Kotlin is a programming language that combines the powers of object-oriented and functional
programming to enable seamless Android app development. Top Kotlin developers are in high demand
today because this programming language significantly improves the productivity of the
developers and the speed of the Android app development process. One of the main benefits of
Kotlin is that it is fully interoperable with Java, which means that you can use it to build
Android apps without having to learn a completely new language. Kotlin is also more concise and
expressive than Java, which makes it easier for developers to write and maintain code.
In addition to being used for Android development, Kotlin is also used for building web, desktop,
and server-side applications. It is a statically-typed language, which means that it catches
errors at compile-time rather than runtime, and it has improved features over Java such as
improved support for functional programming and improved type inference.
If you are looking to hire Kotlin developers, here is a full guide to enable you to make the best
selection for your Android app development project.
How to Hire Kotlin Developers?
Hiring Kotlin developers can be made strikingly simple by following an organized methodology
to create a job posting that matches your company's requirements. Here is a step-by-step
guide to understanding the relevant job requirements and formulating a process to hire
Kotlin developers.
Determine the Need
This is the most important step in the entire hiring process. In order to hire Kotlin
developers who are talented, you need to post a targeted, crystal-clear job profile.
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Assess your company's needs - how many Kotlin developers do you need to hire? How much
are you willing to pay them? Would they be required full-time?
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Elucidate the duties and roles your Kotlin developers would be expected to assume in
detail and create a job requirement based on these pointers.
Specify the Skillset
To ensure that only relevant applications come through, you must draw up the specificities of
the skills you need in your candidates.
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Specify the industry the Kotlin developer would be creating the apps for.
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Determine whether you need to see some specific Android App development experience in
the candidate.
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Highlight your preferences, such as whether agile Kotlin developers would be given extra
weightage, whether you need the developer who has experience with Native Android apps,
and the like.
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Mention any testing skills you need the candidates to have.
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Also, mention whether any migration would be involved.
Plan the Outreach
There are many sources where you can hire Kotlin developers from. Your objective should be to
maximize the outreach of your job requirement so that talent from every pool is within your
reach.
Consider posting the job online, releasing a requirement in print media, contacting a good
Kotlin developer recruitment agency, etc., to hire Kotlin developers. The more sources you
advertise your job on, the higher the likelihood of finding better talent. Don't forget to
mention whether you want remote developers or on-site Kotlin developers.
Maintaining transparency with all your candidates from the get-go is extremely important. The
applicants should know the terms and conditions of joining your company off the bat.
Why Hire Kotlin Developers?
There are several reasons why you might want to hire Kotlin developers:
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Kotlin is a modern, powerful programming language that is more concise and expressive
than many other languages, which makes it easier for developers to write and maintain
code.
-
Kotlin is 100% compatible with Java, which means that developers can use it to build
Android apps without having to learn a completely new language.
-
Kotlin is a statically-typed language, which means that it catches errors at
compile-time rather than runtime. This can save a lot of time and effort in debugging
and testing.
-
Kotlin is a more modern language with improved features over Java, such as improved
support for functional programming and improved type inference. This can make it easier
for developers to write clean, readable code.
-
The Kotlin community is active and growing, which means that there is a wealth of
resources and support available to developers who are using the language.
List of Skill Sets in a Kotlin Developer
Kotlin is a programming language used to develop Android applications. That being so, it is
important that a Kotlin developer understands that the Android app needs to be intuitive,
responsive, quick-loading, and completely tied together. Additionally, the five essential
skills that a Kotlin developer or development team must have are as follows.
Foundational Concepts
There is no excuse for a badly-coded app. Knowing the foundations of Kotlin is thus the first
essential skill of a good Kotlin developer. You should hire Kotlin developers who are
familiar with Android syntaxes, concurrency, multithreading, functional programming,
collection frameworks, etc.
User Interactivity Visualization
Visualization is one of the key skills required to design the interface of an Android app
that delights the users. A good Kotlin developer focuses on creating a sound, sturdy
Activity on the app that maintains its status and configurations based on the user's inputs.
For example, changing the screen orientation from landscape to portrait in Native Android
development, is a user interactivity, and the way the app screen responds to it is the
Activity.
Concepts of UI
If the app doesn't have an intuitive, fluid, pleasurable UI, the business will stand to lose
users. Hence, you must hire Kotlin developers who show exemplary skills in RecyclerView,
ConstraintLayout, applying animations to elements, use of vector drawables, etc., and other
concepts related to Kotlin app development.
Navigational Elements
The key to designing a great app is to make it easy to use. A good Kotlin developer is
familiar with tools that create great navigation - BottomNavigationView, ViewPager, Explicit
Intent and Implicit Intent, etc. - and uses them adeptly to create an app that is user
friendly.
Testing Skills
Testing isn't simply a run of the app - it needs to be taken seriously. A good Kotlin
developer should be familiar with testing tools such as Junit, Roboelectric, Mockito, etc.
What is the Cost of Hiring a Kotlin Developer?
Kotlin developers are highly specialized professionals that deal purely in Android
Development. As such, the cost of hiring would be proportionate to their roles and
responsibilities at your company or their contribution in a specific Kotlin app development
project.
Invariably, hiring local talent costs more than reaching out to talent overseas. If you are
based in the USA, hiring Kotlin developers in India would be much more economical than going
for the locals. The vice-versa is also true. Let's look at some costs around the world to
hire Kotlin developers.
Country
|
Cost of Kotlin Developer
|
Annual Average
|
India
|
$15 to $40 per hour
|
$43,800 to $116,800
|
USA
|
$40 to $60 per hour
|
$116,800 to $175,200
|
Australia
|
$70 to $90 per hour
|
$204,400 to $262,800
|
Canada
|
$30 to $40 per hour
|
$87,600 to $116,800
|
These figures are tentative based on generalized averages in the respective
countries. However, they do give a good idea of what to expect when you hire Kotlin
developers from different regions. As a thumb rule, try to streamline the roles and
responsibilities of a Kotlin developer as far as possible to narrow down the requirement to
as few professionals as necessary. Hiring a whole development team just to get more hands
on-board for Android development when a single skilled Kotlin developer can do all the
required tasks can be costlier.
It is best to create a mix of experienced Android development professionals and those who are
just starting off their experience with mobile apps, to get a malleable mix in the company.
For example, hiring an experienced professional for all the important development parts and
hiring a novice for duties with fewer risks.
FAQ on Hiring Kotlin Developers
1. What is a Kotlin developer?
Kotlin developers are programmers who use Kotlin as a primary language for writing
Android applications. It is a very pragmatic, static language for Android development,
which is what makes it a popular choice for developing interactive mobile apps.
2. What is Kotlin used for?
Kotlin is majorly used for cross-platform app development, web development, native app
development, etc. Over 60% of web developers today use Kotlin to develop applications
based on various platforms.
3. Who developed Kotlin?
Kotlin was developed by JetBrains. The project was initiated in the year 2010 and has
always been run on the open-source concept that targets the Java Virtual Machines.
4. Is Kotlin front-end or back-end?
Kotlin is mostly used for front-end development. However, proficient Kotlin developers
can use it for back-end as well. It is not necessary to have knowledge of Java, but
familiarity with object-oriented programming helps.