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Iteration is the process of making repeated updates or improvements to an app — based on feedback, testing, or new goals — in short, manageable cycles.
Why It Matters
Why Founders Should Care About This Term:
- Allows for faster improvements based on real user feedback.
- Reduces risk by breaking development into smaller, testable chunks.
- Improves product-market fit over time, increasing ROI and user satisfaction.
Use This Term When...
- Reviewing early user feedback and making design tweaks.
- Deciding on future development sprints post-MVP.
- Planning version updates based on analytics or stakeholder input.
- Refining features that underperform or cause user friction.
Real-World Example
In one of our projects, we worked through several design iterations after early users reported confusion with the onboarding flow. Each iteration led to higher completion rates and better retention.
Founder Insight
Many founders delay launching until everything is ‘perfect.’ But smart iteration after launch often leads to stronger long-term success than trying to nail it all upfront.
Key Metrics / Concepts
- Version Control – Tracks iterations and changes over time.
- Usability Metrics – Identify which parts of an app need iteration.
- Release Cycle – The timeframe between iterations or updates.
- Customer Feedback Loops – Fuel the iteration process.
- Bug Rate – Often decreases with frequent iterations.
Tools & Technologies
- Jira – For managing iteration cycles in agile sprints.
- Figma – For quick design changes in UI iterations.
- Firebase / Mixpanel – For collecting user behaviour data that drives iteration decisions.
What’s Next / Future Trends
AI is accelerating iteration by auto-generating design suggestions, predicting UX issues, and personalising updates in near real-time. Rapid iteration is becoming the norm, not the exception.
Related Terms
- Agile Development – Iteration is a core principle of agile.
- Design Sprints – Structured process for fast iteration.
- Version Control – Essential for tracking iterations.
- Customer Feedback – Drives meaningful iterations.
- App Maintenance – Where many post-launch iterations happen.
Helpful Videos / Articles / Pages
Call to Action
Need help turning user feedback into actionable iterations? Book a discovery call with our product experts — we'll help you prioritise what to improve next.