I ran across an article on Tech Republic listing the top 10 skills that developers will need over the next 5 years. Lets break it down and focus on only the mobile.
The weakened job market, and the poor economy leave a lot of us looking for quick skill sets to hold us over for the next great job. The list on tech republic, and my breakdown of the related skills for mobile programmers will not only ensure that you’re in for the high demand jobs, but you’ll have the skills for the next 5 years.
1: One of the “Big Three” (.NET, Jave, PHP)
For our purposes replace PHP with objective C, C++. Learning Java is going to give you the biggest bang for the buck of the 3 programming languages for this reason; You’ll be able to write apps for Symbian, Blackberry, WebOS, and Android.
2: Rich Internet Applications
Yes, absolute must. HTML 5 as stated in the post is going to incorporate all sorts of RIA functionality. Learn it love it live it.
3: Web Development
Every platform has its own webkit, this should be a duh moment for anyone reading this. Web Development is a basic skill set you are going to need.
4: Web Services
In the manipulated words of Floyd, how can you have development if you haven’t learned your services!? IF you don’t learn your services you can’t have any development!
5: Soft Skills
Working on your own or with a small team of developers for mobile apps you really don’t need soft skills. Sit in your basement and eat cheetohs for all I care, but if you’re working for a company to program something for internal use these might be kind of sort of useful. Consider these optional, you’re fine just the way you are.
6: Dynamic and/or functional programming language
Optional at best for right now, but as these mobile operating systems become more and more like full blown desktop systems expect to need at least one dynamic language by your side. Going back to the top where I said java was the best bang for the buck. Ruby is hot Hot HOT!
7: Agile Methodologies
Honestly, I had to look this one up on wikipedia. This still seems like a business buzzword to me, so in reality the best words of advice I can give you is to use common sense.
8: Domain Knowledge
Know thy enemy . . . or customer. Know what they want, accept feedback, look at usage numbers and figure out how to improve your product based on that feedback.
9: Development “hygiene”
Even if you’re working alone this is still helpful. Utilize one of those open source systems out there to organize your projects and keep revision logs on exactly what’s changed. You may need to revert to a previous piece of code, or at least look at some of that stuff for inspiration. Organization is a good thing, and these tools just made it easier.
Finally!
10: Mobile Development
Hell Yea!
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