Smartphones and mobile applications enable us to engage and connect around the world more than ever before, and the technology surrounding them continues to advance at lightning speed. As a result, the role of the mobile app developer is one of the most exciting and fulfilling roles in the tech industry today. Mobile apps have changed the way we stay in touch with friends and family, how we conduct business, how we consume entertainment, and how we learn. There is no doubt about it, being a mobile app developer may be one of the most interesting careers in today’s job market.
Getting into mobile app development, in a nutshell, involves choosing the platform you want to work with (for example, Android or iOS), learning the technical skills, honing soft skills, and then start your career. We’ll focus on Android development.
This Android development course is designed to give students a gentle but solid introduction to Android development and the Android Operating System. Students will get to understand the core components of an Android app, how to use common UI elements and how to work with databases on Android.
Students will be introduced to modern Android tools like Architectural components and Material Design.
During the course, students will develop different mini projects and would be given a final capstone project to develop at the end of the course.
The source code from projects within the course will be made available for download.
Prerequisites
- Good understanding of Java programming and OOP concepts
- Knowledge of basic SQL statements
- Experience with Git and GitHub recommended, but not mandatory
- A system with at least 4GB of RAM storage
Course Goals
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Understand the core components that make up an Android App
- Use the Android studio IDE to develop Android Apps
- Make use of Android UI elements such as RecyclerView
- Understand how to use the Android Architectural Components
- Make a simple App that works with a database
- Publish an App on the Google Play Store
When walking down the street, it is hard not to spot someone with a mobile phone in hand. While it may seem as if the iPhone, and therefore iOS users dominate the consumer base, it’s actually Google Android that leads the market share.
Total Google Android users squeak by iOS customers, having 51.1 percent of the market, according to Statista. iOS users make up 48.1 percent.
With so many customers using Google Android, for developers, persuing an Android development certification course online could help advance his or her career.
Why Become an Android App Developer?
Becoming an Android app developer is an excellent choice for several reasons. Perhaps the most important is job security. The Android operating system is found on about three-quarters of all smartphones worldwide. With a market share that large, Android app developers can count on a significant amount of job security.
Additionally, the Android platform is open source, which makes the developer environment enriching and dynamic. There’s a substantial Android community where Android developers share information, tutorials, tips, and tricks, and Google helps by creating tools for everyday app tasks such as sign-in, location, storage, and authentication. This allows Android app developers to focus time and effort on their priority – building their applications’ key functionality.
Now is a perfect time to begin an Android app development career. Jobs are plentiful, the technology is innovative, and the Android isn’t going to fade away anytime soon.
Should I learn Android development?
Because so many mobile devices operate on Android, the demand for Android developers is high. Last year more than 50 percent of global web traffic was on mobile devices, according to Statista. This means that 50 percent of that traffic was on an Android device.
By learning Android development, it increases one’s chance of being hired. If being more likely to land the job alone is not a strong enough reason, money can be. The average salary for an Android developer is $115,780 a year, with a usual $2,000 bonus, according to Indeed. Some of the jobs listed site a salary far closer to $200,000 a year. So, learning Android development can be good for one’s career.
In addition to customers’ demand for Android operating systems on more and more devices, there’s also an opportunity for creativity for developers. With increased demand, there will also be a desire for increased innovation and new apps for the developers to build.
What do I need before I take Android development courses?
For Android development courses students need to understand and know Java. The good news is Java is a popular programming language and can be applied to far more than just Android development.
Students should also know Structured Query Language (SQL statements) and experience with Git and GitHub is recommended, but not mandatory.
In terms of materials, since students can take these courses at home on their own devices, Cybrary recommends having a system with at least 4GB of RAM storage to successfully execute the desired operations in the Android development course.
How hard is it to learn Android development?
If a student has a basic understanding of the Java programming language, that’s a great start to making learning Android software development. However, if the student does not yet know Java, it can make the total experience of learning Java and then Android software development take longer and feel more cumbersome.
Taking the time to also truly understand object oriented programming, methods, classes, variables, flow control will help easy a developer’s learning curve with Android development.
While actually learning Android development, mastering the basics, such as activity lifecycle, layouts, contexts, and services, will help students develop apps with ease.
How long will it take to learn Android development?
How long it will take a student to learn Android development depends on the pace at which he or she learns, and how much time he or she has to commit to learning the new concepts.
The Cybrary Android Fundamentals course has 13.1 modules that are a total of approximately four hours. Students could easily finish this in a single day or space it out over one to a few weeks.
To truly master Android development and continue beyond the fundamentals will likely take six to 12 months, depending on the student’s pace and which courses the student decides to take. Given the potential salary increase and job potential for the long term, this medium-term commitment is well worth it.
What Do You Need to Learn to Be an Android App Developer?
Like any other technology role, the Android app developer requires specific hard skills and soft skills. The technical, or hard skills, include knowledge of some essential tools. Here’s the shortlist:
- Java
Java is one of the most popular programming languages being used by developers today, and it’s the fundamental element of building Android apps. As an Android app developer, you must understand Java concepts, including lists, loops, variables, and control structures. Comprehensive knowledge of Java is a must to be a successful app developer.
- SQL (Structured Query Language)
It’s also important to know SQL basics to manage databases within Android applications. SQL is a language that allows you to access and manipulate databases through queries. Once you’re able to write it, you can ask any question of your data.
- Android Studio and Android Software Development Kit (SDK)
Both the Android Studio and Android SDK are free downloads, making accessibility easy. Android Studio is the main program to write code and assemble Android apps; it’s the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. The Android SDK is a collection of coding tools, software libraries, and sample code designed to help you create, test, and repair bugs on Android apps.
- XML
Extensible markup language (XML) is a language that is similar to HTML. Programmers use it to describe data. XML basics will help you with tasks like parsing data feeds from the internet and designing user interface layouts.
With a good understanding of the above tools and programming languages, you have a great start on the Android app development career path. However, some soft skills are needed to make your role a true success. There is more to tech jobs than just the technology; you also have to refine certain interpersonal skills like working well with a team, having a desire to continue learning, and persistence.
While much of what developers do can be done alone, there will be times when you’re required to collaborate with other departments. So good communication skills and an openness to compromise are important. Persistence is needed because there are often bugs to work out with apps, which means giving up when frustration sets in isn’t an option.
The world of technology is consistently changing and advancing, which requires Android application developers to continue learning new things. Staying updated on innovations and trends is an essential part of the job.
Where do you learn Android app development?
Students have a few options to successfully learned Android app development.
Some students can successfully learn with books or readings on Android app development, and then by downloading Android Studio. Through trial and following instructions, some students can teach themselves.
Google has also released an Android Developer’s Blog that helps developers looking to learn Android.
If a student is looking for a more guided way to learn and obtain android development certification, taking online classes through training programs such as Cybrary can help them truly master the content.
This Android app development course helps students learn at their own pace. Cybrary’s Android development training is broken down into 13 modules, that on average range from two minutes to 15 minutes long, so students can learn at their own pace and start and stop as they please, making it a convenient way to learn.
Get Your Android App Development Career Started with Cybrary
Android mobile apps are used more than ever, making now the ideal time to get your Android development career started. At Cybrary, we can help you learn the skills you need to be an Android app developer. We offer training courses designed to meet you where you’re at, whether that’s just starting out, having some IT work experience, or looking for advanced skills. All our courses are self-paced and online, which means you can learn and study anywhere, anytime that’s convenient for your schedule. Take a look at our extensive training course library and get started today.
