.

• For Cross-Platform: Unity, Vuforia, Unreal Engine, MAXST.

• For Windows: Microsoft Mixed Reality Toolkit, Vuforia, Unreal Engine.
• For Web Browsers:8th Wall, ZapWorks, WebXR API, A-Frame.
• For Gaming Apps:Unity 3D, Unreal Engine, Vuforia, Niantic Lightship ARDK.
• For Location-Based AR Apps:ARCore Geospatial API, Mapbox + Unity SDK, WRLD 3D, Niantic Lightship ARDK.

Step 3: Set up the Development Environment

After  you have selected your development platform now you have to set up your development environment  so that you can start building your app. This step is all about installing the SDK , importing the necessary packages, and configuring the settings that are needed to build an AR app.

• If you  want to build an app for Android, then you can use Android Studio with the ARCore SDK.
• For iOS, you can use  XCode with ARKit.
• For cross-platform development, you can use Unity with the AR Foundation.

Be sure that you have  installed all necessary packages to ensure a smooth development process.

Step 4 : Create the AR Scene

After setting  the development environment, now comes the actual part of building the app. In this step, coding starts. You need to write the necessary code to build your app. You can start by first creating a scene, place the object, and test it. If it works fine, then proceed ahead with the app development process.

To create the AR scene:

• Add an AR camera to your project.
• Enable plane detection so that the app can recognize surfaces in the real world.
• Then place virtual 3D objects on these surfaces so that the user can view and interact with them.

You can control how these 3D objects appear, move, or interact with the surface through coding. You  can write a short script code that lets the users perform different actions with the object, i.e, move ,rotate, flip, etc.

This step brings your app to life through creative and programming logic.

Step 5: Test your App on a Real Device

The next step in how to build an AR app is to test your app so that you can identify the problems (if any) and rectify them before making your app live to the users.

Test your app on an AR-supported device. Testing helps you find how your app performs in real conditions and gives you an idea of the user experience. Test for the object placement, tracking instability ,light sensitivity, or any lag in object placement. Use the debugging tools within your development environment to identify and fix issues, and test your app on multiple AR supported devices to ensure compatibility.

Step 6: Publish your App

Once you have tested your app completely and its working fine, then you can publish it. Prepare your app store listing, description, screenshots, and demo videos according to the requirement of the specific platform on which you will be publishing your app. Follow the platform’s rules like adding a privacy policy, permissions, and all the related info that users need to know to use your app. Once done with these things, publish your app, and when it will be approved, it will be available for the user to download and use.