7 must-have skills for android developers in 2023

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of technology, android developers must keep up with the latest trends and advancements in their field. 

As we head into 2023, certain skills will be in high demand in the Android development industry.

According to a recent survey by Upwork, android development is one of the fastest-growing skills in the tech industry, with a growth rate of over 700% 

In the past five years. In this blog, we'll discuss the 7 must-have skills for android developers in 2023 to help them stay ahead of the curve and advance in their careers.

What is Android app development a booming field?

With the rise of mobile devices and their popularity among users, businesses invest in developing mobile apps. Here are some reasons why Android app development is in high demand:

1. Market share: Android dominates the global market share of mobile devices, making it an ideal platform for businesses to reach a larger audience.
2. Customization: The open-source nature of Android allows developers to customize the operating system to meet their specific needs. This flexibility makes Android an attractive platform for businesses developing a unique mobile app.
3. Tools and resources: Google provides various tools and resources to help developers create high-quality apps quickly and easily. Android Studio, for instance, is a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) that simplifies the app development process.
4. Monetization opportunities: Android apps offer numerous monetization opportunities, such as in-app purchases and advertisements. This has created a lucrative market for developers and businesses.

7 must-have skills for an android developer

Java

The fundamental language for all Android programming is Java. It's important to understand that candidates who have previously worked with JavaScript and Ruby may face a learning curve when transitioning to Java. 

It can impact their productivity in the initial stages. Still, with proper training and support, they can quickly overcome this challenge and become proficient in Java.

Like JavaScript and Ruby, Java is object-oriented but is stricter about handling data types. 

Defining the types of data their mobile applications will function with and more carefully allocating limited memory resources need developers to be much more cautious in their coding.

Understanding of XML

 t is a structured markup language similar to HTML, including angled brackets, the <opening> and </closing> tag types, and deep element nesting.

In a nutshell, it makes it possible for consistent information to be transmitted across devices. Programmers create layouts for Android applications using XML, the platform's primary user interface (UI) description.

Developers can write Java code that updates layout components after the Android application has launched, similar to how web developers use JavaScript to change the elements in their web pages while in use. But, an Android developer needs a basic understanding of XML.

Android Studio

Android Studio is an Android developer's go-to integrated development environment (IDE). The well-known IntelliJ IDE is the foundation upon which Android Studio is built. It offers excellent out-of-the-box support for many of the most popular Android SDKs.

Android Studio also has many features developers look for in a fully complete IDE. As you type, autocomplete suggestions are made with code completion. You can step through your code with code debuggers to find the error's root cause.

To ensure that their code will function effectively on mobile devices, developers have access to even more complex tools like memory and CPU monitoring. Android Studio is a requirement for every Android developer, skilled and novice alike.

APIs

You'll undoubtedly want to integrate your android app with many other services. For instance, you could wish to give your consumers access to third-party stock market or calendar information.

Typically, an Android app development company will provide APIs and thoroughly describe how to reliably and securely query them for data. Though Google also makes connecting to its APIs for your Android app relatively straightforward, an android developer is free to communicate with any other currently used API.

For instance, it's simple to use Google APIs to track your customers' locations, allow them to look for nearby things to visit, and use maps inside your app. You should become accustomed to researching the subtleties of various APIs and understand that no two APIs are precisely comparable.

Databases

Most of the data your app handles will probably not be on your smartphone at any given time. Instead, your app will probably communicate with a database that exists elsewhere than on your phone. 

Simple APIs are available from cloud providers like Firebase or Parse to store data in the cloud and make it accessible from many devices.

Additionally, these platforms frequently include Java libraries you may integrate into your app, making it simple to cache some data on the user's device. The data between local storage and the distant database must be synced to allow users to access the app offline.

Android has built-in support for utilizing SQL to communicate with an SQLite database, another way to save data locally. 

Regardless of how you decide to manage data in your application, every android developer needs to learn about databases, how to query them, and how to use that data in your program.

Material design

Unlike rivals like Apple, Google has generally not kept a uniform visual aesthetic throughout its products. Those circumstances have changed recently. Google has published a set of cutting-edge interface standards and principles dubbed Material Design that is used across all its products.

These guidelines advise how to stack different components on the screen and employ particular styling elements like drop shadows. You've probably seen Material Design in action if you've used the new Google Drive app or the new Inbox by Gmail app on a mobile device.

Although it's not essential, Google suggests an Android developer adopt these suggestions as a starting point for developing user interfaces. The online documentation allows for a great basic understanding of Material Design concepts.

Additional Skills to look out for in your potential developers

UI Design

Good UI design is essential for creating a user-friendly app. The UI is the first thing users see when they open your app, so making a good impression is important. A good UI design should be simple, intuitive, and visually appealing.

You should understand your users and their needs to create a user-friendly UI design. You should also consider the platform guidelines, such as the Material Design guidelines for Android. 

Use colors, typography, and icons to create a visually appealing design. Finally, test your design with real users to get feedback and improve.

Testing

Testing is an important part of app development because it helps you find and fix bugs before your users do. There are different types of testing, such as unit testing, integration testing, and UI testing. Unit testing is the process of testing individual units of code in isolation. 

Integration testing is the process of testing how different units of code work together. UI testing is the process of testing the user interface of your app.

To perform effective testing, you should write testable code, use testing frameworks such as JUnit and Espresso, and automate your tests as much as possible.

Version Control

Version control is a system that allows you to manage changes to your code over time. It is important in app development because it allows you to keep track of changes, collaborate with other developers, and revert to previous versions if necessary. Git is a popular version control system used in app development.

To use version control effectively, you should commit your changes frequently, write clear commit messages, use branches to work on new features, and merge changes carefully to avoid conflicts.

In conclusion, Android development is a complex process that requires knowledge of programming languages, development tools, architecture components, UI design, testing, and version control. Following this guide's guidelines and best practices, you can build robust, scalable, and user-friendly Android apps.

Pro Tips To Evaluate Android Developers

1. Look for experience: When evaluating Android developers, look for candidates with experience building and deploying Android apps. This can be demonstrated through previous work experience or a portfolio of past projects.
2. Assess technical skills: Assessing a candidate's technical skills is important. Ask technical questions about Android app development, such as how they handle memory management, what libraries they use, and how they approach testing.
3. Review code samples: Ask the candidate to provide code samples from previous projects. Review the code samples for quality, readability, and adherence to best practices.
4. Evaluate communication skills: Communication is important in any development project. Evaluate a candidate's communication skills by asking how they approach working with team members, how they communicate progress, and how they handle feedback.
5. Assess problem-solving skills: Evaluate how the candidate approaches problem-solving. Ask about previous challenges they've faced and how they approached the solution.

Conclusion

The world of android development is constantly evolving, and developers must keep up with the latest trends and advancements in their field. 

The 7 must-have skills discussed in this blog will help android developers stay ahead of the curve and advance in their careers. 

However, acquiring these skills and staying updated with the latest technologies is not always easy. 

This is where AppsRhino comes in.

We are a premier app development company with a team of seasoned Android developers who can help you bring your app ideas to life, whether it's a new startup or a large enterprise. 

Contact us today!