Qualities of Top Mobile App Developers
It's no secret that mobile technology has become a significant part of our everyday lives and that it's affecting all of us more than we'd like to admit. Doubt it? Well, why not let facts speak for themselves:
- According to Statista, in January, 2018 there were 3.7 billion of unique mobile users.
- About 2.8 million apps on Google Play Store and 2.2 million on Apple App Store were available in March, 2017.
- Zenith Media forecasted that the mobile usage proportion of the internet is going to reach 79% in the year 2018.
As you can see, these are some serious statements which businesses all around the world keep in mind when it comes to expanding their consumer base. That being said, the demand for mobile app developers is constantly on the rise, but not just any developers—the best ones.
What is it that makes them the best, though? How do they work? Which qualities do they have? Let’s find out!
Product Development Process & Mobile Developers
Developing a mobile app is a process that requires thorough planning and consists of several steps.
The first step of the process is defining the problem a mobile app should solve.
The second step is creating a clear profile of the user so all app features can strategically be put together in order to increase the success ratio. This step also requires paying attention to mobile platforms and devices an app should cover.
In this step, when all the basic information is set, it is important to share the work with designers which can focus on the UI of the app, making it easy on the eye and easy to use.
The final step is to let mobile app developers do their magic. This is the “make it or break it” moment.
Now, imagine that you have done all the necessary planning, put your time and money into an app, and somehow ended up with not-so-satisfying results. What’s the reason for this? The fact that you didn’t choose the right professionals for the job. Hiring the best mobile app developers who know how to deliver the best possible solution is a must. But, who are these mysterious app developers? What are they like?
What makes developers so qualified? Are the best developers the ones that can code fast or the ones that are skilled in developing for multiple platforms? Or maybe the ones that have UX/UI design skills? We are here to help you find answers to all these questions.
For the past couple of years, we have gathered experience, not just in developing mobile apps but in employing quality developers. Now, we wanted to share our practical knowledge on this subject with you.
We are familiar with the fact that searching for great developers can be as difficult as searching for the right development company and that is why we have created a list of seven qualities all top mobile app developers should have.
Knowledge of Cross-platform Development
According to Fueled, there are more users on the Google Play Store, but the App Store users spend more time actually using apps and being engaged. The chances of your target group using only one platform are pretty much non-existent.
Hiring only Android app developers should not be your first option. By choosing a cross-platform development you are raising the chance of the product meeting the market faster. Why? Because this way, the speed of the development process increases.
Along with the speed, cross-platform development offers several other benefits, as well;
- The cross-platform development allows you to reuse the code and easily sync it across multiple platforms.
- The team gets to spend less time (and money) on developing the app because there is no building an app for every platform separately.
However, probably the biggest advantage with deciding to implement cross-platform development is the fact that uniformity of the app raises the level of user engagement.
Remember, quality mobile app developers are the ones that recognize all the advantages of this type of development and won’t settle for either Android or iOS development.
The Necessary Set of UX/UI Skills
Do you know what the main goal of top mobile app developers is? It is to acquire the target market and engage as many users as they can. Mobile app developers can only achieve this by having a UX/UI skillset.
Although a team of developers is probably going to work with a team of designers, they shouldn’t be just executioners and the ones that make sure an app “works”.
Basic knowledge of UX/UI design and familiarity with front-end development is a must.
Knowledge of the Most Popular Programming Languages
There are several languages on the market that mobile app developers use—Java, Python, PHP, C#, JavaScript, Objective C, and Swift. No matter which one a developer chooses, it is imperative to know a couple of them and, preferably, the ones that are mostly in use.
Just like with any profession, being up-to-date with news about programming languages is a day-to-day activity for top mobile app developers.
Also, make no mistake—when it comes to searching for solutions online, you have to face the fact that everyone has done it and is doing it. Finding solutions for programming issues on Google is not a sign of incompetence.
The Kolosek team is a team that consists of quality developers and we have to admit we sometimes ask Google to find a solution for our challenge, simply to verify our idea.
The Ability to Work in a Team
Good mobile app developers are always the ones that are team players. Why? Because mobile development requires teamwork in order to create an app that is going to make a boom on the market.
There are two important elements when it comes to teamwork—honesty in communication and organizational skills.
If a team wants to reach its full potential and finish a project, open and honest communication has to exist at all times. We have to admit that working with people can sometimes be hard, so developers’ willingness to make an effort and put themselves in someone else’s shoes is a huge advantage.
On the other hand, top mobile app developers are the ones that are able to face a challenge, knowing how to manage the time to solve it efficiently. They know how to get in the zone and give the best of themselves.
Relevant Qualifications
Top mobile app developers should always come with relevant qualifications. Nowadays, one of the preferable qualifications is a college degree, but there are more and more developers out there that are self-thought and take online courses.
Keep in mind that a faculty degree is not the most important factor here—their experience is.
An Impeccable Portfolio
An impressive portfolio is a great proof of a developer’s excellence, experience, and commitment.
A portfolio provides a glimpse into the developer’s world. It is there for a reason—to give you information about developer’s technical skills, their ability to communicate, and willingness to take risks and try something new.
Remember, portfolios of the best mobile app developers you can find take more than a couple of minutes to read.
A Development Team vs a Freelancer
We can’t help but notice that we put an emphasis on working in a team of mobile app developers instead of hiring a freelancer to create an app. This is because, from our experience, working as a part of a team offers more opportunities for a developer’s personal and business growth.
One of the biggest advantages of having a team of mobile app developers is that they are able to work closely with a team of graphic designers, photographers, content writers or copywriters. During the project, developers can pick up a few new skills and get familiar with every step of the development process. Freelancers, on the other hand, don’t have an insight into a true product development process, and what it is like to work eight hours a day and try to manage meeting all the deadlines. In short, freelancers can sometimes lack structure.
Another benefit is that development teams usually work with multiple clients for different industries. Here at Kolosek, we worked for several industries, all across the globe, and we learned that getting to know each industry can be valuable for our work.
Conclusion
In the end, we have to admit there isn’t a single perfect mobile app developer out there. There are just the ones who are committed to projects, interested in acquiring new knowledge and aren’t afraid of overcoming more difficult challenges.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, we hope you found it interesting and that it helped you understand better how top mobile app developers work.
If you are interested in similar topics, be sure to hop to our article Why Don’t Developers in Large Companies Like Agile?.
Until next time!
Creating
software solutions
that work
