An application developer is a computer software engineer whose main responsibility is to create new applications for computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. Although most application developers work for large technology firms, some software engineers work for smaller firms and sell their applications to larger firms. Successful software engineers create new programs for existing platforms as well as concepts for platforms that aren’t yet in use.
An application developer typically holds a bachelor’s degree in computer programming, computer science, or a closely related field. Many major information technology companies hire recent college graduates, but others require employees to have postgraduate degrees in programming-related fields. Entry-level positions are available at some companies for people with basic programming skills but no college diploma. Some entry-level employees may be able to advance to higher-paying positions if they demonstrate their ability to handle software development.
Market research is conducted marketing firms to gather information about consumer needs and economic trends. The data is forwarded to software engineers, who are tasked with developing new applications that meet the needs of the public in terms of ease of use and cost. An application developer starts sketching out plans for potential applications. Details of those plans are passed on to marketing firms, which conduct additional research to determine whether there is enough consumer demand to justify further product development. The ideas that receive the most positive feedback are developed further.
An advanced understanding of mathematics and the binary codes used computers is required of an application developer. Algorithms, or computer instructional codes, are created and put through extensive testing to see if the computers can function properly based on the data provided. In most cases, teams of developers work together to gradually improve sample applications until they are ready to be marketed.
Developers frequently create multiple versions of the same basic application that can be read on a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. Once an application is in production, the developer must work on creating upgrades, also known as patches, that are released to the public on a regular basis so that the application can continue to work alongside other types of software that are constantly evolving.