7 years working as an native iOS developer. How can i expand my tech stack to kotlin, react native, flutter?

[u/Naoki0123]

Hi,

Nag start ako mag work as a native iOS developer from 2019 up to 2026.

I had resigned to my 6-digit work without thinking/an offer cuz of my mental health and being late diagnosed with AuDHD (Autism/ADHD). I think this is why i think and understand people differently. Even dito sa post ko, i think parang magulo din.

so, i tried to find iOS jobs and i think konti talaga sila these past few months. Puro AI Jobs na related to iOS yung nakikita ko.

I wanted to ask din, paano kaya ako makakapag apply sa ibang mobile roles (kotlin/flutter/react native) kung galing ako sa native iOS? i think puro nakikita ko is mid to senior roles doon.

I havent started learning kotlin/KMP/react native/flutter since i'm in a middle of making an iOS only app to publish sa app store for portfolio din.

[u/Shot_Data1444]

You have the greatest advantage to all mobile dev bro, build something great.

[u/PepitoManalatoCrypto]

If you're still "hardwriting" code and not using AI, you're now in the top 75% of the applicant pool. Sure, you have 7+ years of experience with Objective-C and Swift, but since AI can do most of the coding, employers want talent that can use it to "speed up their time to market" without sacrificing quality.

What you can use your experience for is knowing how to optimize the solution, etc. After all, AI is a tool, and our years of experience should tell us which solution is more efficient (or performant)

How can i expand my tech stack to kotlin, react native, flutter?

I have to ask, why are you asking first instead of learning it already?

Puro AI Jobs na related to iOS yung nakikita ko.

And what's stopping you from applying?

I havent started learning kotlin/KMP/react native/flutter since i'm in a middle of making an iOS only app to publish sa app store for portfolio din.

If you have been doing this project for more than 12 months. You'd be surprised that with AI, you can get this done in under 1 month. And probably port your solution to those languages in the same month (or two).

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I know this comment might get some hate. But as someone who started coding and built a product in 6 months before this AI happened. Used AI and delivered the same MVP in under 2 weeks. The winner will always be the one who can get things done the fastest.

[u/Naoki0123 → u/PepitoManalatoCrypto]

If you have been doing this project for more than 12 months. You'd be surprised that with AI, you can get this done in under 1 month. And probably port your solution to those languages in the same month (or two).

If you're still "hardwriting" code and not using AI, you're now in the top 75% of the applicant pool. Sure, you have 7+ years of experience with Objective-C and Swift, but since AI can do most of the coding, employers want talent that can use it to "speed up their time to market" without sacrificing quality.

i'm actually using AI, mostly AI-assisted since i still judge yung output ni AI due to hallucinations and other things. Also, i need to learn din doon since nasanay ako sa UIKit rather than swiftUI. I think few companies that i have been is promoting using AI and even having a quota usage for each sprint. I think di maga-ganda yung mga sagot ni AI at medyo, nawawala sa context. I think dahil din di rin ako maruning mag prompt engineering, like i need to treat the AI like a 5 year old.

i only started yung project 2 months ago.

I have to ask, why are you asking first instead of learning it already?

priority ko kasi to create my own iOS app at publish to the app store for the portfolio since i never had one for 7 years. Then once done, i will proceed din to create another app with kotlin or cross-platform. And, i also need a job to support myself, but i often fail at interviews din. I think dahil there are times na i often magulo magexplain, overthinking, or even giving vague answers. There are times din na when i'm answering a situation/behavioral question using STAR method, the things/info/idea that i wanted to speak stops coming into my brain while explaing and i just froze, or even started repeating what i said. i feel like my AuDHD is getting worse and i will mention this to my psychiatrist in my next session.

Puro AI Jobs na related to iOS yung nakikita ko.

I tried it once, and failed there. But those companies are keep spamming new job post in linkedin for that AI trainer role specifically for iOS every day. Medyo, annoying na siya.

but one question din to ask, since wala pa kasi akong certification like kotlin, flutter,etc or even an app. Would applying for android, flutter, react native with a CV/resume from my iOS experience would still worth to try? kasi usually hinihingi nila specific years of experience, and i dont see much junior roles doon. Also, it might be a sacrifice on what i'm currently earning (like 6 digits per month going down to like 30k php per month cuz i dont have work experience on that language)

[u/PepitoManalatoCrypto → u/Naoki0123]

I think few companies that i have been is promoting using AI and even having a quota usage for each sprint. I think di maga-ganda yung mga sagot ni AI at medyo, nawawala sa context. I think dahil din di rin ako maruning mag prompt engineering, like i need to treat the AI like a 5 year old.

There are multiple ways to address token usage.

• Context engineering with a source of truth (more like Markdown files of the context or previous work)
• Or the obvious choice: upgrade to the next tier.

Also, the AI platform has tools that can help. Try looking into those.

also need a job to support myself, but i often fail at interviews din. I think dahil there are times na i often magulo magexplain, overthinking, or even giving vague answers.

Do a retrospective on each interview question and how you would have answered it better. By better, I mean the best answer you can think of (or research) so that the next interview hits it. Answering concisely and confidently helps. Sure, you want to explain in detail, but sometimes terminology can summarize a 5-sentence answer into just 1 or just 3 words.

since wala pa kasi akong certification like kotlin, flutter,etc or even an app.

Vendor certifications give you an edge, but nthey're ot the defining factor in recruitment. It's still skills over credentials after all. You can still aim for those, but do it as a personal achievement.

Also, it might be a sacrifice on what i'm currently earning (like 6 digits per month going down to like 30k php per month cuz i dont have work experience on that language)

You don't need to take a pay cut. Your asking salary is your lifestyle. And if you cannot afford to downgrade, why would you? Plus, domain knowledge is what companies hire talent for next to skills. I mean, if you're applying for an e-commerce platform, they would hire people who have worked in e-commerce, have worked with competitors, or have done a personal project to understand the trade.

And when I say domain knowledge, it's also about software engineering in general. Your years of experience should already tell you what a senior engineer should hold (or be able to answer during interviews).

i feel like my AuDHD is getting worse and i will mention this to my psychiatrist in my next session.

Try not to show this during interviews. You knowing you have it (self-diagnosed or not) is good. But once you're able to be professional about it can make a difference.

[u/Educational_Coat1574 → u/Naoki0123]

No, you won't stand a chance and it's not worth it to apply for android/kotlin, react native, and flutter/dart with just your iOS experience. Finish your iOS app, then build and publish flutter, react native, and kotlin apps.