How To Become A Software Developer — Part 1

Things happen in life that we sometimes cannot explain looking forward, but looking back, we can be able to put the pieces together and make sense of it. Due to this, I would like to share based on my personal experience on how I believe anyone who wants to be a Software Developer can proceed.

First and foremost is to have a clear and ambitious reason for why you want to be a software developer. Clear and ambitious are quite subjective so everyone does not have to agree with your ideas, but ensure that your reasons are strong enough. Anyone might ask why this should be the first thing to begin with.

Well, I have seen quite a number of people who have stopped programming simply because they had or felt that it was too hard to continue, but if you have a strong why, it is easier to keep pushing than simply give up when you face an obstacle. As such, the first thing you need is a strong reason. Some reasons I have found quite discouraging are “I want to become a developer to make money or I want to be a developer to create apps”. Well, are all developers not working for this reason you might ask? Well, quite a lot of successful developers simply have all these as an output of what they have done, not this being their main focus.

Google did not start out thinking let’s make a lot of money. No, let’s connect the world with the information they need and in the best way possible was the dream and now, the money and everything they have is an output of that goal. And also about developing apps, you are not only developing apps, make sure you are solving a problem. It is better to have an app that solves people’s problems than an app that simply is on the store with no real value. Remember, it is better to have a simple app that solves people’s problems than a complex app that helps no one.

Once we have our reason in check, the next most important thing I believe you should do is to research on the language you want to learn. Yes, you want to be a master of all programming languages and that is fine, but first, you need to start somewhere. Take a week or two to consider what the internet is saying about all the programming languages and the languages suited to go along with your reason for programming. If you want to be a data scientist, Python or R might be your language, if you want to develop web apps, Javascript might be your language, if you want to develop mobile apps, Java might be your language.

Whatever area you want to focus on, take some time to understand why the language you want to choose suites you. This stage is also important because too many times, people choose languages and keep on switching once they hear about a new flavoured language that seems to solve all their problems. They switch to the language and sooner or later realize they want another language. Also when you speak to friends, you want to have a strong reason why you chose your language so anyone does not easily convince you to change the language of your choice without any fundamental reason. So take your time and see what the world says about the language. Take your time on this step as it would determine to a large extent your future as a programmer.

Thanks and God Blesss. Watch out for part 2.