How to Improve Software Developer Skills

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How to Improve Software Developer Skills – Guide

Studies show that the efficiency of an amazing developer is several times that of a typical developer and several times that of a sub-optimal developer. It’s no big surprise that the best in the field of software development often receive bigger raises, advancements, and the opportunity to handle high-profile projects. What does it take to go from great to amazing? The following are six ways to become a better, faster developer.

How to Improve software developer skills

read books

One of the most effective ways to improve your software development skills is through continuous study. There are thousands of books and resources written by some of the smartest developers the world has to offer, and all you have to do is study the material. These types of books can teach you everything you need to know about all aspects of software development. They can also help you discover some new tips and tricks you may not have known about it before.

It’s important to note that books are a great way to gain some in-depth knowledge of software development; however, they may not be as effective if you don’t know what to learn first. That’s why it’s crucial to have some direction first. Once you have that, you can find books that can educate you on the subject. An excellent book suggestion is Robert C. Martin’s Clean Code.

Have your code reviewed

Reviewing your code can really help you improve your skills as a software developer. It presents you with an opportunity to learn and discover places where you can make improvements. In order for your code to be reviewed, it is best to approach someone who is very skilled in the area and who has been a developer for much longer than you. Ask this person to be as detailed and descriptive as possible when reviewing your code, but you might want to prepare for some painful feedback. If you can do that, don’t be discouraged, as it’s all part of the growing process. If you don’t have anyone you can approach to review your code, you can alternatively contribute to open source projects and your code can be reviewed there. The kind of feedback you get from here usually directs you to new techniques and skills you should develop, which you can learn from books.

record a diary

Keeping a journal may not seem like the most conventional way to improve your software development skills, but it is for your benefit. In your journal, you can write down the difficulties you face with your coding, what you learned from them, and how you overcame those challenges. To do this, you may have to keep two journals. Ideally, the first journal should record what you are working on each hour of the day. In this journal, you can also jot down notes you made while working or any ideas you had during the day.

Doing this puts your work in perspective as it helps you compare what you wanted to achieve with what you actually achieved. For your second journal, you can write down all the things you’ve learned about software development since you started. This journal can be updated regularly to reflect all the new things you learn as you go along. It can also serve as a reminder for you whenever you forget something important you learned in the past.

Study the original code of large projects

As a developer, you probably have projects that you admire that were executed by someone else. To develop your skills, you can study these types of ‘gold standard’ projects. You can select an open source project in a field that you like and analyze all aspects and details.

There are many great projects out there that you can learn from, and all you have to do is browse GitHub or Bitbucket to discover them. Reading projects like these can teach you a lot, especially if the project is in an area that interests you. .

Work on side projects

Sometimes the work you do in your day job might not push you enough to grow as a developer. That’s why taking on side projects is often encouraged by young developers looking to improve their skills. Side projects are a great way to improve your methods and bring up problems you don’t normally encounter at work. Any side project you work on doesn’t have to be complicated or consume a significant amount of your time on a daily basis. It might just be a fun little job for you to explore, but you would learn new things in the process. Also, you may decide to open up your side projects, and this could be an opportunity for you to grow your portfolio.

learn a new language

This may seem confusing, but learning a new programming language can help you become a better programmer. This can help you expand your scope of knowledge, which then develops your skills. It is advisable to learn a language that differs in paradigm from the one you use most. For example, if you program in JavaScript, you can learn Haskell, as they are quite different. A good way to start learning a new language is to attend one-day conference workshops.

find a mentor

You can learn from someone who is more experienced than you in software development. Doing so is an effective way to choose up new skills, discover new ways to face challenges and grow as a general developer. It’s been proven that working alongside smart people can help you work smarter, so why not have a specific person who acts as a mentor to you and who you can turn to for advice?

Alternatively, your mentor doesn’t have to be someone you know directly. You can also have a virtual mentor. For example, it could be the host of a podcast you enjoy listening to, who is very talented, or the author of a book you read often. The point is, your mentor can be someone you have a personal relationship with or someone who inspires you with their work.

Listen to podcasts and read post mortems

It might come as a surprise to you, but there are a number of high-quality software development platforms you can listen to. This is a practical (and inexpensive) way for you to learn about new things and stay up to date on the latest developments in your industry. The best thing about podcasts is that you can listen to them anywhere, whether it’s going to work or preparing lunch. Another resource you can explore is post mortems. There are many software project war stories on the internet and in books for you to read. These post mortems can enlighten and educate you on ways to improve your work. Not to mention, they are a lot of fun to read.

Start a craft guild

You can start a crafting guild as a way to grow as a developer. A software development craftsman’s guild is a group of people with common interests (in this case, software development) that meet regularly. Typically, the group meets to discuss specific issues or make presentations. You can start your guild with a few members of your team or co-workers, and everyone can get together to discuss discoveries, challenges, problems, or new and interesting things you’ve come across while working. In this way, everyone is learning and teaching each other, which can promote collective growth.

get involved

You can choose a few things from this list to do simultaneously and religiously to get involved. This can help you delve into a specific subject you want to learn. For example, you can listen to podcasts on the way to work, work on a side project outside of work hours, and ask a supervisor or coworker to review your code for you. While involvement is great, it’s also important to make sure you don’t overdo it as it can cause a meltdown and leave you in a state of fatigue. Learning and improving is important as a software developer, but so is pace.

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