10 Things App Developers Can Learn in 2024
Flutter, React Native, Kotlin, Nativescript, Android, iOS, and much more
Hello guys, Mobile application development is an exciting field for programmers as it has all kinds of opportunities, from freelancing to working at large companies and launching your own apps like Angry Bird, Flappy Bird, or Pokemon Go and becoming an App millionaire.
If one of your goals in 2024 to learn Mobile application development and you wondering how to start, then you have come to the right place. In this article, I am going to share 10 technologies you can learn to become a mobile application developer or someone who wants to improve as a mobile application developer for Android and iOS platforms can learn in 2024.
This list includes things like framework, programming languages, and platforms, almost everything a mobile developer needs.
In particular, I have included cross-platform mobile development frameworks like Flutter and React Native, programming languages like Kotlin, Swift, and Dart, and platforms like Android and iOS, which are essential for any mobile app developer in 2024.
Though, one of the most important things to note here is that you don’t need to learn all the things I have mentioned here; in fact, all of them are presented here for informational purposes so that you can choose which technologies and platforms are suitable for you.
For example, if you are interested in developing native iOS applications for iPhone and iPad (they make most of the money on mobile apps) then learning Swift 5 and iOS 16 is a good idea, but if you are interested in the Android platform (they have the highest reach) then learning Kotlin and Android is a good option.
And, if you are interested, like me, in developing cross-platform native mobile apps (both Android and iOS app from a single codebase), then you should learn Flutter or React Native, two of the leading frameworks for building a native mobile application. Whatever you choose, I have also provided links to some excellent resources which can help you to learn these technologies.
Btw, this is in continuation of my articles about essential things for developers earlier I have shared about 10 Things Web Developers Can Learn in 2024 and essential skills for Java developer, if you haven’t read them already, you can read them now.
10 Technologies App Developers can Learn in 2024
Without wasting any more of your time, here is my list of some of the best frameworks, programming languages, and libraries you can learn to get into mobile application development.
1. Flutter
This is an excellent framework for developing cross-platform native mobile applications in 2024. Like Golang, TensorFlow, and Angular, Flutter is also from Google, which uses Dart (another programming language from Google) and provides SDK for developing a cross-platform native mobile application.
It’s always been challenging to release your app to different platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile, as you need to maintain separate codebase. Flutter solves that problem by allowing you to create mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices using the same codebase.
Flutter has seen a lot of growth in the last 2 years, and its now the #1 framework for developing native mobile apps. If you have already decided to learn Flutter and looking for a resource, then I suggest you check out this Flutter & Dart — The Complete Guide [2024 Edition] by Maximilian of Acadmind on Udemy, one of my favorite courses to learn Flutter in 2024.
2. React Native [Best Cross platform app development library]
Apart from Flutter, if there is another framework you can check out for developing native cross-platform mobile apps, then they React Native. It uses React and JavaScript for producing high quality native mobile apps.
It’s the right choice for all web developers who wants to become a mobile app developer and already familiar with technologies like JavaScript and React. If you are one of them, then I suggest you learn React Native in 2024.
Also, there are a lot of resources to learn React Native, both free and paid, but if you ask my recommendation, I highly recommend you check out Stephen Grider’s The Complete React Native + Hooks course, one of my favorite resources to learn React Native online. Stephen is one of the best instructors of Udemy and his teaching style is really great
3. Kotlin [best programming language for Android app development]
Kotlin is a general-purpose programming language from JetBrains, the company behind tools like IntelliJ IDEA, Reshaper, and PyCharm. If you don’t know, Kotlin is the official programming language for developing Android applications as announced by Google a couple of years ago.
It’s a beautiful, JVM based programming language and compatible with Java, another popular language for developing Android applications.
If you are serious about developing mobile apps for the Android platform, the world’s most popular mobile platform, then you should learn Kotlin. If you need a resource, check out this Kotlin Fundamentals course from Pluralsight.
4. Swift 5.1 [best programming language for iOS app development]
Swift is another programming language from Apple which you can use to develop mobile applications for iOS (iPhone and iPad), macOS (MacBook Pro), watchOS (Apple Watch), tvOS (Apple TV), and beyond. It’s a simple, elegant, and powerful programming language, full of modern features the developer loves.
Swift allows you to write safe code without compromising speed and performance. If you are serious about developing mobile applications for Apple products like iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro, then you should learn Swift 5.1 in 2024. Swift 5.1 also makes it easier to create and share a binary framework with others.
If you need a resource, I recommend you to check out this iOS 16 and Swift 5 — The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp course from Angela Yu, another great and practical instructor on Udemy.
5. Native Script
If somehow you didn’t like React Native and Flutter and looking for alternatives, then you can also check out Native Script. NativeScript is a free and open-source framework to develop a mobile application for both Apple iOS and Google’s Android platform.
It allows you to build native mobile apps in both TypeScript and JavaScript and using Angular and Vuejs. If you are a frontend developer and already know frameworks like Angular or Vuejs, then Native Script can be the right choice for you.
NativeScript features deep integration with both Angular and Vuejs and allows you to write code on any language, which translates into JAvaScript like TypeScript or CoffeeScript.
If you need resources, I suggest you check out this Native Script + Angular: Build Native iOS and Android Apps course by Maximilian Schwarzmuller on Udemy.
6. Android 13
This is the latest version of the Android platform. It was released on October last year, and unlike the previous Android version, it doesn’t have any sweet names like KitKat, Oreo, or Lollipop.
If you are interested in the Android platform or already an Android developer, you can learn Android 10 to learn new features like Dark Themes, Smart Reply, Gesture navigation, 5G Networks, Enhanced location, and privacy tools, etc.
You can also optimize your apps for foldable and other large-screen devices. If you are an Android developer or want to learn Android in 2024, I suggest you learn Android 13, the latest version of Android OS, and if you need resources, I recommend The Complete Android & Kotlin Development Masterclass course on Udemy.
7. iOS 16
This is the latest release of the popular iOS platform, which powers the iPhone and iPad, two of the most powerful devices of humankind. I just updated my iPhone on iOS 16, and I am really impressed with sleek writing without lifting my finger.
It also comes with some exciting features developers have long been asking. For example, with the iOS 16 SDK, your app can take advantage of Dark Mode, Sign In with Apple, Core Data syncing with CloudKit, PencilKit, and more.
If you are an iOS developer or want to become an iOS developer in 2024, I suggest you learn iOS 16, and if you need resources, check out this iOS MasterClass from Angela Yu on Udemy.
8. Ionic
This is another framework for developing hybrid mobile applications using JavaScript. Ionic also allows you to build cross-platform mobile apps, which means you can create an application for any platform using one codebase.
Ionic Framework is a free and open-source and provides a portable UI toolkit for developing high-quality cross-platforms apps for native iOS, Android, and the web- all from the single codebase. It also has an Ionic React that leverages React for building hybrid mobile apps.
If you want to learn Ionic in 2024, then I suggest you check out this Ionic 4 MasterClass course on Udemy. It’s created by none other than Maximilian Schwarzmuller, one of the best instructors on Udemy and YouTube.
9. Dart
If you want to learn Flutter, which you should, if you are serious about building cross-platform native mobile applications, then learning Dart could be beneficial for you because Dart is the programming language that powers Flutter.
If you don’t know, Dart is a programming language from Google aimed at developer productivity. Unlike Golang, another programming language from Google, Dart is in between Java and JavaScript, and you can learn it quickly if you are familiar with any of this language.
If you want to learn Dart in 2024 and looking for a recommendation, I suggest you go through this Flutter and Dart Masterclass course on Udemy.
10. Xamarin
If you want to build a native mobile application with .NET and C#, then there is no better choice than Xamarin. Xamarin is a tried and tested platform and great for C# and .NET developer who wants to get into mobile application development.
By using Xamarin, you can build native Android, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, macOS, and Windows apps using .NET with native API access. If you want to learn Xamarin in 2024 and looking for resources, I suggest you check out this Xamarin Forms: Build Native Cross-Platform Apps using C# course by Mosh Hamedani on Udemy.
That’s all about some new frameworks, libraries, programming languages, and platforms you can learn in 2024 for Mobile application development. You don’t need to learn them all, choose the one which suits your needs.
For example, if you want to build native mobile apps for iOS platforms then learn iOS 16 and Swift 5.1, and if you to develop for the Android platform then learn Kotlin and Android 10, and if you want to build cross-platform native mobile applications then learn Flutter and Dart in 2024.
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Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like this article useful and find these technologies worth learning for mobile app development, then please share it with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback, then please drop a note.
P.S. — If you get confused with so many technologies, programming languages, and frameworks then I suggest you start with Flutter, and if you need a free online course, you can also check out Introduction to Flutter — a free course by Google Developers on Udemy. All you need is a free Udemy account to join this course.
