Are you interested in developing Android apps and have a passion for mobile apps? It is simple to become an Android developer, but it takes work to succeed and separate out from the crowd. To excel at this job, a lot of hard work, enthusiasm, perseverance, and dedication are required.
Being an Android developer nowadays is fantastic. New devices are always appearing, the technology is fascinating and growing, and there is a huge need for developers. Being an Android developer can be incredibly satisfying work. Additionally, it can be really difficult, especially when you first start.
Our goal at Excel PTP is to assist students in acquiring the skills necessary for the occupations they desire, as well as in launching and advancing in those careers. As with many other entry-level programming positions, getting started as a junior developer for Android is comparable, but let’s talk about what employers are specifically looking for and how you may begin down this career path.
Technical Skills
1. Java
Naturally, you should be familiar with the Java programming language. Despite the fact that you may create Android apps utilizing a variety of technologies, the majority of jobs call for Java native programming with Android Studio or Eclipse as your IDE.
Variables, lists, loops, control structures, and object-oriented ideas like class vs. static methods and inheritance should all be familiar to you. Additionally, you should feel at ease consulting the documentation to learn how to use brand-new Java SDK components.
2. The Android SDK
The Android SDK is a collection of programming tools used to create Android applications. Many fundamental Android ideas are listed below that you should be familiar with:
- A basic understanding of layouts and views
- Activities and their lifecycle
- User input
- Getting data from the web
- Storing data
- Collection views (like list view) and Adapters (default and custom)
- Action Bar
- Accommodating different screen sizes and densities
3. Working with APIs
Since so many apps contain a network-based component, obtaining data from the web is a rather fundamental ability for app development, as was already mentioned. Many job advertisements I’ve seen demand that the developer be able to work with their own API or some other 3rd party API, though this may not be necessary for all positions. Though XML/SOAP still appear occasionally, these will typically be JSON/REST APIs! I would advise concentrating on JSON/REST and just picking up XML/SOAP if you absolutely must.
4. Git
Even though this particular ability might not be necessary, you should generally use a version control system whether you are working alone or with a team. Although you shouldn’t be an expert in handling numerous merge conflicts, you should know the fundamentals of setting up and using a repository as well as committing and pushing changes.
5. Back-end skills
On occasion, job postings will request that Android engineers work on the system’s back end as well. I have personal experience with this. Since the back-end technologies differ so much, it may be more difficult to add this to your skill set when you are just getting started. Nonetheless, I wanted to include it because it arises frequently enough to be worth talking about.
You can choose to ignore these posts or take them as an opportunity to improve your back-end knowledge and abilities. And keep in mind that the fundamentals of programming are universal, so sometimes it’s simply a matter of being acquainted with the system’s architecture and the language’s syntax. These back-end technologies don’t necessarily require you to delve deeply into them.
Responsibilities Of Android Developers
- Create and develop cutting-edge Android applications.
- To identify, design, and release new features, work with cross-functional teams.
- Utilize other data sources and APIs
- Code for robustness, including edge cases, usability, and general dependability should be unit tested.
- Fix bugs and enhance program performance.
- Utilize new technologies as they emerge and develop to increase development effectiveness.
- convert wireframes and drawings into high-quality code
- Design, create, and manage an application with excellent performance, quality, and responsiveness.
- Find bottlenecks, solve them, and fix defects.
- aid in preserving the organization, quality, and automation of the code.
The organization’s project specifications are simply understood by an Android developer, who then transforms them into a usable application. The Google Play Store can accept published and submitted versions of the app. The following three stages are present in every Android app:
- Design Phase
- Development Phase
- Submission Process
Many mobile app developers today are in charge of the submission process as well as the designing and coding of apps. They are referred to as “full-stack” developers since they are capable of managing every stage of the Android app development process. Organizations occasionally employ programmers and developers for their app development team in addition to full stack developers. According to the current market trend, the two most important talents for any Android developer are UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface) design.
Role Of An Android Developer
A designer and developer of an Android application can both be called Android developers. The main three stages of an Android developer are as follows. Developers start off as junior staff members. Any business that finds the ideal developer for their needs must then hire that person, taking into account the complexity of their software. They advance to the intermediate level after serving as a junior developer for a particular amount of time. Android programmers with intermediate skill levels handle a few challenging tasks on their own. They advance to the senior level of Android development after several years of working at the intermediate level. Senior Android developers may also have to make decisions and design the app in addition to coding, which increases their workload. The following ideas are likely to be familiar to the developers:
You must select the developer in accordance with your project’s requirements. Companies that need to build the app from the ground up will need a senior level developer. However, users that only need to make minor adjustments to an already-existing program can engage junior or intermediate level developers. Before going into production, the code should be reviewed by a senior developer.
The main job roles or designations that are generally required in today’s market are:
- Mobile App Developer
- Android Engineer
- Mobile Architect
- Mobile Embedded Software Engineer
- Mobile Lead Software Engineer
- Android Developer
- Android Engineer
- Mobile Developer