Software Development

What is software development?

By simplest definition, software developers write computer code; that is, they write the detailed instructions (software or programs) that tell the computer what to do to perform a certain function. Software developers write programs according to the specifications determined by Systems Analysts. Software developers are often referred to as programmers.

What does a software developer do?

Design: Gathering analysis of the requirements for the system may include a detailed study of business needs of the organisation. Design focuses on high level design (what programs are needed and how they interact); low-level design (how each program is going to work); interface design (what are the interfaces going to look like), and data design (what data will be required). Any glitch in the design phase could be expensive to solve in the later stage of software development.

Coding: After the design process is complete, it is the job of the software developer to convert that design into step-by-step instructions according to the particular programming language in use. Coding is a precise process; even small errors in coding (bugs) can create big problems when the program is compiled and run.

Compiling: In the case of most computer languages, before the program can be run, it must be compiled. A compiler is the computer program that converts high-level code (such as C# or Java) into code the computer can use (binary). If the code contains errors, the program will fail to compile and the compiler will produce an error report notifying the software developer where the errors occur in the program.

Debugging: The software developer must find and correct all the errors in the code so that the program can be compiled and run.

Testing: Once the program is sufficiently error-free to compile, the software developer can then run the program with test data. Through this process, the software developer will find other errors to correct.

Maintenance: Even after a program is clean enough to release to the public, bugs and other problems can crop up. Software developers fix these problems throughout the life of the program, often resulting in updated releases of the program to registered users.

Specialist software developers roles

• Application developers design and program computer applications such as word processing systems, accounts management systems and database systems.
• Systems developers (sometimes called software engineers), develop programs that control the operations of centralised computer networks; software engineers design and manage large software systems.
• Communications developers ensure that the several components of a computer system, which may be spread over various locations, complete their functions in a coordinated manner.

Developers often work in teams under the supervision of a team leader, who may be a Senior Analyst/ Developer or a Systems Analyst.

Choose the following qualifications to get you there: