iOS development is still a rapidly-growing field that has recently reported a skill shortage. With more companies moving to a mobile-first strategy, iOS developers are in high demand. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there will be a 24 percent increase in this field by 2026 with 302,500 new job opportunities opening up for mobile development talent. Mondo's 2020 Salary Guide shows that iOS Developer salaries can range from $90,000 to $165,000 for the lowest end to the highest end, making this a great time to become an iOS developer.
Of course, it takes time and effort to become a talented iOS developer. Understanding all the frameworks requires patience and a lot of knowledge gain depending on your speed of learning. HiCounselor throws light on the relevant details and resources you should consider before you decide if you wish to become an iOS developer in 2022.
What does an iOS Developer do?
An iOS developer is someone who can code for Apple's operating systems and create apps that people can download to their iPhones or iPads. He/she creates, tests and refines mobile applications that run on Apple's iOS operating systems.
They are responsible for ensuring that the client's goals and requirements are met. iOS developers can also be consultants and help companies adapt their software for mobile devices. They also conduct research in the area of Apple-specific technologies such as augmented reality (AR). These professionals must have a solid understanding of iOS and how it works on different Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Apple's tools for app programming include Xcode, Swift programming languages, Storyboard development interface and Storyboard. These are used to develop apps for iPhone/iPad with Objective C Language.
Skills required to Become an iOS Developer
The current market is ripe for iOS developers and the demand is relatively very high. If you're interested in becoming an iOS developer, you need to have some experience in coding. You should also be familiar with Swift since Apple is slowly moving away from Objective-C and choosing Swift as their main programming language. iOS developers also need to learn Apple's Xcode IDE and frameworks and APIs such as Foundation, UIKit and CocoaTouch.
In order to become an exceptional iOS developer, you also need to have a solid grasp of skills in market research, conceptualization, basic design and coding. The best iOS developers combine technical knowledge with soft skills. Although these skills may require additional practice, they are easily transferable across many disciplines. Listed below are some of the areas you need to master to project yourself as a capable iOS Developer:
Spatial reasoning: You must be able to think in 3D and see the spatial relationships between objects. This means that you need to understand the controls and inputs available on different platforms as well as the identities of your users.
Design guidelines: Developers need to learn how to create Model-View-Controller (MVC), as well as delegate patterns and notifications.
Networking: iOS developers need to know how to send data and receive it from the network using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON).
Core Data: iOS developers need to understand this framework that stores data on Apple devices and is an important component of nearly any app.
Grand Central Dispatch: This allows developers to add concurrency and make it possible to run multiple tasks simultaneously without slowing down performance.
Steps to Becoming an iOS Developer
Learn iOS development fundamentals
Register for an iOS development course
Learn the key programming languages
Create your own projects to improve your iOS development skills
Keep learning new soft skills
Create a portfolio to showcase your iOS development work
Learn iOS Development Fundamentals
You need to understand what development is before you can become an iOS developer. The development of iOS products is a specialty and not a niche. However, the same process applies to other product types. You can skip this step if you have been in development for some time. However, if this is your first time in the industry, you will need to learn how it works and where you fit in it. This can be done by attending a beginner's course in development or getting to know some working developers and asking them what their jobs are.
Register for an iOS Developer Course
The more programming languages and specialized skills that you have, the higher your compensation can be. A combination of Swift and Objective-C is a great way to enhance your resume. Although the technical skills required to become an iOS developer are relatively easy to learn, it can still be a difficult task. Many find it difficult to use Swift to create iOS apps. Those who are not familiar with Mac OS will require time to learn how to use Mac OS to create the iOS binaries. Another common problem is uploading the binaries to Xcode. An iOS developer certification course can help you understand the unique challenges and opportunities involved in developing iOS.
Learn the Key Programming Languages
An iOS Developer must know three essential things when starting out. These are the primary iOS programming languages - Swift, Objective-C and Xcode, which is an integrated environment that Apple created for developers of apps for all Apple devices. Your technical knowledge should also extend to networking (data exchange) using JavaScript Object Notation as well as Core Data, Grand Central Dispatch and JavaScript Script. You'll learn elements of iOS development that are typically left to other departments but which an iOS Developer should still know. These include layout design, information architecture and UI/UX designing.
Create your own projects to improve your iOS development skills
You are now ready to start building. You might start small and build a practice app. The process of creating an iOS app is complex and the steps can vary from one app to the next. The steps an iOS Developer takes will vary depending on their seniority. A Senior iOS Developer might be involved in the initial research phase and conceptualization phase, while a Junior iOS developer working in a large company might only have to manage one or two phases or contribute to one feature.
Keep expanding your skills
iOS Developers have many technical skills. The skills you use as an iOS developer will vary depending on the app you are building. For example, a game app like Flappy Bird requires a different set of skills than an international banking app. However, soft skills are equally important to do the job well and move up to Senior iOS Developer. These skills are most crucial because they allow you to work well as a leader or part of a team.
Create an iOS development portfolio to showcase your work
You can quickly put together a portfolio of iOS development work. Once you have the skills to build things, you can show them off to others. You can use projects you have completed as part of your coursework to show what you can do and create a professional portfolio. As you get more experience, your portfolio will be limited to your best work. GitHub is a great place to start sharing what you have done and how it was done. Once you have created a functional product, upload it to the App Store.
For iOS developers, the future is bright since the market has been growing by $50 million since 2020. This growth is being driven by advances in machine learning and augmented reality (AR). Businesses are constantly looking for iOS developers to help them develop cutting-edge apps. You can be sure that there will always be a job for iOS developers.
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