Career Track
Mobile App Development
What is Mobile App Development?
Mobile development is building software to run on mobile devices like tablets, smartphones, and smartwatches. Everything from Instagram to enterprise apps fit in this category. Mobile apps are built for the general public, private companies, and the government. Mobile apps might be native (written in a specific platform’s language) or non-native, written to work on multiple platforms. Android apps are typically written in Java while Apple/iOS apps are written in Swift or Objective-C. These languages are preapproved by the vendor who manufactures the device.
Mobile App Developer Jobs
Mobile app developers are in high demand regardless of which platform you choose to build for. The mobile app economy is expected to hit $102.5 billion in revenues in 2020. There have never been more mobile devices on the market as there are right now. After a mobile development bootcamp, you can design native apps for a vendor like Apple or Google, develop apps at a startup, or even create your own app and start a business yourself!
Here is a list of the most common Mobile App Developer job titles for bootcampers:
- Mobile Application Developer
- Mobile Application Programmer
- iOS Mobile Application Developer
- Android Developer
- Mobile Engineer
- Mobile Software Engineer
- Hybrid Mobile Application Developer
- Mobile Developer
- Software Developer, Mobile
Mobile App Developer Job Description
The job description for a Mobile App Developer often depends on the employer. The primary duty of a Mobile App Developer is to create, maintain, and implement source code that meets the requirements of the client. A Mobile App Developer should understand the different platforms, tools available, and be able to design for any mobile device. They should be able to communicate clearly and effectively with their team in order to fulfill the client’s needs. The Mobile App Developer should understand the entire development process of an application. As such, they’ll also understand how to develop a minimum viable product (MVP). Their duties may include one or all of the steps in the design, develop, test, release, maintain lifecycle.
Mobile App Developer Salaries
| Mobile Developer Job | Average Salary |
| Mobile App Developer | $41,195-$108,890 |
| iOS Developer | $80,343 |
| Android Developer | $77,442 |
Mobile App Developer Skills
Most app developer positions do not require a degree but they will require you to prove your skills with a coding challenge or whiteboarding. You should have a portfolio of your own apps ready to show potential employers, too! Strong communication skills are a must in app development because most positions require collaboration with other designers, developers, and departments as well as interaction with clients.
A Mobile App Developer should have strong analytical skills, be creative, pay attention to little details, and be able to solve problems with little to no assistance. Depending on whether you choose to develop for Android, iOS, or both will determine if you need to know a few of the technologies listed below or most of them. You will be able to learn these skills at a mobile development bootcamp.
To be an Android Developer you’ll need to know:
- Java - is a core language that is the most commonly used language for Android development. Apps built in the Android Studio are written in Java.
- C++ - C++ is an object-oriented core language that is less commonly used but still sometimes found in Android mobile apps.
- Android Studio - Android Studio is the official Integrated Development Environment for Android app development.
- Eclipse - Eclipse is a tool similar to Android Studio used to develop code for android apps.
- XML - XML is a markup language used to store information.
- Kotlin - Kotlin is an open-source, programming language. It’s designed to be more concise and work well with Java and JavaScript.
- Unity - Unity is used for Android game development.
To be an iOS Developer you’ll need:
- Objective-C - Objective-C is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language that was created in 1980. It is the main language used for iOS and macOS.
- Swift - Swift was created by Apple in 2014 as the first protocol-oriented programming language. It’s used to build apps for the iOS platform.
- Xcode - Xcode is the Integrated Development Environment for iOS apps.
You can develop on both operating systems using:
- React Native - React was originally released by Facebook as a framework for JavaScript with User Interface in mind. React Native is the mobile development version which also keeps User Interface as its top priority. It brings web development concepts to the mobile development world.
- Text Editor - A text editor is a computer program that allows users to edit a variety of programming language files.
- Chrome Debugger - The Chrome Debugger API can be used to debug JavaScript and CSS.
Other useful skills for Mobile App Developers include:
- HTML - HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is a standardized markup language used for creating a webpage. These pages can include writing, links, pictures, sound, and video. HTML is used to denote these elements so that the web browser can display them correctly.
- CSS - CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. CSS is used alongside HTML and JavaScript to control the layout and presentation of a website.
- JavaScript - JavaScript is the most popular language on the web. It is a scripting language used to enhance and manipulate web pages by adding interactivity.
- Frameworks - JavaScript frameworks are collections of JavaScript code that provide developers with prewritten code to use for routine actions and to easily implement best practices and standards.
- jQuery - jQuery is a JavaScript framework that simplifies a variety of programming operations like mouse clicks and keystrokes, adding and deleting elements, and dynamic content that is readable by search engines.
- Bootstrap - Bootstrap is a CSS framework for developing responsive and mobile-optimized websites.
- ReactJS - React is an open-source JavaScript framework from Facebook that provides a view for HTML data or user interfaces.
Android vs iOS Mobile App Development
The demand for Android and iOS Developers are about the same, with about 5,000 open jobs each in the US on average. The pay for Developers on both platforms is almost equal as well. In the US market, iOS controls about 58% while Android makes up about 41%. Globally, however, Android takes over 73% of market shares while iOS rings in at just 26%.
Aditya Narayan, the CEO and co-founder of TurnToTech says, “Because there is so much opportunity in mobile right now, it’s completely legitimate to go with what you like to use as a user. But you can be more analytical than that. If your aspirations are tied to the international market, Android is a good option. If your focus is the US market or you want to monetize through in-app purchases, iOS is your best choice. It’s not a once in a lifetime decision. If you can write apps in iOS, you can easily transition to Android and vice versa.”
How to choose between Android vs. iOS: If you’re starting as a complete beginner, then Android and iOS will likely take the same amount of time to learn. If you’ve already learned Java, start with Android. If you’ve already learned C++ or C, pick up iOS first.
How to Become a Mobile App Developer
You could get a degree in computer science and then teach yourself Swift, Objective-C, or Java online. This option will take ~4 years and cost over $100,000. While Android and iOS aren’t the only platforms out there, they do comprise 99% of the market.
Mobile Developer Bootcamp
Learning to code with a bootcamp is probably the fastest option. If you learn better in a classroom, need career assistance, or want the connection of a cohort to bolster your learning experience, then bootcamp is for you! Most bootcamps specialize in either iOS or Android. Mobile bootcamps can range from 5 weeks to 10 months, and vary in price from $5,000-$15,000. Tuition range depends on a variety of factors based on location, immersive vs part-time, online vs in-person. Many bootcamps now offer deferred tuition, Income Share Agreements, and financing options.
Online Learning Resources
Of course, you can learn the technical skills to become a Mobile App Developer entirely online. This option is for the self-starter who is disciplined and creative enough to build their own curriculum or pay for an online, self-paced curriculum. Online resources like Team Treehouse and Codecademy offer free trials and paid monthly subscription.
More articles about Mobile App Development
Ultimate Guide
Beginner's Guide to Swift
Everything you need to know about the iOS language created by Apple – including how to learn Swift!
webinar
Developing for iOS: Objective-C vs Swift
Bloc mentor Steve Schauer teaches us all about the two mobile development languages!
Article
How To Get Into Coding Bootcamp in 2020
Follow these 8 steps to get into the bootcamp of your choice!
The 98 Best Mobile App Development Bootcamps
Atlanta6 Courses
Big Nerd Ranch is a mobile app development and design firm and training company that has led one-week intensive bootcamps since 2001. Hosted at their Atlanta, Georgia campus, courses focus on mobile development in iOS and Android as well as front-end web development,...
Read our Full Review of Big Nerd RanchOnline2 Courses
Covalence provides career-changing 12-week, full-time and 6-month, part-time full stack web development educational programs online. In Covalence's Full Stack bootcamp, students learn the essentials of front-end, back-end, and database development by focusing on modern...
Read our Full Review of Covalence
Alchemy Code Lab offers a full-time, 21-week course in Full Stack JavaScript both in-person in Portland, Oregon and live online. Alchemy Code Lab is an innovation-driven code school where students will engage in an advanced curriculum under the guidance of a team of...
Read our Full Review of Alchemy Code LabAmsterdam2 Courses
Codaisseur offers an 11-week web development academy in Amsterdam and online. Their program prepares students for full-stack developer roles where professionals teach what they know and love through this unique course. In collaboration with industry professionals and...
Read our Full Review of Codaisseur
Barcelona Code School offers a 9-week full-time Full-Stack JavaScript Bootcamp in Barcelona, Spain and online. Barcelona Code School's curriculum is focused on using JavaScript with Node.js, Express, MongoDB, React.js and React Native. This Java-Script-focused...
Read our Full Review of Barcelona Code SchoolToronto10 Courses
Pragra offers 4, 8, 12, 16, and 22-week part-time coding bootcamps in Mississauga, Canada, and Noida, India, as well as online. Pragra coding programs include full stack Java, machine learning, dev ops, Big Data, QA automation, Amazon Web Services, business analysis,...
Read our Full Review of PragraMontevideo, Santiago, Buenos Aires5 Courses
Coderhouse is a part-time bootcamp teaching skills in full stack web development, mobile development, digital marketing, UX design, and more. The part-time bootcamp is from 20 to 29 weeks long and is based in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. Upon completion of the...
Read our Full Review of CoderhouseOnline4 Courses
Refactory offers a 12-week, full-time, online mobile development coding bootcamp. Refactory wants to help students learn programming regardless of their background, gender, or religion. In order to be eligible for Refactory's bootcamp, one must be an Indonesian...
Read our Full Review of Refactory
Le Reacteur is a full stack JavaScript web and mobile development bootcamp offering 10-week full-time and 25-week part-time courses online or at its campus in Paris, France. Bootcamp students are prepared for jobs as a junior developers, digital project managers, and...
Read our Full Review of Le ReacteurAlbuquerque1 Course
Cultivating Coders is an Albuquerque-based intensive 8-week coding bootcamp focused on web application development fundamentals and technical training. During the program, students work on projects to help local non-profit organizations in the community. Cultivating...
Read our Full Review of Cultivating Coders
