Master a Programming Language
This is where you should start from. You will never be software developer if you have not mastered any programming language. But, the biggest question is, which programming language should I learn? With the many programming languages, you may find it difficult to choose one language that you should learn This explains why most people try to spread their wings by learning several programming at a time.
The easiest way is to start by learning one language. Dig deeper into that language before you start exploring others.
Also, Read: Best Courses to Learn Major Programming Languages
Learn Object-Oriented Design
This is one of the things that most newbies avoid talking about. To most, it seems to disrupt their minds from the newbie-friendly procedural programming. If you are aspiring o be a software developer, you have no other option but to become an expert in object-oriented design.
Object-oriented design entails refining long and sophisticated programs into well-structured classes and objects. Each class and each object should have the specific role that it should perform.
Also, Read: What skills are required to become an Ethical Hacker?
Code Structuring
A software developer or software engineer should be skilled in structuring codes. Assuming that you have learned a particular programming language, you should go ahead and learn how to structure it properly. The skill entails writing clean and clear codes that can be easily understood.
The importance of structuring a code cannot be underestimated. This skill has numerous benefits both to you as a developer and to other people. It is easy to read through a well-structured code. As a developer, there is a high chance that you will be working with other developers. Other team members will understand your code especially if it is well-structured.
Data Structures and Algorithm
Data structures and algorithm is something that you must have encountered when pursuing computer science or any other IT course at the university. Algorithms are simply methods for solving technical problems such as programming.
There are many different algorithms that you need to learn. Each algorithm has its unique properties. However, all of them need to address certain programming issues such as speed, memory management and the type of data that they can manipulate.
As a developer, you need to know when to use a certain algorithm and how you should use it. You should also be able to write your own variation of an algorithm with the purpose of solving your specific problem.
You should also learn different data structures and methods of manipulating them. Some of the data structures that developers interact with include hashes, linked list, vectors, trees, and sets.
Master a Development Platform
Simply defined, a development platform is a specific environment on which the application that you are developing will run. It has its specific features that can fully support the specific software that you are building. As a developer, you should be able to master the ins and outs of a specific development platform.
If you are planning to develop an application for a Windows OS, ensure that you fully understand all the features of this operating system. This skill is vital because, in the course of your career, you will be required to develop applications for specific platforms. Master the development tools and frameworks that should be used for specific platforms.
Knowledge on Database
The database is one thing that no developer can avoid. Regardless of the language that you are specializing on, you are likely to interact with different databases throughout your career as a developer. This means that it is mandatory for a developer to learn and understand different database technologies.
Apart from knowing types of databases, you should be able to perform some basic tasks on a database. These include creating a database and manipulating data.
Master the Frameworks
Learning a programming language is not enough. Go ahead and learn how to use its frameworks. A Framework is a set of libraries that are used for developing an application of different platform Frameworks simplify the coding task and that’s why a developer must learn how to use one or two frameworks for a particular programming language.
With these techniques skills combined with a number of soft skills, expect to have a stellar career as a software developer.
