Essential Developer Skills for 2025 | Built In

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In 2024, Google revealed a stunning statistic: artificial intelligence (AI) now writes more than 25 percent of its new code. Yet paradoxically, Google’s CEO maintains that programmers won’t be replaced. 

This tension exemplifies the perfect storm that software developers weathered throughout 2024, a year marked by unprecedented technological shifts, mounting pressures to meet rising expectations, and profound questions about the future of the profession.

Coupled with other challenges developers faced, including rising cybersecurity threats and the rapid emergence of new technologies, developers are curious for what comes next in 2025 and beyond.

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Challenges Developers Faced in 2024

As the industry anticipates even more emerging trends this year, developers have an opportunity to evolve with the changes, leading to a reshaping of a role. First, though, it’s instructive to review the ramp-up to this year of challenges. 

Rapidly Evolving Technologies

The pace of technological change in 2024 was staggering, with 67 percent of developers finding it difficult to keep up. Each new advancement required mastering new skills, creating significant knowledge gaps. Emerging AI models demanded expertise in machine learning and natural language processing, but formal training opportunities were limited. 

Skillsoft found AI and machine learning (ML) remained the top investment priority for IT decision makers, yet they ranked the skill set lowest among team members across nearly 30 competencies. The constant need to adapt proved a noteworthy obstacle.

Security Vulnerabilities

Security remained a critical concern as cybersecurity threats grew more sophisticated and frequent. The proliferation of AI-enabled attacks made threats more complex and harder to detect. Developers were tasked with building systems to withstand a barrage of threats, often with limited resources and training. Only 3 percent of organizations globally reported having the ‘Mature’ level of readiness needed to be resilient against today’s cybersecurity risks.

AI-Driven Job Displacement

As AI becomes more integrated into work processes, some developers have expressed concerns about potential changes in their career paths. However, this technology is also opening up exciting new opportunities by transforming various job roles and automating routine tasks. 

AI could influence up to 80 percent of all job roles in the near future, according to a report from the University of Pennsylvania. While AI will certainly affect coding, just like many other roles, it is important to note that, as Google’s CEO highlighted, AI is not about replacing jobs but rather empowering coders to enter the field and work more efficiently. In 2025, we have the chance to ease these concerns and reinforce developers’ confidence, embracing AI as a powerful tool for innovation and growth.

Pressure for Speed

The demand for faster development cycles without sacrificing quality added further strain. Businesses sought to release products quickly to outpace competitors, often compressing timelines beyond reasonable limits. Modern software development practices and methodologies, while aimed at improving efficiency, can sometimes create unrealistic expectations, pushing developers to deliver at unsustainable speeds and potentially leading to technical debt and long-term issues.

Further ReadingWhy AI Will Never Replace Software Developers

Trends and Solutions for Developers in 2025

From partnering with AI to refining skills and perfecting collaboration, developers have a hefty to-do list for the coming year and beyond. 

Partner with AI for Enhanced Productivity

AI is more than just a tool; it’s an opportunity to work smarter and elevate a developer’s output. By treating AI as a valuable work enabler, developers can expedite repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as testing, debugging or even generating code snippets. This year, Deloitte predicts that a quarter of organizations using AI will deploy AI agents, commonly known as agentic AI, to support productivity. 

Consider agentic AI as your intelligent development partner, one that enhances rather than replaces human expertise. With AI handling routine tasks, developers can channel their energy into complex problem-solving and strategic initiatives. This AI partnership transforms the development workflow, offering automation and intelligent insights for optimizing application performance. 

The result: heightened productivity, reduced deadline pressure and expanded creative bandwidth. Developers who thoughtfully embrace AI position themselves at the forefront of innovation, ready to tackle tomorrow’s technical challenges with an enhanced toolkit.

Foster Cross-Functional Collaboration

Innovation thrives at the intersection of diverse backgrounds, opinions and skills. By collaborating across departments, developers can unlock new perspectives and deliver solutions that are both technically advanced and user-friendly. Consider the potential for stronger developer-designer collaboration. Developers often focus on ensuring an app works efficiently, while designers aim to create a seamless user experience. When these two perspectives align, the result is a product that not only performs but also delights users. 

Encouraging cross-functional teamwork means breaking down organizational silos and fostering a culture of shared accountability. This approach may lead to better products and ensures teams can adapt quickly to changing priorities. 

Invest in Holistic Skill Development

Technical expertise alone no longer defines a developer’s value. The modern developer must master power skills, from critical communication to problem-solving, and teamwork. Those who cultivate this blend of technical and interpersonal capabilities emerge as versatile leaders, ready to drive collaborative innovation across their organizations.

Strong communication skills increase the likelihood of getting a promotion and can help developers explain complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring that everyone in the room understands the technical implications of a decision. These skills build bridges between technology and business, enabling developers to be seen as strategic assets rather than just executors of tasks.

Developing new skills or upskilling is a gradual process that requires patience and a clear strategy. Begin by assessing your current skills and identifying gaps. Create a roadmap to bridge these gaps using resources like online courses, mentorship, projects, and networking. Consistent effort over time leads to true growth, with each small step contributing to the bigger picture.

Take on a Strategic Role

The evolving tech landscape calls for developers to step beyond hands-on coding into strategic roles that shape the direction of their organizations. This could mean participating in high-level discussions about ethical AI usage, contributing to the design of machine learning models that solve business-specific problems or driving the adoption of emerging technologies.

By taking on strategic responsibilities, developers gain a voice in shaping their projects and their organizational priorities. This creates opportunities for personal growth while reinforcing the critical importance of technical expertise in leadership roles. To prepare, stay informed about industry trends, strengthen business acumen and seek mentorship or leadership training to expand your influence. Developers can future-proof their careers and also actively lead the charge in shaping the future of their company’s solutions.

With AI envisioned as a collaborative ally, cross-functional teams fostering diversity of thought, developers stepping into strategic roles, and holistic skill becoming essential, the future of software development looks both dynamic and promising. Success in 2025 will likely belong to those who adapt and are proactive to help navigate a rapidly changing field of work.