The lowdown
Thanks to the mobile app revolution that began with Steve Jobs’ App Store (which had a profound impact on India’s developer community), app development is being seen as a big wave in outsourced development. The usage of services like gaming, video calls, emails, music, etc provide tremendous opportunities for mobile application developers. Application development involves writing software and programmes for handheld devices based on platforms like Android, BlackBerry, iPhone iOS etc offered by various handset manufacturers. The mobile application revolution has also opened up business opportunities in India both for developers and service providers. India, with more than 500 million mobile customers, is ranked as the world’s second biggest mobile phone market and also offers highly skilled software professionals. However, developers will have to carefully consider not only which platform to support but also which store to promote their applications
Clockwork
9am: Log in
9.30am: Review the previous day’s work
10am: Meeting with the team, setting a goal for the day
11.30am: Discussion with individual team mates, if required
Noon: Develop, design, code and unit testing
2pm to 2.30pm: A quick bite for lunch and refreshment
3pm: Test and coding
5.15pm to 6pm: Code integration, discussion on dependency
6.30pm: Regression testing
7.30pm: Coffee break
7.30pm: Done for the day
The payoff
The pay depends on your qualifications and experience, starting from around Rs. 20,000 per month
Skills/TRAITS
* Creativity and innovation
* Tech savvy
* Attention to detail
* Thoughtfulness with a sense of developing apps that address human needs or desires
* Some business acumen is also required
* A go-getter attitude
* Passion to work
* Knowledge of coding and how to use design pattern
* One should know how to get things done
Getting there
Obtain a degree in computer science such as BE/BTech degree course from a reputable college. You could also consider doing one of the various courses available at private computer training institutes. You need to be proficient in a programming language such as C, C++, Objective C for writing applications on iOS or Java. Learn the basics and work on projects to furnish your skills. Build your knowledge base by creating your own software applications. Start to build something simple on your own. Don’t focus on building a hit, just try to make a simple application that is user-friendly and provide some high utility solution to mobile users
Getting there
Obtain a degree in computer science such as BE/BTech degree course from a reputable college. You could also consider doing one of the various courses available at private computer training institutes. You need to be proficient in a programming language such as C, C++, Objective C for writing applications on iOS or Java. Learn the basics and work on projects to furnish your skills. Build your knowledge base by creating your own software applications. Start to build something simple on your own. Don’t focus on building a hit, just try to make a simple application that is user-friendly and provide some high utility solution to mobile users
Institutes and URLs
* Indian Institute of Information Technology, multiple locations;
www.iiita.ac.in, www.iiitdmj.ac.in, www.iiitm.ac.in, www.iiitdm.ac.in, www.iiitd.ac.in
* Indian Institute of Technology, multiple locations across India;
jeeadv.iitm.ac.in
* Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
www.bits-pilani.ac.in
* National Institutes of Technology, multiple locations;
Pros and cons
* Creative and challenging work
* You can rake in big money
* Long working hours
* High pressure work in a fast-moving field
* You can work for the global market
Memory management is a major issue in all available smartphones. It is challenging to develop an app which is well optimised with proper memory management --- Senthil Nayagam, project manager, Dot Com Infoway Madurai