7 Tips for Sharpening Software Developer Skills

The world of technology is constantly changing, making it crucial for developers to learn and grow in their expertise. Sometimes skill sharpening is as simple as revisiting the basics. Other times, you might benefit from learning an entirely new language. Use the following guide to learn more about keeping your developer skill set sharp—and why it matters.

Benefits of strengthening your software developer skills

Expanding your skill set can help you qualify for more job opportunities, perform your role more efficiently, earn a promotion, or contribute value to your team. It is also one of the most fulfilling things to do as a developer. Many developers choose the profession because it provides countless opportunities to problem-solve and create. Learning new technologies is a great way to enhance those capabilities.

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How to improve software developer skills

One of the best ways to expand your skill set is to learn more about your language, frameworks, and tools through experience. Whether you're just starting in software development or looking to advance within the field, you'll find plenty of resources to fuel your learning. The sections below explore six ways you can build upon your essential skills.

1. Consume more software development content.

Three simple ways to stay updated with your software developer skills are to read blogs and articles, listen to podcasts, and watch videos. For example, Eric Hartzog, a software engineer at Meta, follows blog posts from the major frameworks he uses, like React Native and React JS. He also follows version releases from some of the smaller frameworks, like MobX and Redux. "I also use various feed apps to tailor developer blogs and content that I don’t explicitly follow, which sometimes gives insights into approaches I didn’t think of," he adds. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

• YouTube channels. You can find content creators in your niche by searching for relevant software development topics on YouTube. Subscribe to the channels that post content you like so you'll be notified each time a video is uploaded. YouTube has many talented creators that offer a breadth of knowledge about new languages, libraries, frameworks, and more, all for free. Information quality can vary, but it’s easy to tell if a video or creator will be a good fit by vetting likes and comments.

• Community forums. Community forums and social media sites are critical tools for asking questions and engaging with the software development community. For example, PySlackers is a Slack community for Python programming enthusiasts. Or, you can join the beginner-friendly sub-Reddit r/learnprogramming.

• Podcasts. There is a lot to be learned about software development from podcasts. Though you cannot see the code or what is created, this is not usually the point of development-focused podcasts. IT podcasters stay updated with the latest technology news. They also stay alert to new tools, key skills, learning resources, and ways of approaching coding problems. Though not a primary learning medium, podcasts are an excellent supplement.

• Articles and blogs. Reading blogs and articles is a great way to stay current on software development trends and technologies. Consider following industry leaders on social media sites like LinkedIn or browse the articles homepage on Coursera for new coding content.

2. Engage with open-source projects.

Finding an open-source project using any language or framework you may be interested in learning is easy. GitHub is an excellent place to find these. Once you’ve chosen a project, start with the README section to learn how to run the project on your machine. Inspect the code provided and see how it applies concepts you're learning, and while understanding it all isn’t necessary, look for familiar concepts, methods, and paradigms.

Getting involved on GitHub

Once you’re confident and well-versed in the project, look at the project's needs. If you’re on GitHub, these will be found on the "Issues" tab. Here, you’ll see a list of bugs and feature requests. Choose a need that looks manageable and get going. Even if you don't submit a pull request, there’s a lot of potential for learning. Be sure to consult the README for a style guide and code contribution guidelines.

As your projects continue to gain complexity, you can also refer to these online communities to find answers to any questions that may come up in your work. "On a daily basis, I have to search for answers and learn from other developers' experiences by scanning through discussions on Stack Overflow and GitHub," says Murtadha Al-Tameem, a software engineer at Meta with a decade of experience.

3. Seek out a mentor.

In the development world, having a mentor is incredibly valuable. They can help you solve problems, overcome roadblocks, educate, challenge, and cheer you on. The definition of the relationship doesn’t have to be explicitly “mentor-mentee,” and it can often be beneficial to have more than one mentor. Mentorship can be as simple as a private list of people you can turn to for questions and roadblocks. Discord servers, Slack channels, Twitter, Facebook groups, local meetups, and your workplace are good places to find people for your list. A good mentor candidate is a successful software developer who's patient and open to questions. Always return patience, and remember that people take time out of their day to give advice.

Or mentor someone else.

One of the best ways to learn is by teaching. If you can break a complex idea down simply enough to make sense to a beginner, you have a firm grasp of the material. Sometimes beginners may ask questions that give insights into information relationships you hadn't previously considered.

Helping a friend or colleague level up can also help you improve your programming skills. They will eventually learn something you don’t know, allowing you to learn from each other. If you find yourself in a position to help someone else, do so. The development community thrives on information being easily accessible.

4. Attend conferences.

Conferences bring people at the top of their field together with people eager to learn in one space. After their presentation, speakers will often open up the mic for a question-and-answer session. These informal sessions are invaluable for clearing up misconceptions or expanding on ideas. Some companies are willing to pay for their employees to attend these conferences.

Typically, social events are integrated into a conference's schedule. Attending these events can be a great way to build your network. You may even find your next mentor. A few examples of tech conferences for software developers include SXSW and ODSC.

5. Learn another programming language.

Once you’ve mastered your first language, learning a new one is an excellent way to stay on top of ever-changing technologies. Learning new languages provides you with more tools to get the job done and enables you to execute increasingly complex ideas. Knowing more than one programming language makes you a stronger software developer, and it could open new paths for software engineering roles in the future.

Here are a few online courses from industry leaders and accredited universities that you can use to get started:

• Python for Everybody from the University of Michigan

• HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for Web Developers from Johns Hopkins

• Coding for Everyone: C and C++ Specialization from the University of California Santa Cruz

• Object Oriented Development using C# from the Jordan University of Science and Technology

• Learn SQL Basics for Data Science Specialization from the University of California Davis

6. Build more technical skills.

When you're ready to take the next step in your software development career—or explore new possibilities—it's useful to expand your technical skills, especially in high-demand areas like AI. The list below contains online specializations and Professional Certificates in niched areas of software development:

• Generative AI for Software Development Skill Certificate from DeepLearning.AI

• IBM AI Developer Professional Certificate

• Open Source Software Development, Linux and Git Specialization from the Linux Foundation

• Mastering Software Development in R Specialization from John Hopkins University

7. Sharpen your workplace skills.

Also known as soft skills, workplace skills are non-technical competencies that help you work productively and efficiently. Here are a few workplace skills for software developers to focus on:

• Communication. Aside from working with other development team members, software developers often must coordinate with other departments to define project scope or communicate potential roadblocks. Good communicators can translate complicated topics into easily digestible language to help keep everyone aligned, regardless of technical expertise.

• Emotional intelligence. Great software developers can get inside the mind of the end user. By doing so, they can understand potential pain points and adjust design or functionality accordingly. Empathizing with end users can help you increase the productivity of iterations by aligning your goals with user needs.

• Patience. Identifying and resolving bugs can be a painfully slow process. Keeping your cool when faced with a challenge helps ensure your decisions are guided by logic rather than emotion.

Enhance your software development skills with Coursera

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You can also build job-ready AI skills by enrolling in the IBM AI Developer Professional Certificate. Over 10 courses, you'll how to build generative AI-powered apps and how to use Python to deploy AI apps on the web. As you can see, there are plenty of learning pathways to pursue on Coursera. Consider a Coursera Plus subscription to access over 7,000 courses from leading universities and companies.