How to Become a Software Developer: In this digital era, Machine plays a major role in completing our daily tasks and we are highly dependent on machines for it.
However, the Machine itself is not able to think or perform any task on its own. We have to give instruction (set of code) to it.
The person who embeds the set of instructions (codes) into a machine is Software Developer.
So, it is the job of a Software Developer to write a resourceful and optimized code for a machine or computer, which will help in running a machine and enhancing its performance as well.
Nowadays, Software Development is one of the highest paying skills and the need for a good software developer is still increasing in every industry.
There are different types of Software Development Jobs available, like – Web Development, Mobile Development, Game Development, Data Science, Embedded System Development, and much more.
However, each one of them requires a different set of skills, which we are going to discuss in this article.
You should have a complete roadmap for Software Development, before starting your Software Development Journey.
So, here is the 7 Steps guide for becoming a Software Developer in 2024:
Table of Contents
1. Choose the Right Platform for your Software
Before jumping into Software Development, you should wisely choose the platform for which you want to create a Software.
There are many popular platforms available, like – Android, iOS, Web, Cloud, and many of the Embedded devices as well.
So, it can be really hard for you to choose the appropriate platform for yourself.
However, there are some of the parameters which you must consider before jumping into any of the platforms and it will help you in making the correct choice as well.
Some of the parameters are Popularity (how much popular the particular platform is), Salary (Average salary of software developer of that particular platform), and skills or Programming language required.
In the next point, we have briefly discussed how you should choose the Programming Language, as Programming Language is one of the most important factors in Software Development.
2. Select the Right Programming Language
After you have decided which platform you want to choose, it’s time to select the right Programming Language.
There are many Programming Languages available for different purposes.
For example – If you want to become Android Developer, you should learn Java or Kotlin.
For learning iOS Development, you should consider Swift Programming Language.
Similarly, if you want to start web development, then you should learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript.
For Game Development, you should go with C++ or C#.
We also have an article on Top Programming Languages, in which we have briefly described the Applications and Uses of different Programming Languages.
It will help you in choosing the best Programming Language for sure.
3. Start learning the Programming Language
Now that you have chosen with which Programming Language you want to go with, it’s time to learn it.
For learning any Programming Language, there are different resources available for you, which will help you in becoming an advanced programmer.
However, I don’t recommend you in getting the complexity of any of the Programming Language.
As for starting the Software Development, Getting familiar with the basics of the Programming Language is more than enough.
We have a separate article on How to learn Programming which you must take a look at. It will guide the way to learn the Programming Language you are interested in.
4. Enroll Yourself in a Good Course
Now that you have decided which platform and Programming Language you want to choose.
It’s time to enroll yourself in a good Software Development course.
There are various free and paid resources available online which will help you in becoming a great Software Developer.
If you are a beginner and you just want to start without any investment, then YouTube can be a good option for you.
In YouTube, there is a various tutorial available which will help you in getting familiar with the fundamentals of different types of Software Development.
Best Course
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5. Start building the Projects
Once you finish your Software Development course and you have a good knowledge of creating Applications. It’s time to create your application or project.
This is a very important step in the journey of becoming a Software Developer.
Without working on an actual real-world project, you can’t become a good software developer.
Many real-world problems still have not been solved.
So, if you have any App Idea which can solve these real-world issues. You must give it a try.
However, if you don’t want to work on these types of projects and you simply want to brush up your skills.
Then you can also create a replica of popular applications, like – Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, MX Player, and many more.
The more the number of projects you have, the more will be the chances of becoming a good Software Developer for you.
6. Find a Good Community of Software Developers
There are various advantages of having good Community Support for Software Developers.
If you are working on any project and you got any issue or error in your application that you are unable to resolve. Then community support can be very helpful for you.
There are various Software Development groups or pages in social media, like – Facebook, WhatsApp, Reddit, Discord, and many more, which you must join in.
By this, you will also get lots of inspiration from other developers, as they are working hard for many years in the field of software development.
7. Start the Freelance Work or Apply for a Job
Once you become a good software developer, there are enormous opportunities for you.
You can join the freelancing platforms, like – Fiverr or Upwork, and become a freelance Software Developer.
The freelancers are really earning huge money and depending on the number of projects you get, your earning get decided.
The other option is getting a job as a Software Developer in a company. This is also the best option for most of us who are not interested in a 9 to 5 job.
As a Software Developer, you can also do a startup and build your own business.
If you are a skilled Software Developer, then there will be enormous opportunities available for you for sure.
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