What does a Developer do?
Published 4 min read
A developer is a person who designs, creates, and maintains the software or applications for a computer or other devices.
Developer job duties include:
- Actively participate in the software development cycle including the development of high-quality and stable software based on customer, business, and technical requirements.
- Engage with other developers, analysts, and architects in active problem solving to identify technical roadblocks and recommend solutions that can improve the direction of our technology stack.
- Engage with product managers to provide feedback on feasibility of features and potential technical tradeoffs.
- Understand testing & integration methodologies (continuous integration, continuous delivery, unit vs. integration tests).
- Write high quality code that meets coding standards and is maintainable long-term. This includes writing unit tests, documentation, and comments as needed.
- Perform code reviews to ensure that all code changes meet required quality standards before being merged into production code base.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies including daily stand-ups, sprint planning/review/retrospective meetings, and backlog grooming sessions.
- Help troubleshoot production issues by providing root cause analysis and working with the relevant teams to implement permanent fixes.
- Stay up-to-date on latest industry trends and best practices in software development.
Developer Job Requirements
Education: A developer should have at the very least a Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Many employers will require a Master's degree or higher.
Certification: While not required, many developers choose to get certified in various programming languages and platforms. This can show potential employers that they have the skills necessary to do the job.
Experience: Most employers will want to see at least 2-3 years of experience in software development before considering someone for a developer role. Those with more experience will be able to command higher salaries and positions of responsibility.
Developer Skills
- Web development
- Mobile development
- Programming
- Debugging
- Git
- HTML/CSS
- JavaScript
- React
- Angular
- Node.js
Related: Top Developer Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Developer
There are many paths to becoming a developer. Some people start coding in their spare time and eventually turn it into a full-time job. Others go to college for computer science or a related field. And still others learn through bootcamps or online courses.
Whichever path you choose, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, it is important to have a strong foundation in the basics of computer programming. This means learning how to code in at least one popular programming language, as well as understanding concepts like data structures and algorithms.
Second, it is helpful to get experience working on real-world projects. This could mean contributing to open source projects, working on personal projects, or doing internships or freelance work for companies.
Third, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies. This means reading blogs and articles, attending conferences and meetups, and experimenting with new tools and frameworks.
Finally, remember that becoming a developer is a journey, not a destination. There is always more to learn, so be prepared to never stop learning!
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