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Mobile App Developer

Mobile developers build apps for Android and iOS phones and tablets. They work either natively (Kotlin or Java for Android, Swift for iOS) or with cross-platform frameworks such as React Native and Flutter, and connect apps to APIs and local storage.

What the job involves

  • Build screens, navigation and touch interactions for phones and tablets.
  • Connect apps to back-end APIs and handle offline use.
  • Store data on the device and keep it in sync.
  • Test on many devices and publish to the Play Store and App Store.

Core skills

  • Java or Kotlin (Android), Swift (iOS), or JavaScript/TypeScript (React Native)
  • Object-oriented programming
  • APIs and JSON
  • Local data storage
  • Mobile UI and accessibility
  • App store publishing

Your learning path

Work through the steps in order. Each one links to the lessons and practice to use.

  1. Step 1: Programming and OOP foundations

    Android development grew up on Java, and Kotlin (now Google's preferred Android language) runs on the same platform, so Java's OOP concepts carry straight over. Learn classes, interfaces and collections well.

    Not on Laviyx Learn yet

    • Kotlin
    • Swift for iOS

  2. Step 2: Cross-platform with JavaScript and TypeScript

    React Native lets you build Android and iOS apps from one JavaScript or TypeScript code base, so web skills transfer directly.

    Not on Laviyx Learn yet

    • React Native (or Flutter with Dart)

  3. Step 3: Working with APIs and data

    Almost every app talks to a server. Learn to fetch JSON, handle errors and slow networks, and store data locally.

    Not on Laviyx Learn yet

    • SQLite or Room for on-device databases
    • Push notifications

  4. Step 4: Concurrency and responsiveness

    Apps must never freeze the screen. Long work runs in the background while the interface stays responsive.

    Not on Laviyx Learn yet

    • Kotlin coroutines

  5. Step 5: Platform tools and publishing

    Each platform has its own tools, design guidelines and store review process.

    Not on Laviyx Learn yet

    • Android Studio and the Android SDK
    • Xcode and SwiftUI
    • Material Design and Apple's Human Interface Guidelines
    • Publishing to Google Play and the App Store

  6. Step 6: Prepare for interviews

    Expect OOP and data-structure questions, plus questions about app architecture and platform behaviour.

Projects to build

Projects prove your skills and give you something to show.

  • A habit tracker that stores data on the device.
  • A weather app that calls a public API and handles offline use.
  • A shopping list shared between devices through a small back end.

Interview preparation

This path is a suggested order. Requirements differ between companies, so also read job descriptions for the roles you are applying to.

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