What software developers do

Software developers are the minds behind some of the software you use in life and business. They’re computer programmers who come up with the concepts for, design and then build computer applications and programs.

Developers are familiar with a few programming languages and are responsible for debugging codes, as well as testing and documenting their work. There are two types of software developers.

Application software developers

Application developers work with clients and businesses to help them meet demands. They create customized software applications for desktop and mobile that automate certain business functions and boost efficiency.

These developers have to perform tests to ensure the stability of their applications and roll out updates for clients regularly. They can also be responsible for:

• Designing and producing front-end interfaces using HTML, CSS and XML
• Developing an API search engine
• Creating rich interface applications with JavaScript
• Designing and developing GUI applications with the help of HTML5
• QA testing various workflows

System software developers

System software developers build on a system level. They’re information technology experts who design software to interact with hardware, such as servers. Some of their responsibilities may include:

• Managing Unix, Microsoft or other servers to ensure that data is accessible and secure
• Developing an API interface, so users can better access legacy sources to ensure the free flow of data
• Using JavaScript and HTML to handle request validations
• Web content management system updates
• Optimizing SQL queries for better data extraction

Software developers are proficient in several languages, including Java/JavaScript, SQL and Python. On top of their technical proficiency, they need to be mindful and observant of details. Developers also have to be great problem solvers and have the ability to gather and interpret data from a variety of sources.

Why software development is important

Whether you’re in the B2B or B2C sector, you have to run your business on multiple fronts. Not only does it mean being able to analyze data, but it also means taking your brand into account. Businesses need software development for:

• Brand visibility. Mobile ad spending is starting to outpace desktop spending, and that means brand visibility on mobile is essential. Software developers, specifically application developers, help companies create the necessary online assets that ensure customers see who they’re dealing with at every step.
• Knowing what customers think of your brand. This involves the positive and the negative. Having an in-house platform where customers can share their opinions about your brand and products is a great way to interact and collect data.
• Direct communication with clients. Chatbots are useful direct communication tools, and more than 50% of companies plan to invest in creating them. Developers can build and customize these tools and integrate them with your company’s messaging and ERP platform for more seamless interactions.

What do software engineers do?

Software engineers are engineering or computer science professionals who combine engineering principles and programming. Because they’re involved in the entire building process, they’re tasked with ensuring that software elements work well together within the system.

According to the Journal of Systems and Software, seven basic principles guide software engineering:

1. Use phased life-cycle planning. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) describes each phase and deliverable requirements.
2. Perform continuous validation. This is where engineers flesh out errors early. The later they’re found, the costlier it becomes.
3. Maintain disciplined product control. Developers need to accommodate changes throughout but maintain tighter version control to avoid strain.
4. Use modern programming practices (MPP). Along with the fundamentals, MPP helps produce more understandable code that’s easier to maintain, integrate and test.
5. Maintain clear accountability for results. Each team member has a clear understanding of their responsibility for an object and its performance.
6. Better and fewer people. Project scheduling can’t be solved by adding more people or loading the project up with more people early. Use who you need, and phase out underperformers.
7. Commitment to improving the process. Use data and analysis to improve bottlenecks and overall performance throughout different projects.

Types of software engineers

Software engineering is a vast field, and what you need to be done dictates the kind of engineer you need. Some of the more prominent types include:

• Front-End Engineer. These engineers specialize in creating user interfaces and focus on the visual elements, fixing bugs and user experience (UX).
• Back-End Engineer. They focus on the core logic and performance of the application while taking scalability and integration into account.
• Full Stack Engineer. These engineers handle both front-end and back-end, which means that they create a full application on their own.
• QA Engineer. A quality analyst, also known as a software engineer in test, is the person who writes the software that tests for quality. QA ensures the product or processes run as expected.
• DevOps Engineer. DevOps engineers build and maintain back-end software and distributed systems, such as database servers and application infrastructure.
• Security Engineer. These engineers use their ethical hacking skills to test the security of software systems for vulnerabilities that need to be fixed.

Software developer vs software engineer: 5 key differences

When you’re coming up with a job description for a software engineer vs developer, it’s important to understand how each role is unique.

1. Software developers work within a narrow scope. Developers tend to work on a piece of a project. For example, one developer works on the network part, another on the application and another on the server. Their scopes are narrower, which may allow them to be more creative with their problem-solving.
2. Software engineers work from a specific philosophy. While they can do everything a developer does, engineers work from a design philosophy rooted in their discipline and the guiding principles.
3. The developer works with customers. Developers start with the customer in mind. They interact with clients, understand what they need and start their process of figuring out how to bridge the requirements.
4. Engineers are all about the big picture. Software engineers are all about the overall structure of the system.
5. Engineers solve problems early. They like to solve problems early because those that pop up at a later stage tend to require an expensive trade-off that compromises too much.

A software developer takes care of the individual components of a product, and the software engineer is more about crafting a solution to ensure those individual parts fit together as required.

Why businesses need these professionals

In the technology landscape, software developers are considered carpenters. They know how to craft and create the specific programs needed for the whole.

Software engineers, on the other hand, are the builders who make sure the entire structure is sound and can stand up for the long term. The overall business need for both comes from:

• Emerging technologies. Between 5G, augmented reality and machine learning, businesses have an explosion of technological options to choose from. The process of choosing and then implementing that choice requires someone with the expertise to research and navigate this path.
• Being forced to move online. This highlighted the need for organizations to reinforce their infrastructure to support remote living and working. Having skilled software developers and engineers ensures products and services are operating optimally.
• Need for better customer engagement. Not only can engineers and developers increase the company’s list of loyal customers, but they can also facilitate smarter marketing strategies that build customer engagement. They tie all the platforms together, creating a single universe for customers to accomplish their tasks. That’s the type of convenience customers want.
• Not enough supply to meet demand. As ironic as it sounds, the concept of supply and demand makes the need stronger. The outlook for software developer vs engineer roles outpaces average job growth across all professions because many businesses recognize that they must address technology trends to survive.

Developer vs engineer: top qualities to look for

While both software professionals must have excellent analytical skills and solid technical expertise that includes experience with different methodologies, such as Kanban and Agile, some qualities define each separately.

Four qualities of an effective software engineer

1. Continuous growth. Continuous learning means being more adaptable. Boot camps and conferences are just some of the learning opportunities that software engineers engage in as a matter of upskilling and staying on top of new techniques.
2. Business acumen. While having an MBA isn’t critical to being an effective software engineer, they have to understand how the system they’re building matters to the customer. This means understanding customer personas and collecting user feedback, as well as studying KPIs and metrics.
3. Critical thinking. Problems abound. That requires someone who’s able to analyze and break down the most complex issues into smaller, more manageable chunks.
4. Collaboration. As a matter of business, software engineers need to collaborate with other technical and nontechnical teams with ease. Being able to navigate across different structures is a valuable leadership skill.

Four qualities of a top software developer

1. Speed and productivity. Like software engineers, developers have to stay on top of the latest trends. Those who take the time to understand the latest tools can work faster and more efficiently on their assigned projects.
2. End-user focus. Developers want to understand how their product affects the end-user and how it adds value.
3. Time management. Software development is a project management exercise. Developers need to be able to manage leadership expectations, adhere to best practices and meet deliverable milestones.
4. Ability to ask the right questions. To figure out how their project fits in the grand scheme, they have to ask the right questions. Creating a clearer, more concise picture helps them get the errors and problems out of the way from the beginning.

The line between software engineering and development is often blurred. One of the best ways to identify which software professional you need to hire is through business analysis. This way, you can identify the skills and competencies your organization needs to fulfill its goals.