Android Developer
Android specialists write in Java & Kotlin. These languages are the mandatory requirement for applicants. In addition the candidate should be familiar with the Android SDK system, know all the architecture and the Android environment.
It will also be useful to get acquainted with additional resources of the platform. Android has a special site for developers with useful documentation, an alternative version of the Google Wear operating system for programming smartwatches, as well as a separate site for working with augmented reality applications. Otherwise, the requirements are not much different from the general ones listed above.
iOS Developer
To work on the iOS operating system, you need Swift first and foremost, as well as Objective-C. It is important to keep in mind: to write for iOS, you need a technique from Apple. Most often the company offers corporate laptops to employees, but if you are a freelancer, you may have to take care of the equipment yourself. In this case, do not forget that Apple – a separate caste and a fairly closed ecosystem, so the work on the conditional MacBook still have to get used to.
By the way, do not think that by choosing one of the platforms, you will close for yourself the other. Knowledge is power. Many employers require knowledge of the competitor’s architecture and programming principles, so it will be a good idea to navigate each of the platforms.
What personality traits a mobile developer needs to have
Nobody cancelled the classic set of the ideal employee either. Responsibility, ability to work in a team, stress tolerance and adequate reaction to criticism, analytical mindset and skills of long-term concentration on a task will also increase chances of a developer to join a serious team and stay there for a long time.
Particularly important for the applicant is the ability to self-study, because, as we said above, the industry is not standing still, which means that the study will not end with the courses or university, you will need to deal with new “features” on your own.
What mistakes beginners make
When the profession is still new to the world, many are still walking by feel, learning both from their own and others’ mistakes. Already successful professionals are happy to share their fails at the start. They remind us that they, too, were newbies recently, and this did not interfere with their career, because the most important thing is to work on your mistakes.
Failures of rookie developers and their major blunders can be divided into two categories: professional and personal.
Among the professional ones:
- fixation on one programming language and unwillingness to learn others;
- ignoring the fundamentals of programming in pursuit of the latest ios android app development trends;
- lack of understanding of the market conditions and consumer needs;
- lack of “outlets” – out-of-work projects, which allow to hone skills and apply all the skills, but at the same time are a kind of entertainment (creating a mini-game for a child or working on a new idea for a startup).
Among the common ones:
- Unreasonable perfectionism; sometimes the best is really the enemy of the good;
reluctance to seek help from more experienced colleagues; - Excessive preoccupation with ready-made solutions and lack of creative thinking;
- Fear of mistakes and criticism;
- ignoring the body’s physiological needs, sleep and rest, which often lead to burnout and stress.
What the future holds for mobile development
Experts note the exponential nature of the development of the sphere of mobile systems in general and application development in particular. Just 10 years ago, the world of mobile devices, their functionality and their role in the lives of users was radically different from the picture we see today.
The average smartphone owner today spends four hours with his gadget. And those reading this article spend even more. Less than half of that time is spent communicating, which is where the history of mobile communication once began.
Mobile devices are no longer about communication or entertainment. The expansion of functionality and optimization of technology has turned gadgets into an integral part of life. What makes them important and irreplaceable is the “stuffing” – those functional applications that teach, develop, solve problems, soothe and entertain, inform, help monitor one’s health, spend and earn.