iOS is one of the most often used platforms for developing mobile apps. Since its beginning, the field of iOS app development has grown; as of 2021, over 2.22 million apps were available on the iOS app store. iOS developers are among the most in-demand professionals, and their talents are in high demand.
For several reasons, iOS has become the platform of choice for developers worldwide. The widespread growth of iOS apps can be attributed to several factors, including the simplicity of app development, the high-profit potential, the unified user interface, and the overall minimalistic look. Moreover, fragmentation issues are limited when a unified user interface is used.
The most crucial part of creating an iOS app is hiring competent iOS app developers with a solid foundation in mobile development and a robust skill set in iOS development. This post will cover the top ten abilities of iOS developers that you should look for when hiring them for your team. Let's start by discussing the specific reasons behind the recent spike in demand for iOS app developers and the reasons your business needs them.
iOS Developer Technical Skills To Look Out For
Practical Knowledge Of Swift 3.0
The most widely used programming language for creating iOS apps is Swift 3.0. Apple created Swift, an object-oriented programming language with an intuitive syntax. Programmers utilize this powerful and user-friendly language to develop apps for Apple's operating systems, which include macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
Swift is a fast and stable programming language that makes it easy for any iOS developer to create feature-rich, responsive apps. It is also easy to learn and open-source. Being well-versed in Swift 3.0 is crucial, as it's one of the most critical abilities for iOS developers.
Experience In Xcode IDE
One of the necessary skills for every iOS developer you want to hire is the ability to use the Xcode IDE or Integrated Development Environment. Developing software and mobile apps can be simplified by using an IDE, which includes tools and programming fundamentals for automation, debugging, programming, interpreting, and compiling. The tools included in an IDE facilitate the development and deployment processes for newly developed and already existing applications.
In addition to lowering development costs and times for iOS app development, IDEs offer fantastic user experiences. Ensure to seek out professionals with the Xcode IDE as part of their iOS development expertise.
Core Data
Core Data's framework makes managing model objects and their interactions easier, facilitating the creation of data-driven applications. This frees the developer from repetitive work related to graph maintenance and an object's life cycle.
Core Data dramatically reduces the code an iOS developer must create to support the model layer. iOS developers can use Core Data to provide undo capabilities to an app on a single device, cache temporary data and preserve application data for offline use. Core Data automatically mirrors the schema to a CloudKit container for device syncing within an iCloud account. Employing iOS developers with experience leveraging Core Data to create customer-focused apps is essential for businesses.
Experience In Memory Management
The hardware in your device that stores data is referred to as memory. Integrated RAM is used by the primary short-term memory system of iPhones and iPads to store data temporarily. The device's operating system dynamically determines this allocated RAM. Memory management is essential since memory is a limited resource on iOS devices.
The system only allows apps to use a certain amount of memory, which can make them operate more slowly and possibly crash. Senior iOS developers need to understand that if an application exceeds the specified per-process limit, it may stop working and how to resolve this using memory management.
Skilled In Source Control
Source control is a system management technique for monitoring changes to the source code. It is essential to the creation of apps. By using this method, disputes amongst developers working on the same program can be avoided. Most iOS developers find that working directly with source control facilitates communication and expedites the iOS development process. Employ iPhone app developers with experience leading and collaborating in groups.
Experience In Unit Testing
A function that evaluates the app's functionality is called a unit test. Practical unit tests are compact, quick, and separate. Each one only evaluates one item on its own. For instance, develop a unit test to ensure the new feature in your calculator app functions as intended. Suppose you added a feature that computes the overall amount of time spent on activities within the app. After compiling your most recent code modifications, you should run this new test immediately to identify any issues.
Unit tests have the potential to stop bugs. They use sets of provided inputs to verify that each function in an application produces the intended outputs and that the functions work as intended. Therefore, iOS developers knowledgeable in these development techniques should be hired to test the app's operation and validity appropriately.
UI And UX Design Experience
"User experience design experts," or UI/ designers, are experts in the visual components of iOS applications. They design the interface, feel, and navigation of programs to enhance the user experience.
An app's UI and UX are essential to its design. UX includes navigation, branding, usability, and other aspects, while UI handles appearance only. To produce visually appealing apps, you must work with iOS developers who understand design principles. You should hire iOS developers with a fair idea of design concepts to create attractive designs.
Knowledge Of Storyboards
An iOS application's storyboard is a diagram that displays the user interface's screens and their relationships. Each scene in a storyboard is made up of a view controller and its views, which are managed and crafted meticulously by dedicated iOS programmers. These professionals ensure seamless transitions and cohesive user experiences through segue objects that symbolize screen transitions.
With storyboards, you can see how your program's user interface will look and operate. It is advised that you utilize storyboards to create your application's user interface, as they will give you a comprehensive understanding of how it will behave.
When hiring iOS developers, employers should look for the technical talents listed above. However, to select a capable and imaginative iOS developer, looking beyond technical talents and considering soft skills is imperative.
Proficiency In Grand Central Dispatch
Applications for iOS devices perform multiple functions at once, such as retrieving information from the network, presenting pertinent data on the screen, and reacting to touch inputs. As a result, the gadget's hardware may be severely strained.
The iOS ecosystem uses Grand Central Dispatch to add parallelism and concurrency to the operating system. It enables it to handle demanding computation activities in the background without interfering with user experience. You need to work with iOS developers who are skilled in GCD to avoid crashes and guarantee peak performance.
Spatial Reasoning Ability
The capacity for spatial reasoning is one of the most essential abilities of an iOS app developer. It is the ability to manipulate and comprehend items at different scales mentally. "How will the user utilize this app?" is the response. Working with iOS developers from a user's perspective would be best to create reliable and user-friendly apps. This ability is very important to developers because it requires them to consider every factor in order to give users an unmatched experience.
Non-Technical Skills iOS Developers Must Have
When we think of iOS developers, the only thing that springs to mind is their technical proficiency. Soft skills, or non-technical talents, are crucial to their success.
Additionally, developers with the proper mindset and upholding professional ethics guarantee project delivery on schedule and accept accountability for their activities. Thus, when hiring iOS developers, businesses must look for the following competencies.The following are the crucial non-technical abilities that iOS developers need to have:
Good Communication Skills
iOS developers must communicate with clients and other team members when working on a project to achieve the goal together.
Effective verbal and communication skills are unquestionably essential for iOS developers. These skills help the developers comprehend the project or the client's needs and present a superior alternative situation.
Critical Thinking
Each job has Its share of difficulties. Furthermore, creating apps for iOS is a complex task. To produce a successful iOS app, developers must overcome several challenges and barriers. An iOS developer must always approach a problem logically, considering the scenario to determine the solution. Hiring quick-thinking engineers with the correct attitude is essential since they can be helpful in emergencies. Additionally, this kind of critical thinking promotes business expansion.
Adaptability
The workplace is evolving rapidly along with technology, introducing new trends regularly. Therefore, adjusting and proactively learning how to handle the shift when things don't go as planned is essential. This, however, does not imply caving in the face of difficulty. Employ applicants who can adjust to a constantly changing environment and learn how to incorporate those changes into your app to make it more appropriate for the given circumstance.
Team Player Attitude
A team effort is needed to produce a well-curated iOS application. Synergy is, therefore, essential to achieving the intended result and satisfying client expectations. In addition to being a good team player, achieving these objectives requires effective communication skills and the ability to bring out the best in others.
Even though some people find it difficult to operate in a group, preserving the team dynamic is essential. Thus, while selecting which iOS developers to hire, seek professionals who can contribute to the team and leverage their strengths.
Ability To Innovate
Only some customers know exactly what they want in the outcome. Additionally, things occasionally need to be corrected. Alternatively, there's a good likelihood that the client's demands can't be met.
In these situations, iOS developers must be creative and create the most significant, profitable, user-friendly application possible. Finding and hiring iOS developers who can produce a thorough evaluation that will enable you to separate the finest candidates from the others is only sometimes straightforward.
Essential Things To Take Into Account When Hiring an iOS Developer
Define Your Project Requirement
Clearly defining your project's needs is essential before hiring an iOS developer. This entails deciding on the goal of your program, the intended user base, and your spending limit. It's also critical to identify any unique requirements for development or design, which involves building a custom backend or integrating third-party APIs. Outlining the specifications for your project can help you locate the perfect iOS app developer.
This, combined with the know-how and resources to realize your idea on schedule and within your budget, will ensure that the developer is aware of your expectations and that the finished product they produce satisfies your unique requirements.
Assess Technical Expertise
Request recommendations from contacts in the industry to begin your study and create a shortlist of possible iOS developers. Next, an interview will be set up to examine technical competence and perform internet research. Determine the abilities that an iOS developer would need for your project. Next, consider the candidate's background, credentials, and familiarity with pertinent frameworks, languages, and tools. By looking over this, you can decide if they're a good fit for your project. To assess the developer's skill, ask for code examples from them and have technical interviews. Verify the developer's extensive experience to ensure it matches your needs.
Communication Skills
Communication abilities are a critical factor to consider when hiring iOS app developers. Selecting developers with outstanding communication skills and a high level of responsiveness is crucial. This includes listening to your needs, regularly updating you, and raising issues when needed. Evaluating their written and spoken English skills is vital. Additionally, confirm that they are willing to communicate with you through your chosen channels. Search for developers who are open to you and provide updates on the project status. Good communication is essential to the project's success and guarantees that the finished product will meet your expectations.
Work Process
Evaluating an iOS developer's work process before hiring them is critical. It is imperative to seek developers who adhere to an agile development methodology. Make sure it incorporates feedback, iterations, and regular milestones. Please review their testing protocols, coding standards, and project management tools. Make sure they adhere to code standards and industry best practices. Assess their adaptability to new demands and their capacity to deal with unforeseen problems and changes.
Portfolio
It's crucial to seek out developers with prior expertise in creating iOS apps that are comparable to yours. Think about it in terms of utility, size, and complexity. Reviewing their previous projects and assessing the caliber of their work, UI, and UX is imperative. Selecting developers with a track record of integrating third-party APIs and services is crucial. To gauge their effectiveness, look at the app stores' ratings and reviews of their apps. To find the finest iOS developer for your project, carefully review each individual's portfolio.
Conclusion
Every stage of an iOS app's creation involves iOS developers' involvement. iOS developers are responsible for ensuring the project runs smoothly from start to finish, from planning and gathering client requirements to creating a scalable user interface and integrating everything. App development depends on hiring iOS application developers, so make sure the candidate has all the required technical and non-technical abilities before making your decision. If you are hiring just for a specific project, you can also choose to work with independent iOS application developers.
With the help of coders. Dev, an AI-powered deep employment platform, upscaling startups, and major corporations may find exceptional iOS engineers with Silicon Valley experience who can propel their businesses to new heights. These developers have been pre-screened, pre-evaluated, and specially adapted to meet your needs.