Aspiring software engineers have a lot of options to weigh before settling on a profession.
Salary and advancement opportunities are major factors. With an average pay of $114,614 across the country, iOS engineers are among the highest-paid professionals in the IT industry.
An iOS developer is someone who uses the iOS operating system and several programming languages to build applications for regular usage.
Talented people who have a genuine interest in programming can find success in this field.
If you’re considering this line of work, doing some research about it might help you figure out if you have the necessary training and experience to succeed in it.
Who Is An iOS Developer?
When it comes to mobile operating systems, an iOS developer specializes in Apple devices.
They use many programming languages to create user-friendly apps for the general public. iOS developers have the option of either freelancing independently or joining a software company’s in-house staff of software engineers and IT pros.
The primary focus of an iOS developer is on making apps that run well and meet the needs of the end user.
The activities required by an iOS developer on any given day may be different from one to the next, but there are a few staples that should never be overlooked. In this position, you can be responsible for a variety of tasks, such as:
- Performing quality assurance tests, improving optimizations, and fixing bugs in code
- Locating potential concerns and working to fix them
- Coding and making plans for software applications.
- Creating and distributing software for public use
- Continually tuning up the program to make it run better
- Creating and releasing new versions of software
- Working together with other teammates to devise innovative new functions
Instructions for Potential iOS Developers
If you want to become an iOS developer, you can get started by doing the following:
Gain Foundational Knowledge in iOS Development
To become an iOS developer, you must first understand what development entails.
Even though iOS Development is a subset of software engineering, it follows the same software development life cycle as other product categories.
This isn’t necessary if you’ve been working in development for a while, but if you’re interested in breaking into the field, you should learn more about the sector and figure out where you stand.
Learn the Basics of the Most Common Languages Used in Computing
There are just three things that an iOS Developer definitely has to know the principal programming languages before beginning as an iOS developer, which are Swift and Objective-C, as well as Xcode, which is an integrated environment that was intentionally developed by Apple for people who are making apps for all Apple devices.
Once you’ve mastered these three areas, you’ll be ready to put your abilities to use in the iOS development world and add to them as necessary. There are countless other skills you may acquire as an iOS Developer.
Managing classes, inheritance, initialization, and errors are just some of the more advanced iOS Development tasks that may be taken on with the correct digital tools.
You should now be technically proficient in JavaScript Object Notation, Core Data, and Grand Central Dispatch in order to facilitate networking (of the data-sharing variety, not the personal sort).
You’ll learn along the way about things like design layout, information architecture, and UI/UX design that generally don’t fall under the iOS Developer’s purview but they should.
Make your own apps to practice iOS programming.
You are now prepared to start constructing, having mastered the fundamentals and how to integrate more advanced features when appropriate.
Prior to attempting to construct something from scratch, it may be helpful to build a practice app by following a series of step-by-step instructions that will lead you through the entire process, clearly illustrating what to do.
There are numerous stages in developing an iOS app, and these stages can change depending on the nature of the app. In actuality, a specific iOS Developer’s tasks will change in complexity as they advance in experience.
You may get a sense of what goes into making an app by following a set of instructions, but if you want to get a feel for the full process, you should create your own app from scratch.
As a result, you can manage not only the development of the app, but also its conception, testing, and regulatory compliance.
The next step after thinking up an idea is designing it when the functionality of the app is fleshed out and represented visually using wireframes.
At last, the details of each page’s structure, visual style, and interactivity are worked out during the UI and UX design phase.
Once you’ve finished all of the necessary preparation, you can jump right into writing the app’s code.
The three parts that go into making an app are the back end (where the app’s heavy lifting occurs on the server side), the API (which converts what’s occurring on the server side into something a user’s mobile device could comprehend), and the front end (where the users engage with the app).
Many iOS Developers are proficient in all three areas, but some choose to focus on either the front or back end.
By exploring several avenues, you can focus on the one that best suits your interests and skills.
Improve Your Interpersonal Skills
There is a wide range of technical expertise that goes into creating an iOS app; however, the specific set of abilities you’ll need as an iOS Developer will be heavily influenced by the nature of the app you’re creating (for instance, a game like Flappy Bird will necessitate a very different set of skills than an international banking app).
In addition to this technical expertise, however, a set of soft skills is just as important for doing the job well and rising through the ranks to become a Senior iOS Developer.
Last but not least, a stellar iOS developer will show that they have the “Apple mindset” and a comprehensive understanding of the digital industry and Apple’s place within it.
Learning how to design an app is only the beginning; mastering the skill of making it fully compatible with Apple devices and fully intuitive to Apple customers is what will set your work apart.
Create a Portfolio to Demonstrate Your iOS Development Work
As soon as you have the knowledge to begin developing, you may begin compiling a portfolio of your iOS programming work to exhibit to potential employers or clients.
The work you do for classes can serve as the foundation for your portfolio.
In the beginning, at least, you can prioritize emphasizing the types of tasks you can complete rather than perfectly polished final projects.
As you gain expertise, though, you’ll want to limit your portfolio to your very finest work.
The Average Salary Of An Ios Developer
Depending on experience and education level, an iOS developer can earn anywhere from $90,000 to $165,000 in 2020, per Mondo’s Salary Guide.
For a Full-Stack Developer, those costs rise to an average of $180,000. (apps or software).
Do You See A Bright Future For Ios Developers?
The development of apps for Apple’s iOS is still a booming industry. More than half of CIOs (59%) acknowledged issues with skills scarcity in the CIO’s State of the CIO poll, with 15% citing a dearth of mobile development talent in particular.
U.S. Department of Labor projections for the profession show “far faster than average” 24 percent growth, with an expected 302,500 new employment created by 2026.
How Do You Get Started as an Entry-Level iOS Developer?
A lot of technical knowledge is needed to work as an iOS developer.
It is possible to become an iOS Developer without ever having worked in the area, but you will need to learn several crucial skills first.
These include Swift and Objective-C programming, as well as Xcode.
A certification course in “iOS Development” can be extremely helpful in this regard since it will outline issues and show aspiring Developers how to avoid them.
Learning macOS and iOS, how to produce the iOS binaries, and how to publish the binaries in Xcode are major stumbling obstacles for newcomers (especially those new to the Apple ecosphere).
If you work with subject matter specialists, you can avoid common traps and maximize your learning experience.
Conclusion
Create a professional portfolio if you have completed a few coding projects, developed some fundamental functionality, or built an entire app.
If you’re serious about getting better at app development, you should keep your portfolio up-to-date with the latest examples of your work, including published apps that you’ve successfully submitted to the App Store and advanced features that highlight your expertise.
Not only can you showcase your work on a site like GitHub, but you’ll also become more visible to others in your area, opening up doors to new collaboration opportunities and boosting your reputation as a professional.
