How to Be Application Developer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jul 6, 2020 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The rapid development of technology has caused an increase in the demand for application developers. With more businesses relying on technology to provide customer service, streamline workflow, and increase productivity, the need for professionals to design and develop applications has skyrocketed. This increased demand has resulted in more job opportunities for application developers, allowing them to take advantage of higher salaries, more flexible working hours, and the ability to work remotely. Additionally, the proliferation of technology has made it easier than ever for developers to access the resources they need to create innovative applications.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelors Degree The first step to becoming an application developer is to earn a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field. This four-year degree will provide you with a solid foundation in programming languages, software engineering, and web development.
Obtain Certification After completing your degree, you may wish to consider earning certification in a specific programming language or software platform. This will demonstrate your knowledge and expertise to potential employers.
Obtain Work Experience Many employers require application developers to have at least two years of work experience in the field. You may gain this experience through internships or working as a junior programmer.
Create a Portfolio Creating a portfolio of your work is an excellent way to showcase your skills to potential employers. This can include any applications you have designed, websites you have built, and software you have written.
Stay Up-to-Date The technology industry is constantly changing. To remain competitive, it is important for application developers to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies. This can be accomplished through attending conferences, reading industry publications, and participating in online forums.

In order to stay ahead and competent in the field of application development, staying up-to-date on the latest software development trends, having a good understanding of the technologies involved, and applying best practices are essential. Keeping track of the advances in the industry can be achieved by reading related industry publications, attending relevant conferences and seminars, or taking online courses. Having a thorough understanding of the technologies used for application development requires learning and mastering the basics, as well as regularly brushing up on the fundamentals.

Finally, following best practices for coding, debugging, testing and releasing applications can help ensure that software is built in a reliable and efficient manner. By staying informed, knowledgeable, and diligent in one's development practices, an application developer can remain ahead and competent in this ever-evolving field.

You may want to check GIS Developer, Salesforce Developer, and Robotics Developer for alternative.

Job Description

Develop and Implement Software Solutions: Develop and implement software solutions to address customer needs. This includes creating new applications and improving existing ones.
Debug Software Problems: Debug software problems, identify their causes, and develop solutions to address them.
Manage Application Changes: Manage application changes, including enhancements, patches, and new releases.
Create Documentation: Create documentation to support application development and maintenance.
Create Unit Tests: Create unit tests to ensure quality and performance of applications.
Design Interfaces: Design user interfaces for applications, including graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
Analyze Requirements: Analyze customer requirements and develop software solutions that meet those requirements.
Collaborate with Teams: Collaborate with other members of the development team, including software engineers and QA testers.
Research New Technologies: Research new technologies and techniques to incorporate into software solutions.
Monitor Performance: Monitor application performance and troubleshoot issues as needed.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Programming languages: Java, C/C++, Python, JavaScript
Object-oriented design and development
Database management systems (SQL, Oracle, etc. )
Web application development (HTML, CSS, ASP. NET, etc. )
Mobile application development (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, etc. )
System architecture and design
Understanding of software development methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, etc. )
Debugging and troubleshooting skills
Analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Knowledge of user interface design
Knowledge of software security best practices

Developing applications requires an extensive set of skills, but perhaps the most important skill to have is the ability to problem solve. A successful application developer must be able to identify potential problems and devise creative solutions. This requires good analysis and troubleshooting skills, as well as a knack for anticipating issues and discovering creative solutions.

a successful application developer needs to have a solid understanding of the language they are using, as well as any frameworks or libraries they are using to create their application. they must have a strong grasp on the principles of design, such as user experience, usability, and accessibility. Finally, an application developer must have excellent communication skills in order to effectively collaborate with other members of the development team.

All these skills combined form the foundation for an effective application developer.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have programming in [x language]?
What challenges have you encountered while developing applications?
Describe your experience debugging applications.
What do you consider to be the most important qualities of a successful application developer?
How would you approach developing a new application from scratch?
How do you ensure that applications are secure and reliable?
What techniques do you use to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in application development?
How comfortable are you with working on legacy applications?
What processes do you use to test applications for bugs and other issues?
What have been your most successful and least successful applications, and what lessons did you learn from each?

Common Tools in Industry

Apache Spark. A distributed computing framework designed to process large amounts of data. (eg: Used by Netflix to analyze user data)
Apache Hadoop. An open-source software framework for storing and processing large volumes of data. (eg: Used by LinkedIn to store its user activity data)
AWS Lambda. A serverless compute service for running code in response to events. (eg: Used by Pinterest to trigger image processing jobs)
Kubernetes. A container orchestration system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of applications. (eg: Used by Google to manage its microservices architecture)
Docker. A container platform for packaging, deploying, and running applications. (eg: Used by Spotify to deploy its cloud-based services)
Ansible. An open-source automation platform for IT tasks such as configuration management, deployment, and application orchestration. (eg: Used by Twitter to automate its server deployments)
Terraform. An infrastructure as code tool for provisioning and managing cloud resources. (eg: Used by Dropbox to manage its cloud infrastructure)
Git. A version control system for tracking changes in source code. (eg: Used by Facebook to manage its code base)
Jenkins. An open-source automation server for continuous integration and delivery of software projects. (eg: Used by Airbnb to automate its deployment process)
Selenium. An automated testing tool for web applications. (eg: Used by Uber to test its web application)

Professional Organizations to Know

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
International Association of Software Architects (IASA)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
International Webmasters Association (IWA)
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
Object Management Group (OMG)
Google Developer Group (GDG)
National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)

We also have Front-End Developer, Full Stack Architect, and ETL Developer jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a process used by software developers to plan, design, build, test, and deploy software applications. It typically involves steps such as requirement gathering, analysis, designing, coding, testing, and implementation.
Agile Methodology. Agile methodology is a type of software development process that focuses on continuous improvement, rapid delivery, and frequent communication between developers and stakeholders. It is an iterative process that values collaboration and feedback from stakeholders and users to create high-quality software.
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that uses classes and objects to model real-world entities and their interactions. This programming style focuses on data abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism to create efficient and reusable code.
Test Driven Development (TDD). Test Driven Development (TDD) is a software development approach that focuses on writing tests before writing the code. The tests are written to ensure that the code meets all requirements and specifications.
Continuous Integration (CI). Continuous Integration (CI) is a software development practice that involves regularly integrating new code into the codebase and running automated tests to ensure that the new code does not introduce any errors. This practice helps ensure that the codebase is always up-to-date and stable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Application Developer?

An Application Developer is a software engineer responsible for the development, maintenance, and implementation of applications and software programs.

What skills does an Application Developer need?

An Application Developer needs to have strong programming and technical skills, as well as knowledge of software development life cycles, database design, and coding languages such as Java, C++, or JavaScript.

What is the job outlook for an Application Developer?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for an Application Developer is expected to grow 21% from 2019-2029, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.

What is the average salary for an Application Developer?

The median annual salary for an Application Developer in 2020 was $109,020.

What is the best way to become an Application Developer?

The best way to become an Application Developer is to obtain a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, gain experience with coding languages, and stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and trends.

Web Resources

How to Become an Application Developer - Western Governors www.wgu.edu
Details - Application Developer I | University of Denver jobs.du.edu
What Does a Software Developer Do? A Deep Dive into the Career www.rasmussen.edu