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Android Developer: How to Become a Sought-After Specialist

Original in Russian: blog.skillbox.by
Android Developer: Who Are They and How to Become One in Belarus

Contents:

Why the demand for Android developers is growing

According to research bankmycell.comIn 2024, more than 4.88 billion people in the world will use about 7.21 billion smartphones. And according to avada.ioMore than 70% of devices run the Android operating system (OS).

In the report datareportal.comIt is indicated that 69% of the world's population has smartphones, and in developed countries this figure reaches 80-90%, according to data financesonline.com. For example, in Macau, there are more than three devices per person.

For the average user, a smartphone isn't just a phone. It's a device for communicating with the world, an entertainment center, a game console, a library, a movie theater, a mentor, a kitchen assistant, and a personal trainer. For businesses, it's a convenient and effective tool for interacting with audiences.

Since 2012-2015, almost all online services have been created with mobile users in mind. Smartphone versions of marketplaces or food delivery services, corporate software for business, applications for accepting payments, digital fitness instructors for gym members, mobile banking, various online services (VPN, cloud storage), applications for purchasing tickets, booking hotel rooms—thousands of companies are launching mobile applications. Therefore, the demand for Android developers will only grow—the developed software needs to be supported and updated.

If you think that over time You are mistaken if you think Android will lose ground to iOS, whose share is constantly growing. Android is not just smartphones and tablets. It is an entire ecosystem - Smart TVs, fitness trackers, car radios and on-board computers, POS terminals, retail equipment, VR headsets. According to Statista, there are about 17 billion mobile devices in the world, and most of them run the Android OS.

iOS is supported only by Apple devices, which even in their home country, the United States, occupy only half the market, according to financesonline.comAndroid is dozens of brands and manufacturers, including Samsung, which has been the leader in the number of released devices for many years smartphones.

Another argument is the price. There is a huge selection of Android devices from $100 to $250, you can even find models for $50. And the cost of the iPhone is from $1,000 and up. Not everyone, even with a high income, agrees to an overprice five times higher for a brand and a small increase in performance.

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How mobile development appeared

When the first mobile phones and smartphones appeared, there was no universal platform. Manufacturers created the architecture from scratch, and even the operating system could differ between two different models of the same brand. This is how dozens of operating systems appeared that are not compatible with each other. And this greatly complicated the development of independent commercial applications.

Under such conditions, it was necessary to launch software not just for each manufacturer, but even for individual models. And this is not like modern cross-platform development, where code with minimal changes is compiled for different OS. Differences in architecture and memory handling, different programming languages. Some OSs only supported Java applications, while others required coding in Python and C++. All this forced the project to be restarted from scratch each time.

In the 2000s, mobile developers mainly worked on operating systems and pre-installed applications. There were independent programmers and small studios. They released mobile games, third-party music players, notepads, calendars with reminders, email clients. But this was not as widespread and profitable as it is now.

Everything changed with the advent of Android. Google allowed the use of the OS for free and without restrictions. The operating system turned out to be so good that most vendors abandoned the development of their own projects.

Over time, Android became a global platform. Full compatibility between different devices, a convenient and unified development environment with a full set of tools greatly simplified the creation of mobile applications. And it became profitable.

Today, any app on Google Play is available to billions of users. Even free software generates good profits through banner advertising. Corporate programs, for example, an online store or language school app, allow you to interact with millions of users across a single country or region.

Google programmers borrowed the app store concept and other ideas from iOS. The iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2007. It was for it that third-party developers began creating the first mobile apps. Android repeated its success and began to pull ahead only a couple of years later.

What does an Android developer do?

An Android developer is a programmer who creates software for the Android operating system. These include familiar music and video players, Viber and Telegram messengers, various organizers, mobile applications for online stores and banks, and games. But that's not all.

Android, in addition to smartphones and tablets, encompasses a huge number of different devices that require their own software. For example, Android developers are working on firmware, drivers, and apps for Smart TVs, fitness trackers, POS terminals and cash registers, instrument clusters, on-board computers, and car multimedia centers. The number of devices with advanced capabilities is constantly growing. Coffee machines, food processors, refrigerators that can find recipes or remotely notify when groceries need to be refilled, and smart home systems are appearing. And everywhere you need specialized software.

As in other areas of IT, developers can work only with the user interface (frontend) or the server part (backend). However, unlike web applications, software for mobile devices does not have such a strict division into the client and the server. These processes are closely interconnected, so an Android developer needs to study the full technology stack.

The main responsibilities of a developer include:

  • Coding. Converting a graphic layout into program code takes up most of an Android developer's time.
  • Architecture. The idea of ​​the application, its interface, internal structure, and the interaction between individual parts of the software. In teams, a tech lead or technical director with at least senior experience is responsible for architecture.
  • Behavior logic in different situations. Creating behavior scenarios. For example, if the smartphone is idle (no touches), a call or SMS has arrived.
  • Navigation. Creating a structure (map) of individual screens and the logic for switching between them, linking functions to the application's graphical interface.
  • Optimization. Simplifying code, eliminating or replacing code blocks that take too long to process and put a heavy load on the system.
  • Security. Connecting encryption systems for applications that transmit user data to the server, differentiating access rights, setting up access by fingerprint or Face ID.
  • Connecting databases and API (application programming interface). For applications that can connect to third-party web services.
  • Manual and automatic testing. This is necessary at different stages of development to find errors in the code.
  • Development of technical documentation, user manuals, description of application versions.
  • Code compilation.Packaging into an APK file, uploading versions to GitHub, uploading to the Google Play app store.

The scope of a specialist's tasks may vary depending on the company, experience, and skills of the developer. Junior developers usually handle routine tasks - testing the system, writing documentation, assigning functions to interface buttons. Middle-level programmers create and optimize the code that is responsible for accessing the device hardware and synchronizing with the server. When freelancing, you often have to do everything yourself. Therefore, it is better for beginners to start with an internship at a company and go freelance after gaining experience.

What soft and hard skills does an Android developer need to develop?

Some companies hire interns with a minimal set of skills - Android SDK, Java, or Kotlin. But more often, they need specialists who have mastered the full stack of technologies to launch projects. An Android developer cannot do without developing personal qualities.

Soft skills:

  • Organization. All developers need the ability to plan their time and set priorities. But this is especially important for freelancers who don't have a manager to control their daily routine.
  • Ability to think like a user. This will help create software that is user-friendly and useful for the target audience.
  • A desire to develop.Seeking new, innovative solutions and mastering technologies—this attitude will allow you to become a valuable specialist and help you develop your career.
  • The ability to ask the right questions. Will reduce the number of mistakes at the start of a career and will help when working with clients.

Hard skills:

  • Knowledge of a programming language. Kotlin or Java, some studios also need programmers in C++, Python and JS.
  • Understanding the logic of the OS and knowledge of the main application architecture patterns. For example, MVVM (Model–View–ViewModel), MVI (Model-View-Intent), MVP (Model View Presenter), MVC (Model-View-Controller).
  • Knowledge of the Android SDK and Android Studio. This is a set of application development tools and an integrated development environment with a visual layout editor, ready-made templates, and a code editor.
  • XML markup language.Used to create layouts in many mobile applications. Especially for software that requires internet access. For example, mobile banking, online stores.
  • Material Design.A set of tips, recommendations, and requirements for the interface, navigation, and button design. Neglecting these recommendations may result in rejection of publication on Google Play.
  • SQL databases.Needed for all kinds of online services, mobile banking applications, and online stores.
  • GIT system.Used for storing and managing application versions.
  • English. Even juniors need B1/B2 level knowledge.

Which programming language should I choose for development?

There are two official languages ​​for coding Android applications - Java and Kotlin. They are compatible with each other and allow you to use all the features of the operating system.

Kotlin is simpler and more concise than Java, and since 2019 it has been declared the official programming language for Android. And it most likely represents the future of Android development.

Java has been around since 1995. It was the birthplace of mobile development, and millions of apps and the operating system itself are written in it. In the coming years, you will encounter Java when updating and maintaining software. It is also a universal language that is suitable for coding for iOS, writing the server side of web applications, and creating desktop applications and games (for example, Minecraft). But it is more difficult to learn than Kotlin.

At this stage of mobile development, you need to know both languages ​​- Java and Kotlin. But you can learn one first and master the other as you go:

 

  • If you're completely new to programming, it's best to start with Kotlin—it'll be much easier to get started.
  • Java is similar to Swift (the iOS development language) and C++. Therefore, if you have some experience with these tools, it'll be easier to start with it. Moreover, Java can be used to transition into other areas, such as web development.
  • You can basically write code for an application in any language, and if you know C++, JS, or Python, you can already make mobile applications. But an Android developer needs to learn Kotlin or Java in any case.

How much do Android developers earn?

According to recruitment.by, in Belarus the income of an experienced Android developer varies from $1,000 to $6,000. On the job search service belmeta.comYou can find vacancies with a rate from $500 to $3,000 per month.

In the US, Android development is divided into several areas. According to salaryexpert.com, app developers earn an average of $116,945 per year. Entry-level specialists can expect an annual income of $83,279, while senior-level programmers can earn up to $144,669. Bonuses and a benefits package are also provided, including paid vacation, sick leave, health insurance, and a gym membership.

As your skills develop, you can retrain as an Android engineer. For example, according to glassdoor.com, specialists at Google earn from 216 thousand dollars a year, including bonuses and allowances.

How to master a profession. Useful resources from the editors of Skillbox.by

Developing applications for Android is a voluminous specialization. You need to be able to work with large arrays of data, have a good knowledge of the development environment and several programming languages. Deep knowledge of databases and computer security is required. You can obtain such knowledge at universities or through distance learning courses.

There are no specializations of "mobile developer" or "Android developer" in Belarusian universities yet. But you can get the basics in related fields at BSU and BSUIR. However, a university diploma in itself is not an end in itself. Employers are increasingly looking at experience and a portfolio. You can confirm your skills with a Google certificate. And when choosing distance learning courses where you can master the profession of an Android developer in a short time, we recommend paying attention to the relevance of the curriculum and the ability to build a portfolio.

After obtaining the necessary knowledge, an Android developer can:

  • Develop in an IT company that develops mobile software. These can be large corporations like Google, Yandex, or small teams that create custom applications for various companies.
  • Get a job in the IT department. A bank, online store, online language school, media outlet, or SaaS company that provides various online services.
  • Go freelance. Assemble your own team, independently create custom mobile applications or provide support for them for small corporate clients.
  • Create mobile applications. Games and utilities for Google Play, earning money by selling paid subscriptions or from advertising.

It is better to start with an internship in a large team, where you can gain experience, master advanced tools and modern approaches to organizing the work process. Working in a large company opens the prospect of growing to a technical director or team lead and building a successful international career.

To help you get to know the profession of an Android developer better, the Skillbox.by editorial team has collected useful resources.

Literature:

  • Christine Marsicano, K. Stewart, Bill Phillips "Android. Programming for Professionals";
  • Wiley Brand "Android: Application Development for Dummies";
  • David and Don Griffiths "Head First. Programming for Android";
  • John Horton "Android Programming in Kotlin for Beginners";
  • Paul Deitel, Alexander Wald, Harvey Deitel "Android for Developers";
  • Don Griffiths "Breaking Android Development";
  • John Horton “Learning Java by Building Android Games - Explore Java Through Mobile Game Development”;
  • Mario Zechner “Beginning Android Games”.

Internet resources:

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