You can strike gold by becoming a mobile app developer in 2021 keeping in mind the market size of USD 170.5 billion for mobile applications in 2020 and a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5% up to 2027. However, you need to also keep in mind that around 5.7 million apps are available in Google Play and the Apple app store.
The sheer volume of apps in these leading stores also implies that with growing market size, the competition gets fierce too. Therefore, to stand out among the crowd as a mobile app developer, you need proper strategy and execution when you start.
In this article, we are going to give you a basic guideline on how to kickstart your journey as a mobile app developer in 2021.
Becoming a Mobile App Developer: A Step-by-Step Guide
From choosing the app development platform to which language to use – starting your journey as an app developer can be tricky. But, you need not worry. You will get the necessary idea of what to choose from and how to plan and proceed in this step-by-step guide.
#Pick a Platform to Become a Mobile App Developer for
The first step towards becoming a mobile app developer is to pick a platform to build an app for. The major platform to build an app for are iOS, Android, Windows and so on. However, for mobile applications, iOS and Android are by far the two most dominant platforms. Therefore, you should start with one of these two platforms.
The difference in app development between these two platforms is that you need to use these platforms to use different programming languages. While you can build an Android app with Java or Kotlin, you need to use Swift or Objective-C to build an iOS app.
#Assessment of Skill Level
After choosing a platform, the next step for you should be assessing your skill levels. You need to decide which platform you should work on based on your skill level.
Android or iOS?
As mentioned above, an Android app can be code with Java or Kotlin. Also, Kotlin is very similar to Java. So, if you have previous experience in coding with Java, you will find it easy to learn Android app development.
On the other hand, if you are familiar with C, C#, C++, or other languages of C, then you may find the learning curve of iOS development easier.
One thing to note here is that if you are familiar with any programming language, especially the Object-oriented ones and know how object-oriented languages work, learning to develop either iOS or Android apps should not be a problem. However, it’s a completely different story if you have zero knowledge of coding.
What if You are a Beginner?
Contrarily, for complete beginners, it will not be a good thing to dive into app development straight away. Rather, they should take up an introductory Computer Science course on learning platforms such as Code Academy, Coursera, freeCodeCamp and so on.
#Master the Necessary Skills for Becoming a Mobile App Developer
Now that you have assessed your skill levels and made a decision about the platform you have decided to focus on, it’s time to determine the specific skill set you need to sharpen for starting developing mobile apps.
Essential Skills to Become an Android Mobile App Developer
Below is a list of necessary skills that you need to become an Android Developer:
1. Java or Kotlin:
You at least need the expertise of one of these two official languages for android app development.
2. Android SDK
Having a good grasp of Android SDK (Software Development Kit) is essential for an Android developer. One should get familiar with Views, Layouts, dealing with User Inputs, data extraction from the web, ways to store data, responsiveness for different screen sizes, etc.
3. Understanding of SQL
Almost every app will need to store and manipulate some sort of data. So, a good understanding of SQL would come in handy.
4. Knowledge of Version Control Tools
There’s every possibility that you have to use a version control tool at some point as an Android app developer, you have to use a version control tool. Therefore, knowing the basics of using version control tools such as Git is important.
5. Basics of XML
You will need to know how to pass data between the web and your app, especially for web-based apps, for which you will use XML.
6. IDE
Knowing your way around IDEs such as Android Studio is a vital skill to have for an Android Developer. These IDEs will help you a lot in debugging and testing.
7. Familiarity with Android UI Design Concepts
You must familiarize yourself with the nitty-gritty details and concepts of Android UI to successfully publish your app.
ssential Skills to Become a Mobile App Developer for iOS
I will give you a list of skills that are must-haves to become an iOS Developer:
1. Swift:
Swift is developed by Apple and by far the most preferred language for mobile app development in iOS. An iOS developer should know Swift’s syntax, structure, basic object-oriented concepts and so on like the palm of his or her hand.
2. Xcode IDE:
For app development in iOS, knowing your way around the Xcode IDE is a must, as you will get a unique and efficient user experience developing apps with it.
3.UIKit
The UIKit framework will provide you with the core objects necessary for building an iOS app. These objects assist you in various content-related operations for your apps. It will also help you in designing the interface. You need this framework to manage your app data and resources.
The Final Step!
Finally, when you are skilled and ready to develop an app, you should make some demo mobile applications and upload them on GitHub or other internet hosting websites Now, with this portfolio of yours, you may start applying for full-time mobile app development jobs in Canada.
We hope this article gives a headstart on your journey towards becoming an app developer. A place in an industry where the average mobile app developer salary is $77,750/Year.
Need an App Right Away?
Learning to become an app developer takes time. So, if you need a mobile app for your business or other purposes on an emergency basis, contact us.