With the advancement of technology and the widespread availability of the internet, there are more employment options than ever before. Devices and machines that haven’t long existed now require multiple professionals from different fields to run smoothly.
Few sectors are as crucial in the technological age as that of software development. Every app and program the average person’s uses daily will have a team of software developers working on computers to thank for its existence.
Software development aims to develop, employ, and support software and is vital to most technology, such as PCs and phones. Due to the huge demand for software developers across a range of sectors, they are extremely sought after, making it a great career choice.
The broad field is then usually split into two categories, software application developers and systems software developers. Whilst the former will design the apps themselves, the latter will create the operation systems on which they run.
The History of Software Development
Software development has its roots in England, shortly after the end of WW2. The Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine, nicknamed Baby, is credited as being the world’s first electronic store-program computer.
Although extremely underwhelming in its capacity compared to modern standards, Baby contained all the elements essential to contemporary computers. Designer William Tube had never intended for it to be a practical product and it was instead more of an exhibition.
The little machine’s most impressive feat was its ability to correctly calculate the highest proper divisor of 2 to the power of 18. Developers inscribed 17 instructions to accomplish this, with the process taking 52 minutes and involving 3.5 million operations in total.
Having produced a program to accomplish this, the field of software development was born.
The Many Industries of Software Development
Those who aren’t exactly sure about what software development is may not appreciate how indispensable it is in the modern age. There are countless industries that rely on software developers and many companies either have a team or hire freelance.
Even businesses not involved with technology will require software developers to produce their apps and websites, such as the healthcare industry. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and even playing poker on your mobile device are all possible because of software development.
Socializing and Teamwork
Despite the mainstream perception of software development as a solitary career, the reality is that it’s a social field with teamwork encouraged. A successful development team relies on its various components working together in order to produce an unanimously satisfactory design.
It’s extremely rewarding to develop a product that is greater than the sum of its parts, which is essential in software development. There will also be plenty of opportunity to work independently and from home once a clear vision has been established.
Less experienced software developers will often help their more experienced colleagues to identify coding issues due to its complexity.
Problem Solving
A talent for problem solving is one of the most valuable skills that a software developer can have, this skill is often developed from an early age through playing video games via a console or simply just games with friends at school. During the initial stages, the software engineer must work out how to solve a user’s problems as well as the intricacies of the work itself.
Oftentimes, a single line of incorrect code will jeopardize an app’s function ability and good problem-solving skills will help identify the problem. Despite the frustration they cause, such issues make a successful product wholly more satisfying.
Salary and Versatility
Another compelling benefit to software development is its potential to earn money and the job security offered. The average salary for a software engineer in the US is over $100,000 dollars and high demand guarantees employment.
Furthermore, employment of software developers is set to increase by 21% by 2028, more than quadruple the national average.
The versatility of the sectors further increases the potential to earn money. Software engineers have the luxury of being able to choose to work freelance from their PC or as part of a software development company.
Private work is also an option, and it’s not uncommon for professionals to develop their own software or pursue private ventures.
Educational Resources
Software development is a job that can be learned at home and there is an abundance of educational resources available online. Many developers are self-taught, having used online material and plenty of practice to reach a professional level.
There are also multiple languages and different ways in which to code. Although a beginner may find one coding language boring, there may be another to engage your curiosity.
Creativity
It’s not uncommon for software developers to use their jobs as a creative outlet. From designing the aesthetics of the product to the code on which it runs, designing software encourages creativity.
Those with an eye for music seem particularly well suited for the industry, with reading music often being compared to code. Furthermore, anyone with enough patience to learn how to read music via a PC will need to show determination when first learning to read code.
Software Development is a Thriving Industry
It goes without saying that the contemporary technological age has broadened career options immeasurably. Technology’s complexity means that any technological product has various components that require their own expertise.
The importance of software development in today’s technological age cannot be overstated. Almost every single company relies on the internet to operate, which is only possible due to software engineers.
Not only is the work itself engaging with many benefits, but there is also potential to earn a comfortable living. The importance of the sector makes industry professionals in very high demand.