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Web, App and Software Development

​Developers are at the forefront of the digital age. The websites we browse, the gifts we order and the news we peruse online are all made possible by the developers who design, build and implement websites, applications and software. They are heavily involved in website and app creation, from helping design aesthetic properties such as layout and color, to technical considerations such as how to design a website to handle a given amount of Internet traffic. 

​Some of the responsibilities of a programmer include reviewing programs on a frequent basis and make adjustments as are necessary to ensure proper working of the program, confirming program operation by conducting tests; modifying program sequence and/or codes, and create and publish technical diagrams to support coding efforts.

The people most successful in this field typically have a strong attention to detail, love to problem solve and have a solid aptitude and interest in learning new languages and technologies. They like to approach problems creatively and get a strong sense of accomplishment from troubleshooting a frustrating issue. In addition, they need to work well in a team environment, as most projects are developed collaboratively.

Hard skills:

  • Java, JavaScript, Python, C#, C++, PHP… (We are just listing some of the most common coding languages, but there are many many more! You should be fluent in at least one of the languages listed.)

Some sample job titles:

  • Software Developer
  • Application Developer
  • Front End Developer 

Trends and News Sources

Additional Resources

HackerRank and LeetCode can be used to prepare for technical interviews and work on small projects
GitHub and BitBucket can be used to host your code and post projects 
Stack Overflow is the world’s largest online developer community 
First Timers Only is a resource to help beginners start working on open source projects
Guide to a Computer Science Degree in Illinois
Guide to Financial Aid in Computer Science
Interviews with Computer Science Experts

Note: Computer Science and Software Development is a quickly and constantly changing world. We do our best to highlight what we think is essential for you to be aware of, but we don’t always catch everything. Use these sites as jumping off points, but make sure you are always keeping your eyes open for new resources. If you find something great that you think we should highlight, let us know!

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