November 2, 2022
Behavior
Seven app store developers share their tips for coding
It usually starts with a spark – an incipient curiosity that grows into a more dedicated interest and then gradually develops into an all-consuming desire to solve specific problems and create long-term relationships in an entirely new language.
For some app developers, this spark was sparked by an encouraging teacher or parent at school, while others came to coding later in life, driven by an innate desire to take things apart and understand how they work.
In the year Ahead of National Steam Day on Nov. 8, seven inspiring inventors—from college roommates to a pair of engineers who wanted to help moms find quality child care with a passion for sneakers—are sharing their unique journeys that led them to entrepreneurship through app development. and the App Store. Below, they outline the endless possibilities available to aspiring app developers of all walks of life who want to jump into coding.
Follow your curiosity wherever it leads
Anne K. Halsall (2022 Apple Entrepreneur Camp participant), co-founder and chief product officer at Winnie, a childcare discovery platform that helps parents find high-quality daycare and preschool.
“When I was a kid, computer-aided art and computer design were things that I spent all my time doing. I was just obsessed. It was always a hobby for me – something I pursued for fun, in the privacy of my home. I didn’t have the opportunity to bond with other kids about it; Because I didn’t know any other girls who were into computers. And when I went to college, it never occurred to me to do this as a career. Even though computers have been in my life since I was a kid, I never thought of going into technology as a career. I really ended up there because it was meant to be. It was something I wanted and loved. So as much as I tried to do other things in my life, I ended up in technology, despite myself.
Don’t be afraid to change course
Amanda Southworth (2017 and 2018 WWDC Student Scholar) Founder and CEO Astra Laboratoriesa non-profit organization that develops technology solutions that provide essential resources to marginalized communities
“I created my first app, AnxietyHelper, and I thought it would just be something I’d talk about on college applications. I thought, ‘I love mobile development, but I’m going to go back to robotics. I’m going to college.’ But I did none of those things. With AnxietyHelper, I put out what I knew about the need. The response was and still is completely overwhelming; it was a really beautiful thing that came out of a lot of struggle and strength. Understanding that there are many different steps one can take and varying degrees of impact. It was very important. App development is my platform, like how some people write poetry or how some people make movies. The way I communicate and process emotions is through app development.”
Sara Mauskopf, Winnie’s co-founder and CEO
“I always tell people you’re never too old to learn to code. I discovered it in college, and I thought I was already behind because some people in my college learned to code in high school, but you can learn at any time, even later in your career. At Winnie, we really support hiring non-traditional people, like parents returning to the workforce, or people who see coding as a new career path after their first job.
Develop community
Akshaya Dinesh (2018 WWDC Student Scholar), Founder and CEO of Spellbound, a tool that enables companies to add interactive user experiences to their marketing emails.
“When I was in high school, I started a nonprofit in my spare time, and we had this really amazing group of young women who were passionate about making a difference in the industry. We were organizing everything from workshops for middle school girls to learn about coding, to our own hackathon. Until. We hosted one of the largest women’s hackathons in New York City and brought hundreds of people from the area. People flew in from all over the country to participate and build their own products and apps. It was exciting to see a community blossom.
Nico Adams (2021 Apple Entrepreneur Camp Participant), Co-Founder KicksteroidA discovery app using machine learning to help sneaker fans find their next favorite pair
“I grew up in a predominantly black community where a lot of people didn’t pursue STEAM. So you have this little collective that started in high school, the first time I saw people who looked like me in this place. These are the pioneers of our future, the ones who will continue to shape how this world looks and how we interact with it. They are safe in being vulnerable, taking the road less traveled to make their mark on this world. So you know, I looked at them and thought, ‘I have to go to this place’ – it doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher or a student. Everyone learns from each other.
Build self-confidence
“My biggest piece of advice to female founders and entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups is to be confident. You know, there are so many people who are underrepresented than us, and they can only get there by looking great and believing in themselves. I think that’s the first step to getting others to believe in you — and you.” By having the confidence that you can do it. Make it look as confident as possible, even if you don’t have that confidence at first. That’s worked wonders for me, from venture capital to hiring my staff — in terms of getting people to believe in my vision. Confidence is the first step.” – Akshaya Dinesh
Find a mentor
Aladis Seals, Junior Developer and Assistant Instructor at Ed farm, A non-profit that encourages children and adults to pursue careers in STEAM and a partner of the Apple Community Education Initiative
“I had a teacher who taught me how to code, and he was my mentor early on. I was going to ask some questions and he was very responsive – if he didn’t know something, he would jump on Zoom with me and we would try to figure it out, even if it took hours. We try to figure out a little problem I’m having, and that brings me to the point where I can now communicate the language. He did that for me, and I have to do it for the next generation. I want to be that kind of helper.
Pay it forward
David Alston, founder and CEO of Kicksteroid
“Whatever one person does, do it twice for the person behind you. Don’t take what they give you for yourself. It is shared with you with the intention of sharing it with others to help build a community of people who have the same interests and backgrounds as us. That’s how we build a generation of creative people like us. Knowledge is not yours alone; Knowledge is for sharing. Knowledge is to be developed, improved and passed on to those behind us.”
“What’s important to me today is to be able to give examples to kids that there are women in this field, that there are women going to computer science school, that there are women who have professional careers in programming and the digital world. Because I didn’t have the benefit of that when I was young. It’s the best thing I’ve ever found out about why I didn’t choose technology as a career in the first place.” Explanation: I think it’s important for us to be role models of professional women in this field so that other little girls can see themselves.- Anne K. Halsall
Don’t wait – take the leap
“It’s been six and a half years now since we built Winnie, and we’ve built it with type throughout our breeding. Waiting to have children after we finished our startup was not an option for us because it was a long journey. And if you succeed, this is your 10-year journey. If you wait for your children to grow up, you will let a lot of time and opportunity pass you by. – Sara Mauskopf
Apple believes that coding is essential literacy and has the power to change the world. Our coding resources make it easy for anyone to learn, write, and teach code and application design using tools like Swift Playgrounds, anyone-can-code tools, and a wide range of free tools and frameworks—including software development kits (SDKs) and developers. Services with over 250,000 APIs. Programs like Apple Developer Academies, Entrepreneur Camps, App Accelerators, and WWDC Student Scholarships ensure that coding technology is accessible and inclusive.
In the year Launched in 2008, the App Store is the world’s secure and active app marketplace, currently home to 1.8 million apps and visited by over half a billion people every week in 175 regions. It helps innovators, dreamers and students of all ages and backgrounds connect with the tools and information they need to build a brighter future and a better world. For more information about developing for the App Store, visit apple.com/app-store/developing-for-the-app-store.
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Katie Clark Alsadder
Apple
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Di Nara Kush
Apple
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