If you want to hire a software development company, you probably already have an idea of what you want to make, like an app, a website, or a programme. But before you start looking, you need to know what you're looking for in addition to what you're building.
There are a lot of different ways to make software. Most of the time, different types of developers work together to finish your project. Here are only 10 of the many different kinds. Some of them are similar and can be done by the same person, while others need a different set of skills.
Frontend developers work on the part of the product that the user sees and uses. Most of their attention is on the user interface (UI). For example, they might make a website or app's layout, look, and ways to interact with it. But their job isn't the same as that of a user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) designer. They also fix bugs and make sure that the user interface works on all browsers. They have to be very good at programming and work closely with backend developers to make sure that both parts of the product work well together.
A backend developer, on the other hand, works on the back end, which is the part of the product that users don't see. The infrastructure of a website, app, or programme is built by this person. They focus on functionality, system integration, and the core logic. They will also take care of the complicated structure underneath, making sure it works well, can grow, and is safe. As we've already said, the frontend and backend developers work together closely to make the final product.
A full-stack developer works on both the front end and the back end of the product. To be a successful full-stack developer, you need to be good at programming and have a number of "soft skills" that all tech professionals need, like being able to solve problems and think critically. At the end of the day, it's up to you and maybe your team to make a full and complete product.
Desktop developers only make programmes that run on a desktop operating system, like Windows, Mac, or Linux. This is different from developers who make apps for phones, tablets, and other devices. In the early days of programming, before the time of mobile apps, this kind of specialisation was more common. But they still have a place in the world today.
Building web applications is the process of web development. People use these apps on a wide range of devices that have an internet browser. This is not the same as a mobile app, which can be used on a phone or tablet and doesn't always need to be connected to the internet to work. Web development is a broad term that includes both the front end and the back end. Full-stack web developers can also be business people.
A database developer is not the same as a database administrator, who usually takes care of daily database maintenance and troubleshooting and puts the system in place. Instead, a database developer is in charge of building the database, making changes to and designing new or existing programmes, and making sure they meet the needs of the users. It depends on what the client or employer needs. Sometimes the roles of database administrator and developer do overlap.
As the name suggests, a mobile app developer makes apps that run directly on mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and some types of smartwatches. Most of the time, these professionals will focus on developing for either iOS or Android, but not both.
It is possible to use both of them at the same time. But a lot of companies hire developers who are only good at one. Because the tools, frameworks, and languages tend to be different, they tend to know more about the details of each type of development than people who work on both.
The services, programmes, and apps that run over the cloud are all part of cloud computing. This means they can be accessed from almost anywhere, as long as the user has an internet connection and the right login information. They have many benefits, such as the ability to grow. Some developers focus on cloud computing, which means they make cloud platforms as their main job. They will build cloud applications, help users set up and move to the cloud, manage cloud services, and fix problems for users.
DevOps is a set of practises and ideas that help software be delivered quickly, efficiently, and with the customer in mind. This style is similar to Agile and has been used by software developers and teams all over the world.
Teams that use the principles are what DevOps engineers work with. They work on not only making the product, but also testing it for quality assurance (QA) and putting it out in the world. They have to be good at a lot of different things, like programming, integration, scripting, QA testing, and more. They also need to combine theory and practise to help and work with the rest of the team, which may include software developers and QA professionals.
In this day and age, everyone knows how important security is in software. Security software experts work hard to make sure that all kinds of technological systems are safe. They need to know a lot about the methods, practises, tools, and patterns that cybercriminals use to break into software so they can help stop these attacks.
One example of this type of professional is a "good hacker." They work with clients to try to hack software in order to find and show its weaknesses. This lets clients fix the weaknesses before cybercriminals can use them.
This is by no means a full list of all the different kinds of software development. The field is very large and has many different types. But these are still some of the most important types you should know about if you want to hire developers and development teams to work on your next project and make a good product.