So You Want To Be A Software Developer?!
You have decided that you want to get into this programming thing. Maybe you are just curious because you have heard you can make a lot of money. Maybe you want to develop an app , obviously to make a lot of money. Maybe, and let's just be honest, you just want to make a lot of money. Either way, you want to know “How do I get started?”. Now I understand that everyone is not all about the money but I also am not ignorant of the fact that it plays a role in what motivates us to take on new ventures.
Before we continue let me warn you, that although there is huge earning potential in software development, if this is the only thing that motivates you, you will likely not succeed.
What is a Software Developer?
A software developer, programmer, coder, etc. is a person that writes the code or set of instructions in a coding language that gets a computer to do something. Software development is the development of applications or as the title implies, software. Think of the applications we interact with on a daily:
- Candy Crush (maybe?)
- Google Maps
- Tender (don't be ashamed)
I know what you are thinking, "I am going to develop the next Tik Tok!". Whoa there! Remember, this is an article about getting started, but I appreciate your enthusiasm.
We must be realistic and realize that as a new developer, you will not be writing the next Twitter or Snap Chat. But the application you will be able to write will have functionality and most importantly will be a stepping stone into developing more full-scale applications later in your career. But, we all have to start somewhere, do we not?
What does it take to be a Software Developer?
I could sum this question up in one word; Passion. As simple as it sounds, it really is the x-factor in whether you have potential success as a developer or not. Although it is a rewarding and fruitful career, software development is hard. You are learning another language for gosh sakes. How many of you can speak another language fluently after having gone through that Spanish class for years throughout high school? The select few who still can or even the ones who excelled at the time did so because they genuinely enjoyed and/or was intrigued by the learning. This holds true in software development, you need to be passionate about learning, growing, and problem-solving. This is the only thing that will allow you to persevere through the rollercoaster that is software development.
How do I become a software developer?
There are many avenues you can take to get into being a software developer. Today, a four-year degree is no longer the only way and in most cases is not the best way to break into the industry. But it is an option. The benefit of having a four-year degree is that it gives you the theory behind many of the development practices. Aside from that, it is difficult for me to get behind the value of a college degree compared to the price of College. So let us move on.
Other avenues include the popular Software Development boot camps. Boot camps have become a huge way to get into the industry over the past 10 years. These programs usually last anywhere from 4 to 15 weeks and will expose you to many types of technologies and software development languages. Often many of these boot camps come with a hefty price tag. There are, however, many scholarships and sponsorships that could assist you if this is your route. Whatever the cost, you must view this as an investment in YOU. The biggest benefit to boot camps is the structure in training and the network at your disposal.
Speaking of networking, an alternative to boot camps is workshops and meetups. These are typically informal, free, or lower-cost means to acquire valuable information. Centered around the community aspect, this is a way for experienced developers and new developers to connect and grow the technology community. Not only do these become great ways to learn new information they also are a great way to network and find potential opportunities.
Lastly, you can do it all by yourself. We live in the age of information and there are numerous resources at your fingertips. There are books, blogs, videos, online training, and a host of other resources geared to teaching you the foundations of software development. I often find myself speaking with individuals wanting to learn more about software development and how they can get in. My first question is always, “What have you done on your own?”. It baffles me how many times people tell me nothing or gives me some excuse for why they have not whipped out their mobile device and Googled something. We live in the age of information where everything thing is literally at your fingertips and you want to tell me you have done nothing? The nerve!
Let me calm down and share these steps in getting started on your journey to development:
- Research software development. What is it? Why is it? Why should you have any interest at all?
- Where is it going?
- Research what a developer does
- Research programming languages like Python, C#, Java, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Know the difference between frontend development and backend development because this will guide your learning and the path you should take
- Choose one language to learn
- Develop a learning plan that considers the length of time you want to do this, your expected outcomes, and how much time you can dedicate daily
- Code something every day - even if it is only for 15 minutes (HackerRank is a great resource)
- Find a tutorial or book to get you started
- Research Github and store your code there
- Update your LinkedIn
- Stay Discipline!
Book Resources:
- Learn C# in a day and Learn it well by Jamie Chan
- Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes
- C# For Dummies
- Java for Dummies
- HTML and CSS Design and Build Websites by John Duckett
Websites
If you aren't already looking up any of these things then I must question “Are you really serious about this?” Remember, you need to be passionate about being a developer! That goes with anything, if you aren’t passionate about anything, then why waste your time? Go make it happen! #DevelopYourself