The speaker shares their journey from aspiring to create the next big app to becoming a mobile app developer, creating apps for many companies over five years. They discuss their advice for aspiring mobile developers in 2021, dividing it into five categories: native versus cross-platform, Android versus iOS, where to start learning, how to land a job, and the timeline for landing a job.
The speaker advises starting with native development (either Android or iOS) and not cross-platform technologies. They recommend starting with Android due to its lower cost of entry, superior documentation, and larger user base. However, they also mention that iOS has a smaller but more willing user base to spend money on apps.
The speaker suggests learning Android development from Google's free courses and iOS development from Apple's free courses. They emphasize the importance of hands-on experience and building a portfolio of personal projects.
To land a job, the speaker suggests learning the basics of Git, building a portfolio on GitHub, and following best practices for Android development, such as architectural best practices and user interface best practices. They also recommend applying for every mobile job they can find, starting the job hunt around the six-month mark, and dedicating about 10 hours a week to the process.
Finally, they express hope that viewers will take something away from their video and encourage them to ask any questions in the comments.
1. The speaker initially aimed to create the "next big app" in mobile development but realized that to-do list apps wouldn't make it big.
2. After giving up on his dream, the speaker decided to make apps for others, which led to him making mobile apps for many companies.
3. The speaker suggests that if someone is serious about becoming a mobile developer and landing their first job, they should listen to the full video.
4. The video is divided into five categories: native versus cross-platform, Android versus iOS, where to start learning, how to land the first job, and the timeline to landing the first job.
5. The speaker suggests that those new to mobile development should not start with cross-platform technologies, but rather pursue learning the native route.
6. The speaker initially started with cross-platform technologies like Cordova and Xamarin, which led to poorly made apps due to a lack of understanding of native development.
7. The speaker suggests starting with native development and later pursuing cross-platform development if desired.
8. The speaker argues that Android has a lower cost of entry for development compared to iOS, which requires development work on a Mac operating system.
9. The speaker advises that if one doesn't have a Mac with decent hardware requirements, it would cost to get started in iOS development.
10. The speaker suggests that iOS has a lower user base but users are more willing to spend money on the app store.
11. The speaker believes that Android has incredible documentation, which is a reason why he personally loves Android development.
12. The speaker suggests that the best way to learn either Android or iOS development is to get hands-on experience by developing your own apps.
13. The speaker advises that learning the basics of Git and building a portfolio on GitHub or a personal website showcasing the apps you've built is crucial for landing a mobile developer job.
14. The speaker believes that having a portfolio is a non-negotiable thing that you need on your resume if you want to land a developer job, especially if you're self-taught.
15. The speaker suggests learning best practices, such as architectural best practices and user interface best practices, and integrating these into personal projects.
16. The speaker advises applying for every single mobile job that you can find, as it's a numbers game, and multiple interviews happening at once can create a competition anxiety for other employers, making them more likely to hire you.
17. The speaker suggests spending roughly one month learning the basics of either Android or iOS development, and then spending the next four to five months building personal projects to build up a solid resume and portfolio.
18. The speaker suggests that if you spend about 10 hours a week, you could probably land your first mobile dev job within six months, give or take a few.