How to become an App Developer in 2024

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Hello Devs, if you want to become an app developer in 2024 and want to learn Mobile application development and you wondering how to start, then you have come to the right place.

Earlier, I have shared essential skills for frontend developers and server-side Java developers and here I will show you different technologies and combination of them you can learn to become an App developer.

Yes, you heard it right, it's not just Android and iOS but you can also learn new tools and frameworks like React Native and Flutter to develop native-looking Mobile apps in 2024.

Mobile app development is a lucrative field for programmers as it has all kinds of opportunities, from freelancing to working at large companies and launching your apps like Angry Bird, Flappy Bird, or Pokemon Go and becoming an App millionaire.

In this article, I am going to share 10 technologies you can learn to become a mobile application developer or someone who wants to improve as a mobile application developer for Android and iOS platforms can learn in 2024.

This list includes things like framework, programming languages, and platforms, almost everything a mobile developer needs.

In particular, I have included cross-platform mobile development frameworks like Flutter and React Native, programming languages like Kotlin, Swift, and Dart, and platforms like Android and iOS, which are essential for any mobile app developer in 2024.

However, one of the most important things to note here is that you don't need to learn all the things I have mentioned here; in fact, all of them are presented here for informational purposes so that you can choose which technologies and platforms are suitable for you.

For example, if you are interested in developing native iOS applications for iPhone and iPad (they make most of the money on mobile apps) then learning Swift 5 and iOS is a good idea, but if you are interested in the Android platform (they have the highest reach) then learning Kotlin and Android 10 is a good option.

And, if you are interested, like me, in developing cross-platform native mobile apps (both Android and iOS app from a single codebase), then you should learn Flutter or React Native, two of the leading frameworks for building a native mobile application.

Whatever you choose, I have also provided links to some excellent resources which can help you to learn these technologies.

Btw, this is in continuation of my articles about essential things for developers earlier I shared about 10 Things Web Developers Can Learn in 2024 and essential things for Java developers, if you haven't read them already, you can read them now.

10 Essential Skills App Developers Can Learn in 2024

Without wasting any more of your time, here is my list of some of the best frameworks, programming languages, and libraries you can learn to get into mobile application development.

1. React Native

If there is a best library or framework you can check out for developing native cross-platform mobile apps, then React Native.

It uses React and JavaScript for producing high quality native mobile apps.

It's the right choice for all web developers who want to become a mobile app developer and are already familiar with technologies like JavaScript and React. If you are one of them, then I suggest you learn React Native in 2024.

Also, there are a lot of resources to learn React Native, both free and paid, but if you ask my recommendation, I highly recommend you to check out Stephen Grider's The Complete React Native + Hooks course, one of my favorite resources to learn React Native online.

Stephen is one of the best instructors on Udemy and his teaching style is great.

2. Flutter

This is another excellent framework for developing cross-platform native mobile applications in 2024. Like Golang, TensorFlow, and Angular, Flutter is also from Google, which uses Dart (another programming language from Google) and provides SDK for developing a cross-platform native mobile application.

It's always been challenging to release your app to different platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile, as you need to maintain a separate codebase.

Flutter solves that problem by allowing you to create mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices using the same codebase.

Flutter has seen a lot of growth in the last 2 years, and it's now the #1 framework for developing native mobile apps.

If you have already decided to learn Flutter and looking for a resource, then I suggest you check out this Learn Flutter and Dart MasterClass by Maximilian of Acadmind on Udemy, one of my favorite courses to learn Flutter in 2024.

3. Kotlin

Kotlin is a general-purpose programming language from JetBrains, the company behind tools like IntelliJIDEA, Reshaper, and PyCharm. If you don't know, Kotlin is the official programming language for developing Android applications as announced by Google a couple of years ago.

It's a beautiful, JVM-based programming language and compatible with Java, another popular language for developing Android applications.

If you are serious about developing mobile apps for the Android platform, the world's most popular mobile platform, then you should learn Kotlin.

If you need a resource, check out this Kotlin Fundamentals course from Pluralsight.

4. Swift 5.1

Swift is another programming language from Apple that you can use to develop mobile applications for iOS (iPhone and iPad), macOS (MacBook Prob), watchOS (Apple Watch), tvOS (Apple TV), and beyond.

It's a simple, elegant, and powerful programming language, full of modern features the developer loves.

Swift allows you to write safe code without compromising speed and performance. If you are serious about developing mobile applications for Apple products like iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro, then you should learn Swift 5.1 in 2024. Swift 5.1 also makes it easier to create and share a binary framework with others.

If you need a resource, I recommend you to check out this iOS and Swift - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp course from Angela Yu, another great and practical instructor on Udemy.

5. Native Script

If somehow you didn't like React Native and Flutter and looking for alternatives, then you can also check out Native Script. NativeScript is a free and open-source framework to develop a mobile application for both Apple iOS and Google's Android platform.

It allows you to build native mobile apps in both TypeScript and JavaScript and using Angular and Vuejs.

If you are a frontend developer and already know frameworks like Angular or Vuejs, then Native Script can be the right choice for you.

NativeScript features deep integration with both Angular and Vuejs and allows you to write code on any language, which translates into JavaScript like TypeScript or CoffeeScript.

If you need resources, I suggest you check out this Native Script + Angular: Build Native iOS and Android Apps course by Maximilian Schwarzmuller on Udemy.

6. Android 10

This is the latest version of the Android platform. It was released in September last year, and unlike the previous Android version, it doesn't have any sweet names like KitKat, Oreo, or Lollipop.

If you are interested in the Android platform or are already an Android developer, you can learn Android 10 to learn new features like Dark Themes, Smart Reply, Gesture navigation, 5G Networks, Enhanced location, and privacy tools, etc.

You can also optimize your apps for foldable and other large-screen devices.

If you are an Android developer or want to learn Android in 2024, I suggest you learn Android 10, the latest version of Android OS, and if you need resources, I recommend Android MsterClass course on Udemy.

7. iOS

This is the latest release of the popular iOS platform, which powers the iPhone and iPad, two of the most powerful devices of humankind. iOS 15, is the latest iOS release.

It also comes with exciting features developers have long been asking for. For example, with the iOS 15 SDK, your app can take advantage of Dark Mode, Focus and notifications, SwiftUI, UIKit, Keyboard layout guides, Core Location UI, Accessibility, Augmented Reality, and more

If you are an iOS developer or want to become an iOS developer in 2024, I suggest you learn iOS 15, and if you need resources, check out this iOS MasterClass from Angela Yu on Udemy.

8. Ionic

This is another framework for developing hybrid mobile applications using JavaScript. Ionic also allows you to build cross-platform mobile apps, which means you can create an application for any platform using one codebase.

Ionic Framework is free and open-source and provides a portable UI toolkit for developing high-quality cross-platform apps for native iOS, Android, and the web- all from a single codebase. It also has an Ionic React that leverages React for building hybrid mobile apps.

If you want to learn Ionic in 2024, then I suggest you check out this Ionic 4 MasterClass course on Udemy.

It was created by none other than Maximilian Schwarzmuller, one of the best instructors on Udemy and YouTube.

9. Dart

If you want to learn Flutter, which you should, if you are serious about building cross-platform native mobile applications, then learning Dart could be beneficial for you because Dart is the programming language that powers Flutter.

If you don't know, Dart is a programming language from Google aimed at developer productivity. Unlike Golang, another programming language from Google, Dart is in between Java and JavaScript, and you can learn it quickly if you are familiar with any of this language.

If you want to learn Dart in 2024 and looking for a recommendation, I suggest you go through this Flutter and Dart Masterclass course on Udemy.

10. Xamarin

If you want to build a native mobile application with .NET and C#, then there is no better choice than Xamarin.

Xamarin is a tried and tested platform and great for C# and .NET developers who want to get into mobile application development.

By using Xamarin, you can build native Android, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, macOS, and Windows apps using .NET with native API access.

If you want to learn Xamarin in 2024 and looking for resources, I suggest you check out this Xamarin Forms: Build Native Cross-Platform Apps using C# course by Mosh Hamedani on Udemy.

That's all about how to become an app developer in 2024. As I said you can either learn Android + Kotlin, iOS + Swift, Flutter + Dart, or simply React Native to become a professional app developer in 2024.

You don't need to learn all, just choose the combo that suits your skill for example if you are a Java developer then learning Kotlin for Android development makes sense. Simply if you are a JavaScript developer you should go for React Native.

For example, if you want to build native mobile apps for iOS platforms then learn iOS 15 and Swift 5, and if you to develop for the Android platform then learn Kotlin and Android 12, and if you want to build cross-platform native mobile applications then learn Flutter and Dart in 2024.

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Thanks for reading this article so far. If you find this article useful and find these technologies worth learning for mobile app development, then please share it with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback, then please drop a note.

P. S. - If you are thinking to do just one thing right now then I highly recommend you for iOS development and join this Swift and iOS Masterclass from Angela Yu on Udemy. This single step can make a big difference in your career.