Android has always been at the top of the app development market. By 2023, the Android market OS share will reach 87.4% according to the recent research by Statista. In other words, having an Android app will help you reach more users.

The total global mobile app revenue reached $462bn in 2019 and it’s predicted to generate up to $936bn by 2023. That sounds impressive, doesn’t it? But not every app can become a success and generate revenue. In fact, only 1 from 10K mobile apps survive because there are too many apps on the market, apps are expensive, etc.

Hiring top Android developers will help you create a successful app that will stand out from the crowd and generate a pretty penny. Here’s our guide on how to find and hire an Android developer for your app development project in 2024.

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Essential skills to pay attention to while looking for Android developers

Developing mobile applications requires particular skills, experience, and knowledge. App developers should understand the business needs, have technical skills, and know-how to develop an app that generates money by solving specific business needs.

android app development

Here’s a list of essential developer skills you need to pay attention to while hiring Android developers for your app project:

Knowledge of programming languages

Java and Kotlin are two major programming languages used for developing Android applications. Developers need to be familiar with the core concepts of these two programming languages, including syntax and basics, frameworks, multithreading and concurrency, functional programming and generics.

Android SDK or Software Development Kit

This is a pre-packed set of code that helps develop Android mobile applications much faster. Android SDKs are must-have things for all Android developers. For example, say you need to integrate your app with Facebook. Your developers are going to need to use an SDK from Facebook to speed up development processes in order to do so.

Knowledge of Android Studio

Android Studio is a must-have IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that provides support to a vast array of Android SDKs.

APIs

APIs. APIs are used to connect applications with any third-party services or apps. For example, you can use Google APIs to locate your users, help them search for local places, or reference a map within your app.

Use of databases

Your app handles large amounts of data and needs to interact with a database living outside of the smartphone. Nowadays, app developers prefer using Firebase to store data in the cloud and make it accessible across devices. Developers should know how to work with an SQLite database if your users need to use the app offline.

Basics of Material Design

Unlike Apple, Google didn't originally maintain consistent design across apps. Recently, Google has released a set of design guidelines known as Material Design. It’s used as a foundation for UI/ UX design.

Understanding of business processes and SDLC

Developers need to understand the logic behind your business decisions. It’ll help them recognize important features, plan the development process, and deliver a mobile app solution that fully meets business requirements.

Which tech stack should you choose for your Android app?

A proper mobile technology stack is an important aspect of the development process. And when it comes to Android app development, there can be long and sometimes quite heated discussions on which approach, technology, or framework is better for your project.

Before choosing which tech stack to use for Android app development, you need to understand what the features are, what extra features will be added in the near future, etc. Also, you need to decide if you need a native app or a cross-platform app solution. The price for your Android app heavily depends on the complexity of the app, a number of features, and design, but in most cases, it doesn’t depend on the programming language you’re using.

Before looking for Android developers, you have to figure out what skills and experience your developers should have. You need to provide a detailed job description to find the right ones for your project.

In short, the tech stack is a set of requirements, specifics, and technologies. The right combination of tools and requirements allows the development of a top-notch mobile application for Android users. Choosing the right tech stack is a challenge for the vast majority of business owners.

Here’s a shortlist of development aspects you need to look through before starting your app development project:

Consider your requirements and business needs

You have to consider the app type (native, cross-platform, or hybrid), data usage, and hardware access. The following aspects will narrow down the language and frameworks for your app.

Specify the main objective of your app and choose a monetization model

Are you developing an app to support your business? Or are you going to solve particular problems for your users? For example, if you’re offering subscription plans, you need to pay your attention to that in your functionality and design. If the main profit comes from advertising, you need to focus on the app’s performance.

Determine the type of collaboration

There are several ways of getting your mobile application built. You can hire freelancers, in-house developers, or outsource app development services.

Think about app security

If your app needs access to personal information, you’ll want it to be bulletproof by taking care of all security aspects, etc.

Specify integrations and compatibility

Before starting your app development project, think about what third-party integration you may need. Moreover, there may be an existing website or backend system you need to integrate with your app that will also influence the choice of the tech stack.

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Java for Android app development

Java is one of the oldest programming languages. It was released in May 1995 and is still actively used. It has everything developers need – Java Development Kit, Java Runtime Environment, and Integrated Development Environment.

Java has become the primary programming language for enterprise app development. It’s widely used for the development of various web apps, apps for government, and big data technologies like Hadoop and Apache Storm. When it comes to high-end app development projects and evolving technologies, Java has no rivals.

Java Android Development

Kotlin for Android Development

Kotlin is a new open-source Android language that’s officially supported by Google. The best part of it is, developers won’t need to rewrite their entire project when switching from Java to Kotlin.

Kotlin first appeared in 2011, but it took almost 5 years to be officially released. It’s an obvious competitor of Java in terms of Android app development. But it’s also used by developers of JS, Swift, and Python. According to the latest report by JetBrains, larger companies prefer hiring Kotlin developers to build Android apps. Kotlin was used to develop such legendary apps as Uber, Evernote, Pinterest, and others.

Kotlin for Android Development

Check out our article “How to hire an iOS developer?“

How to find and hire Android developers

Not everyone has the technical skills required to write, compile, and debug Android apps. Typically, you’ll need to hire a professional developer to do that. Finding and hiring developers may be a real challenge for business owners. Here’s a useful guide on how to hire the best Android app developers for your project:

Step 1 - Prepare a technical description of your project

Gather all the tasks and business requirements in one file. While looking for app developers, you can easily share the file with them.

Step 2 - Choose the most suitable model

There are several ways to get your app developed. You can hire an in-house app development team or outsource app development services. Hiring in-house app developers is the most expensive way to get your app developed. For this reason, most business owners choose to outsource. Outsourcing provides access to a better talent pool of developers and allows you to develop your app faster without breaking the bank. Market provides opportunities for nearshore software development in Mexico, team extension in Ukraine, etc.

Step 3 - Carry out technical interviews

You should shortlist your developers or outsourcing partners by carrying out technical interviews and checking portfolios and reviews. Sometimes client reviews are the best way to evaluate your prospective outsourcing partner.

Step 4 - Finalize the agreement and sign the contract

Discuss all the issues related to your app development project, set time frames, negotiate the time and format of your daily or weekly meetings, and ask for preliminary estimates of your project. Don’t forget to sign NDAs and discuss security issues.

While outsourcing app development service to DOIT Software, you can hire a full development team (with a PM) or add more developers to your existing in-house team. We’re never short of Android developers, designers, QA engineers, and PMs. In case your project needs more developers than we have, we’ll quickly find and hire additional developers thanks to our much shorter local recruitment cycle.

Summing up

So, you’ve learned how to hire Android developers to build your first Android app from scratch! Now you know the differences between Java and Kotlin as well as how apps are developed.

At DOIT Software, we’re combining the latest technologies and ideas to build top-notch software products from square one. Do you have additional questions about Android app development? Contact us, and we’ll do whatever it takes to help you build an app solution for your business from scratch.