Start a career as an iOS/Android app developer

[verythoughtful]

Currently, I'm working in the testing department. I have almost 3 years of experience in this. Now I'm thinking undergoing a mobile app development training program in a Toronto-based institution. I would like to work on android apps. All I want to know is whether there is any career opportunity in android dev. How should somebody that wants to start a career as an iOS/Android app developer kick start their knowledge?

 

[L&LD]

If it was me, I would be looking for paying jobs that required that knowledge.

If the jobs were there (in plenty), I would then look for professional courses to take that would get me to that level asap.

(Just because there is a need today, doesn't mean there will be one in a year or two, or more).

I don't know of any jobs that are aimed primarily at that knowledge. Usually, that type of specific knowledge need comes about in specific companies (and the types of clients they have).

 

[sfx2000]

Currently, I'm working in the testing department. I have almost 3 years of experience in this. Now I'm thinking undergoing a mobile app development training program in a Toronto-based institution. I would like to work on android apps. All I want to know is whether there is any career opportunity in android dev. How should somebody that wants to start a career as an iOS/Android app developer kick start their knowledge?

It's a good question...

You mention that you're in QA/Testing - this is a rich field actually - and something to consider...

Once you get into Mobile SW development, there's multiple aspects - the UI/UX on the front end, code in the device itself, which generally follows the model/view/controller aspects, along with either native C or Java at it's core, and then the services perspective, e.g. the "cloud" which is a totally different discipline.

QA engineers and techs get a bad rap sometimes - but at the same time, a good SW/HW engineer will always appreciate their inputs, and with the right world view, one might see this as a virtuous cycle... we all want good product - from architecture to development to QA to launch...

That being said - with some background on QA - there's a wealth of courses available - online, community colleges, university extension courses, etc... but it's a different discipline - sitting down and writing "helloworld.c" is one thing...

Sit down with the devs that are writing the code you're testing now - ask questions...

FWIW - a lot of QA's do find engagement on the front end - first with requirements going into Development, and then also with the customer outreach to find those missing test cases...