Hey everyone! I'm currently working as an Android developer and have about 5 years of experience under my belt. I've developed apps using Java, Kotlin, and React Native. Lately, I've been feeling like the mobile market isn't as promising as it once was, and I'm considering making the leap to web development. I'm curious to hear your honest opinions on whether this is a good plan or if I should stay put. What do you think?
7 Answers
Funny enough, I'm from the web dev world trying to dip my toes in mobile development (Kotlin is really nice!).
My honest advice? Chasing the highest paycheck can lead to burnout and unhappiness. Kotlin is great and is becoming popular for backend development. You might want to consider pivoting to backend instead of web dev. Alternatively, look into Jetpack Compose for multi-platform development.
I think you’re making a wise choice! Given your experience with Android and React Native, transitioning to web development should be pretty smooth. Tools like React and TypeScript will feel pretty familiar. Plus, the job market in web is definitely broader. Just be prepared for the pace at which things change in the web world, but I’m confident you’ll get the hang of it quickly. If you're not passionate about mobile anymore, web could be the right move for you.
Your background with Java and React Native will make the transition easier. Lots of companies are looking for Java and React developers right now, so that could work out well for you – best of luck with it!
I've been diving into NextJS for a few weeks without any prior ReactJS knowledge. Jumped straight in with my own small project and used AI tools to help learn the ropes. It's been working out surprisingly well!
Honestly, it's tough out there for juniors in any field right now, so don’t expect a huge difference between mobile and web development.
I don't quite get how the mobile market isn't looking good. There are definitely more opportunities in web dev, but the highest-paying roles seem to be tied to data engineering these days.
I mean, with LLM tools, you can whip up a fully functional CRUD mobile app in no time, so that might be why some feel skeptical about the mobile market.