App development is currently a multi-billion dollar global industry. Apple, for example, is estimated to have made around $3.2 billion in app revenue alone from the contents of its app store. Finding new applications and writing the software is one of the few industries currently working at full stretch. Microsoft is racing to fill its app store with products.
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Given this virtual gold rush, you might expect app developers to be keen to find and hire bright young software engineers. All the more surprising then to find on a LinkedIn Group devoted to Windows Phone development a chorus of complaints from talented developers about their inability to find work.
Thomas Mullen is an experienced Windows Phone and Windows 8 App developer who has started his own software business in Los Angeles. Despite his own success, Mullen asked publicly, 'How many Windows Phone developers have published apps on the marketplace, but continue to be turned down for positions?'
'When I wrote the question' says Thomas,' I wanted to hear if other people were getting the same responses from employers that I was. I wanted to know if any companies out there were listening and could give feedback on whether I should concentrate my efforts on developing my portfolio or should I just get to know as many people as I can and maybe someone can recommend me for the job? In this era of "WorkNumber", most companies frown upon personal/professional references and will only verify that you worked at a company. So, that's why I have built my portfolio around each program that I do highlighting a specific aspect of Windows Phone or a technology.'
Thomas's question provoked a whole string of responses from the developer community - many agreeing with him.
Ron Gramann is a UK software engineer. Ron comments, 'Here in the UK, when applying for WP contract work, it is expected that you have at least one app in the Store. Most of my WP work has been done as an independent. My last contract involved some WP prototyping, but nothing that went into production.'
'The WP market today reminds me of ASP development in the 90s. Many of people involved are creatives, and are looking for someone to pick up the technical work. My interviews have been odd, like low-level obscure technical questions that really have nothing to do with phone development. Which makes me think the approach is "We'll ask the hardest questions we can find... that'll do it." Which does not guarantee you'll be a good phone developer.'
Interestingly, many of those responding have developed more than one Windows Phone app, but in their own time and for the love of it rather than on contract. Jeremiah Medina is a mobile developer in Denver. He says, 'The problem in my neck of the woods is the lack of roles needing WP skills. WP is something I do in my spare time that I really enjoy. My day-to-day is a mobile web developer so in terms of just finding work there is no issue but I would love to do WP work full-time. I have three apps in the marketplace and plan a fourth so the lack of roles needing WP skills does not deter me from doing what I enjoy and love.'
Jason Barkley is a senior software developer in Fort Worth. He echoes Thomas Mullen's complaint, 'I had a situation with a WP7 opportunity where I didn't even get an interview because I didn't have a college degree. Of course, my philosophy on that is that any company so pretentious as to require a college degree before even speaking to me is a company for whom I wouldn't enjoy working anyway.'
What does Thomas Mullen make of the responses to his question?
'When it comes down to it,' he says, 'what do you need to break into this market? Everyone asks what version control system you used, or basic C++ questions that haven't been used in Windows Phone. It's almost as if they don't have a clue about the people who haven't worked on large projects or know the platform for which they are interviewing a candidate.'
'I understand that many companies have existing products in iOS and Android and want people who can read code and translate code quickly to another language. But when you are hiring for a position which has a primary function of being in C# and WPF, knowledge of that should be expert and recent while knowledge of Android and iOS (C) should be secondary skills.'
'Employers, from what I have experienced, are not looking for a degree, grades, or even what you have accomplished on your own. From what I have been asked in interviews, I can tell you that people are looking for "what has he learned from other companies that he can bring to us". This is a good thing to look for as an added bonus in an employee, but it shouldn't be the primary thing you are looking for in the interview.'
Technology-oriented businesses are increasing in number around the globe with cutting-edge technologies. With the increase in the number and use of smartphones, most of the businesses are now investing their money in mobile app development to take advantage of the increasing demand for applications among users across the world. Applications app developers in london are much more convenient to use than websites and those traditional modes of getting things. The ease of buying and using products and services through these online platforms have made businesses go for these like never before. Investing money in an application is the best way to give a competitive edge to your business now.
The world of mobile applications including both Android app development and iOS app development has seen remarkable growth in these few years. Most of the entrepreneurs have either gone online in the form of applications or are planning to invest in the same either for Android or iOS or for both.
But, no matter for which platform and for what type of business, it is never that easy for the developers to build these applications. There are many challenges faced by developers during the development process. And it is essential to overcome the same to deliver a flawless app with no errors and glitches. Coping up with the competition is important and here are the challenges that need to be overcome at anyhow.
Challenges faced during application development -
Evaluating and validating the user needs:
Assessing user demands and requirements is one of the major challenges faced by developers during application development. Figuring out what the users will like and what to develop to meet their needs is highly important. There is a huge competition in the market now and it is a difficult task to get the stand and get noticed in the crowd. The application developers need to try hard to create something very innovative and interactive meeting the current demands of the users. The quality of the application should also be kept high. Overall, the developer must consider a few factors like: -
Defining the competitive market is again a big challenge:
There is an aggressive competition going on in the app market now. Every business is trying to approach the most innovative things while creating their applications. To reach out to the target audience or the app users has become quite tricky. Every application developer must understand which idea can appeal to the users and bring the maximum value to the business, retaining the users for a long period of time. Developers need to research by digging into the depth of the market. Keeping the users engaged staying up to date with the market is important.
The application developers must take up the challenge of building an innovative application with a higher quotient to build a wider loyal customer base. This will help in outlining the market from the business end and the brand can get adequate monetisation with a definitive market.
Managing resource is a challenging task:
You may have already planned an innovative application idea but that may simply go in vain if you do not try to convert into a good marketable capital. The development cost of an application always depends on the nature of the application. For monetising the application and managing the resources including the finances can be a challenging task for developers. If the developer is not able to figure out the right channel to invest in the application idea, he or she may have to go for a joint venture or a loan to raise the funds for the app. Managing the resources effectively is hence important and has to be managed well to ensure a profitable and high ROI at the end.
Choosing the right app development technology:
Choosing a constructive, core, and the right app development platform or technology is always a challenging task for the developers. You need to think a lot and consider several factors before deciding whether it is going to be a hybrid, native, or a cross-platform application.
There are innumerable technologies available today to choose from. But you need to have a deep understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of these technologies to choose the one the suits your project needs. Picking an outdated technology can ultimately result in a low-performing app. So, make sure to understand and then select the best one.
Making an app compatible with all OS versions:
With so many operating systems available now, the developer should make a plan first about the compatibility factor. They can even talk to the business owners and ask whether he or she wants the application only for the iOS users, Android users, or both and then can build the application accordingly. But no matter what, the challenge is to make the application look the same and function in the same way in all the devices running on the chosen operating systems. Remember, different devices have different screen resolutions and features and your app must support all. Good knowledge of the market fragmentation, available OS options, and programming knowledge can help you with this.
Apart from all these, developers must also make sure the app is highly secure and consumes less memory space and battery power.