The demand for mobile applications has been on a steady rise ever since the smartphone was invented. At the moment, 80% and 47% of Internet users access it via smartphones and tablets respectively. There are many mushrooming apps currently being developed by skilled software developers to meet almost any human need. To tap on the large number of mobile device owners, businesses are heavily investing in creative apps to meet various needs and simplify business processes. While there are a lot of apps that already aim to do the same thing, the market is still huge, and there's still enough space to come out with your own. To contact the right developer, look out for the following qualities.
Experience
Application development is dynamic, and therefore requires an equally flexible individual capable of adjusting fast with the ever-changing business and technological environment. Becoming an expert application developer requires a lot of hard work, learning, and research. Academic qualifications alone don’t count because someone has to have a rich portfolio to prove competence in the field to be trusted with some of the most complex projects. Specialized developers are recommended as opposed to those who jump on any project that comes their way. A developer with a rich portfolio of previously developed apps, ideally in the same field or niche, is more reliable than one without focus and experience.
Understands the Market Needs
With hundreds of mobile applications being churned out daily, a mobile application developer has to exhibit a clear understanding of the industry, especially the market needs. One has to find a gap and set out to fill it, which also means that the user has to find the app worthwhile. There are many half-baked developers mainly motivated by the opportunity to make a few extra bucks developing apps that no one wants to touch. A developer should be able to understand a client’s need, and build on it. Creativity is important because app development is about transforming the best ideas into life-changing applications.
Language & Platform Knowledge
A profound understanding of more than one programming language is an essential quality of a good mobile app developer. This is not a field for people who just know the basics because the language is mostly determined by the client, and not the developer. Those tied to just one platform may not be relied on for various projects and therefore less recommended. The language is a developer’s main tool of trade, and therefore must show competence and capability to use and come up with applications with ease. Experience working on mobile platforms like Android, iOS, Blackberry, among others is also very important.
High Level of Integrity
Integrity demands that the agreement between the client and the developer is binding. Unfortunately, this is not always the case because some developers duplicate apps and sell them to other clients even after transferring all the rights to their earlier client. This is unethical and unacceptable. A developer who cannot keep his word and respect the fact that the work done was paid for and therefore ceases ownership and any such rights after signing the dotted lines and pocketing the check is dangerous. To avoid having to deal with these types, clients should always demand references, on top of the portfolio—and developers should always be ready to provide them.
Finally, a good mobile app developer strives to deliver an insightful user-friendly mobile application. This is a serious and costly investment that must be done with the end-user in mind. There are many other attributes that define good mobile apps developers, but the above should help anyone searching for a good developer make the right choice.