Naturally, a mobile app developer’s average base salary of $97K per annum should not cause raised eyebrows. When you’re helping companies earn millions of dollars, you deserve a sum of it. In the case of app developers, the sum is large.
However, the journey to a six-figure salary as a mobile developer is long. But attainable. To earn such a salary, you must be well-versed in mobile app design and development.
1. Choose One Major Platform
The major platforms in the mobile app development world are
Android, iOS, and Windows. There are others too like Symbian and Blackberry
RIM, but you already know not to go for it.
So, either you can go for all the three major platforms, or
you can choose one.
Even though Windows 10 apps are springing up, it’s still not the most lucrative
to areas, to begin with.
Thus, the first stepping stone for your journey to choosing
will be either to opt for iOS apps or Android apps.
Once you have control over one, you can expand your horizons
to include other app development technologies too.
2. Get the Required Training and Education
Getting formal training and education in software
development processes is indeed required.
A degree in computer science and software engineering is a
good foundation because it helps you get a grasp on key concepts of data
structuring, designing, and programming.
But even if you have passed the graduation age and still
struggling where to begin with, you can opt for online courses. There are
several web platforms that offer online courses specifically in app
development.
You can even opt for free app development courses and
tutorials. For example, Coursera, one of the leading providers of open online
courses where you can learn how to develop a mobile app by professionals.
3. Master These Three Areas
Like any other discipline, app development requires you to
take a stronghold on fundamentals. Here, the three core concepts are mobile
user interface design, programming, and business expertise.
Mobile user interface design:
It all starts with the design. There are beginners who
complain when asked to learn the intricacies of the interface. But that’s the
core of an app. Being able to code an interface sets a launchpad for your
career growth trajectory.
Programming:
It’s not the programming language that matters the most.
It’s your ability to make logic and translate those algorithms into efficient
codes. The person who knows how programming works can pick up any language he
wants.
You should have knowledge of programming if you want to
develop a mobile app.
However, you still need to learn a few languages to make it
work.
1. Classic object-oriented programming language: Java, C++,
Objective C. For iOS, Apple’s own programming language Swift is also being
widely accepted by app development companies.
2. Front end: HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript
Business expertise:
Business expertise? Yes, business expertise!
Missing a few fundamentals can work. They can be
strengthened. But you should always try to understand the business cases of an
app.
To be frank, that’s where the money revolves. You must know
how to monetize an app. Or how to put fences within an app after which a user
has to pay to use the app. Or how to make users spend more time on the app.
4. Practice Your Skills
Practicing is very important to keep your skills sharp. If
you learn something but don’t end up practicing regularly, you might forget.
This is why one should constantly practice coding, programming, and even
development.
Here’s are some steps you can use to organize your practice
sessions
Step 1: – Come up with an app idea
If you already have an app idea, start developing now. Look
for apps already in the market and see if you can build a prototype.
The first step in developing an app idea is to look for a
problem that people are facing in daily life and list out them on a sheet. Find
out how your app could resolve that problem and shortlist the one which makes
more sense.
Step 2: – Detail down your app idea onto paper
This step will clearly help you understand how users will
navigate your app, as well as it will help you figure out the features of your
app that will help you in building a good user interface design.
Step 3: – Hire or collaborate with the people
that can help you!
You cannot develop an app on your own from start to finish.
You will need someone by your side that can guide or even help you in your app
development process.
So, if you need any help, consider hiring people according
to your need or collaborate with the people that can help you.
Step 4: – Test your app
Once your app development part is over, go for the testing
part because new apps always have a bug. Have your friend test it for you, see
where the bugs are, and fix them.
Step 5: – Convert it to other platforms
Once you have learned how to develop an app in one platform,
try to convert that app to other platforms. Because different platforms have
different requirements.
So, with each platform, you come to know about the different
requirements and the problems of the platforms that will help you in the future
app development process.
5. Apply for an Internship
How amazing it will be if you could make your apps with an
established app company. It’s not just that, you will be earning.
The best part of an app development internship is you learn
the processes by which a project is organized and implemented. You also get to
work on projects throughout the app development cycle.
An internship also serves as a recommendation for your
first job as an app developer. So once you’re ready, log in to LinkedIn and
start applying for intern positions.
Conclusion
Becoming a mobile app developer from scratch is a long journey. You need to feel motivated every day to sit on your laptop and fall in love with the world of apps.