Essential skills and certifications for software developers

Introduction

A software developer, also known as a computer programmer or coder, is a creative person who designs and develops software applications or computer systems. They use mathematics, engineering, science and design techniques to build such systems.

Over the past couple of years, the demand for software developers has skyrocketed as organizations attempt to find people who can bring their digital projects to life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, software developer job roles will grow 24% between 2016 and 2026, which is much faster than the average growth rate of other professions. Becoming a software developer is not a piece of cake, as developing a software application requires both soft and technical skills as well as certification in the software development realm.

Undoubtedly, software development is an intellectual process that requires a deep knowledge of the basics of computing and its applications in the development of technological solutions to real-life problems. Since software systems are complex and intangible, having essential skills and certifications are vital, as they instill basic and fundamental knowledge.

What essential skills are required for software developers?

If you are planning to become a good software developer, you must have essential skills to survive and thrive. Software developers need two types of skills: soft skills and technical skills. 

Soft skills include analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, the ability to self-study, attention to details and staying humble. Technical skills include a deep knowledge of programming languages, object-oriented design, data structures, database knowledge, the ability to build a deployment platform, testing and debugging. 

The following sections elaborate on both types of skills in more details.

Soft skills

Soft skills are behaviors and personality traits. They are the drivers of your marketability to potential employers. You must equip yourself with the soft skills (Read more...)