Secret Ingredients of Becoming a Successful Programmer in 2021

Programming is a field that has an ocean of opportunities. Also, it is a field where one can find plenty of relevant resources online.

Today, it is not uncommon to find self-taught programmers working their way up the software development ladder.

Jobs in programming are numerous and well-paying too, provided you possess the right skills.

It also happens to be a domain that rapidly progresses. Thus, programmers – both current and aspiring, need to adapt to the evolving nature of the industry.

Keeping oneself updated with the new in-demand skills in the market is a valuable asset.

Staying Relevant in 2021

Here are some of the key skills for people aiming to be successful programmers in 2021.

1. DBMS

We often hear the phrase ‘Data is the new oil.’

Therefore, any skill that has to do with storing, retrieving and updating data is highly important. DBMS is the concept that deals with the way data is stored and manipulated.

Structured Query Language or SQL is the language used to deal with relational data. With different forms of data becoming popular, other languages like MongoDB, that support non-relational data have also become quite popular.

2. Cloud computing

Cloud computing has proven to be a viable solution for management of humongous amounts of data. As several companies decide to migrate to the cloud, certified cloud computing professionals will be in great demand.

Apart from its independent benefits, cloud storage is also essential for developments in data science, machine learning and AI – the other fields that hold the hottest IT jobs.

Tech giants like Google, Amazon and Microsoft have come up with special training programs and certifications for cloud enthusiasts.Getting one of these certifications is a sureshot way to have a successful year as a programmer.

3. Machine Learning Algorithms

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have emerged as one of the hottest career options. One can easily learn to use Python packages where there are machine learning problems.

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However, to be a successful programmer, one must delve deeper. A programmer must have the knowledge of common algorithms used and where to deploy them.

A common scenario in machine learning is – several people are getting into the field, and building models. But the last stage a.k.a the deployment is not seen as much.

2021 is going to a bright year for ML and AI. Thus, one must have good knowledge of all steps from data cleaning upto deployment of the model.

4. An OOP Language

Knowledge of object oriented programming concepts is quintessential to become a good programmer.

OOP languages like Java have powerful library functions that help programmers achieve anything from web development to big data.

C++, Java, Python and Javascript are some of the OOP languages whose knowledge would add value to your resume. Several beginners tend to start with Python as they have the preconception that it is the easiest of all.

But seasoned programmers would recommend going with a more traditional OOP language to grasp the basics better.

5. Data Structures

Algorithms and data structures form the core concepts of programming. Thus they will always be a relevant skill, regardless of the time frame. A good programmer is one who has a stronghold on the concepts in data structures.

6. Domain-specific Knowledge

The field of programming has several sub-domains.

A programmer can either focus on back-end development, front-end development, full stack development, data analysis, machine learning, network engineering, database administration, and so on.

Developing one’s domain-specific skills increases one’s employability.

Front-end developers must familiarise themselves with using standard code editors, frameworks and Git.

Javascript frameworks – Angular, React and Vue are becoming more and more common in web development. Git is the standard version control tool that all programmers should be familiar with.

Similarly, each programmer must identify the trending tools in their particular domain and update themselves with the same.

Best Practices for a Successful Programmer – Timeless Tips

Irrespective of the year we are in or the current technology in trend, there are some practices that each programmer must inculcate. Beginners in programming can refer to the tips below to make sure that 2021 turns out to be a successful year.

1. Writing clean code

There is a running joke among programmers that if left for a few months, even the programmer who wrote the code will not be able to understand it.

The joke almost represents the real situation for programmers who do not follow clean code principles.

As a programmer, one should ensure that their code is simple. Maintain uniform indentation throughout. Include comments wherever necessary.

Use relevant variable names. The overall goal is not just to ensure that the code works – it must be understandable too.

The ability to write clean code is respected in the community.

2. Pair Programming

For a programmer, every day will not necessarily be productive. When it seems like progress has slowed down, it can get frustrating if the programmer is alone. Also, debugging alone can be a time-consuming process.

Pair programming is a concept where two programmers work on the same workstation. As this introduces two perspectives, coding and debugging becomes simpler, faster and more accurate.

Pair programming can be motivating – especially for budding programmers.

Summary

2021 brings with it a ton of opportunities for programmers to use technology to solve all kinds of problems – big and small.

The exciting thing about this is that there are plenty of credible online resources, both free and paid, that put all programmers on an equal footing.

Anyone can pick and choose what they want to learn, and go ahead with it.

With a bright year ahead, programmers can use these online tools to make the most of the opportunities that are expected to open up.