What Does an Application Developer Do?

An application developer is a computer software engineer whose primary responsibilities involve developing new types of applications for computers, mobile phones, and other types of electronic devices. Application developers are generally employed by major technology companies, but some software engineers work independently of major firms and sell their applications to major companies. Successful software engineers develop new programs for existing platforms as well as develop ideas for platforms that are not yet in full production.

Typically, an application developer has a college degree in computer programming, computer science, or a related field. Many major information technology firms recruit recent college graduates, but other firms require employees to have postgraduate degrees that focus on specific aspects of programming. Some firms have entry-level positions for people who have basic programming skills but no college degree. On occasion, some entry-level employees are able to transition into higher paying roles if they prove adept at handling software development.

Marketing firms conduct research to gather information relating to consumer needs and economic trends. The information is passed onto software engineers who are tasked with creating new applications that meet the public's needs in terms of use and cost. An application developer begins to draw up plans for proposed applications. Details of those plans are passed on to marketing firms that conduct further research to see if there is sufficient consumer demand to warrant further product development. The ideas that receive the best feedback are put into full production.

An application developer has to have an advanced understanding of mathematics and of the binary codes that are used by computers. Algorithms, which are instructional codes used by computers, are created and put through extensive testing to see if the computers can function correctly based upon the information provided. In most instances, teams of developers work together and attempt to gradually enhance sample applications until the application reaches a point where it is ready to be marketed.

Developers often make several versions of the same basic application that can be read by different types of devices, such as cell phones, tablets and personal computers. Once an application goes into production, the developer has to work on creating upgrades, known as patches, that are released periodically to the public so that the application can continue to function alongside other constantly evolving types of software. In order to remain competitive, most software companies hire developers to begin work on more advanced applications to replace applications that have yet to be released to the public