If you’re new to development, it’s impossible to learn iOS and Android at the same time. Development for these operating systems is carried out in different programming languages. IOS requires knowledge of Swift and Objective-C. For Android, you will need Kotlin or Java. Moreover, you need different gadgets. For iOS, these are only Mac or iPhone. At the same time, any computer and smartphone will work for Android. There are emulators, but this option is not suitable for constant work and testing.
Both areas of development are promising and you can get the necessary help from programminggeeks. However, if you look at the statistics, according to Statcounter.com, Android is the leader among all operating systems in the global market. It is installed on 40% of all devices. Among mobile phones, the share of Android is 70%, iOS – 29%. Among tablets: Android – 40%, iOS – 60%.
The purchasing power of Android and iOS audiences varies as much as their popularity. But in the opposite direction. According to researches, iOS users buy through mobile apps three times more. However, this does matter for business owners and startup founders. This does not affect the salaries of developers: they are at the same level.
Pros and Cons
Let’s start with Android. There are many advantages:
- any computer is suitable for work;
- large developer community;
- Java can be used to write not only mobile but also web applications and games;
- not only applications for smartphones work on Android, but also smartwatches, Smart TV, VR/AR;
- development environment analyzes the code and can automatically generate some of its parts;
- good framework; you can find ready-made modules for a variety of purposes;
- the platform can be adapted for any specialized task;
- Android source code is open to everyone; there is an Android Open Source Project platform, where the company publishes all the data, and developers can do it too;
- publishing applications on Google Play is almost instant, usually, without the participation of moderators – you do not need to wait long for confirmation;
- a small fee for placing applications on Google Play ($25 once, upon registration).
What are the disadvantages?
- the variety of devices and their parameters creates the basis for bugs, unequal operation of the application on different smartphones;
- not all training materials and answers on the forums are relevant: the system has existed for a long time, the nuances of development are changing;
- a variety of operating system versions: unlike iOS, old Android versions remain relevant and outdated versions can work without updates;
- the application and account can be blocked without explaining the reasons and by contacting technical support, you’ll receive the answer from the bot.
What about iOS? Benefits for developers:
- a strictly limited number of smartphone versions, sizes of devices, and the operating system itself;
- all changes in the OS are transparent: Apple annually releases guidelines for developers and explains how to replace code elements with more productive ones;
- there are fewer applications and developers, which means that the competition is lower.
Disadvantages:
- expensive equipment is required for work;
- you need to renew your developer account annually for $99 to use AppStore for profit;
- it can take more than a week to publish an app because the moderation is done manually.
Now you know all the pros and cons of both systems and it becomes easier to choose one. You need to determine your goals and this will help you to make a decision. At the same time, it is relevant to choose the language to learn according to your preferences.