Mobile app development – like much of the world of tech – never stands still. You probably interact with a mobile app at least once a day; whether you’re checking Twitter or Reddit, catching up on the latest shows on Netflix or Youtube, or messaging your mates, there’s an app for everything. But what’s it like actually working on a team that delivers a mobile app that is used by thousands of people daily?
We sat down with Andy, a proud Liverpool Football Club fan and iOS Engineer at Sky Betting and Gaming. Having a keen interest in sports, music and coding, his road to becoming an iOS Engineer came naturally. After graduating with a degree from the University of Liverpool, he landed a job at Sky Betting and Gaming thanks to one of the engineers he met during an internship. Here, he takes us through his top 5 tips for working in Mobile App development. Check it out below.
Even in my short time of being at Sky Betting and Gaming, I’ve been able to grow. I was able to present at an internal conference. Although I’ve done some presenting at University, being in front of people in a business is lot different than being in front of friends and people the same age. Speaking at our internal engineering conference was a whole new experience and one that challenged me in a good way.
One of the biggest challenges I've faced was when I jumped ship to a completely new team halfway through my career. I had to learn a whole new tech stack that I had zero experience with, but all of the team were very supportive. Without a doubt, it has made me a better engineer.
Working at Sky Betting and Gaming means creating apps that are used by millions, which is pretty cool. As a mobile developer, there's nothing more satisfying than knowing everything you touch will end up in the hands of users.
Our team also focus on accessibility, with a small group dedicated to making sure our user experience is top-notch for everyone. We don't just want to improve the features, we want to ensure a great experience for all when they use our app.
We use Swift for iOS app development, which is pretty standard. However, we do have some old Objective C code, as our app has been out for a while and was written quite some time ago. For new people coming into iOS, I suggest learning Swift and Objective C first to understand the fundamentals. We use a lot of that base, and our entire app is written in Swift or Objective C. It's useful to know these languages, and because we have web teams, we get to learn and use JavaScript as well.
I switched things up and joined a new team where I had to dive into cross-platform mobile tech like React Native and Android. I'd never touched an Android before but I'm a quick learner. Since I've been here, I've levelled up big time.
Change is the name of the game in this industry. You have to be agile and open-minded if you want to keep up with the fast-paced world of mobile. That means staying on top of updates and language changes, even if you can't use them yet. And don't just limit yourself to Apple products – get involved with the whole mobile ecosystem.
Now, let's talk about multi-skilling. Don't just focus on your specific platform. Look at the bigger picture and see how you can better support everyone. The company is filled with amazing people with diverse skills and knowledge – so speak up and soak up as much as you can.
At Sky Betting & Gaming, we're all about growth. There are a lot of personal and professional growth opportunities, including access to Udemy courses, internal talks and conferences. And that's not all, you'll also be given a £1,000 allowance each year of and half a day per week to invest in improving your skills.
Let me put it boldly: social skills and communication are crucial. I started from a close-knit start-up, and now I'm in a massive business. Believe me, staying in touch with people in different areas is so important. With offices scattered across the world, we know the importance of blending and collaboration.
As part of the tech team, you need self-belief. You won't know everything, but you have to trust yourself and keep going. Technical skills are essential, but knowing a wide range of things will make you a valuable asset. Knowing as much as you can about a wide range of things, not just pigeonholing yourself, is key.
Lastly, problem-solving is essential. When working on a large system, there will be problems that will boggle your mind. You have to stay resilient, and solve these issues to meet requirements. These are my key tips for anyone wanting to join our team.
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