Software Development – What is it and what are the possible occupations?
The field of software development is very diverse, each developer requires different skills, different knowledge and different tools, depending on their job. Software development is a term that includes the complete process – planning, building and maintenance of software. Software developers are responsible for creating the software we regularly use in our daily lives – operating systems, web browsers, mobile apps, and more. The field of software development currently dominates almost every industry – health, finance, education, agriculture, transportation, etc. Software developers are in constant high demand – the Central Bureau of Statistics states that by the end of the current decade the demand will further increase by 22%, a forecast that is unmatched in other professions. In order to work in the field, there are several entry routes; self-learning, online courses, face-to-face training programs, workshops, and of course an academic degree.
People are finding themselves asking the same questions – Is this field suitable for me? Can I be a software developer? And the answer is… there is no unequivocal answer to these questions. The field of software development is diverse, each developer needs a range of skills, knowledge, and tools according to their job. To clarify further, the following lists a number of common software development positions.
Job descriptions that characterize the field of software development
- Front-end Developer – A developer responsible for the user experience and how to use the software. They will use CSS, JavaScript and HTML to create the “visible” parts of the website, application or other digital platform, and take care of the user experience.
- Back-end Developer (server-side) – A developer responsible for the software’s data and logic. They will use Java, Python, JavaScript and C++ to create the “behind the scenes” parts that run the website or application.
- Full-stack Developer – A developer responsible for both front-end and back-end – both user experience and server side. These developers are well versed in a wide variety of programming languages and technologies that allow them to build software applications from scratch.
- Mobile Developer – A developer responsible for creating applications for cell phones and tablets. They will use Java, Swift and Kotlin to develop apps for iOS and Android operating systems.
- Game Developer – A developer responsible for creating video games using a range of development languages and technologies to develop the graphics and animations of the game etc.
- Web Developer – A developer responsible for building and maintaining websites. They will use HTML, CSS and JavaScript to create the user experience on the site with languages such as PHP, Python and Ruby to create the server side that runs the site.
- Embedded Developer – A developer responsible for embedded systems that combine a hardware side and a software side designed for specific usage. They deal with the software side of the system in order to optimize the performance of the system according to the hardware platform they work with. The common languages in the field are C++, C, Assembly, etc.
It is important to know that each of these positions requires different capabilities, different knowledge in terms of its complexity, and many who are interested in working in the field of software development will find themselves in one of these positions in accordance with their capabilities and comprehension. The bottom line is that if the desire for change burns within you, and you want to enter the field of software development – do your research, study the field in depth and understand which area is best for you – for who you are and your capabilities, to integrate and embark on a fascinating and rewarding career in the most dynamic and growing industry in the world.
