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General Discussion

is android/ios dev easier than web dev

android: know java and xml

ios: know swift/objective C

web dev: html/css/js (and the numerous frameworks)/php,python (and the numerous frameworks),ruby(and rails)...

it seems like way much more work to be a web dev because you need to know so many things at once while not trying to forget any of your knowledge at the same time

What do you think?

3 Answers

christopher walsh
christopher walsh
7,272 Points

Ive been having a hard time learning css while picking up on swift very easily. CSS seems to be hard while programming not so much.

making ios apps is very straight forward and dead on, while knowledge on making websites is never really complete.

Hey Baoming!

If you want to be a "Full Stack" developer, you certainly would need to know a lot of languages, but not necessarily at the mastery level of those that just do "Front End" or "Client Side" development.

While the total number of languages required for Android or iOS development is less than that of the web environment, it really requires a greater DEPTH of understanding. You can make apps with a very limited knowledge of each language, but honestly, what kind of app can you make? Great apps are REALLY DEEP!

I think there's another way to answer your question... using economic terms. How much money do each of them make? The starting wage for Android/iOS developers is a little more than $50k, capping at around $120k. Web development starts at around $37k and capping at around $85k. So it seems to be about 30% harder???

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=iOS_Developer/Salary http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Web_Developer/Salary

Keep up the good work!

I LOVE ios development. Absolutely fell in love with it, but to make some corrections

"(and the numerous frameworks)/php,python (and the numerous frameworks),ruby(and rails)..."

NO

ONE front end framework/library react, angular, or vue. ONE backend language and their framwork php/laravel. ruby/ruby on rails, node/express. Pick ONE. Why would you think you'd have to learn EVERYTHING? You don't. If you are working at a PHP shop, your boss isn't going to be throwing ruby work at you. You guys all about that react? Well, makes no sense learning angular.

This is why people have problems getting jobs. Everyone tries being a jack of all trades when employers want a master of one. Think of it like this. Who makes more and is more in demand. The general surgeon or the cardiologist?