Software development occupies one of the central places in IT, and developers need to improve their skills. But what should these skills be? Soft or hard?
We conducted a survey among experts, and we are ready to share their answers below.
Casey Ciniello, Senior Product Manager at Infragistics, notes the following:
“According to the Reveal 2025 Software Development Challenges survey, 73% of technology leaders said expanding AI use is their top priority. The survey found that AI led to new job creation, particularly in tech, where 61% of tech leaders reported new positions. However, 48% of tech leaders cited recruiting qualified talent as a major challenge for 2025, with strong demand for AI and cybersecurity expertise.
The rush to incorporate AI in 2024 led to a strong demand for skilled AI engineers (28%) in 2025, which is nearly double the next most in-demand technical titles — IT security engineer (16%) and cybersecurity engineer (13%). These talent shortages align with 2025’s top software development challenges — security, data privacy, and AI code reliability. The hardest to fill technical jobs of 2024 — software developer (25.4%), data analyst (14.6%) and web designer (11.7%) — did not even make it into the top three in 2025, pointing to a need for specialized skills to meet burgeoning challenges with AI and security.”
Jason Beres, COO at Infragistics, adds:
“While generative AI–based tools can speed up many common developer tasks, complex tasks remain in the domain of developers for now. AI technology will be used to augment developers rather than replace them, as some tasks continue to demand skilled developer expertise.”
Christos Kritikos, startup product executive at Emerging Humanity, notes:
“With coding getting commoditized, soft skills will be the make-or-break element of a developer’s career. What companies really need are engineers who can work across disciplines, ask the right questions, and adapt when the plan inevitably changes. Communication, empathy, and business sense are what bridge the gap between code and customer. I see a lot of brilliant coders who cannot get buy-in versus less technical devs who can drive impact by aligning with the business. So yes, learn your stack. But also practice explaining your work to someone outside tech. That is the real skill.”
David Hunt, Chief Operating Officer at Versys Media, comments on:
Hard Skills: First, AI integration and prompt engineering will be critical. We’re already seeing major projects depend less on writing raw code and more on stitching together APIs, training models, and refining output through natural language. Developers who treat AI as a teammate — not a replacement — will stand out.
Beyond that, TypeScript continues to gain ground on the frontend, and on the backend, Node + serverless frameworks like AWS Lambda or Vercel’s infrastructure are becoming standard. Fluency in scalable architecture — not just code — will be a real differentiator. Security-first development, especially with rising cloud compliance requirements, will also be non-negotiable.
Soft Skills: On the soft side, problem framing and communication are becoming just as important. Knowing what to build and how to explain your solution is often more valuable than just knowing how to code it. I’ve seen talented devs stall because they couldn’t align with product or communicate trade-offs. Teams are more cross-functional now, and execution depends on clarity as much as skill.
Which matters more? In truth, they’re inseparable. You won’t last without hard skills, but you won’t grow without soft skills. Especially in remote or hybrid setups, devs who can collaborate, mentor, and lead through code and conversation will drive more impact.How to develop these? On the technical side, project-based learning still wins. Contribute to open source or build something people can use. For soft skills, force yourself into uncomfortable conversations. Present work, lead a sprint, mentor a junior. The best developers in 2025 won’t just ship code — they’ll shape the direction it goes in.
1. AI-Assisted Development and Machine Learning Fundamentals
The integration of AI tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT for coding, and custom AI models is reshaping how software is written and maintained. While AI won’t replace developers, those who can effectively collaborate with AI will have a significant edge.
Key capabilities:
- Prompt engineering for code generation tools
- Understanding ML model APIs and integration
- Basic ML and data science principles for building AI-driven applications
2. Cloud-Native and Distributed Systems Expertise
With cloud platforms dominating infrastructure, developers must be fluent in deploying and managing applications in distributed environments.
Essential areas:
- Cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Container orchestration (Kubernetes)
- Serverless architecture patterns
- CI/CD automation and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Pulumi)
3. Cybersecurity Awareness
As threats grow more sophisticated, security is no longer solely the responsibility of dedicated teams. Developers are expected to write secure code and proactively address vulnerabilities.
Critical skills:
- Secure coding practices (OWASP Top 10)
- API security
- Identity and access management (IAM)
- Security audits and penetration testing basics
4. Modern Front-End and Mobile Development
User expectations for seamless, responsive, and performant interfaces remain high. Keeping up with evolving front-end ecosystems is crucial.
In-demand frameworks and tools:
- React (with TypeScript)
- Vue and Svelte for lightweight alternatives
- Tailwind CSS and modern UI libraries
- Flutter for cross-platform mobile apps
5. API-First and Microservices Design
Applications in 2025 are increasingly API-driven, modular, and interconnected. Developers must design APIs and microservices that are scalable, discoverable, and resilient.
Focus areas:
- REST, GraphQL, and gRPC
- API versioning and documentation (OpenAPI/Swagger)
- Service discovery and observability
- Event-driven architectures (Kafka, RabbitMQ)
6. Soft Skills and Cross-Functional Collaboration
As software development becomes more collaborative and product-focused, strong interpersonal skills are as important as technical ones.
Valuable soft skills:
- Communication and active listening
- Agile team collaboration (Scrum, Kanban)
- Empathy in user-centric design
- Mentoring and knowledge-sharing
7. Continuous Learning and Adaptability
The only constant in tech is change. Developers must stay curious and adaptable to navigate new languages, frameworks, and methodologies.
How to stay sharp:
- Engage with developer communities (online and local meetups)
- Regularly contribute to or learn from open-source projects
- Follow thought leaders and tech publications
- Experiment with emerging tools and paradigms
In 2025, being a successful software developer means blending technical expertise with AI literacy, security awareness, cloud fluency, and strong interpersonal skills. Developers who embrace continuous learning and cross-functional collaboration will not only stay relevant but help lead the next era of software innovation.
