MSECO-DEV: Application Development Process in Mobile Software Ecosystems

In a Mobile Software Ecosystem (MSECO), the central organization (keystone), must restructure processes to aid external developers to produce mobile applications. The external developer helps the keystone to reach goals, such as growing number of mobile applications. However, there is no process in this context to support developers in the development aligned with the keystone's goals. This paper presents MSECO-DEV, a process to support external developers in reaching keystone's goals by developing mobile applications. MSECO-DEV comprises 8 activities, 7 artifacts, 8 recommendations, and 17 practices. Activities, recommendations, and practices were evaluated by 65 Brazilian developers (experts and novices). Such developers acted within the main MSECOs (Android, iOS and Windows Phone) to assess their benefits for the mobile applications development routine. As result, we stated that developers have difficulties to perform marketing activities, as well as to find materials that support development. Practices, activities, and recommendations were also evolved and adjusted for the definition of MSECO-DEV.