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Anatomy of a Software Development Role: Developer

  • June 9, 2005
  • By Robert Bogue
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In a previous article, The Many faces of the Developer , I walked through some of the different types of developers that there are - different specializations that developers have worked on. In this article we'll take a look at what the job is in general, how to get it, and what to do once you have it. (If you've not been following the series, you should read Cracking the Code: Breaking Down the Software Development Roles.)

What is the developer?

Ask any developer and they will tell you that the heart and soul of the development process is the developer role. Developers are often the huddled masses yearning to create software. They are the workhorses of the whole system creating the code that the other roles only influence. (The exceptions are the development lead and solutions architects who write small amounts of code from time-to-time.) Click here to see how the SA fits within the full organizational chart.

From a technical perspective the developer is at the most basic level expected to be able to translate algorithms and technical specifications into code that can be executed on a computer system. The language syntax and structures of code must be understood. The language syntax for writing programs is typically the easiest skill for a developer to learn. There are many books, training programs, and tools to teach you the syntax of the language.

But knowing the syntax of a programming language is only the basic requirement to be a programmer. What offsets a developer from this are a number of additional skills. Additionally, the differentiating skills that separate the good developers from the typical developer are many. However, some of the important ones are below:

  • Developing Understanding - Nearly anyone can blindly follow the instructions laid out for them, however, good developers make it a point to understand what they're doing so that they can identify potential issues and opportunities for improvement at every turn.
  • Structures and Algorithms Mastery - In software development there isn't any one "right" way to do things since the same problem can be solved dozens of ways. However, there are ways that are "more right". Mastering structures and algorithms means that the problem is solved in the most straightforward manner no matter what the language. Algorithms are step-by-step patterns that explain the process of performing an action. Structures relate to this by being the containers for the information that is being transformed by the action. When woven together they form the fabric of an application.
  • Specialization - As mentioned in the article The Many faces of the Developer specialization demonstrates initiative to learn more and to grow which can help to separate a developer from the pack.

Getting Started as a Developer

Getting started as a developer may seem like a daunting task. Developers must have that prerequisite syntactical and algorithm skill to begin their professional journey. The question I most frequently get asked by aspiring developers trying to get started is: "What language is the right language to start with?" The answer I most frequently give is "It doesn't matter." Of course, it does matter. I wouldn't want to send someone off to learn COBOL or FORTRAN or ADA or any of the other languages that haven't really got any real potential for new developers, however, most often the question is whether they should learn C++, C#, VB.NET, or Java. The reality is that any of these languages and associated development platforms has a sufficient following to allow someone to find a job. If you're trying to get started, what language you pick won't be the primary issue in most cases. Although some specialties will gravitate to specific languages the cases where this will be at issue are few Learning the language itself and developing some experience with it will be.

Getting that precious first experience can be key in becoming an employed developer. Despite the initial reaction that there isn't any way to get experience without experience it is easy to find places willing to let you get experience. You'll find that clubs, churches, and other not-for-profit organizations are always looking for someone to donate their expertise. It's a great way to get some experience without having a paying job.

What's in their toolbox?

Developers have a relatively limited toolbox. They are expected to be able to use the development environment including compiler and debugger for the language or languages they've chosen as well as a handful of the common tools that every member of a development team is expected to know how to use. These tools are typically integrated into one platform that functions as both a compiler and debugger. This is typically the same tool that was used to learn the language so learning a development environment isn't typically a big challenge.

In some organizations a basic familiarity with the automated testing tools is also required. This would include unit level testing tools designed to test basic code assumptions as well as tools designed to perform system level tests. Generally testing tools are primarily operated by others, however, developers may need to activate scripts written by others to verify that their changes haven't adversely impacted the build.

Developers who have specialized may find that they need to learn special tools as well. For instance, an install developer will have to learn about the installer software being used. The database developer will need to have use of database management tools.

Where's the position heading anyway?

Another very popular question I get asked is "What about offshore development?" For those in the US, that means the movement of developer positions to countries where companies charge less for coding. In those countries programmers require lower salaries to sustain a good living. While this is a concern for programmers, the reality is that the demand for developers is approximately flat according to the ITAA 2004 survey of the IT workforce (link: ITAA workforce survey). Although the outlook for new developers joining the ranks may seem dim it's important to realize that programmers represent the largest portion of the IT workspace and that positions and opportunities will develop just through attrition and upward movement.

Although there are a number of successful off-shoring case studies there may be nearly as many case studies about how off shoring may not work. The concept has been around for more than a decade and programmers remain one of the largest groups of IT workers in the US. Despite the "gloom and doom" picture that some people like to spout the reality is much closer to a optimistically cautious view.

Once we accept that there are going to be enough development positions for everyone it's important to investigate the trends that will be impacting the developer role going forward and how that can mean.

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