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Software Developer
Also goes by: Web Developer, Front End Developer, Coder, Software Architect, Programmer
What Is a Software Developer?
Software developers build, test, and iterate versions of a software product. They can use a variety of programming languages and work on a variety or platforms (web, desktop, mobile, etc).
How much will I make?
Salaries can range by location and years of experience, but these are averages for the US.
$86,483.00
according to Salary.com
Will I get a job?
Projected job growth is 22% for the period 2020-2030 in the US, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
15,757
Total Openings
according to comptia.org
Who will I work for?
- Tech Companies (practically all)
- Software Startups
- Financial Institutions
- Retail Companies
- Healthcare Companies
Software Developer’s Daily Activities
No Software Developer works alone! Software Developers spend their days collaborating with designers, other developers, and product or project managers to bring software applications to life. Below you will get a sense for what a day-in-the-life of a Software Developer could be:
Collaborate With Your Team Members to Build software applications
Software Developers work hand-in-hand with their team members to create software applications. In order to do this, you’ll need to have an understanding of a wide variety of skills including C++, C, Unix/Linux environments. Collaboration can take many forms, including planning and strategy meetings, design brainstorms, reviews, and pairing.
Code Your software application
Much of a Software Developer’s day is spent coding. In practice this means having a development environment set up on one’s computer that allows you to track your progress as you go.
Test Your software application
One of the joys of working as a Software Developer is that software applications are ALWAYS breaking! As a Software Developer one of your core duties is testing your software applications for bugs and errors and working to fix them
Software Developer
It’s absolutely possible to become a Software Developer even if you have no prior experience in tech and no degree. In fact, a career as a Software Developer is one of the best entry level jobs in tech. Read on to learn how to do it!
Learn The Required Skills
First things first, in order to become a Software Developer you have to learn the required tech skills!
C++
C++ was based on the original C language, and was specifically created to add objects and instance methods (object behavior).
Read MoreC
C is a widely-used, general-purpose programming language known for its efficiency and low-level control, commonly used for system programming and developing operating systems and embedded systems.
Read MoreUnix/Linux environments
Unix and Linux are operating systems that have a command-line interface and are widely used in servers and development environments, known for their stability, security, and customizability.
Network Programming
Network programming involves writing code to enable communication between devices or systems over a network, often using sockets and protocols.
System architecture
The design and structure of a complex system, outlining its components and their interactions.
Operating systems
Software that manage computer hardware and software resources, enabling user interaction and running applications efficiently.
Multithreading
Multithreading is the concurrent execution of multiple threads within a process, enabling better utilization of CPU resources and improved responsiveness.
Database management
Database management is the process of creating, maintaining, and using databases. Database management involves tasks such as creating database schemas, loading data into databases, and querying databases. Database management is a critical skill for anyone who works with databases.
Command Line
The command line is the opposite of using something like OS X or Windows; no mouse, no icons, nothing but text. It’s a way for you to type commands to your computer and it’s used for all types of things in programming.
Read MoreGit
Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in source code during software development, facilitating collaboration among developers and enabling code management across different versions.
Read MoreDebugging
Debugging is the process of finding and fixing errors in code. Debugging is a critical skill for anyone who works with code.
Code Efficiency
Code efficiency is the ability to write code that is both fast and reliable. Code efficiency is important for a number of reasons, including performance, cost, and scalability.
Version Control
Version control is the management of changes to documents, source code, or other files, allowing multiple users to collaborate and track revisions, facilitating teamwork and preventing conflicts.
Read MoreBuild A Portfolio
The best way to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills—especially when you have no prior experience—is with a portfolio of professional quality coding samples.
Check out these blog posts for more:
Apply For Tech Jobs
Once you’ve learned all the required technical skills and built a killer portfolio, it’s time to dust off that old resume and LinkedIn profile and hit the pavement, or Internet superhighway as it were, in search of your first job as a Front End Developer!
➡️ Prepare Your Resume, LinkedIn, and Portfolio
Although your most valuable asset as you job search is your portfolio, you do have to cross your t’s and dot your i’s and when it comes to the job search that means optimizing your resume and LinkedIn profile. Tech employers expect you to have all three!
Check out these blog posts for more:
➡️ Build Your Network
Your net worth is in your network, which can be hard when you’re changing careers! But don’t worry, the tech industry is incredibly welcoming to newcomers. Whether you prefer in-person meetups, Slack channels, coffee-over-zoom chats, conferences, hack-a-thons or a little bit of everything, there are tons of opportunities for you to meet fellow techies.
Check out these blog posts for more:
➡️ Find Good Jobs To Apply For
A good job can be hard to find—or is it? The good news about tech is that there are so many openings at so many diverse companies that your biggest challenge will most likely be keeping up with all the opportunities!
Check out these blog posts for more:
➡️ Practice Interviewing
Whether you’re a season pro, or brand new to the tech industry: interviewing for a new job is tough! Add to that technical interviews…and you’ve got a recipe for heartburn, practically guaranteed. Luckily there’s an antacid on the market that works every time: practice. Read on for expert guidance on how to prepare for your next tech job interview.
Check out these blog posts for more:
➡️ Prepare for Technical Tests
Ah the dreaded technical test! Technical tests can come in many different forms: whiteboard tests, pair programming tests, take-home tests, algorithmic tests…just to name a few. Luckily, getting good at technical tests is a skill, just like anything else, and it’s one you can absolutely practice ahead of time.
Check out these blog posts for more:
You Might Also Be Interested In Learning About:
Full Stack Development
Full stack web developers are programmers with a full complement of front end and back end skills. That means, along with knowing how to write backend languanges such as Python, SQL and PHP, a full stack developer is equally at home building front end code with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Learn More DevOps Engineering
While not strictly a “developer” title, DevOps engineers work closely with software development and IT teams to oversee code releases. They might work on infrastructure, automation, CI/CD pipelines, and more.
Learn More
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FAQ
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What does a Software Developer do?
Software developers build, test, and iterate versions of a software product. They can use a variety of programming languages and work on a variety or platforms (web, desktop, mobile, etc). You will find Software Developer working at a number of different types of companies including Tech Companies (practically all), Software Startups, Financial Institutions, Retail Companies, Healthcare Companies.
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How much do Software Developers make?
Although salaries can range by location and years of experience, the average salary for Software Developer in the US is $86,483.00 according to Salary.com.
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Is a Software Developer the same as a Web Developer?
Yes, Software Developers are sometimes also referred to as Web Developer. Other common names for Software Developer include: Front End Developer, Coder, Software Architect.
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Are Software Developer in demand?
Yes, Software Developer is in high demand: there are currently 15,757 jobs open. And the number of jobs is expected to grow substantially over the next 10 years. Projected job growth is 22% for the period 2020-2030 in the US, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Is a Software Developer a good job?
Yes, with an average salary of $86,483.00 according to Salary.com, and 15,757 current job openings, Software Developer is considered a great job.
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What skills does a Software Developer need?
In order to work as a Software Developer you will need to know a number of different technical skills including 3D graphics, .NET, .NET, AJAX, .NET.
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Is it too late to become a Software Developer at 35?
Absolutely not! You can become a Software Developer at any age. And since so many jobs in tech, like Software Developer, are relatively new, if no one over 35 could become one, there would be even MORE job openings than the 15,757 open Software Developer roles that there are!