Do you know that Android device users can currently choose from more than 2.5 million apps worldwide? If we compare Android with computer OS, it would be Windows, the OS with the highest share in the world. Unsurprisingly, developing apps for Android devices is top-rated, and this booming trend doesn't seem to decrease anytime soon. From this, it's easy to conclude that the demand for Android developers will be high in the future.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 17% growth in the employment of Android developers by 2024. So, if you'd like to be highly employable, earn good money, and become a part of something fascinating, keep on reading to discover more about Android devs.
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Top Advantages of Android OS
Despite the growing popularity of iPhones with their iOS, Android devices are still the main force that continues to break through the mobile landscape. For reference, Android boasts 74.43% of the total mobile OS market share and over 52 billion app downloads to date. No wonder many businesses want to have high-quality, engaging, and user-friendly Android apps at their disposal, allowing them to reach a larger audience, gain more exposure, and increase their sales. Why Android?Cost-Effectiveness
The primary reason for Android popularity is that it's relatively cost-effective. Compared to other platforms, Android is much cheaper. In addition, Android devs can turn to open sources with no license fees when creating apps, significantly decreasing the cost. In other words, you can get a high-quality Android app with a small investment.Security
Java is the primary programming language for Android development (though it's not the only one). And, as you already know, Java is very stable and secure. Not only that, but it also makes the Android-driven devices run smoothly.Quick and Efficient Results
Due to the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) with many ready-made codes, developers can create Android applications quickly without sacrificing quality.Who Is an Android Developer? Main Responsibilities
From all this, it's easy to see that Android apps and specialists to develop/maintain them will be in great demand for a long while. But what is an Android developer, and how to identify a good one? In brief, an Android developer is a person who creates applications for the Android OS. However, it is not as simple as it may seem at first. Unlike iOS, which is exclusively for iPhones, Android varies for different devices. So, Android developers should keep extra attention to the app's compatibility with all devices that run on Android OS, including smartphones, tablets, e-books, and some others. In general, an Android developer should be able to:- Create the app's features. It's the primary duty of any Android Developer, which involves a process on how the end-user will use the app.
- Design interactive user interfaces (UI).
- Write and maintain a reusable, high-performing code for licensed wireframes and designs.
- Test, troubleshoot, and fix bugs (both while developing the app and when it's already available to users).
- Prioritize customers' requirements and add new features to the app accordingly.
- Keep up to date with the new development tools.
- Work with Outside Data Sources and different APIs, including external ones.
- Work with different departments within the company to develop new functionality users demand.
- Track the app's reviews to spot weak points.
Essential Skills Required
Android development is quite hard, and there is no doubt. And to be able to perform all those duties, you should gain the following skills:- It would be best if you were an expert in Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, C++, or C#.
- Know Android Architecture concepts (Activities, Services, Broadcast receivers, Content Providers, Intents, Android Runtime, and much more).
- Have familiarity with various APIs to connect Android apps to back-end services.
- Be able to write a generic code that won't crash on different Android devices.
- Work with Android Studio. It is the fastest and the most powerful tool for developing Android apps for any Android OS device.
- Understand the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) – a set of Java code modules allowing you to access such functions as the camera and accelerometer on mobile devices.
- Be proficient in MVC, MVP, or MVVM architecture.
- Have extensive knowledge of Screen Layout Designing with XML.
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