If you have skills, you can be the future you want. Everyone nowadays has a mini world in their hands - a mobile phone. A mobile phone is a collection of applications, functions, and software. As the demand for these gadgets increases, so are the Android developers. Android development is on the boom. We will discuss Android Developer, how to become one, the roles and responsibilities of Android Developer, salary, domain, and more in this article.
Android
On hearing the term Android, a picture of a green robot with two antennas (as shown) might come to mind. Isn’t it? But what is an android? It is an Open-source and Linux kernel-based mobile operating system primarily designed for touchscreen devices like smartphones, tablets, etc.
Who is Android Developer
As the name suggests, Android Developer is a software developer who develops skilled applications for the android operating system. Android developers are in high demand because, today, almost every big or small firm has their apps.
An Android Developer not only creates Android application but also remove bugs, update software, etc. He pays special attention to application compatibility with multiple versions of Android and different types of android operating systems. An Android Developer is called good when he satisfies all the roles and responsibilities of Android Developer.
Domain of Android Developer
There are many job roles for which Android developers are hired. The following are the various domains:
Mobile App Developer - A mobile app developer is a software professional who creates applications for smartphones and other mobile devices. It may include creating mobile versions of web or computer-based applications.
Mobile Architect - He takes technical duty in a mobile product team, serving iOS and Android apps. He ensures everyone is on the same page and agrees on a clear technical vision.
Embedded Software Engineer for Mobile - The main goal is to control and manage a hardware device.
Lead Software Engineer for Mobile - He designs, builds, and maintains machines and structures within the product team.
Android Developer - Uses analytical skills and computer training to develop systems for android devices.
Android Engineer - Analyzes customer or user needs. He also designs programs, writes codes, tests designs, and documents programs.
Mobile Developer - A mobile developer is skilled in creating software or systems for mobile devices.
Roles and Responsibilities of Android Developer
Following are some of the roles and responsibilities of an Android Developer that must be fulfilled
Design and build up to date applications for the Android platform.
Collaborate with the technical teams to define, design, and ship new features
Work with outside data sources and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
Unit-test code for validity, usability, and general reliability
Work on bug fixing
Improve application performance.
Evaluate and implement new technologies to maximize product yield.
Monitor the app’s technical life-cycle during each phase of development.
Maintains and updates the design specifications and source code for new applications.
Identify the bugs and take steps to resolve them.
Create adaptive interfaces that work with various devices.
Decide the UI/UX needs and mockups to develop speedy Android apps.
How to Become Android Developer
Android development is an emerging career option. Follow the below steps one-by-one to become a professional Android Developer.
Programming: Start with a programming language before learning Android. Languages to learn are:
XML (Extensible Markup Language) It sets the base for the next steps in learning.
Basics of Android Platform: There are some crucial building blocks that an Android application has. The application manifest file binds these loosely coupled elements. These describe each element and how they interact. These include - Content URI, Handle activity state changes, activity life cycle, etc.
Android Tools: Every beginner android developer should know the most potent android development tools and how to use them. Some of the must learn tools are:
Android Studio (Official Integrated Development Environment)
Storage and Memory Leaks: Learn about the storage and causes of memory leaks. There are three types of storage in Android - File System, Database, and Shared Preferences. You should know how to fix the memory leaks.
Debugging and Testing: Debugging is one of the basic skills of a developer. You must know - Unit Testing and Instrumentation Testing.
Minor Projects and Distribute them: Start with creating small tasks. Distribute them to the world using third-party websites or your website.
How can Android Developer Contribute to the Company and Society
The roles and responsibilities of Android developers are immense. They can contribute to a company and society in many ways.
When access to high-quality education is limited or costly, an app can help ease the stress.
Some apps can also help improve the economic effects for their users.
Apps and games can give solutions to many social impact problems.
Mobile apps help to enhance brand image quickly.
Android Developer develops apps that help in marketing for firms and society. It helps reach clients across borders and with minimal cost.
However, it’s not possible to reach each customer in person and let them know the services you are offering. The number of smartphone users is super high. It helps in increasing the nearness of your firm to the clients.
Salary of Android Developer
An Android Developer earns an average of ₹3.76 LPA. It is highly affected by the experience, location, skills, and company. The following table shows the salary of an Android Developer based on experience:
Years of Experience
Average Salary
< 1yr
₹2.05 lpa
1-4 yrs
₹3.61 lpa
5-9 yrs
₹8.15 lpa
10-19 yrs
₹10 lpa
**The salary figures mentioned above may vary. It is only an estimate.**
Skills of Android Developer
Strong knowledge of Android SDK, different versions of Android
Knowledge of dealing with different screen sizes
Familiarity with RESTful APIs to connect Android applications to back-end services
Strong knowledge of Android UI design principles, patterns, and best practices
Experience with offline storage, threading, and performance tuning
Familiarity with the use of extra sensors
Knowledge of the open-source Android ecosystem
Knowledge of the libraries available for common tasks
Ability to understand business needs
Familiarity with cloud message APIs and push messages.
A knack for optimization
Proficient knowledge of code version tools, such as Git
Familiarity with continuous integration
Ability to design applications around UI like touch.
Future Picture of Android Developer
Android is the most used Operating System. Thus the demand for skilled Android developers is rising daily. In India, nearly 67% out of 100% of mobile Developers are Android developers. Being an Android Developer, you need to learn about the ecosystem to come in the top cream. Following are some of the reasons showing the future picture of an Android Developer:
Artificial Intelligence: AI plays a vital role in mobile app development. It is predicted that various apps will be developed using machine learning algorithms. This way, Android app developers will offer users a more enhanced experience. Future apps can include different AI features such as text, speech recognition, face detection, and more.
5G Technology: It is one of the most lucrative app development trends for the future. It provides - speed, low latency, connectivity, etc.
Blockchain: Indeed, blockchain has the power to change the future. Creating decentralized applications is one of the best ways of this technology in Android Development. If you need a privacy centered application, pick blockchain as your first choice. As people are getting more privacy-oriented, the use of this technology will rise in the future.
Instant Apps: These apps assist users in testing and running the apps on their devices without any need to download and install them. Mobile development will get more tech help in the coming year. The rising demand for instant apps tends that developers will have to be more attentive and make positive impressions.
M-commerce Apps: Today, mobile phones have become a robust tool to get almost all with a tap. M-commerce apps will rule the market as they are easy to manage, smaller, and faster than web applications and websites.
Top Companies for the Role of Android Developer
For getting hired by the top companies, all the roles and responsibilities of Android Developer must be satisfied. Following are some of the top companies which hire for the role of Android Developer:
What is the difference between Android and Web Developer?
The android developer develops applications for Android devices, whereas the Web Developer develops websites or web applications.
Is Android development a promising career?
Everything has moved online in the modern world. Out of the 2.5 billion Android device users, the need for Android developers has multiplied and has a bright future.
Which language should I start with for Android development, Java or Kotlin?
Kotlin is fast and easy than Java. It is much simpler for beginners and includes many new features and libraries not present in Java. Now, most developers also shift from Java to Kotlin for Android app development.
What are the common tools/IDEs used by android developers?
Android Studio, IntelliJ, GitHub, Gradle, FlowUp, Unity 3D are some of the tools used by android developers.
What is Android Studio?
Android Studio is Google’s Android operating system’s official Integrated Development Environment (IDE). It was built on JetBrains’ IntelliJ IDEA software for Android development.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the roles and responsibilities of Android Developer. We also learned about this job’s salary, benefits, and other details.
Coding Ninjas curated the following articles to guide you toward becoming an Android Developer at your dream company.
305+ registered