What is a Software Developer?
Software developers invent the technologies that we sometimes take for granted every day. For instance, that app that rings, sings or buzzes you out of a deep sleep in the morning? A software developer helped design that. And when you roll into the office and turn on your computer, clicking and scrolling through social media, music and your personal calendar – software developers had a big hand in shaping those, too. You might spend your lunch shopping, and before you make that big purchase you check your bank account balance using your phone. Later, you're cooking a new recipe from that great app your friend told you about. As you look over the course of your day, you come to see that software developers are the masterminds behind the technologies you now can't imagine living without.
The best software developers are creative and have the technical expertise to carry out innovative ideas. You might expect software developers to sit at their desks designing programs all day – and they do, but their job involves many more responsibilities. They could spend their days working on a client project from scratch and writing new code. But they could also be tasked with maintaining or improving the code for programs that are already up and running. Software developers also check for bugs in software. And although the job does involve extreme concentration and chunks of uninterrupted time, software developers have to collaborate with others, including fellow developers, management or clients. Developers are often natural problem solvers who possess strong analytical skills and the ability to think outside the box.
Software developers are in high demand right now. They're employed in a range of industries, including computer systems design, manufacturing and finance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 30 percent employment growth for software developers between 2016 and 2026, which is much faster than average for all occupations. In that period, an estimated 253,400 jobs will open up.
