Going beyond the code: Things developers should care about Read more
Software has become a key factor in the success or failure of a business. Every industry is going digital, and with most of the world already “plugged in,” their software needs to be fast, easy to use, bug free and useful. Development shops are the powerhouses to creating this software, but be successful, a developer’s job has to involve more than just code.
“Developers are responsible for taking clients’ wishes and making them come to life, taking users’ needs and coming up with a solution for them,” said Alyssa Nicoll, content developer at Code School.
Because software touches so many facets of a user’s life, just looking at it from a technology perspective is a recipe for failure; there are so many other things developers have to look at to make sure they get it right, according to Marc Anderson, cofounder and president of Sympraxis Consulting.
“It doesn’t work to have somebody toss you requirements and then you go away for six months to deliver something back,” he said. “It won’t be what they wanted, and it won’t be what they asked for.”
On top of writing code, developers have to juggle testing code, meeting business requirements, keeping up with new technologies, and making users happy. Here is what they should focus on in order to help the business and themselves become successful.
Their passions
This is an interesting time for developers. There are more software development jobs than there are developers, so they have an advantage when it comes to the job market. “In general, there is a lot of prosperity within the industry in terms of low unemployment and a lot of career choices,” said John Basso, cofounder and CIO of Amadeus Consulting. “Developers have a lot more choice now, and so they can align their job with what their passions are.”
According to Basso, the ability to align your passions with your career will not only help you become a better developer, but will also help you serve your business better and make the business more successful.
“You get into this rhythm of doing specifically what either the client needs, your boss needs or your business needs, but sometimes you have to take a step back and ask why you are writing that code,” he said. “Then, once you figure out why, there might be an opportunity to really go in and not just write the specific code you are being asked to write in terms of solving a specific business problem, but figuring out a better way to solve the problem.”
Read more: http://sdtimes.com/going-beyond-code-things-developers-care/#ixzz495yDKFkK
