Android is an open-source operating system developed by Google specifically for mobile phones. It has gained significant popularity over time, which has created a great demand for Android developers. Android development is about creating an application using the simple but powerful android software development kit. 

This is a highly sought-after career path due to its high success rate despite the lower development costs and resources used. Here’s a full guide explaining how to become an Android Developer.

But first, you need to learn why you should choose Android. 

So, are you excited to learn further?

If yes, just move in. 

Why choose Android?

Android is an excellent platform because it doesn’t require any technical knowledge, which makes it easy for developers with different skills to use it. There are an estimated 2.6 million Android applications on the Google Play Store. Most of these apps are free or less expensive. Here are some additional benefits to choosing Android.

The Top 8 Reasons You Should Learn Android Development by 2022

Android is a significant player in the global adoption of smartphones. These are the top reasons to learn Android development.

  1. It is an Open Source Technology

Android is an Open Source operating platform. It’s a Linux-based mobile operating platform allowing anyone to use the source code freely. GPL covers the Linux kernel used in Android. Any modifications to the source code must be made public when a binary (a compilable and executable piece) of software is released to the general public.

Developers have great freedom with it, as they can easily modify and edit the program codes.

  1. Huge Device Market Share

Android has been the most popular mobile operating system in the world over the past decade. However, it isn’t just a smartphone OS. It also powers Android Wear, eReaders, Google Glass and Android TV. The development principles for all these devices are the same, as they are all powered by Android.

Android holds a market share in India’s mobile operating system market. It also controls the global market. 

  1. Easy Entry to the Market

You can build an Android application by registering as a developer, creating your APK (Android Package Kit), and submitting it to the Android mobile app development platform. This is much easier than getting registered on the iOS platform. You might be wondering why. The reason is that Apple approval can be more complicated and requires many steps. On the contrary, creating the same app on the Google Play Store store is easier and seamless. 

  1. Apps have a huge market share.

Android apps are growing in popularity, large companies are now looking for certified Android developers. This is why Android development is the most sought-after professional career choice.

You will be able to build apps for millions of Android users worldwide once you have learned Android Development.

  1. Numerous job opportunities

The Android market is increasing, which means more opportunities for Android developers. If you are interested in Android Development as a career, you can quickly obtain an excellent salary package in this field.

Android professionals can work in many different roles. You can be qualified for several high-demand roles in mobile development, including Mobile Architect, Mobile Application Developer, Android Developer, Android Engineer, and Mobile Embedded Software Engineer.

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, Android is a great platform to learn and get a job.

  1. Freedom

Android Development offers you the freedom and flexibility to work wherever you like. Certified Android developers can work something other than 9-5 jobs. You have two options when you first enter the industry: you can work for the company you work for or remotely as a freelancer. Today, many prestigious organizations allow their employees to work remotely. Therefore, it is important to highlight your hands-on experience and skills in job applications.

  1. It’s easy to learn

Java Programming Language is a prerequisite for Android development. Java is considered to be one of the most simple coding languages. It’s often the first time many developers are exposed to the principles of Object-Oriented design. You can create successful Android apps if you have a good knowledge of Java.

However, Android App Development is not possible in all languages; still you can do it in Python, C#, and C++. The Android Developers will choose the language based on the project’s objectives and preferences.

  1. Online Courses

Our courses are for beginners who need help figuring out where to start. These also help you improve your skills, even if you’re an experienced professional.

Also Read: App Development Training Institute in South Africa

Android Developer’s General Responsibilities

If you are interested in becoming a skilled Android app developer, here are some essential tasks that a professional should be able to do.

  • Develop app functionality and UI. Your app should have a user-friendly design. Also, easy to use, quick, flexible, secure, and intuitive, which makes it more engaging and responsive.
  • Collaboration with your team is critical. You will need to communicate your ideas and understand the opinions of others to be able to collaborate with large groups.
  • Use APIs and databases. You must create an app that can seamlessly “communicate with” other apps. You should be able to develop or use programming codes that allow data transmission between your software products and other apps.
  • Unit testing is essential. It is vital to test your app before you release any other software products or modules during development. This means you should know the most common testing libraries like Mockito and Junit.
  • Fix bugs. It’s crucial to confront bugs and problems during the testing process. A good Android developer should be capable of fixing them quickly and efficiently.
  • Keep up to date with new technologies. You should always strive to improve your skills as a developer and be open to learning new things. No pun intended.

You probably already know the general responsibilities of an Android developer. Now let’s find out what it takes for you to be a great Android developer.

What skills to look for in Android app developers?

You must assess several technical skills to become the best Android app developer and deliver the best user experience.

Android basics

Understanding the basics of languages like C++, Java, and Kotlin is a crucial skill. It will help you create dynamic android apps.

So, android app developers should have programming experience with Java or Kotlin and an understanding of the core concepts. A good proficient understanding of concurrency, the collection framework, and multi-threading is a plus. It is also essential to understand the core concepts of Java, such as:

  • Java 8 is a popular version. Developers should be familiar with it.
  • The syntax is as vital as the most recent version because it describes how Java programs are created and interpreted. The developer must understand the syntax.
  • Java’s latest structures: Developers can create Android apps faster and with fewer errors if they understand the basics of program structure.

Important to note is that these functionalities are identical to Kotlin because they share many similarities with Java. Therefore, you must understand the core concepts to create seamless apps.

Interactivity

It is vital to prioritize interaction between Android apps and users. This improves user experience. But how to provide an enhanced experience?

While using drag and dropping, gestures, keyboard, and pan and zoom, you can do it. These are minor things that can make a huge difference in user experience. This user interaction is facilitated by Activity, an Android component that allows users to interact with one another.

As such, it is essential to evaluate your skills being an Android app developer. Make sure you can create interactive apps to improve usability and provide an outstanding user experience.

Android User Interface (UI)

A user interface is key to any application’s success. Most app users today want simple, intuitive, responsive, and engaging apps. The demand for intuitive UX/UI is higher. A report shows that more than half of all app users worldwide judge apps based on their first impressions.

Developers must have a solid understanding of Android app design and users’ preferences in today’s market. To develop Android apps that adhere to material design principles, every Android developer should follow some basic guidelines. These guidelines include using RecyclerView to create lists and grids, ConstraintLayout to design complex layouts, and animating for improved user experience while using vector drawables and appropriate menus.

UI navigation is a set of interactions that allows navigation between screens or parts of the content in a mobile app. Using tab bars and toolbars, you can implement user interface navigation.

The app bar or Toolbar is the fundamental base. It consists of pop-up menus and icons. In addition, you can open and close the navigation bar to implement effective navigation, which will help add menu items, exchange fragments and perform other related actions within the current activity.

Bottom Navigation View is yet another element that lets you move between various fragments through the tabs at the screen’s bottom.

You can switch between fragments (different pages) by selecting ViewPager from the Toolbar.

The key to building a power-packed Android app navigation system is user intention. Intents let users initiate new activities, share data, and switch to another platform within an app. Also, it is on certified Android developers whether they want implicit or explicit intent.

So, using the navigation in Android apps is an important skill.

Android

Building and deploying a mobile application that increases its use is important. Your efforts will only be worthwhile if the app is reliable, scalable, and user-friendly. So, it is crucial to test the Android app before it is released in the market.

You can enjoy multiple options using your android app. For example, users may press the Submit button, download information, or even submit an application.

Before you assess your Android developer skills, ensure you can test different use cases and interactions. Expresso, Junit, and Robolectric are the most popular testing libraries for Android applications.

Cross-platform application development

It will be the cherry on the cake if you learn cross-platform app development because it lets you develop native-like applications for both Apple and Android using a single codebase.

Are you feeling surprised?

Well, that’s the power of cross-platform app development. Becoming an expert in it can unlock various opportunities for your career growth. 

This feature allows Android developers to create apps for multiple platforms at once, publish them to various app stores and reach their users on Android, iOS, or Windows quicker. In addition, Cross-platform app development means that there is only one code to be concerned with. This allows for easy bug fixing, fewer test runs, and easier deployment.

So make sure you can create apps that work across all three major mobile operating systems: Android, iOS, and Windows.

Database technologies

Mobile app databases contain structured information designed to meet the needs of mobile apps. Database management systems (DBMS) can manage, update and edit these databases.

To access and modify your app database, you will need to use Structured Query Language. Databases are essential for mobile app development because they can manage large amounts of data and provide privacy controls.

  • Dependable – App databases are highly reliable because the DBMS checking systems flag discrepancies and need to be corrected.
  • Secure – App databases offer security against theft and hacking. Multiple user logins can be created in a database management software (DBMS). Each new user must first be approved before they can access the database.
  • DBMS includes DML (Data Manipulation Languages), allowing easy updates of the app database.
  • Accessibility – Developers can search through an app’s databases within seconds using DBMS’s Data Query Languages (DQL).

Integration via API

The foundation of any mobile app strategy is an API. These APIs are essential to transform large amounts of data into usable frameworks on a mobile device. One of the critical skills in the Android app development course is API integration.

Nearly all mobile apps use APIs. This includes social media apps and banking apps. APIs offer a quick way to expand an enterprise’s reach beyond current limits. They are easy to integrate and allow for rapid delivery. Enterprises can expand their reach by bundling assets with those of partners and delivering them to the right mobile apps.

To ensure seamless integration and user experiences, you must hire an Android app developer familiar with APIs and third-party services.

Android security

Android comes with security features built in that prevent security problems. Certified Android developers must protect users’ privacy by asking permission. Content providers should also be cautious about the overall security model of their apps.

It is crucial for your app’s success that you have a strong understanding of security and how to implement it.

Git: Version control system

It seems impossible for various programmers to track the difficulties. This problem is made worse because mobile developers often work in teams. Fortunately, you can resolve this problem with version control systems, which provide app developers with an intuitive interface to make changes to their code. 

Git offers many features to help you develop Android apps. These include virtual team development via branching and merging, the ability to revert code changes that have caused performance degradation or defects, and code reviews via pull requests.

It is, therefore, an essential skill to have when hiring Android app developers. This allows mobile app developers to try new features and coding techniques and upgrade their applications without compromising existing versions.

FAQs

  1. Is Android development a good choice for my career?

Definitely! After learning an android app development course, Android developers can work at established companies such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook or freelance. In addition, there is a strong demand for certified Android developers.

2. Are Android developers in demand?

Both experienced, and novice Android developers are in high demand. Android apps are gaining popularity and offer many career options. Either you can apply for permanent employment or freelance work. Android app developer salaries have always been the most talked about in mobile app development. Android OS is a smartphone OS with a market share of about 85%.

3. What is the lowest Android developer salary in Africa?

The average salary of an Android developer in Africa as a beginner is $67,266. Many skilled developers believe they are competing for the same job because Android technology is so popular. The salary requirements will be shallow to maintain a competitive edge in complex markets.

4. How much is an Android developer’s salary in Africa?

As of September 26, 2022, the average Android developer’s salary is $98,166. However, it typically ranges between $77,590 and $107,498. The range of salaries can vary depending on education, experience, and qualifications. We help you to set realistic salary goals by providing more online real-time compensation data than any other website.

5. Are Android developers on the verge of extinction?

Large enterprises are seeking Android developers due to the growing market share of Android apps. Android development is a popular career option today, with many companies offering attractive perks and a salary. Top technology companies need Android developers to maintain their apps and create new ones. You can find work at large tech companies if you have the right skills.

6. Which one is better: Android development or iOS?

A career in iOS Development is a great way to reach Apple product users. Android development is a great option to appeal to a broader audience. Android products heavily rely on Java and Kotlin. Kotlin is used primarily for Android app development. Java, however, is a well-known programming language that has existed since 1995 and is used extensively outside of Android products.

Pick Our Android Course!

In today’s world, android apps are increasingly popular and can lead to a lucrative career. This guide will help you get a solid understanding of the requirements to be a successful Android developer. You can be a successful android developer by combining intensive training, practice, and learning and a well-designed course curriculum that will help you become an android developer with the right skills.

There are more opportunities than there is competition. Choosing a quality training program like an Android app development course will help you improve your coding skills and propel your career. This Full Stack Java Developer Program will teach you to use Java middleware and front-end Java web development technologies.

Understanding the basics of Android and what it takes to be an android developer is vital. Then, master the art of creating user-friendly, feature-rich apps for Android to become a skilled android developer.