Mobile development continues to be one of the most in-demand areas in tech. Mobile apps now account for more than half of all digital time spent globally. At the same time, according to a Stack Overflow survey, only 3.4% of professional coders identify as mobile developers.
Many tech roles, including mobile, go unfilled due to a skill shortage, as reported by 64% of IT recruiters. And 1 in 4 companies experience a mismatch between what teams need and what candidates offer. That’s why recruiters need an up-to-date understanding of which mobile app developer skills matter most.
In this article, you’ll find a checklist of the top 12 application developer skills. Below, you’ll learn examples of key requirements and tools to assess mobile app specialists for your team. So, let’s get started!
So, what exactly should recruiters be looking for? Based on current hiring trends, the most fundamental mobile app developer skills include:
Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Every mobile app starts with code. That’s why fluency in programming languages remains one of the most essential mobile app developer skills today.
In practice, Swift and Kotlin are the most in-demand mobile app developer skills for new development on iOS and Android, respectively. Still, Objective-C and Java experience is valuable for maintaining legacy code.
Some teams also go cross-platform. Thus, you can look for mobile app developer skills in JavaScript programming language for React Native or Dart for Flutter apps.
UI frameworks define how an app looks and feels. They also influence how quickly developers can ship features. That’s why hands-on experience with modern UI frameworks is one of the top mobile app developer requirements companies now prioritize.
On iOS, SwiftUI is Apple’s latest declarative UI toolkit. It allows developers to build interfaces with less code and integrates tightly with Swift.
UIKit, Apple’s older framework, is still used in many mature codebases. Developers who understand both can handle modern builds and legacy maintenance.
For Android, Jetpack Compose is the new standard. It replaces XML layouts with declarative Kotlin code and allows for more flexible UI development.
Compose is now Google’s recommended approach for new projects. But many existing apps still use traditional Views and layouts, so developers must also be comfortable with the Android SDK and XML-based UIs.
Cross-platform teams often work with React Native or Flutter. React Native uses JavaScript and React to build native components. Flutter, powered by Dart, compiles to native code and delivers a consistent design across platforms. Both are popular with teams who want to maintain one codebase while targeting multiple platforms.
Modern apps rarely stand alone, as they often communicate with servers and backend technologies. A strong mobile developer must handle API integrations. Some of the key API-related mobile app developer skills include:
Mobile apps often need to store and retrieve data, both on the device and from the cloud. A capable mobile developer must know how to manage this data using databases.
Common app developer skills required for local database management include:
Good candidates also consider how local and remote data interact. If a developer knows the ins and outs of SQLite/Room/Core Data, they can implement caching content or offline mode. Likewise, understanding cloud databases suggests the developer can quickly set up backend components without a full server team.
Technical skills required for app development must go hand-in-hand with a strong understanding of mobile design principles. With UI/UX skills, developers can successfully translate design specs into functional app interfaces.
Here’s what sets strong candidates apart:
Mobile developer skills in design aren’t optional. Developers who bring it into their work create apps that are more usable and more likely to succeed in the app store.
Users today are very concerned about privacy and security. In a Statista survey, over 55.7% of users expressed concern about fraud on mobile apps. A single security slip-up can lead to compromised user data and a PR nightmare for a company.
Therefore, a mobile developer well-versed in security will proactively protect user information, which in turn protects the company’s reputation.
A top-tier mobile developer should be familiar with:
Professional mobile developers spend most of their time in Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). High proficiency with these environments translates to faster development and the ability to troubleshoot issues quickly. Key mobile app developer skills in IDE tools include:
Proficiency in IDE also means understanding the build process. For Android (Gradle), they should know how to manage dependencies (Gradle files), and for iOS (Swift Package Manager, CocoaPods), how to integrate libraries.
In collaborative software projects, version control app developer skills are non-negotiable. Mobile developers should be well-versed in Git and modern collaboration workflows to manage code changes.
Every candidate should know how to create commits, branches, and merges, as well as use pull, push, rebase, and other commands. They should appreciate the importance of a clean commit history.
Bonus if they’ve used GitHub Actions or GitLab CI to trigger builds and tests from commits.
Robust testing skills ensure that a developer’s code is reliable and that the app will perform well for all users. Mobile developers should be familiar with writing tests at multiple levels and using the tools available for each platform.
Here’s what to look for:
Unit testing involves testing individual components or functions in isolation.
On Android, JUnit is commonly used for unit tests (often with the AndroidX Test framework or Kotlin’s built-in testing support).
On iOS, XCTest is the framework for unit tests.
A good mobile developer writes unit tests for critical business logic – for example, testing that a utility function correctly formats a date, or that a view model produces the right output for given inputs. Familiarity with dependency injection and mocking frameworks is a plus, as it shows they structure code for testability.
Mobile-specific UI testing tools allow automation of interactions with the app’s interface. Thus, look for the mobile app developer skills with the following tools:
Integration of tests into CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) systems is another aspect. An app developer with this experience will write tests not just for their own use, but so they can be run on every code push via Jenkins, Travis CI, or GitHub Actions, helping catch regressions early.
Even the best code will have issues that need troubleshooting. A top mobile developer is expected to be a skilled debugger, able to systematically find and fix problems in the app.
Thus, developers should know how to use the debugging tools provided by their IDEs.
Building a successful app is a team effort. Beyond coding, a mobile developer needs to work well with others.
Most software teams today follow an Agile approach. Thus, an app developer should be comfortable with working in sprints, daily stand-up meetings, planning sessions, and retrospectives.
Also, mobile app developer skills should include project management tools. Jira is very common in the industry for tracking user stories and progress. A developer should know how to update their tickets and log time or comments. Similarly, some teams use Trello or Asana with simpler kanban boards but serve a similar purpose.
The important part is that the developer can stay organized and transparent about their work. If the resume shows experience with any such tool, that’s a good sign.
Finally, with many teams being remote or hybrid, tools like Slack (or Microsoft Teams) are lifelines for daily communication. A developer should be responsive on these channels and use them to collaborate.
Hiring an app developer is an investment in both their current abilities and future growth. Mobile tech will continue to change, and a coder who embraces continuous learning will adapt to new challenges.
Look for candidates who actively keep up with the latest in mobile development. This could mean they’ve started adopting new frameworks (for example, SwiftUI, soon after release), or they experiment with new languages in their personal time. You can check their GitHub profile for some open-source projects. Also, they might follow developer blogs or attend conferences.
While not mandatory, completion of relevant courses can show a dedication to learning. Some specialized certifications can prove mobile app developer skills in specific industries. Even mentioning online platforms (Udemy, Coursera, etc.) or that they are self-taught in a new technology can be a good sign.
All in all, mobile application developer skills needed in 2025 go far beyond writing code. They need to deliver seamless user experiences across devices and adapt to fast-moving platform updates.
At the same time, companies can’t afford to guess what matters. Hiring decisions need to focus on real-world skills. But identifying these skills takes time, and that’s where many hiring processes fall short.
DOIT helps close this gap. We connect companies with app coders who have already undergone tech evaluations, soft skills checks, and cultural fit interviews.
If you need to hire vetted mobile app developers, share your requirements and get the first relevant CVs in a few days.
Share your requirements and receive the first relevant CVs within days.
Request CVsMobile app developers are responsible for translating design into functional interfaces, writing code, testing, and launching mobile applications for iOS and/or Android. They work closely with designers, product managers, QA specialists, etc., manage API integration, maintain and update apps, optimize their performance, and ensure data security.
Mobile app developer skills include proficiency in relevant programming languages and frameworks (e.g., Swift, Kotlin, React Native, Flutter, etc.), API integration, database management, IDE proficiency, and version control, among others.
Strong mobile developers approach tasks with a problem-solving mindset. They don’t get stuck on the implementation of a single feature, but think about scaling and stability of the application in the long run. They work calmly with uncertainty and are able to explain their decisions in a reasoned manner.
Start with the developer’s portfolio: ask for apps in stores or GitHub repositories, and request a brief explanation of what exactly they built. Soft skills also matter: ask how they work with product managers, designers, or QA.
You can also use technical assessment tools that offer task-based assessments with automated scoring. Alternatively, bring in a technical specialist to help with interviewing or use a hiring partner like DOIT Software to get access to vetted mobile developers who have already gone through an in-depth technical screening.
