Conclusion Mobile Development of Today and Tomorrow #

Unconsciously, the “Android Expert Course” has been online and updated for more than 140 days, and in the blink of an eye, it is time to say “goodbye”. Looking back to when I started preparing for this column half a year ago, anxiety and impatience were common among mobile developers. As a mobile developer myself, I hope to share my experiences through this column, help you overcome anxiety, and embrace the infinite possibilities of the future.

My column aims to illustrate the qualities that a mobile development expert should possess from the perspectives of quality, efficiency, and architecture. In the “High-Quality Development” module, I hope to let you know that Android development is not that simple. An Android expert needs to have the ability to “pass through” from the upper to the lower layers. Flutter is a very good example. Here, I recommend you to review 《To Become an Android Expert, You Need to Solve These Three Problems》.

Stability, memory, network, rendering, I/O… You can choose one or two of these areas to delve into and build your own technical barriers. When the team encounters related issues (such as virtual machines, rendering, databases), they will think of you first to solve them.

In the “High-Efficiency Development” module, I hope to tell you that a skilled developer not only needs “depth” but also needs “breadth”. Mobile development has long passed the era of “single-handed combat”. Service-oriented and integrated front-end and back-end development are becoming more and more important. Here, I also recommend you to review 《Being a Mobile Development Engineer with Great Heights》.

Here, we need to learn to break free from the scope of the client and possess the mindset of optimizing the entire process. A true expert should not only be able to optimize performance multiple times but also be able to improve the development efficiency of the entire team.

The last module is “Architecture Evolution”. I hope to tell you that architecture serves performance and efficiency. Whether it is H5, React Native/Weex, Mini Programs, Flutter, or new areas in mobile development such as games, audio and video, and AI, they all lead to the same goal.

For the present in mobile development, after finishing this column, I hope you can understand the following two points:

• Mobile development is not simple. Becoming an expert in mobile development is not easy and requires in-depth learning. Of course, after reading dozens of articles in this column, you cannot become an expert immediately. As the saying goes, “the master will lead you through the door, but the cultivation relies on personal efforts”. Besides this column, you also need to further deepen your learning and accumulate richer experiences.

• Mobile development still has strong vitality. Mobile development has a promising future and is not limited to Android development alone. There are many paths for us to take as long as we are willing to put in the enthusiasm for exploring Android and have the spirit of delving into the process from top to bottom. Whether it is switching to iOS or other fields such as games, front-end development, I believe it will definitely be a “downward attack”. However, it is undeniable that mobile development is no longer a “pig on the wind” nowadays. There are fewer and fewer positions available for junior mobile developers, and the requirements from big companies have become increasingly strict. Companies like WeChat, Toutiao, and Alibaba are very demanding when it comes to a candidate’s algorithm and fundamental knowledge.

But I believe that as long as you study this column seriously, it will be of great help for interviews at big companies. Many of the knowledge points mentioned in this column are still not well-implemented by many big companies. As mentioned earlier, you can use one or two of these points as a breakthrough to enter a big company.

As for the future of Android, I personally think there will be two changes:

• Compliance and user privacy become increasingly important. Whether it’s the GDPR regulation, known as the strictest in history, or the latest restrictions on user identifiers and permissions in Android Q, it is clear that there is a trend towards stricter limitations on user privacy and permissions in the future.

• The voice of China will become more influential. In the past, we often said “Copy to China,” but now it is more about “Copy from China.” Both Google and Apple cannot ignore our massive market of 1.3 billion people. For example, Android Q specifically provides new interfaces for China’s hotfix frameworks.

As for the future of mobile development, new devices in the future may disrupt smartphones, such as embedded devices, smart glasses, and in-vehicle devices, but these devices are still considered mobile devices. Based on current technological developments, I am looking forward to this year’s Facebook F8 and Google I/O conferences (I will also attend in person this year, and welcome to meet～). Facebook plans to open source many good things this year, such as the new version of React Native and startup optimization measurement.

“Samsung is cooling down, P&G is in pill form, Nokia is declining, and Apple is descending. Foreign brands are all struggling…” But the reality is that Samsung still dominates globally. In my opinion, the same applies to “Android development is coming to an end, mobile development is coming to an end.” We should not be anxious and impatient because there is no technology that becomes outdated, what becomes outdated is only our learning ability and attitude.

“Only through learning can we not let ourselves down.” The road of Android development is long and wide. We can delve into the underlying systems, or develop for the middle platform. We can also explore IoT, gaming, and AI. There are still many opportunities in the future, as long as we find the right direction, actively embrace change, and face challenges, each of us can find our own “bright path.”

However, in addition to work and study, I also advise all students to take good care of their health. Regardless of the circumstances, our health should always come first. Our professional careers are very long, and a balance between mental, physical, and emotional strength is essential.

I want to thank all the students who have subscribed to this column and have been with me along the way. Your encouragement fills me with passion and drives me to deliver the best content. Finally, I wish you all the best in your future careers, no matter what field you choose, and may you become true masters of your craft.

Now it’s time to say goodbye. I invite all the lurking students to come forward and share your insights and gains from studying in these past few months, as well as any changes in your work and life. How have you fared with your goals for 2019? Let’s have a lively discussion in the column and celebrate together.