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Developing Software: General Concepts Everybody Should Know

  • Writer: Daniela Vidal
    Daniela Vidal
  • Jun 6
  • 7 min read

Updated: Jun 9

Developing Software

How Does Software Development Work?


Developing software is a computer science field related to creating, designing, deploying, and supporting software through robust application lifecycle management and modern devops practices. It is used to build applications and system tools that improve the quality of human life.


Nowadays, we can consider most enterprises as software companies. Not because their main product or service is software-related, but because digital transformation driven by software tools is essential for improving performance and achieving better results.


Developing software is vital worldwide to create digital tools that solve different problems, improve the performance of existing resources, reach digital audiences, and facilitate computational processes using technologies such as API (Application Programming Interface) and cloud containerization.


I will give you some examples to make a better image of how software development works.


Grocery Store


You have a local and small grocery store, but your dream is to expand your reach across the entire city, not just your neighborhood.


To increase visibility and connect with a broader audience, you can develop a website using modern content management system technologies to showcase your products and services.


Additionally, creating a mobile first design app can simplify the buying process for customers, making it easier to purchase fruits and vegetables directly from their smartphones.


Even as a small business, leveraging digital transformation through tailored software development can help you scale and compete effectively in today’s technology-driven market. We all live immersed in a world powered by software.


Personalized Clothing Brand


You own a clothing brand and want to differentiate yourself from the competition. Your idea is to offer personalized clothing items tailored to each customer.


A key part of this concept is allowing customers to visualize their personalized items before purchase, enhancing the user experience.


To achieve this, you develop a website using API integrations and dynamic content-management-system features with unique widgets for each customer, enabling a fully customized shopping experience.


This approach leverages data driven development principles to deliver personalized, interactive, and engaging digital solutions that set your brand apart.


Farmers


Imagine you are a farmer cultivating a very delicate flower intended for export. Due to the effects of climate change, the humidity levels in your soil have become unpredictable, posing a significant risk to your crops. To safeguard your investment, it is crucial to implement a system of continuous monitoring that tracks this critical environmental variable in real time, allowing you to respond swiftly and effectively to any changes.


To achieve this, you can develop a smart monitoring solution that runs on an application server infrastructure, leveraging middleware to connect sensors and devices seamlessly with cloud-based platforms. This setup would utilize a robust data pipeline that handles incoming sensor data efficiently, formatted and exchanged via JSON, ensuring smooth interoperability between hardware and software components. By adopting backend as a service architecture, the system gains scalability and reliability, essential for handling fluctuating data loads without interruptions.


Moreover, integrating asset management techniques enables you to track the health and status of your farming equipment and environmental sensors, while solid data governance practices guarantee that all collected data is accurate, secure, and compliant with industry standards.


This holistic technological approach empowers you to make informed decisions based on precise, timely information, ultimately protecting your crop yields and optimizing your farming operations in an increasingly uncertain climate.


How is the process of developing software?


The process begins when a specific need arises and transforms into a clear idea. This initial stage is crucial because it sets the foundation for everything that follows. Without a well-defined need, it’s impossible to develop software that truly solves the right problem. This idea acts as a seed that will eventually grow into a fully functional digital tool or application.


Once the idea is established, the next step is to conceptualize the software solution. This involves understanding the target audience, the devices where the software will be used, and the practical requirements of the project.


Conceptualization is more than just having a vague notion — it requires developing a detailed mental model of how the software will function and what features it will include. For example, if the idea is to build a spacious house, conceptualization involves planning the design, layout, materials, and colors. Similarly, for software, this step may involve business-process-modeling to outline workflows and user journeys, ensuring every aspect is mapped out before moving forward.


Budget and maintainability are critical factors that must be considered during planning. Choosing the right development approach affects both costs and the long-term sustainability of the software. While some solutions might promise impressive features, their implementation might require significant resources and ongoing maintenance. Evaluating options with an eye on application lifecycle management helps balance innovation with practicality, making sure that the final product is not only effective but also maintainable and scalable.


When development kicks off, a scrum master or agile coach typically works closely with the client to gather and refine requirements. This role involves breaking down the project into manageable tasks and assigning them to the development team.


The use of Agile methodologies, such as scrum, encourages continuous collaboration and adaptation. Regular meetings and sprint reviews allow teams to assess progress, conduct manual testing and bug tracking, and address any blockers. These practices foster transparency and ensure the project stays aligned with client goals while supporting the well-being and productivity of the developers.


What are the steps for Developing Software?

Steps for Developing Software

What is the first step for developing software?


The first step to developing software is to get an idea and create the concept.


What next?


After making the concept of the software tool, it es essential to have a UI and a UX designer; they will put these ideas on paper.


This design is an important input for the team. This design is split into requirements, and the requirements are divided into development tasks.


Now, the development team is going to have all the assets: graphical design, requirements, and tasks. They are ready to start the development and deployment process.


The steps of Developing Software are called de Development Life Cycle.


What is the Software Development Life Cycle?


The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) refers to a methodology with clearly defined processes for creating high-quality software.

In detail, the SDLC methodology focuses on the following phases of developing software:

Software Development Life Cycle

  • Requirement analysis

  • Planning

  • Software design, such as architectural design

  • Developing Software

  • Testing

  • Deployment

  • Maintenance


What is the Best Platform for Developing Software?


When someone asks for a platform, he can talk about a programming language or about the IDE (integrated development environment). Everything we are going to discuss in this title is about the programing language, just to clarify.


There is no “best platform”; all languages are pretty good for some specific scenarios, so you may think about what exactly you need and the scope and then look for the best tools for your solution.


Now, if you don't know anything about coding and want to learn some programming language but don’t know where to start, here is a tip.


  • If you’re looking for something easy: Python

  • If you want a solid foundation to make you a master developer: C

  • If you’re looking for a job or want to create mobile apps: Java

  • If you want to try front-end development: Javascript

  • If you’re programming for your startup’s website: Ruby



Can I Develop Software by Myself?

Develop Software myself

I interviewed two senior developers of Code Branch, and here is the answer:

According to Alejandro: “All people can create software themselves. They only need technical knowledge and imagination.”


Jose said: “Developing Software is an activity that can be performed by anyone with an affinity for technology, good logical and mathematical foundations, frustration tolerance, and above all, a continuous learning attitude.”

About two years ago, I wanted to learn how to develop software, someone very close to me, a senior developer, convinced me and told me that anyone who wanted to learn how to develop could do it.


He recommended a course that contained HTML, CSS, and Java script.


I only got as far as CSS and was very excited when I managed to diagram a Matroska doll.


However, I didn't continue because it didn't seduce me; it didn't catch my attention enough to dedicate several hours of learning, and I quit.


I am sure I could be a programmer if I had continued.


Here what I want to tell you is that it is crucial the discipline to learn to program and, as Jose said, the tolerance to frustration and the ability to be self-taught.


How Much do Software Developers Make?


How much so software developers make

Developers can earn from 85.000 USD to more than 122.000 USD per year.

A web developer has an extensive range of salaries; this will depend on how much experience the developer has, if junior or senior, and how many years and what kind of experience they have.


Also, the salary will depend on their knowledge and whether they are back-end, front-end, or full-stack developers.


Front End Developer:

Front-end development is programming that focuses on the visual elements of a website or app that users will interact with (the client side). According to Glassdoor can earn an average of 85.000 USD.


Back-End developer:

Back-end development focuses on the side of a website users can’t see (the server side) 95000 USD.


Full Stack developer:

A full-stack developer works with a web application's front and back end. The front end is responsible for the visual look and feel of the website, while the back end is responsible for the behind-the-scenes logic and infrastructure of the site.

They earn 101.000 USD approximately; however, for a developer with 3 to 5 years of experience, the salary can go up to an average of 122.0000 USD.


Conclusion


We can all become developers, the most important thing is to be creative, have enthusiasm, resilience, high frustration tolerance, and be empirical.


The development process must start with a need that becomes an idea, this idea is conceptualized and with the help of designers, we put it on paper and begin the life cycle of software development.


In case you don't see yourself as a developer you can always look for a specialized team to help your ideas come true. In CodeBranch we will love to help you.



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