Over the past few decades, the number of applications or apps being built has grown rapidly. But have you ever wondered who is responsible for developing such apps? Well, they're referred to as mobile developers.
With the demand for mobile developers projected to grow exponentially in the next few years, I'm sure you're interested to know more about the role of a mobile developer. In this video, you'll learn all about that, including the responsibilities of a mobile developer, the kinds of languages and skills mobile developers have, and where mobile developers work and their job roles. So what kinds of things does a mobile developer do?
While no two roles are the same, there are many common tasks and responsibilities shared by all mobile developers. First is designing, building and maintaining mobile apps. This includes tasks like building a user interface or UI based on design specifications, writing code to support functionality, and building animations and transitions to provide an engaging user experience. Other common tasks include integrating third-party application program interfaces or APIs to connect the app with other technologies or code, writing tests and releasing apps, and updates to the Apple and Google stores.
Apart from the many coding tasks, developers often work as part of a team, which can include other developers, project managers, quality assurance or QA professionals, and designers. In fact, as a mobile developer, you may find yourself working with multiple teams. As teams and development projects become larger, version control becomes increasingly important.
Version control is a system that allows a development team or teams to track and manage changes made to the software code. Version control also allows your team or teams to work simultaneously and collaboratively on projects, by enabling access to the most recent version of the software code. GitHub is one online platform that can assist you with version control. Amongst other things, GitHub makes it easy for you to keep track of your work and others' work and review code changes in collaborative projects.
It allows you to access and navigate between different versions of online files. Mobile developers also often play a role in planning projects and participate in the project progression by attending regular team meetings. In addition, you'll find that almost all mobile developers spend some time researching their projects and keeping up to date with emerging trends regarding their operation system.
Because many of a mobile developer's tasks and responsibilities involve coding, it's essential for them to know the language that their app's operating system or OS software development kit is built upon. Swift and Objective-C are programming languages for iOS app development. Being proficient in these programming languages can make you more capable as a mobile developer and can expand your choice of job roles and projects.
Other valuable skills for any mobile developer who builds the user interface or UI for mobile apps are design and user experience or UX, as well as knowledge of server technology and continuous integration or CI. This is the practice of automating the integration of code changes from multiple contributors into a single software project. Okay. Let's say that you've mastered your mobile development skills.
Where in the job market do you find work? Well, because mobile development skills are in demand, there are many roles available. For instance, there are many developer roles in a large company such as Meta.
As the creators of React Native, mobile development is very important to Meta. Anyone considering a position at Meta will understand that knowledge of the React Native framework is a common requirement for their software engineers. Now let's explore some of the available job options.
Mobile development is popular with small companies and startups who understand how apps can aid their growth. It is equally useful to large companies. For instance, they may want to build apps that help them gain a slight competitive advantage, foster engagement with their user base, or allow their customers to quickly access their products and services. You can also use your skills to work as a freelance mobile app developer.
If you're not attracted By any of the many job offers available to you, you may prefer to start your own development company. With mobile development, you can take your own ideas directly to the market. You should now have a clearer understanding of the role of a mobile developer, their responsibilities and the skills they require.