Mobile Application Developer: Job Description for this Exciting Career
Mobile devices and applications are changing the way we do business, communicate, and access entertainment and news. With the exploding popularity of tablets and smartphones, mobile app development is increasingly becoming a popular medium of software creation. Consumers, businesses, and programmers have embraced this medium, making mobile app development one of the fastest growing and in-demand IT careers.
What is Mobile App Development?
Mobile application development draws much of its roots from traditional software development and is similar to web application development. The main difference is that mobile apps are specifically developed to use the unique features and hardware that a particular mobile device has to offer.
Typically, mobile app development involves creating apps for smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and all other forms of wearable devices that operate on some kind of operating software. It is the complete process of creating the code, assets, and design needed to implement an application that runs on a mobile device. All the supporting services are incorporated and accessed from the app via a network connection and can as well be run on remote computing resources.
Regular Duties of a Mobile App Developer
Mobile application developers are good in IT programming and are well versed with the different types of computer languages such as Java, MySQL, C++, HTML, Objective-C, Python, or PHP. Each mobile device uses an operating system and programming language an app developer must understand. A mobile app developer possesses strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities and excellent working knowledge of the different platforms for tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices.
A mobile application developer works with many other professionals in the course of their day. The interactions may take the form of electronic meeting, face-to-face meetings, emails, and phone conversations. This means that for a person to be successful in this field, they must possess good interpersonal, verbal, and written skills in addition to excellent computer skills.
The duties of a mobile application developer depend on the level of experience. Nevertheless, the primary duty is to create, implement, and maintain the source code. An application developer typically starts a project by defining what a program does, the expected output, and all the programming that needs to be done to complete the project. The mobile app developer then develops a system or program that takes into consideration all the specifications. What’s next is writing a code necessary to make a mobile application work. The code developed depends on the mobile platform for which it is intended.
Before an app is launched, the developer will run various quality assurance tests to find and correct inaccuracies and ensure that all features are working as they should. The job of a mobile application developer doesn’t end once the app is released to the public. It’s their responsibility to maintain and troubleshoot programs, which can include modifying and updating existing programs. They also constantly monitor user feedback and come up with ideas to improve or patch the app.
Importance of Being a Formally Educated Vs. Self-Taught
There are many paths to becoming a mobile app developer since knowledge can be found anywhere and everywhere. While earning a degree in app development isn’t compulsory, holding a bachelor’s degree in the subject could make it easier to gain employment and perform job duties.
Employers will typically consider the level of education and portfolio that one has. A college degree is a key consideration in the mobile application field because it prepares students for work in the occupation, and helps validate knowledge in programming and design, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
An accredited degree in mobile app development helps students learn back-end programming languages and also helps them gain fundamental programming skills. Formal training promoted interaction with multimedia design and scripting skills in different mobile platforms, making a graduate marketable.
Also, formal education has attendance requirements, assignments, grades, and all forms of external incentives that keep students focused and make learning harder to ignore. Self-education also calls for discipline because understand every detail required a more contentious effort. But fewer individuals are able to stick to a self-education program.
A degree in mobile app development helps you build your portfolio and resume before you even graduate. You also benefit from industry-experienced and education-focused instructors who can be valuable in building your knowledge and skills. In addition to gaining technical knowledge in the field of mobile application development, you also learn how to work with clients and provide good customer service. Good soft skills help you work well with team members and clients.
Are you interested in mobile app development? There's no time like the present to start working towards your Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Software Development - Mobile Development Track. ECPI University offers this degree at an accelerated pace. For more information, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
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Gainful Employment Information – Mobile Development Track – Bachelor's
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