Introduction
Android is one of the leading operating systems used in more than 4 billion smartphones and other devices such as TVs and home appliances. Unlike iOS, Android is flexible, reliable, and compatible with may devices. If compared with iOS, Android endows the users with the ability to explore the seamless and unlimited number of features of Android smartphones.
There is almost no restriction of doing things in an Android smartphone for its users. But have you ever thought about the point of view of developers towards the Android OS? If not, then you must know about the fact that the Android OS, which is liked by the users, is not liked much by the developers for some valid reasons. There are many challenges which are faced by an Android developer because using Android applications is very easy but developing and designing them is quite tough. There is so much complexity involved in the development of Android applications.
But to produce high-end results for the Android users, an Android developer faces these challenges and complexities. Some of these complexities are mentioned below.
- Designing
Designing apps in Android is the most important part. You have to design applications in such a way that it suits all or almost all the screens in the universe. The screen resolution is not the only major concern here but you have to take care of the OS versions too.
- Coding in multiple files for one screen
To display one window, you have to write several files like for end-user, it’s just a product display page but for developers its 3 XML files and a minimum 2 Java files that work together. Developers, particularly the ones who have changed their career from .NET to Android find themselves in big trouble here, for sure.
- Time-consuming testing
As you cannot depend on one screen or one version of Android, after every update, you have to check them on various different devices including brands and sizes.
- Resolving issues and Bug Fixes
After launching the application, some bugs and issues will definitely arise and to fix these issues extra effort has to be made. Regular updates in the interface of the application so as to improve the overall performance and functioning is also another very important aspect for the developers. For this, feedback and suggestions given by the users play an important role. Generally, some issues occur on specific devices and on other devices things working properly. Permission to access devices some important task looks secure as per end-users point of view but programming to access them is quite a difficult task. Programmers have to code in the way that it will support all the versions including older to newer.
- Compatibility with all android devices
While developing an Android application, developers need to be careful that their application will be compatible with all Android devices. Like all features, for example, camera, keyboard adjustments, size, storage, etc needs to be fully ensured before launching the application on the Google Play store.
- Audits and research
Apart from designing and developing applications, an audit needs to be done before developing an app. For example, if a developer is planning to develop an application in the gaming segment, then he/she needs to know about the popularity of the games among the users from different countries. This audit is not an easy task, but it needs to be done for the success of the application.
- Continuous updation by Android
Although it sounds good, updating your Android studio every time when there is no major difference between the two versions is quite a big headache. These updations are also in MBs and GBs. Sometimes after updating, the existing code will start giving an error. And after research on Google, we get solutions like changing the application folder, create new projects and copy-paste and blah blah.
- Google's monopoly on their products
Yes, of course, it’s your platform buddy, but suddenly you people announce, “in a few months, having this or this thing is mandatory in-app code”. Boss, we are a developer and yes we have the capacity to develop anything but forcing us to be like you, is making us slaves. I know changing compile to implementation is an easy task but if you have loads of such things then it will surely be a headache.
- Publishing
Publishing Android apps is not that simple a task. But after doing it for the first time, your mind gets set to do so (Until Google changes policies and applies new rules). While publishing you have to take care of version code, and you're not able to understand why Android studio doesn't do it itself. Also, like visual studio, why is there no publishing wizard to publish your app to the world? Every time I have to publish the app, then I have to locate publishing folder, go to the Playstore publish a website, click on the app name, click on manage, then some other window, then drag the file and ohh.. its throws the error “Version code already used”. So, I update the version code and do the procedure again.
Conclusion
There is a high complexity involved between developing an Android application and using that application. For users, it is very easy and for developers, it is a quite tough job for them and the above points which have been listed justify this statement. Please do share your opinions and thoughts in the comments section.