How to Choose the Right Type of Developer For Your Next Project

What Does a Developer Do?

The job of a developer is to design and create software, systems, and other digital products.

A business might hire a developer to create a new website or application, but these professionals can also create software, address security issues, or enhance integration with a cloud provider's infrastructure.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Developer

Ask about the programming languages and frameworks they are comfortable with. If possible, ask if you can see similar projects they have completed.

The developer you hire should be familiar with your users, their typical journey, and the devices they use.

Development projects often involve an entire team. Find out more about the roles the developer has filled in the past. Can they design a project from scratch? Do they have experience with testing and debugging?

For complex projects, consider putting together a team of developers with complementary skills instead of having a full-stack developer handle the entire project from start to finish.

Choosing the Right Language and Framework for Your Project

Before you go any further with hiring a developer, you should look at your project requirements and determine the best language and framework. This step will help you narrow down your options for hiring a developer.

Among software developers, 65% of professionals use JavaScript. HTML and CSS are the top languages for 55% of developers, followed by SQL for 49%.

While it's important to choose a language that aligns with the goals of your project, opting for a popular language will give you access to a large pool of developers.

The framework is another important consideration for your project. A framework is a set of library codes the developer can refer to instead of creating scripts from scratch.

More than a third of developers use the NET framework, and NumPy comes next at 28%.

Consider the goal of the project, its complexity, and the desired time to market to choose the right language.

Once you choose a language and framework, you'll have to find developers who possess these same coding skills to work on your application, which is why it's often best to pick a common language. You should also look for a professional who is familiar with the desktop operating systems your organization uses.

10 Different Types of Developers

Developers typically have an area of specialty. Some specialize in creating engaging web experiences for users, while others create source code for desktop applications, video games, or innovative AI projects.

The code solutions and services offered can vary a lot from one type of developer to another.

1. Web Developer

With close to 22,000 new openings each year, the demand for talented web developers is high. These professionals use HTML and CSS to create functional and engaging websites that deliver memorable experiences and services to users.

Besides creating an appealing and functional website, a web developer can optimize its loading speed, help improve your SEO rankings on Google and use JavaScript or PHP to collect user data with a form or add other interactive elements to support user-initiated actions.

2. Mobile Developer

Did you know that almost half of small businesses have an app? Launching a mobile application can result in more engaged users and make your content easier to access for users on the go.

An app developer can create a product that meets your goals while complying with Google Play's or Apple's requirements.

From creating an engaging user interface to building a strong back-end that can handle users' requests issued on mobile devices, a qualified mobile developer can develop a functional product from scratch and roll out app updates to keep up with the latest mobile OS solutions.

If you want to launch a native app, you'll need a professional who can work with Java for Android mobile operating systems. If you need an iOS app, look for someone who can work with Swift or Objective-C.

You can typically cut costs by launching a web app instead. Users will access this JavaScript, Python, or C# app from their browser.

3. Software Developer

Software developer is a broad category. These professionals have an mean hourly wage of $58 and experts predict growth of 22% for this field over the next decade.

These developers are in high demand and can be expensive to hire, but their coding skills make them valuable assets for your business.

A software developer can update a legacy system your organization relies on or create new software if off-the-shelf solutions don't meet your needs. You can also work with a software developer to create a product and sell it to desktop users.

These professionals work with a wide range of languages, including C, C#, JavaScript, Ruby, Scala, Python, PHP, and more.

You can also hire an embedded developer to create software that will run machines, consumer devices, or electronic interfaces. Common embedded development languages include C++, Python, and MicroPython. Hiring an embedded developer will become more common with the rise of the IoT.

For businesses with changing needs, a DevOps developer can create a framework for rolling out the initial software solution and implementing additional updates in the future. This type of software developer is in high demand due to the rise of the SaaS model.

You can also find software developers who work at different levels. For instance, low-level developers can create applications that a machine executes at the OS level to use a core system functionality. Low-level development projects often use languages like Assembly, C++, or Rust.

4. Back-End Developer

Websites, applications, and other digital products provide users with a functional interface. You'll typically find several elements behind the scenes, including a database, a server, integration with other tools, and more.

A backend developer works on these crucial elements and connects them to what users see.

A backend developer might work with SQL to create or update a database that responses to requests from users or use JavaScript to build the back-end portion of an online store.

5. Front-End Developer

A frontend developer focuses on user experience and builds engaging and functional products that give users access to back-end capabilities. Website and mobile developers fall into this category.

You can also get help from a frontend developer to create a customized solution that leverages the functionalities that service providers offer through an API or Application Programming Interface. For instance, a front-end developer can develop a user-friendly tool that leverages a third-party payments service or cloud storage provider while adding a user interface that makes this tool easier to use.

These professionals often work with JavaScript or HTML.

6. Full-Stack Developer

These versatile developers can work on back-end and front-end development solutions. Full-stack development is an advanced skill, and a front-end and back-end developer often earns six figures a year.

Hiring this type of developer for a project is an excellent choice if you're looking to save time and money. It can also result in a more consistent solution with fewer issues.

7. Game Developer

Game developers work on a specific category of products, namely video games for computers, mobile devices, or consoles.

The industry has seen a recent drop of 2% in growth, prompting some professionals to seek work for other development projects.

This type of developer typically works with C++, JavaScript, and Java. Plus, they're usually familiar with game engines like Unity 3D or Unreal Engine.

A game developer is an obvious choice if you want to launch a video game, but their skills with interactive gaming experiences can translate well to projects that involve gamification and interactive elements designed to engage users.

8. Big Data Developer

A big data developer or data scientist develops analytics solutions. These professionals can create solutions that identify relevant data collection methods, extract meaningful insights, and deliver data-powered insights in real time to different business processes.

Besides possessing strong statistical analysis and data collection skills, these professionals can develop functional interfaces for the user-facing side of your data project and work with SQL to organize user data into a secure database.

9. Security Developer

Cybersecurity is a growing priority for businesses, with the average cost of a data breach reaching $4.35 million.

Security developers use PHP, PowerShell, C, Java, and Python to develop built-in security features for software applications or enhance the security of your entire IT infrastructure with solutions like dedicated network monitoring tools and other safety updates that reflect the latest security practices.

These professionals can also help design applications for risk and anti-fraud purposes to make using an external payment service safer.

The development skills of these professionals can help you protect sensitive user data like user payment info or user photos. You can also get help with adding built-in features to obtain user consent and comply with user privacy requirements.

10. AI Developer

Did you know that 35% of businesses currently use Artificial Intelligence and that 40% are considering adopting AI solutions?

AI is emerging as a key tech solution for businesses, and the need for software programs that leverage AI accounts for a significant portion of the projected 15% increase in software development jobs.

Besides possessing familiarity with machine learning, these types of developers need advanced programming skills and experience with big data projects.

AI development is one of the most innovative types of software development. An AI developer can program AI systems and use the latest machine learning methods to develop customized solutions. They can build tools to train these systems with relevant data sets and develop the data infrastructure these systems need. They can also design a mechanism for users to access AI features.

These experts often work with Python, JavaScript, and C++, but other languages are emerging for AI development, including Lisp, Haskell, Julia, Prolog, Scala, or R.

Conclusion

Before hiring a developer, take the time to ask a few questions about the requirements of your project and identify the best language and framework. Thinking about the goals and purposes of the finished product will help you select the right types of developers.

Once you know more about your project and goals, you can create a detailed job description and look for professionals who have experience with similar development projects.