“Quick Death” and “Beer Quest” or young mobile in the onslaught

They appear infrequently, like a good joke in “Familiada”. However, once they shine, everyone wants to reach for them. Due to the skills not yet very common on the labor market, mobile developers are still in demand.

It is their inventiveness that shapes the future of mobile tomorrow – who are the young adepts of the “mobile” code?
The number of smartphone fans in Poland is growing day by day – in 2013, already every second new phone purchased was a smartphone. Such dynamics, unfortunately, can not boast statistics on the number of specialists who develop mobile applications in our country. The market needs new experts in the field, so it’s no surprise that any pair of hands versed in “mobile” code is generously rewarded by employers.

Adepts of the mobile world are also aware that they possess rare skills, valued by employers. An income well above the national average is one of the most important elements that draws them toward the mobile adventure.

Knowledge came on its own (?)

Most of these people learned the trade at their own desks, because so far in Poland there is a lack of studies focused on mobile coding. They are enthusiasts who are looking for new solutions themselves, creative and still curious about what the future of mobile devices holds. Mobile competitions and hackathons are a natural way for them to get qualified, and the mentors present at the events appear to them like walking treasure troves of secret knowledge.

On such occasions, it’s easy to see what ideas for a better mobile world are lurking in the recesses of young developers’ minds.

Because work is supposed to be fun

During the BrainCode Mobi#1 hackathon, which ended in Poznan, nearly a hundred participants proved that “there is no such problem that a smartphone can’t handle”. Shopping, a trip to a museum, or even a simple outing for a beer can take on new colors when a smartphone becomes your guide.
Among the awarded applications created on the basis of the Allegro API was a proposal for people who appreciate shopping on Allegro, but prefer quick pick-up in the neighborhood. The app searches for products in the closest vicinity, and if there are none, the user will receive a notification on his or her phone if there are any.
Also highlighted is an application that makes it easier to buy a gift for grandma on Allegro and also a game in which the main goal is to guess the price of a product offered on the site.
But not by e-commerce alone does a man live – in the “open” category, the award went to the team working on the game “Quick Death”, which involves bouncing a ball with a cigarette, resulting in the destruction of more pixels of the lungs.
There is also something for fans of museum tours. Audio Guide is an electronic guide to the museum: moving through the building, its user sees on his phone descriptions and presentations related to the exhibits visited. So something nice for everyone.
– We were positively surprised by the level of commitment and ingenuity of the marathon participants. One of the winning teams, despite their initial lack of knowledge of the technology, was able to write an application within 24 hours, relying on the knowledge gained at the workshops led by our mentors and their guidance, as well as looking for help on their own in technical documentation and on the Internet. There has been a good sense of the market by startups.

Most of the applications solved real problems that we ourselves as jurors could identify with. There are such interesting solutions as gamification and tracking of offers in the nearest neighborhood.- evaluates Piotr Orzechowski, a juror of the competition on a daily basis dealing with mobile applications in Allegro Group, co-organizer of the event. – The Hackathon turned out to be not only great fun, but also a confirmation of the bright future of the mobile industry and the huge potential of the participants – he adds.

One, two, three – the employer is watching

Hackathon is not only a battle of teams for valuable prizes, but also a way to present yourself to a potential employer. The biggest players in the Polish mobile market are constantly on the lookout for valuable frames.
– We share our experience and knowledge with people who, despite their young age and little seniority, may already join our ranks tomorrow – says Marcin Majchrzak of the Allegro Group. – By offering them the support of our mentors, we are confident that when they choose to work with us they will deliver the best quality code. This is an excellent investment.
The mobile trend cannot be ignored, as evidenced by the willing cooperation of higher education institutions on such events. BrainCode Mobi#1 was supported organizationally by the Department of Computer Science at Poznań University of Technology, while the event’s partner was the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
Young people with open minds and mobile skills – is there a better combination for a Polish employer? Add to this the enthusiasm and ability to create a mobile application in 24 hours. – This is passion, because how else to explain the fact that on Friday/Saturday almost 100 people sat for more than 24 hours and continuously coded – summarizes Marcin Majchrzak from Allegro Group.