There are 1.4
billion active devices that run on iOS. It makes sense for the
business to invest in iOS to capture a slice of this market. The demand is
high, but the supply is low. A lucrative career waits ahead for those looking
to build their career in iOS development. As an iOS developer, when you are just
starting out, you would be interested to know how to pursue a career in iOS App Development, but don’t know
where to start or where to find that information.
This article will tell you the skills and the best
programming languages you need to learn to build your career in iOS App
development. Increasingly more and more companies are adopting a mobile-first
approach. This has increased the demand for iOS developers who build apps for
Apple devices. Due to talent shortages, the salaries have gone up for many in
the field. If you know the necessary programming languages and other skills to
create apps that enterprises and consumers use every day to make their lives
more productive, you have all the reasons to build your career in iOS
app development.
This article will help you better understand how to break
into a career in mobile app development. It covers the most important details
and resources. At present IT scenario, Mobile app development is a hot skill.
As a result, more and more people can be seen opting for it. It makes common
sense for most developers to opt for the most in-demand mobile technology to
build their career. Just look at the popularity and demand for Apple’s iPhone,
iPad, and iPod.
You will feel safe to say that a career in iOS Development
is a good bet.
Both experienced as well as entry-level professionals are entering the world of iOS Development. Still, there are immense job opportunities that provide good pay package and even better career growth. According to a survey of mobile app developers by Vision Mobile, iOS is the right technology to spend your time and money on. Let’s try to grasp the things from the beginning.
The prime
responsibilities of an iOS developer
The main job of an iOS developer revolves around building,
testing, and refining applications for mobile devices that use Apple’s iOS
operating system. They are expected to develop in a fashion that is consistent
with the goals and standards of their company or client. The iOS developer is
also expected to possess a strong understanding of iOS and how it works with
different Apple devices like iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. They
should also be able to adapt their applications to their firm’s or client’s
requirements.
Rationale
behind the spike in demand for iOS developers
Even though the Android holds more global market share and
is obviously the market leader, Apple leads with 1.4 billion active devices.
All of these devices run on iOS, as a result, the demand for iOS developers who
are well versed and can create apps for these devices has exploded in recent
years. According to a Sensor Tower report, the App Store will reach 5 million
apps by 2020. That’s a massive number. Mobile developers are among the top 10
most in-demand and hardest to fill tech jobs. The US Bureau of Labor and
Statistics predicts that application developer jobs will grow
31% from the present state by 2026.
Responsibilities
of an iOS Developer
Strictly speaking in terms of job role, iOS Developers are
responsible for building intuitive and eye-catching apps for mobile devices
that run on Apple’s iOS operating system. In several ways, iOS Developers
contribute to a brand. A badly designed app can lead to a negative opinion
about the company. Since it takes a team to develop a professional iOS app, the
developers are expected to work in a diverse team comprising of managers,
designers, and other Developers. Here are some of the key responsibilities of
an iOS Developer:
- They have to design and
build advanced native iOS apps on the iOS platform - Work closely with
cross-functional teams to define, design, and ship new features on time. - They are responsible for
unit-tests code for sturdiness, such as edge cases, usability, and functional
reliability of the iOS app. - They have to identify and
correct issues/bugs - iOS developers have to continuously
discover, evaluate and implement new technologies to increase development
efficiency. - Ensure code quality,
organization, and automatization - They have to build
sophisticated multi-threaded apps.
Tips for
building a career in iOS App development
If you are an aspiring iOS professional who desires to build
a career in iOS development and have little or no experience in programming,
then it can be difficult for you to find a job. Here are some tips to help you
get started:
- Learn iOS development –
This is the first step to building your career in iOS development. There are
numerous online resources and online courses that can assist you in your
learning from anywhere and anytime and at your own pace. - Start making apps right
away – As soon as your learning begins, you should start building the apps.
This is the best way to practice what you learned. Develop simple apps and make
them available for free or at a low cost to the public. This will help you get
reviews and feedback. You can develop better ones in the future or further
improve the existing ones. The apps you build will also build the portfolio
that you can show to your prospective clients. - Utilize any opportunity to
create apps – If you are not getting a big break, you can start working on your
reputation by developing apps for small organizations at a low cost or even for
free.
Skills
needed for iOS development
Here are few but must-have skills that will help you make a
dent in your iOS development career are:
- You should develop the
ability to build native, structurally sound software for iOS and Mac OS X
platforms. - Research online and stay
connected to keep up with current UX/UI trends. You should also keep yourself
updated on new functionality exposed through Apple’s SDKs. - Make the maximum use of
project management software, version control systems. You should also get
yourself familiarized with developing automated testing and deployment
strategies.
To make a career in iOS development, you will also require
the following tools and applications.
- An Apple computer – This is
the bare minimum requirement. For the development purpose, an advanced one
would be better since you will need good speed and memory when you’re
developing and testing your apps. - iPhone /iPad /iPod – As per
your budget, you should buy one of each since you will need to test your app on
different iOS platforms. Testing your app on your devices is an obvious logical
step before you ship it to your client or place it on the store. - Become a member of the iOS
Developer Program – If you want to access all the developer tools made by
Apple, you need to become a member.
Things you
need to master
- Objective C – This is the
language you need to create an iOS app. Having a strong foundation in it is
absolutely essential. - iOS – The are scores of
frameworks within iOS. There are also tools like adding text and images,
building views, and handling user interactions that you must know. - Swift – Relatively new,
this is Apple’s programming language for iOS Apps. You should learn the
fundamentals of programming since that’s the foundation for building apps. - XCode – It is the
development studio which is used for creating Apple-based programs and apps.
Though it is free to download, yet extremely helpful if you become proficient in
it. - Interface Builder – This is
an awesome tool by Apple that lets you create smart and eye-catching user
interfaces through drag and drop. - Version Control – You
should learn to use a versioning system for the code is an essential skill for
any developer. - Frameworks – If you are
familiar with important frameworks, it will make your life as an iOS Developer
fairly easier. The framework allows you to reuse code written by other
developers in your apps.
Gain
real-world experience
It’s not just about experience, but about gaining real-world
experience. If you want to build your career as an iOS developer, you should
ask yourself what it means to have experience. Gaining real-world experience
means, making lots of mistakes. That’s the only thing you need to do to gain
real-world experience. When you make mistakes you gain insights, and insights
lead to innovation, and thereafter innovation leads to progress.
That’s a reason the difference between a junior and a senior
developer can’t be measured in years. Senior developers get seasoned to make
calculative mistakes and find their way out. This does not mean that you should
start making mistakes, but rather it implies that you should not be afraid of
trying out a new approach where you don’t know the answer.
A senior developer will look at a problem from different
angles, they try out different approaches, and ultimately succeed in coming up
with the best answer or the solution. On the contrary, a junior developer will
merely do what he’s told and will avoid mistakes. A junior developer also needs
constant oversight and guidance. The problem is that there aren’t enough senior
developers to mentor the juniors in the IT industry.
Conclusion
There is an exponential demand for iOS Developers. However,
it is worth noting that the job requires even hotter skills in order to land a
drool-worthy position. If you are considering to build your career in iOS
development, you should be willing to invest your time and energy for growth as
a developer. Time and resources invested in learning iOS development is the
best step forward for a lucrative career in this field.
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