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Top 10 Most In-Demand Software Programming Languages

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The tech sector is booming! As a result, software coding skills are in high demand, with programming jobs paying significantly more than the average position. Even beyond the tech world, an understanding of at least one programming language makes an impressive addition to any CV.

The in-vogue languages vary by employment sector. Financial and enterprise systems need to perform complicated functions and remain highly organized, requiring languages like Java and C#. Media- and design-related webpages and software will require dynamic, versatile and functional languages with minimal code, such as Ruby, PHP, JavaScript and Objective-C..

So what are the top 10 in-demand programming languages to date?

 

  1. SQL

It’s no surprise SQL (pronounced ‘sequel’) tops the job list since it can be found far and wide in various flavors. Database technologies such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server power big businesses, small businesses, hospitals, banks, universities. Indeed, just about every computer and person with access to technology eventually touches something SQL. For instance, all Android phones and iPhones have access to a SQL database called SQLite and many mobile apps developed Google, Skype and DropBox use it directly.

  1. Java

The tech community recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Java. It’s one of the most widely adopted programming languages, used by some 9 million developers and running on 7 billion devices worldwide. It’s also the programming language used to develop all native Android apps. Java’s popularity with developers is due to the fact that the language is grounded in readability and simplicity. Java has staying power since it has long-term compatibility, which makes sure older applications continue to work now into the future. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon and is used to power company websites like LinkedIn.com, Netflix.com and Amazon.com.

  1. JavaScript

JavaScript – not to be confused with Java – is another one of the world’s most popular and powerful programming languages, and is used to spice up web pages by making them interactive. For example, JavaScript can be used to add effects to web pages, display pop-up messages or to create games with basic functionality. It’s also worth noting that JavaScript is the scripting language of the World Wide Web and is built right into all major web browsers including Internet Explorer, FireFox and Safari. Almost every website incorporates some element of JavaScript to add to the user experience, adding to the demand for JavaScript developers. In recent years JavaScript has also gained use as the foundation of Node.js, a server technology that among other things enables real-time communication.  

  1. C#

Dating from 2000, C# (pronounced C-sharp) is a relatively new programming language designed by Microsoft for a wide range of enterprise applications that run on the .NET Framework. An evolution of C and  C++, the C# language is simple, modern, type safe and object oriented.

  1. C++

C++ (pronounced C-plus-plus) is a general purpose object-oriented programming language based on the earlier ‘C’ language. Developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs, C++ was first released in 1983. Stroustrup keeps an extensive list of applications written in C++. The list includes Adobe and Microsoft applications, MongoDB databases, large portions of Mac OS/X and is the best language to learn for performance-critical applications such as “twitch” game development or audio/video processing.

  1. Python

Python is a general purpose programming language that was named after the Monty Python (so you know it’s fun to work with)! Python is simple and incredibly readable since closely resembles the English language. It’s a great language for beginners, all the way up to seasoned professionals. Python recently bumped Java as the language of choice in introductory programming courses with eight of the top 10 computer science departments now using Python to teach coding, as well as 27 of the top 39 schools. Because of Python’s use in the educational realm, there are a lot of libraries created for Python related to mathematics, physics and natural processing. PBS, NASA and Reddit use Python for their websites.

  1.     PHP

Created by Danish-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994, PHP was never actually intended to be a new programming language. Instead, it was created to be a set of tools to help Rasmus maintain his Personal Home Page (PHP). Today, PHP (Hypertext Pre-Processor) is a scripting language, running on the server, which can be used to create web pages written in HTML. PHP tends to be a popular language since its easy-to use by new programmers, but also offers tons of advanced features for more experienced programmers.

  1. Ruby on Rails

Like Java or the C language, Ruby is a general purpose programming language, though it is best known for its use in web programming, and Rails serves as a framework for the Ruby Language. Ruby on Rails has many positive qualities including rapid development, you don’t need as much code, and there are a wide variety of 3rd party libraries available. It’s used from companies ranging from small start-ups to large enterprises and everything in-between. Hulu, Twitter, Github and Living Social are using Ruby on Rails for at least one of their web applications.

  1.    iOS/Swift

In 2014, Apple decided to invent their own programming language. The result was Swift – a new programming language for iOS and OS X developers to create their next killer app. Developers will find that many parts of Swift are familiar from their experience of developing in C++ and Objective-C. Companies including American Airlines, LinkedIn, and Duolingo have been quick to adopt Swift, and we’ll see this language on the rise in the coming years.

  1.     Objective C

Objective-C is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language used by the Apple operating system. It powers Apple’s OS X and iOS, as well as its APIs, and can be used to create iPhone apps, which has generated a huge demand for this once-outmoded programming language.

 

Any great craftsman has a belt full of tools, each a perfect choice for certain situations. Similarly, there will never be just a single programming language, and each language will evolve and improve over time to keep pace with innovation.

If you’re interested in becoming a developer, it’s important to be well-versed in a number of programming languages so you can be versatile and adaptable – and then continue to learn/master languages throughout your career.

 

If you have reasonable knowledge within any of these programming language types, our new Software Developer role may be just right for you. Check it out by clicking here!

 

7 Excellent Marketing Strategies for Growing Brands

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7 Marketing Strategies which should be taken into consideration for new businesses wishing to expand their brand awareness.

In marketing your brand, it’s important to find a balance between the cost and the results. Particularly for a new brand that’s trying to grow, the goal is to maximize your ROI (Return on Investment), by finding the most effective strategies for the least amount of money. Here are some of the best and most cost-effective marketing strategies to explore.

  1. Blogging

One of the simplest and most effective ways of driving traffic to your site is to have a blog. Google’s search algorithms favor websites that are updated frequently and provide high quality, relevant content to their users. A regularly updated blog serves both of these purposes.

According to one source, sites that post 16 blogs per month (roughly 4 blogs per week) generate 3.5 times more web traffic than sites that blog four times or fewer. The more high quality blogs you post, the more opportunities your audience will have to visit and interact with your site, and the better exposure you’ll get for your brand.

  1. Mailing lists

“No matter what kind of customers you encounter,” says John Matson of TopCreditCardProcessors, “Get them on your mailing list, to build up your contacts.” E-mail lists have developed a bad reputation in recent years. But used correctly, they can be a very useful tool. If you’re spamming random strangers to tell them to buy your products, your brand will become annoying and unpopular.

So instead, you need to build a list of people who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer, and provide them with regular updates about what’s going on in your company and why it’s of interest to them. You’ll see much better results and generate real, qualified leads that can be nurtured into sales.

  1. Online companies

One of the best and most cost-effective ways to reach new customers is by using online sites to market you company. Depending on your business, there are a number of sites that can help you reach new customers through search results and networking. A Yelp profile can increase your visibility to potential customer. It also gives you an opportunity to encourage loyal customers to leave you positive reviews, thus boosting your reputation. TripAdvisor provides the same opportunities for hotels, restaurants, and other tourist-centered businesses. And Mogul provides a platform for female business owners to show potential audiences what their companies are all about.

Social media can be a helpful tool in this regard as well. Ty Crandall, CEO of CreditSuite says, “Some of the most effective and cost-effective marketing strategies for growing a new business now come from social media. Platforms such as Facebook now make it easy to test headlines, images, concepts, ads and more for investments of less than £10 per day. Once you know what works, then it’s easy to apply that to other platforms that might cost more. This type of strategy can save you a ton of money and help you figure out what works quickly, even if you are only working with a shoe-string budget.”

  1. Calls to action

“The key to growing your business is understanding how your target market is looking for your service, and then maximizing efforts in those marketing channels with relevant and strong calls to action,” explains Spencer Kirk, CEO of Extra Space Storage. Believe it or not, many sites don’t include a call to action in their content. Every on your site, every blog you post, and every e-mail you send, should suggest the next step for interested users.

It may be, “Contact us for more information,” or “Download our white paper,” or “Subscribe to our newsletter,” but there should always be an opportunity for those who want to know more to further their relationship with your company.

  1. Press releases

Distributing press releases is a great way to keep people in your industry apprised of important updates from your company. You can create press releases to announce new products, award or accolades you’ve recently received, changes to your company structure, and more. It may take time to build up the right press contacts to gain your announcements real exposure, but the longer you persevere and the more effort you put into it, the better results you’ll see.

  1. Coupons and discounts

One thing is guaranteed to get your audience’s attention: telling them how they can save money. Offer discounts and coupon codes on your products or services. Make them seem exclusive, like the customers who are getting them are part of an elite few. By offering a few dollars off of your regular price, you can bring in customers who will stay loyal to your company for years to come.

  1. Using videos

Videos are one of the most effective tools to use in your marketing campaign. You can either create them in-house or outsource them to another company that specializes in creating high quality video content. Whichever option you choose, videos are a great way to engage your audience visually and increase your brand’s visibility.

 

These are just a few of the strategies you can use to grow your business cheaply and effectively. Do some experimentation, and see what strategies work best for your company, and have the biggest impact on your customer base.

 

Are you interested in careers within Marketing? Be sure to check out our latest range Marketing Job Roles on our website by following this link!

– Steve Olenski

Why small businesses are turning to Cloud Computing

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Small businesses are fleeing to cloud computing and mobile apps, says new study

Small businesses around the world are increasingly relying on cloud computing and apps to run their operations and solve business problems. Here’s why.

The mobile revolution has reached mom-and-pop shops. According to a newIntuit study, 64% of small businesses across the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK now run their operations in the cloud—up from just 37% in 2015. And 68% of these enterprises use mobile or web-based apps in their day-to-day business, compared to just half last year.

The growth is not a surprise, said Vinay Pai, vice president of the Intuit Developer Platform. Many small business owners, he said, are using apps such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Snapchat in their everyday lives. “That same expectation has bled over into how they’re running their business, looking to using apps for invoicing, billing, and time management,” Pai said.

The study collected responses from 2,000 small enterprise owners across the four countries, the majority of which employ one to 50 employees.

More than two in five small businesses reported their biggest challenges were controlling costs and reducing expenses. Improving cash flow, customer billing, and time management were the top factors considered among businesses looking to integrate apps.

Not surprisingly, about half of small businesses said they judge technology success on whether it will increase their revenue, the study found. “Most of these small companies are looking to grow their business, and for anything that helps with cash flow and minimizes expenses,” Pai said.

For example, in the US, federal compliance regulations require tracking employee overtime hours and ensuring they are paid. Paying for an app that tracks hourly employees can cost far less than the penalty a business would incur for not doing so, said Pai.

Apps for invoicing are also popular because they cut down on the time it takes for a business owner to get paid, Pai added. With paper invoices, it usually takes about 30 days to receive a check. With an app, businesses can get their money wired within 8 days, with half receiving payment the same day.

For small business app adopters, 68% reported using an average of 4 apps, the study found. And 66% of all small businesses surveyed said they use mobile to run their business.

Benefits and drawbacks

Many small business leaders were reluctant to move systems to the cloud, but did so because of all the available software, said Gene Marks, owner of the Marks Group PC, a small business consulting firm specializing in CRM applications.

Cloud-based apps allow the software vendor to offer easier support and updates in real time, Marks said. But, it’s important to note that monthly or yearly subscription models cost business owners more over time than the pay-once models of the past.

Marks said that his clients have reported quicker updates and increased accessibility and mobility with cloud-based apps. Using cloud-based apps can also attract millennial business and workers, who grew up using the web and mobile devices, Marks said.

The Marks Group, a 10-person firm, moved to the cloud-based Zoho CRM earlier this year, due in large part to the ability to integrate cloud-based applications. It can now use many third-party apps such as the Google suite in their system, Marks said.

App priorities for small business owners included gains in privacy, security, and cost, the Intuit study found. For Marks however, the biggest issue is the price, in terms of both longer-term costs and control. Most app services ask for a monthly fee, rather than a single payment for the system, and do not protect small business users if that fee rises over time, he said.

Tips for small business leaders

The largest barrier for small businesses considering app adoption is the sheer number available: 41% of owners said they feel there are too many to choose from, and that they are unsure which apps will be best for their business needs. Other barriers were cost (39%) and complexity (23%).

Business owners should look at reviews and search for apps that solve a particular business problem, Pai recommends. Many apps have a 2 to 4 week free trial period, so don’t be afraid to try them out, he said.

While apps can solve for certain challenges, small business employees often do not know how to fully leverage these tools, Marks said. He estimates that his typical client only uses 20% of a cloud CRM system’s full capabilities. He recommends finding a partner or outside expert who knows the app well, and offering training to employees. Some 66% of app users said they would pay for training, the study found.

Small businesses that have success with cloud app initiatives often assign someone internally to own the system, Marks said. That person becomes the go-to support system for the app, and should have training and resources on using it. “If you create an expert inside your company, it will expand the use of the application for everybody,” Marks said.

 

Are you looking for an excellent career opportunity within the IT Industry? Follow this link and check out our latest job roles!

– Alison DeNisco

World’s First Driverless Race Car

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‘Driverless’ cars are being developed in every corner nowadays, but could we see the same concept applied to a Race Car?

Can a race car do without its driver? You’d think not, but a British company is aiming to prove otherwise with a new racing prototype.

It’s called the DevBot, and as its name suggests, it’s been built with the specific aim of allowing development on a race series of robotic, self-driving cars.

Roborace, the company behind the series, has created the DevBot as a prototype, in order to show what driverless racing cars can do. It plans to stage a series of races with the cars, which will take place as part of the 2016/17 Formula E Championship for manually driven electric cars.

The DevBot’s form is rather different to the finished cars’, as it incorporates a standardised, safety-compliant cabin in order that a person can ride aboard or even take control.

Roborace says this will enable engineers to gain a better understanding of the way the computers “think” as the car drives itself around a track.

The rest of the car is entirely custom-built, and features the same electric powertrain, sensors, computer “brains” and communication technology as the finished product, which is set to be revealed later this year.

Roborace says it has already undertaken secret trials of the DevBot on airfields and racing circuits around the country, during one of which the car drove itself around Silverstone’s International Circuit.

It adds that it has already received applications from “a large number of technology, motorsport, research laboratory and university teams” to take part in the series, all of whom will be given time with the car over the next six months before the race series commences.

Ten teams in total will be allowed to enter two cars each into the races, which will last one hour and take place just before each Formula E round, and on the same circuits – including the London round.

All the teams will use the same car with the same hardware beneath the skin, but the skill will be in the software engineering, as teams will be allowed to make changes to the complex programming installed in the car to try and improve its performance on the track.

Roborace says the aim of the series is to show off autonomous car technology, in order to improve their public perception, and to further the abilities of the technology through competition.

DevBot took part in its first public demonstration at the Formula E open practice sessions, which was held at Donington Park on August 24.

– Alex Robbins

15 Steps on how to get into Software Development

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Considering a career in Software Development? Read these 15 Steps which could help send you on your way to an exciting new career!

More people than ever before are entering Software Development from non-traditional backgrounds. The number of coding bootcamps is increasing, and there’s a broad push from the industry to attract more diverse developers. Many companies are no longer solely focused on hiring senior developers, and have realised that it may be smarter to train and upskill the next generation of senior developers instead.

Software Development pays well, the industry is booming, and compared to many other careers, software developers get treated very well. But the thing that draws most career-changers to software development, is the search for more rewarding work.

The career transition stage can be a big, scary, but exciting place to be. It can be one of the most challenging life-changes a person could make however, the finishing result could be a more fulfilling career.

If you’re considering a career change, there’s one question that you should ask yourself, above all others: if you make the switch to software development, will you like it? Getting to a level of skill where you are hireable is a lot of work, and you may be leaving behind a promising career in the process. The stakes are high.

If you don’t know whether you’re going to like it, build things with code. Create a Tic Tac Toe game. Start a small online business and do the development yourself. Contribute to open source. Make games. Complete programming challenges. Build a personal website and do all the design and development yourself. If you enjoy any of these things, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy working as a software developer.

Switching careers can be an epic, challenging journey – but it could just be one of the best things you’ve ever done.

There are a thousand ways to learn to program; the route you take will depend on how you learn best. You can take online courses, find a teacher or mentor, watch YouTube videos, read books, get a Computer Science degree, watch screencasts, or simply jump onto the command line and start experimenting, hitting up Stack Overflow as you go.

 

Here are 15 tips which could help you start your journey to becoming a Software Developer!

1. Have something you (passionately) want to make: Whether it’s a blog, a game, a website, a SaaS startup, an online dating website, or an app to manage your family’s finances, having a project that you’re motivated to build, will push you through the tough times when learning to program. A real-world use-case for your skills will accelerate your learning.

 

2. Attend a coding Bootcamp to get a taster and see if you feel it will work for you: A good coding bootcamp will give you a focused environment, help when you need it, and support when the journey gets tough. When you’re first learning to code, it can be really hard to know what you should focus on.

A good coding bootcamp will also assume no prior programming knowledge, and teach you the skills you need from the ground up, unlike many programming articles and videos, which will be written with professional programmers in mind.

 

3. Connect with other people learning to program: Learning to code can be difficult at times. Having a network of other people going through the same challenges can be hugely important. If you don’t know anyone making the transition, attend local meetups and talk to people there, especially if you’re focused on languages popular among junior developers (Ruby and JavaScript in particular). If you’re lucky, your local programming meetup may even host a ‘Newbies’ night now and again. Make sure to go!

 

4. Find a mentor who works in the industry: A friendship or mentorship with a working software developer can also be immensely helpful in your journey. They will know what the interview culture is in your local industry, will be able to give you advice when you get stuck, help you focus on the most important skills to learn, and give feedback on your code. If you’re lucky enough to find a software developer generous with their time in this way, make sure to give back somehow, even if it’s just buying lunch when you meet. Once again, meetups are a great way to meet potential mentors.

 

5. Focus your learning:If you’re hoping to do backend programming primarily (the engine of most apps, not the visual presentation), focus on learning one language and one web framework as well as you can. Also aim to be somewhat familiar with JavaScript, HTML and CSS, as many roles will have you working with both the frontend and backend of an application. If you’re aiming for a front-end role, focus on JavaScript, HTML and CSS. You might also focus on a popular JavaScript MVC framework like React or AngularJS.

 

6. Be prepared to invest in your career change:You can spend a lot on the transition; books, courses, classes, and screencast subscriptions can add up to hundreds of pounds a month, and many boot camps are over £6,000. Despite the hype around programmer salaries, you can expect to make between £20k and £30k as a junior developer. At first, it might seem like you’ve invested a lot in this career change without much financial reward. Over the long term though, this investment should pay off as you rise to a senior developer level with the potential to earn between £50K and £70K.

 

7. Don’t worry if your journey isn’t linear:Learning to program is tough; it takes time. If you’re juggling a pre-existing career and other commitments, it may be difficult to focus on it for more than a few hours a week. You may have doubts, you may get distracted, and you may stop progressing for days, weeks, or months. Trust that if software development is truly what you want to do you’ll find your way eventually, even if you end up taking the scenic route.

 

8. Create an account on GitHub, build your profile, be selective about what you show: GitHub is an online hosting service for git repositories, best described as version-controlled programming projects. When a repository is public on GitHub, anyone can read through your code. Many hiring managers will check the GitHub profile of applicants, to get an idea of how they write code when nobody is watching. When evaluating junior applicants, the hiring managers may not be looking for amazing code, but instead looking for enthusiasm, work done on multiple projects, willingness to try out new things, and a sense of play. Your GitHub profile is a great way to show this, but keep in mind that hiring managers may only have a few spare minutes to review your profile. For this reason, it’s a good idea to make only substantial or interesting projects public. For projects which you were just using to learn, it might be worth making them private to give your best stuff the limelight.

 

9. It’s hard sometimes:Self-doubt is a common trap for junior developers, especially those from groups who are underrepresented in the software industry. If something feels hard, it’s not necessarily because you’re not cut out for this. It might be because you have more to learn, or perhaps, because the thing you’re working on is actually hard. You may also be concerned when something you find challenging seems easy to someone else, especially when that someone else has a similar level of experience. But stick with that person long enough and you’ll likely encounter something they struggle with, that you find really easy. We’re all different, we bring different pre-existing skills to the table, and we all practice differently. Programming is like any skill: you can become good at it if you persist long enough and care about getting better. Avi Flombaum, co-founder of the Flatiron School, says “I absolutely believe that anybody can learn how to program in the same way that we know anyone can learn how to read and write.”

 

10. Be aware of your blind spots:By all accounts, career-changers have been making waves in the development community. They’re self-starters who’ve sacrificed an existing career, and sometimes a higher salary, in order to become software developers. However, we do have blind spots. The inner-workings of computers and the internet are mind-bendingly complex, especially to anyone from a non-technical background. Mastering one programming language, one web framework, JavaScript, HTML and CSS might take up all your available time. However, when you’re starting out as a junior developer, you probably won’t realize that these things are just a small slice of the technologies you work with every day.

Think about the answers to some of the following questions:
How does your code get run?
How does your language’s interpreter or compiler know when it encounters a syntax error?
How does typing a URL into your browser toolbar result in a web page being rendered on your screen?
How does a web server work?
How do you stay logged into websites even after you close and reopen your browser?
How does your app run on a web server?
Your project is hosted on Heroku or AWS, but what do they use under the hood?
When people say an object is ‘in memory’, what does that mean?
How do you SSH onto a server?
How do you set up and use a build pipeline?
How does your operating system run on your computer?

Of course, this list could be much longer. There’s so much to learn that it can feel overwhelming. The good news is that you don’t need to know the answers to all these questions in order to be hired as a junior software developer, but you should try to learn them as you go further in your career. You can’t get really good at software development unless you have a working understanding of the tools that you work with every day. Increasing your understanding will empower you to make better choices, become better at debugging, and make better design decisions.

 

11. When you’re struggling, take time to appreciate the unique skills you have that computer science graduates may not have yet:If you’ve attended or scheduled a work meeting, been given tricky feedback at work, been through a performance review, or led a team, you already have valuable skills that recent computer science graduates may not have. You may be more at ease talking with stakeholders, better at meetings, planning and organization, simply through having more experience. Most importantly, you may have better perspective. After all, if you’ve previously worked as a nurse in an operating theatre, a bug in production might not seem so overwhelming. After all, nobody is going to get (physically) hurt!

 

12. Get experience with pairing:Pairing is the practice of having two developers share one computer and work on the code together. One developer will write code, while the other watches and does some of the following things: makes suggestions, asks questions, catches errors, and thinks more broadly about how the code being written, fits into the larger program. Since both roles are fatiguing, they will usually swap anywhere from 15 minutes to every few hours.

Pairing is a common practice in the industry and even more common in the coding interview process. You don’t need to be an expert, but pairing for the first time can be a little intimidating, especially when pairing with a senior developer. Despite this, pairing can actually be really fun, and is a fantastic way to learn. If you can, get some practice with pairing before you begin doing coding interviews. If you have a mentor, pair with them. Otherwise, you can find opportunities to pair at hackathons and hack nights in your local area.

 

13. Set up a mock programming interview:Programming interviews are likely to be quite different to the interviews you took to get a job in your current career. They often involve coding challenges, writing pseudocode on a whiteboard, pair programming, and feedback on your code. Learn as much as possible about coding interviews by researching them online. Then practice them with a friend. Find a whiteboard and solve simple problems by writing your code on it. Get your friend to ask you common programming interview questions. It doesn’t matter if your friend is non-technical. The experience will really help when it is time for your real coding interview, as they can be a little intimidating at first!

 

14. Before test-driven development, practice error-driven development:Errors will be your constant companion when learning to code. You’ll be breaking stuff all the time, and will be face a lot of error messages. As once non-technical people, error messages can be scary. Before learning to code, they may have meant that you wrecked your computer while installing a game, or bricked a phone while trying to unlock it. An important mindset when programming, however, is to see error messages as helpful.

When many developers encounter an error message, they react a little like they’ve been slapped on the hand, quickly navigating away from the browser or shell window and peering at the code they  just wrote, trying to figure out what might have made the computer so angry. In most cases, the computer is already telling us, via the error message it just printed, but we need to slow down and read it before we can reap the benefits.

Jeff Cohen, an instructor at my coding bootcamp, encouraged us to practise error-driven development. This method goes beyond slowing down to read error messages, and instead, lets a succession of errors guide you forward in your development. Call a method that doesn’t exist, see a ‘no method’ error, and then write the code to bring that method into existence. Reference a view that doesn’t exist, see a ‘no view’ error, and then create the view. Errors are not to be feared, in fact, they can guide you and help you build your skill as a software developer. Just try to avoid errors in the final product!

 

15. Learn about and practice test-driven development (at least a little bit): Once you’re comfortable with error-driven development, test-driven development is the next step in your learning. Test-driven development is a sought after skill in the industry, and familiarity with it is a requirement to get hired at some software companies. It’s the practice of writing code to ‘test’ how your program behaves, and to drive out a better design for your program. If you’ve ever added some functionality to a program, only to have it break something else that was previously working, this is one of the things that test-driven development (often abbreviated as TDD) can help with!

Few programming resources for beginners focus on TDD, mainly because it can be a difficult concept to teach. When you aren’t sure how to write good tests, it can feel more difficult than writing code. You may encounter a situation where you know exactly how to write the code that will solve a problem, but designing a test around it takes an hour because you’re not sure of the appropriate way to exercise the code with a test. Learning TDD will slow you down at first, but you’ll be repaid with confidence – confidence that your programs work, and confidence that if you break something, you’ll know immediately. Tests are an incredibly useful safety net for junior developers.

You don’t need to be an expert at testing, but some familiarity with TDD will put you ahead of many other junior applicants, especially those coming from traditional Computer Science backgrounds where test-driven development is still not always taught. Bonus points if you can eventually articulate the difference between a mock and a stub.

We hope you have found these tips useful and will have hopefully broadened your knowledge on ways of becoming a software developer. Apply yourself! You don’t need to be a genius to get into software development. Just make sure you remain consistent with your practice and studies. Remember that you will hit barriers and most importantly remember to push through them and never give up. As previously mentioned, becoming a software developer is a challenging career path, but the resulting future prospects can be outstanding. You could find choosing to become a software developer might end up being one of the best decisions of your life. Good Luck!

If you considering a career in Software Development and would like to know more, be sure to get in contact with us here!

If you already have experience in Software Development and you are seeking new opportunities, make sure you check out our latest job role by clicking here!

-Natasha Postolovski

6-STEP Guide on Transitioning from Excel to ERP

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Transitioning from Excel spreadsheets to an ERP system can be daunting. These tips will help ensure the process goes smoothly.

Spreadsheets are cheap, easy to manage and can accommodate many different types of data. Therefore, it’s no surprise that, according to reports, 71 percent of companies still rely on spreadsheets as a pose to ERP for budgeting and planning. For many small businesses, spreadsheets are a system of first choice when just starting out.

However, something happens when your business matures and becomes more successful. As an organization grows, so much data is generated that it makes manipulating figures and creating accurate financial statements a time-consuming and error-prone task when using spreadsheets.

The biggest problem with spreadsheets is often their isolation from the rest of the enterprise, making collaboration fraught with challenges. Data cannot be automatically or even easily incorporated in the system. Even when it is, it is nearly impossible to prevent multiple versions of the same data from distorting results.

Most organizations accept that spreadsheets are going the way of landlines, encyclopedias and floppy disk drives. However, after making this tough decision, businesses face a challenging prospect: how to get all that data from Excel and into their ERP software of choice. Modern-day ERP offers some powerful tools for seamless integration – and the resulting solution is well worth the time and effort.

Here are six tips for making your transfer from spreadsheets to ERP as easy and painless as possible.

1. Evaluate Your Current Data Processes

When businesses have used the same systems for years, they can fall into a pattern of habituation, where tasks and reports become automatic, filled out without much thought to their need and use. Only when an issue with an internal procedure/process arises does a system get reevaluated and updated.

The transition from a system of Excel spreadsheets to an ERP solution can be an ideal time to take another look at the processes your business has in place. Evaluate what information you currently gather, how that information is used and what additional information would be beneficial. The added capabilities provided by ERP systems can also provide you with a new lens through which to consider your current processes — and may unearth new procedures you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

2. Determine if You Need All the Data

In addition to reviewing processes and procedures, take a closer look at historical data and consider how often it gets used – and what might no longer be needed. Determining a specific date and only transferring files from after this date can optimize the process and save a lot of time and energy. You can always go back and add additional data if needed.

Speaking with an expert who has experience in this area can be helpful, as they will already understand potential pitfalls and help you avoid them. Check with other business owners in your circle who may have already completed their own transitions, or ask the companies you are considering purchasing your system from for references.

3. Break Data up into Sections

Just like anything else in business, you need a plan to be successful when transitioning data over to a new finance system. Decide if it makes more sense to attempt a mass transition, or a slow and gradual process. Keep in mind that most companies benefit from a gradual process, but there are instances where a quicker transition might be the better option. An example of this would be if the data is used regularly and needs to be accessible in its entirety, even during the transition.

Make a list of the milestones you need to achieve. Include steps like picking out the right product, testing the system and training end users. This list will ease some of the stress associated with the migration.

4. Choose ERP Product Based on Your Specific Needs

Before choosing an ERP solution, you need to understand all of your options, both customized and out-of-the-box solutions. First, however, you should understand which kind of systems your organization needs. Once you have this information, it will be easier to compare software programs and choose the right solution.

For example, a company that outsources its marketing functions may have little use for an ERP that prioritizes marketing. However, that same company may thrive on the increased knowledge it has from automated financial reports that highlight just where improvement is needed and which areas of the business are performing best.

It sounds like a no-brainer, but when making a decision, pick a finance system that meets your exact needs. Try not to make any assumptions at this stage in the process, as the answer to a quick question can often change the direction that your company chooses to go in. It is important to uncover what exactly each vendor offers and how it could benefit your company’s operations. There are many systems out there capable of managing your finance system, but powerful capabilities are only beneficial if they can be directly applied to your business.

5. Prepare Your Team

Most likely, you aren’t transitioning to a new financial system alone. Consider how you want to prepare your team to help in the transition. You have two types of people to prepare as part of your transition: team members who will help you migrate your information, and end users of the software programs selected. Get feedback from both of these groups on what they need out of the new system early in the process so they remain more invested over the long run.

Regardless of how you choose to transition the data over, allow extra time in your plans. Something unexpected may come up and you don’t want to be caught off guard. By anticipating that the project may take a little extra time and preparing your team for this, you may be pleasantly surprised with an earlier-than-planned finish.

6. Remember Long-term Benefits of ERP

It is easy to forget the reasons why you are transitioning to a new system in the middle of the process and instead be caught up in the ups and downs of day-to-day work, that, let’s be honest, can be tedious and challenging when working on a full data transfer. Whenever you question if the process is worth it, try to take a step back and remember all of those benefits of switching to a new accounting system, including increased accuracy, better analytics and a streamlined business process. Encourage the rest of the team to do this as well.

In Conclusion

Setting out to implement a new ERP solution, especially when it comes to your business’ financials, is a daunting task. However, by approaching the task with the right mindset — and a few industry tips — you can reduce stress and minimize the time it takes to be up and running with a new system. Organizations that go beyond spreadsheets are able to make faster and better decisions by reducing manual routine work and human error.

Are you already familiar with Enterprise Resource Planning strategies? Looking at taking the next step in your career within the ERP Business Analytics sector? Why not check out our latest job role by clicking here!

 

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