Hello! Regardless of how you got here, I’m glad you are here because that means we have a common interest: coding and software development.
Perhaps you are a computer science or information systems student looking for answers to your assignment or tips for doing a school project. Or maybe a software developer for a company that markets software or creates programs for your in-house use. Or, you are from another discipline simply curious about software development.
Whatever your circumstance, you are welcome to stay here for as long as possible. There are many reasons for staying here, one of which is you will be in the company of other individuals with different backgrounds who share a common passion for software development. Our blog articles on software development will also be informative, insightful, and interesting.
As a community, we can work together to uplift software development in many ways. We can start by debunking the stereotypes of software developers.
Stereotypes of Software Developers
Many people have created a persona for software developers. These are some of the descriptions they believe about us.
Intelligent, Smart, and Tech-Crazed
Some might say these are flattering descriptions, but not when they are used to mean “nerdy”.
Sure, it takes a certain degree of intelligence to program, but no one is born tech-savvy. The ability to program is a product of a painstaking effort to learn about programming. It’s no different from how accountants or auto mechanics got their jobs.
They are only good for coding
While it may be true that developers are responsible for the coding, that’s not all they do. They communicate with their team and the customers to ensure that what they do is relevant. This means they also need to have a good understanding of the process for which the software is intended.
They lack social skills
On the contrary, software developers have excellent interpersonal skills to get things done. These skills extend beyond work; they certainly know how to have fun. So, are software developers like ordinary mortals who unwind on the weekend? Definitely!
Coding vs. Programming
With stereotypes out of the way, let’s tackle another item that seems to confuse people. Many people use “coding” and “programming” interchangeably. Although they are closely related, coding is different from programming.
Coding is using a programming language to write code that both computers and humans understand. On the other hand, programming is processing the written code to develop a program for a specific purpose based on specified requirements. Coding requires less expertise than programming because coding produces only a small segment of a program, which is a user-ready application.
However, do not be fooled into believing that coding is a walk in the park because it is not.
You need to learn the basics of computer science. You do not need to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Newbies in the field only have to scour the internet for online courses and are sure to find one that suits their needs.
Learning is one thing; applying what you have learned is another. During your first few attempts at coding and programming, you will be experiencing bumps along the way. Do not be disheartened. Even the best coders and programmers fumbled their way to excellence.
Coding and programming are not intended to be a one-person feat. You cannot develop an awesome app, much less a standard program, without any help.
Not all coders and programmers are fortunate to belong to a team of rock star coders and programmers to help them when they get stumped. But that should not be a problem. You can always rely on social coding., that is, getting help from social platforms dedicated to people involved in software development.
And that is where we come in. What we have shared with you is just the tip of the iceberg. We can share so much more with you, and we would be happy to learn from you, too.
Welcome to the fascinating world of software development!