A career in software development can be extremely rewarding. You get to do what you love most while being generously compensated. You might be wondering what it truly takes to be a good software developer. Just like in any other field, there are some qualities that will differentiate you from the rest which will also give you a competitive advantage. Companies are always looking for unique attributes when recruiting software developers from Vanhack or other sources. In order to stand out from the competition, here are some of the qualities that you should possess as a software developer.
Curiosity
You can never be a great programmer if you’re not curious. It will be a trait that will be important throughout your career as a software developer. Being curious means that you’re willing to learn new things. The knowledge acquisition process never stops no matter how experienced you might be. You could be curious about how a particular program works. There are some programmers that will not rest until they uncover the workings of a particular system. Top-notch software engineers are inquisitive and are always question themselves and how things work. Asking questions doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a pessimist.
Technical Skills
As a developer, you need to be competent in what you’re doing. This means having the necessary technical skills that are required for the job. You can’t expect to write exceptional code when you don’t have the right skills set. You can view skills as one of the most important elements in the puzzle.
Speed and Productivity
A good developer is one that thinks on their feet and doesn’t take months to complete projects. Such a person is a good team player and puts in productive effort in their work. There has been a challenge over the years when it comes to measuring the productivity of a software developer. One of the ways you can ensure that you’re getting the right candidate is by testing the skills of the developer. It could be a paid project. You want to gauge the quality of code and how long it will take them to complete the task. It should be noted that a concise and understandable code is far more superior to one that is written fast. A good programmer will need to find the right balance between speed and quality.
Awareness
A good programmer will know when to code and when not to. This comes with a high level of awareness on the part on the part of the programmer. Awareness will be evident when looking at the risk tolerance threshold. This is a crucial trait because you will be required to refactor live systems on a regular basis. A lot of things could go wrong and the programmer will need to carry out an honest assessment of the situation.
Intuition
There are developers that will struggle to come up with working solutions. To others, problem-solving will come naturally. This is because they’ve developed a habit of finding out what works and what is not necessary. There are companies like Wilde IT Softwareentwicklung that works closely with clients in coming up with solutions for some of the common problems. A good software developer understands architecture and algorithms. They know what it takes to come up with working solutions.
Adaptability
There are a lot of variables involved in software development. What might have worked yesterday might be sufficient to address the current challenges. A good developer is adaptable. They’re not stuck on the same techniques when they’re clearly not effective.
Positive Attitude
Things don’t always work as expected. That is why it is required that a developer has a positive attitude all the time because there are bound to setbacks on any project they could be working on. It could take a couple of trials for the software to run effectively.
Communication Skills
You will be required to communicate regularly since you might find yourself working on a couple of collaborative projects. As much as programmers are known to be nerds, learning how to communicate effectively is a skill that everyone should have. This ensures that everything is clear and there are no misunderstandings with the project
Conclusion
Being a good programmer is all about constant improvement. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new. Having a know it all attitude won’t be beneficial in any way if you’re looking to be a good coder. It is important to have a mentor, especially if you’re just starting out. You get to learn from the best which will be helpful in your career endeavors.