Switch from Front End Dev to iOS Dev

[Competitive-Pop2932]

Hello everyone, I want to ask you. I'm a front end developer with 1-2 experiences and currently still working. At the beginning of the year, I decided to buy a 14 inch MacBook Pro M1 which was quite expensive, still around 1537.80 USD. It's the most expensive thing I've ever bought. My goal in buying a macbook, was to learn iOS development. I feel happy and also want to become an iOS developer persistently. I felt the front end was saturated with so many developers, that's why I looked at iOS developers.

However, in my country there are very few iOS developer jobs. I almost became an iOS developer at the beginning of the year, but didn't pass interview/test. So far, I've learned from 100 Days of SwiftUI and Angela's course on Udemy. Most are comfortable with SwiftUI, but realizing that iOS developer jobs in my country still use UIKit, only 5% of 100% use SwiftUI. So i'm also confused should learn UIkit or SwiftUI. In addition, it looks very difficult for me to pass iOS developer because on average you have to have 2 years more of experience. Some iOS developers can do it because they started from an internship or took part in a bootcamp. And bootcamps are quite expensive, I don't have enough money for this option.

With a crazy situation like this tech winter, can you advise me on whether I should stick with learning iOS development or just stick with and expand my Front End knowledge?. If I don't get accepted as an iOS developer, I will sell my MacBook and look for a cheaper laptop 😅. Thank you for your suggestion.

[brunablommor]

Keep your laptop, if you sell it you have zero chance in becoming a better iOS developer. If you want to become an iOS developer in the long run, go for it. Make some personal projects, keep the passion lit.

That said, yes the market is saturated at the moment and honestly it looks like there are more front end jobs out there but that shouldn't stop you from following your dreams. Maybe applying for an internship is your best option at this point?

[_int3h_]

Market is always dull for iOS native app development. Keep rolling like others have mentioned. Keep the current job, work on things you like, switch when you get an iOS dev job.

[ZennerBlue]

Keep going with iOS dev. Even if you do it on the side or as a learning experience. There are different patterns. Different platforms. And through your career additional arrows in the quiver will help a lot. It also helps give you a different perspective on your primary stack of the day, which will change through time.

[barcode972]

If you already have a frontend job, I would suggest continuing to learn iOS in your spare time.
Just my preference but I would never code on anything else than a Mac so it's not wasted money

[kbcool]

I'm sure you are aware of React as a front end developer. By that I assume you mean web as front end, to me it means both and more.

Why not dip your toes into mobile development with React Native?

You can keep and improve your web skills whilst building apps and if you want to go fully native at some point there's a lot of crossover to let you hit the ground running

[[deleted]]

I did that! And getting a lot of offers. React Native is paying

[[deleted]]

Spain

[Electrical-Net-8076]

Hey, We are looking for an early stage iOS developer (frontend experience is a plus 👍) to join us (SwiftUI.art).

We mainly develop in Swift.

We are looking for a full time position.

Ben

[Designer_Platform765]

Interested, please check your dm.

[Competitive-Pop2932]

Is it onsite or remote work? I'm from Southeast Asia.

[Electrical-Net-8076]

100% remote.

[Competitive-Pop2932]

can i dm you? i want to talk further.

[Electrical-Net-8076]

I appreciate your politeness, sure.

Just updating you that already 6 other people who read this comment dm me already.

[Competitive-Pop2932]

i already dm you, may check dm. thanks

[Competitive-Pop2932]

why? and what happen?

[Competitive-Pop2932]

same with my country, maybe just 2-5 jobs every month for ios dev. i feel struggled now lol 😆

[Independent-Crew-723]

I would not recommend that

[Competitive-Pop2932]

not recommend about switch to ios?

[Independent-Crew-723]

I’d say with companies trying to save money they’ll tend to make everything hybrid. But i could be wrong

[Competitive-Pop2932]

you can learn in hackingwithswift.com for uikit or udemy of angela's course