Software Development Entry-level Jobs Jobs in Nigeria

What is software development?

Software development is a set of computer science activities that involves the process of creating, designing, testing, deploying and supporting software. The goal is to create ready and easy-to-use software for everyday life. On the other hand, software is the set of instructions and programs that tell a computer what and what not to do. It is the software that makes a computer programmable. 

Types of Software Development

Front-end Development

Front-end development is the part of software development that is most available to the user. It is the part that deals with building the user interface and managing client-side behaviour. It consists of the graphical elements of any application or website.

Back-end Development 

Back-end development comprises server-side behaviour, which correlates to servers, databases, application programming interfaces (APIs), and other internal structures powering the software application itself.

Full-stack Development 

Full-stack development deals with both the back-end and front-end development of a website or application. It is a combination of client-side and server-side development. 

Application Development 

Application development is about creating a software program (or a set of them) designed to perform various tasks required by a business. It contains various activities, such as designing, coding, testing, and debugging software applications. 

API Development 

API, or Application Programming Interface, refers to a set of rules and protocols used for software interaction. APIs allow different software applications to communicate and interact with each other, extending software functionality and enhancing the overall user experience.

Desktop Development 

Desktop development exclusively creates applications that run on a desktop operating system, such as Windows, Mac, or Linux. This is opposed to developers that create applications that run on mobile, tablet, or other devices. 

Some other types of software development include:

• Data Science 

• Cloud Computing Development 

• Mobile App Development 

• Software Tools Development 

• Security Software Development 

• Video Game Development 

• DevOps Engineering 

Skills needed for software development 

Programming Language

To be a software developer, you must have knowledge of programming languages. They are source code a person can write for a software program. Some of them are Javascript, HTML, CSS, Python, C++, PHP, etc. 

Data Structure and Algorithms 

A good knowledge of data structure and algorithms is at the heart of software development. This skill is required to organize massive amounts of code using the right structure and to solve a specific problem in less time and space.

Source Control

Source control helps software developers manage and store their code. A developer who is proficient in version control is in popular demand in a number of organizations.

Testing 

Every software program requires an intricate testing process before a company can release it to consumers. So, every software developer must understand the concept of unit, integration and system testing. 

Operating Systems 

A software developer should know the fundamentals and mechanisms of different operating systems. Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux are the primary operating systems for computers, while iOS and Android are two common options for mobile phones. 

Databases

Another essential skill for developers is the knowledge of working with databases. It is impossible to develop any kind of application and software for an organization without the knowledge of the enterprise database.

How do I become a software developer? 

• Decide the field and type of software development you want to venture into.

• Enhance your software development skills and learn the new ones you ought to learn. You can do this by registering for a course or even self-learning. 

• Get certifications in software development or pursue a degree in it. 

• Begin to build mini-projects that you can showcase when the time comes. 

• Apply for software development jobs in line with your field.