Hire Objective-C developers

Hiring Guide: Objective-C Developers

Hiring a skilled Objective-C developer is crucial for maintaining and enhancing iOS applications that power your business. Although Swift has become Apple’s preferred language, Objective-C remains foundational to thousands of enterprise and legacy iOS apps. From complex APIs to performance-critical features, expert Objective-C developers ensure your app continues to run smoothly, integrates with new frameworks, and maintains compatibility with Apple’s evolving ecosystem.

Why Hire Objective-C Developers?

Objective-C developers bring deep experience with Apple’s frameworks and years of hands-on understanding of memory management, runtime performance, and system-level integration. They play a pivotal role in bridging old and new—refactoring legacy codebases, integrating Swift modules, and ensuring seamless interoperability without breaking production systems.

If your iOS app predates Swift or depends on older APIs like UIKit, Foundation, or Core Data, you need developers who can balance modernization with stability. Skilled Objective-C engineers extend the lifespan of your app while optimizing performance, security, and user experience.

Core Responsibilities of Objective-C Developers

 
• Maintain, debug, and extend existing iOS applications written in Objective-C.
 
• Refactor legacy codebases and gradually migrate code to Swift where needed.
 
• Integrate third-party SDKs, APIs, and Apple frameworks (MapKit, Core Location, ARKit, etc.).
 
• Ensure memory efficiency and performance optimization across devices.
 
• Implement clean MVC or MVVM architectures for scalability and readability.
 
• Collaborate with UI/UX designers to build fluid, accessible, and intuitive interfaces.
 
• Automate testing and continuous integration pipelines for stable app releases.

Key Skills to Look For

 
• Languages: Objective-C, Swift (for interoperability), C/C++ (for performance modules).
 
• Frameworks: UIKit, Foundation, Core Data, Core Animation, Core Graphics, AVFoundation.
 
• Tools: Xcode, Instruments, LLDB Debugger, Interface Builder, TestFlight.
 
• Architectural Patterns: MVC, MVVM, Delegation, Observer, Singleton, Dependency Injection.
 
• Testing: XCTest, OCMock, automated UI testing, continuous integration with Jenkins or Bitrise.
 
• Soft Skills: Communication, debugging patience, code clarity, and collaboration in Agile environments.

When to Hire Objective-C Developers

 
• Your iOS app is written primarily in Objective-C and requires ongoing maintenance or updates.
 
• You need to integrate new Swift modules while maintaining existing Objective-C infrastructure.
 
• You’re modernizing an app for App Store compliance or migrating from 32-bit to 64-bit architectures.
 
• Your company handles multiple apps and needs reliable engineers to optimize and extend them safely.

Evaluating Objective-C Developers: What to Ask

1. Technical Depth

 
• Explain the difference between retain, assign, and weak references in Objective-C memory management.
 
• How does message passing in Objective-C differ from function calling in other languages?
 
• Describe how categories and extensions are used to enhance classes in Objective-C.
 
• Discuss your experience integrating Objective-C and Swift within a mixed-language project.

2. Real-World Experience

Review code samples or GitHub repositories that showcase:

 
• Proper use of design patterns and memory-safe implementations.
 
• Modular structure for scalable app development.
 
• Integration of analytics, push notifications, and in-app purchases.
 
• Unit and UI testing practices ensuring reliable releases.

3. Practical Assignment

Assign a small project to build a simple Objective-C app with networking, JSON parsing, and a basic UI that fetches and displays data. Evaluate clarity, use of design patterns, and testing discipline.

Hiring Models and Cost Insights

 
• Freelance Developers: Perfect for maintaining legacy features or handling short-term updates.
 
• Full-Time Developers: Ideal if your app depends heavily on Objective-C and needs long-term maintenance.
 
• Dedicated Remote Teams: Best for continuous modernization, hybrid Swift migration, and product scaling.

The cost of hiring Objective-C developers typically ranges between $40 and $120 per hour depending on seniority and project complexity. Through Lemon.io, you can match with vetted iOS specialists within 48 hours—developers who’ve already passed skill-based and communication assessments.

Why Hire Through Lemon.io?

Lemon.io connects you with top Objective-C and Swift developers who understand the nuances of Apple’s ecosystem. Each developer is pre-vetted for code quality, project ownership, and collaboration. Whether you’re maintaining legacy systems or building a hybrid app, Lemon.io helps you onboard reliable engineers fast—no long recruitment cycles or hiring risk.

Hire Pre-Vetted Objective-C Developers →

Related Skills

 
• Hire iOS Developers – Build or maintain modern iOS apps using Swift and Objective-C.
 
• Hire Swift Developers – Modernize legacy Objective-C apps with seamless migration support.
 
• Hire Mobile App Developers – Develop cross-platform or native mobile apps that scale.
 
• Hire Backend Developers – Connect your mobile apps with efficient, secure APIs.
 
• Hire UI/UX Designers – Elevate your iOS user experience through human-centered design.

FAQs About Hiring Objective-C Developers