The software development industry is rapidly evolving. New technologies, trends and practices emerge every day and it can be hard for software developers to keep up with the speed. While software developers are aware of the need to be equipped with the different emerging skills and trends, and to keep up with the technological advancements, it is easier to handle software development projects as a team. This trend is becoming increasingly common as it allows developers to assemble a team with diverse skills to work on a single objective.
This blog highlights some of the top skills and qualities a good software development team should have in any offshore software development company.
Excellent Communication
While software development involves applying your knowledge and skills to develop software products, the success of any software development project is dependent on how effectively the team and the client can communicate. A good software development team should be able to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with their client, to understand the goals and nature of the software product to be developed, and for overall success of the project.
A software developer spends more time communicating with the client than doing the actual coding. If the communication is inefficient, the project may take longer than necessary to develop and the end product may not align with the goals and objectives of the client.
Technical Skills
Your team should comprise software developers with the top technical skills for a software developer. With the rapid evolution of technology, there exist many tools, platforms, coding languages and frameworks that software developers need to be conversant with. Given it is practically impossible to learn and master all the skills, having a team made up of developers with varied and specialized skills enriches the value and conduct of a software development project.
According to the top custom software development Singapore companies, Here are some of the top technical skills software developers should have include:
- Programming languages: Knowledge and mastery of at least one programming language is essential for any software developer. However, it is now becoming increasingly important to diversify and have knowledge of at least two or three programming languages. Some of the essential programming languages used to develop today’s top technologies and software products include JavaScript, SQL, Python, Java, HTML/CSS, PHP, C, and C++, among others.
- Text Editors: Every programmer works with a text editor. There are several options available out there. Knowledge of the options and mastery of a preferred text editor like learning keyboard shortcuts is essential in improving your productivity as a developer.
- Data Structures and Algorithms: In addition to your coding skills, knowledge of data structures and algorithms is essential for software developers. Mastery of this skill proves that you are capable of analyzing data and creating solutions by organizing the data into useful formats.
- Integrated Development Environments: Just like text editors, developers have varied preferences and options for IDEs. IDEs are environments where you can write, edit, compile and debug your code. Using these environments can help speed up work as different IDEs come with specific features fit for particular programming languages. For instance, if you prefer C#, C or C++, Code::Blocks and Visual Studio are your top options. For the Python language, Jupyter notebook, PyCharm and Spyder are the top and most popular IDEs. NetBeans, Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA are the top choices for Java programmers.
- Networking basics: Your software development project is likely to involve connecting your software application to a server. Knowledge of networking is essential in ensuring you can deliver fully functional software applications capable of communicating with a server as per a client’s preferences. With increased popularity and preference for cloud servers, every developer should be equipped with knowledge of networking, at least the basics.
- Cross-platform software: Today, users access the internet and software applications from varied types of devices. Cross-platform software development allows you to create applications and software products that are accessible across different platforms. As a developer, you should be capable of producing products that are responsive to users of different types. For new developers, this skill gives you an edge in the market and better growth opportunities in the software development industry.
- Software Development Life Cycle: SLDC is the process for developing a software project from the concept phase to the deployment phase while ensuring quality and correctness. It is essential to know the process and understand the requirements and importance of each step. Following the process with discretion will help a software developer develop high-quality software products and save on development time and costs by minimizing errors.
Proper time management and self-guidance skills
Any software development project has specific timelines. A good software development team should exercise excellent time management skills and deliver projects within reasonable timeframes. Of course, this brings the debate on the most effective strategies to use. However, every software development project is unique and should be handled per its unique requirements.
An effective team should be able to divide the tasks into smaller bits and shared among the team members. It should be able to define the measures of progress and strive towards managing them. Additionally, effective communication also comes into play in determining how fast a team can handle a software development project. Effective communication and collaboration make the pursuance and attainment of objectives within set timelines easier.
Conclusion
Working as a team is proving to be a more efficient and effective way of handling software development projects. However, an ideal team is one that can balance their technical skills and soft skills. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure your software development team has a mix of both hard and soft skills for the overall effectiveness and success of your software development projects.
