The mobile app industry is vast and is only expected to grow in the coming years. Research suggests that the total value of the mobile app industry will increase to $188.9 billion in 2022.

With this growth, the market will be very profitable. You can make a mobile app for your enterprise or you can start a career in mobile app development.

You don’t have to go back to college and study for a computer science degree. Of course, you can do that, but it will take a lot of time and money. That’s why we have decided to lay out an actionable guide for you to become an app developer.

You may be thinking of starting to create your mobile app someday, but you haven’t yet figured out how to do it. Well, fret no more! Here are some ways that you can start developing apps for iOS or Android devices.

How to Become a Mobile App Developer

In this article, you will find a step by step guide to becoming a successful mobile app developer. So let’s begin.

Step 1: Choose a learning path.

Where exactly are you starting from?

There could be below scenarios 

1. You are a web developer who is looking to learn mobile app development. In that case, you will find many useful platforms that will help you transit to mobile app development such as Appcelerator Titanium, Xamrin, React Native
2. You may not have done any coding before, but you have a basic idea of how object-oriented programming works. In that case, it would be easy for you to understand and learn how developing a mobile app works.
3. You don’t have any technical knowledge or come from none technical field. In that case, you need to learn basic required technical skills your self. There are lots of free and paid courses available in Udacity, Unacedemy, Udemy, Coursera, YouTube.
4. You are absolutely beginners, In that case attend a college or university and earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Increase your programming skills which also helps in your placements. 

Now that you know where you stand, it will be easy for you to make your decision. The next step involves:

Step 2: Choose One of the Major Platforms

The very first step towards learning to develop a mobile application is to choose a major platform.

Cross-platform

Let’s talk about hybrid or cross-platform technology first. There are lots of options available cross-platform some of them are Flutter, React Native and Xamrin.

If you are from the web development field and want to learn mobile development then cross-platform is the best option for you.

Native

First off, you need to decide what mobile platform you want to develop. There are simply too many options to choose from such as Android, iOS, Windows, Symbian, and Blackberry RIM. However, Android and iOS are dominating the mobile industry. Windows 10 apps may still be relevant, but starting with one of the bigger ones would be the best decision if you don’t know which one you’d like to develop yet. I would suggest getting started with Android or iOS, but that’s just my personal opinion.

One is entirely different from the other. Developers may learn to work with one operating system and move on to the other as they progress in their careers. Being able to work with both operating systems would make you more competitive in the mobile app developer job market or it will help to develop your application on both platforms.

If you are a student then Android is the best choice for you because Java will help in placements as well.

Step 3: Mastering Core Concepts

Once you have chosen your platform, the next one you need to learn its core concepts.

Essential Technical Skills for iOS Developers

These skills include programming languages, development tools, and other programming concepts.

1. Building user interfaces: You should be able to convert a design into a functional iOS application using StoryBoard or Swift UI. To do this, you’ll need to know how to use all conventional UIElements. You should also know all the standard views and other components that may come up in an Android app.
2. Data storage and notifications:
   You should know how to store, update, and delete information on an iOS device. Even if you rely on outside APIs for an app, you’ll still need to store information locally, on the user’s device. Further, you should be able to implement push notifications to reach users.
3. Human Interface Guidelines:
   All iOS should follow Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines based on the OS, otherwise Apple Developer program does not approve the application for listing in App Store.

You will need to learn Swift or Objective-C. But how do you choose? That depends solely on the reason why you are learning mobile app development and maybe this article will help.

If you are learning to develop apps to create your products, then Swift would be a wise choice. Swift was introduced in 2014 and since then, it has been adopted by lots of organisations and developers. However, If you are planning to become an iOS developer for a mobile app development company or work as a freelancer, the best choice might learn Objective-C first. Primarily because tons of documentation is meant for Objective-C, and there are still thousands of iOS apps out there built with Objective-C. You may need it to maintain or fix the code.

Essential Technical Skills for Android Developers

Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s move on to Android. The following are a few skills Android developers should have to be successful.

1. Building user interfaces:
   You should be able to convert a design into a functional Android application using Java and XML. To do this, you’ll need to know how to use all conventional view containers. You should also know all the standard views and other components that may come up in an Android app.
2. Data storage and notifications:
   You should know how to store, update, and delete information on an Android device. Even if you rely on outside APIs for an app, you’ll still need to store information locally, on the user’s device. Further, you should be able to implement push notifications to reach users.
3. Material Design guidelines:
   Many Android apps use the Material Design framework which was created by Google in 2014. You should know how this works in designing and developing new apps. You should also be familiar with the implementation of basic Material Design guidelines into an application.

You will need to learn Java or Kotlin. But how do you choose? That depends solely on the reason why you are learning mobile app development.

If you are learning to develop apps to create your products, then Kotlin would be a wise choice. Kotlin was introduced in 2014 and since then, it has received mostly positive feedback.

However, If you are planning to become an Android developer for a mobile app development company or working as a freelancer, the best choice might learn Java first. Primarily because tons of documentation is meant for Java, and there are still thousands of Android apps out there built with Java. You may need it to maintain or fix the code. Best place to start Google Developer documentation.

Step 4: Develop your soft skills

To be a successful mobile app developer, you’ll need to have a set of “soft” skills. These include the following:

1. Problem-solving:
   All coding jobs require a great element of problem-solving and analytical thinking. This entails thinking through a problem effectively and figuring out a solution using code. You should be capable of fixing problems in existing code. In the same vein, you must know how to make changes to an application to meet new specifications.
2. Attention to detail:
   Details matter in coding. Each detail will affect the output of a program. One typo could cause an application to crash or malfunction. You should spend time looking through every detail when coding.
3. Teamwork:
   As a mobile app developer, you’ll most likely have to work in teams. You should be able to respond well in collaborative environments. More than that, you’re going to have to work well with others to accomplish a certain task.

Step 5: Create your Own Application

To test your learning and gain confidence in App development, start working on your App idea or just pick one of your favourites App and start development.

Initially, you face lots of problems regarding designing, development and debugging, it’s good for your learning path.

Using Mobile App Development Software

One more alternative to developing an app for your product is by making use of mobile development software. You don’t even require coding, and it usually has thousands of templates to get you started.

How Much do Mobile App Developers Make?

Because web developers and mobile app developers are increasingly in demand, salaries have risen proportionally. A mobile app developer can expect to reach a competitive salary early on in their career.

iOS developers can expect to earn over $113,000 on average and $171,500 on the higher end. Android developers, on the other hand, earn over $111,000 the more experienced ones can rack up to $162,000 per year. Remember, these salaries do not include stock options or other employee benefits, so you should keep that in mind when searching for a job.

Some mobile app developers do not work in an office and instead pursue freelancing opportunities. These jobs can pay hundreds of dollars an hour and allow someone to earn a good living as an independent contractor.

Should You Learn Mobile Development?

As mobile app technology continues to grow and become more of a necessity, mobile app developers are in high demand. Because the potential salary and job prospects are favourable, there’s no reason not to get into the field. It’s competitive, rewarding, and expected to grow even bigger.

To break into the field, you need to be fully equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to land your first job. Mobile development degrees and certificates are good ways to gain such highly technical skills. Consider this resource guide in your research on the different kinds of learning paths you can pursue. After completing your research, choose whichever best suits your needs and begin your journey to success.

Need more help? Career Karma is here to help you every step of the way. We’ll provide you with free coaching, mentorship, and access to a community of your peers to hold you accountable for your progress. We can also help you prepare for and get accepted to one of the top mobile development boot camps. Get the training you need to succeed in your new career!

Final Thoughts

That was it. To conclude, we suggest that we don’t just start to learn mobile app development straight away. Instead, take your time to think about an App idea, First, learn development then convert your idea into an App.

Thank you very much for your precious time.

Hope you guys enjoy it.

Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Note: for deep dive in android development, this article will help you a lot and if you don’t want to learn code still want to develop app then this will help you

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