7 skills every coder should develop to stay relevant in the industry: 


Sometimes you get an idea that’s so bright, so revolutionary, that you can’t wait to get started. When it’s that good, you can hardly hold yourself back from hacking away at it until it’s done. But you need to be aware that some ideas may not be feasible in reality, and if you don’t plan ahead, you may end up in a situation where your idea never gets off the ground. That’s why it’s important to learn how to spend your time wisely.

Those 7 core skills are the fundamentals that every coder should master. Without them, you’ll have a hard time building the great app you’ve envisioned. Here’s how to learn these essential skills.

If you’re looking for a job in technology or if you want to join a startup, these essential skills will set you apart and enable you to land the job of your dreams.


1.  Analyzing user behavior

It’s often said that “data is the new oil.” Your job in this industry is to gather as much data as you can and analyze it to make informed decisions about how to improve the experience for your users.

This skill will teach you the basics of how analytics work in the real world, and make you extremely knowledgeable on what data you should be collecting and why.


2.  Optimizing your product

The most important aspect of the job of a developer is to make sure your product is easy to use, and has the features you promise users. To that end, you need to develop strategies to increase conversions.

Start by defining your target audience, and then plan how you’re going to reach them. From there, you can adjust your product to match user needs and preferences.


3.  Writing amazing code

As the name suggests, code is what your product is built on.

If you don’t have a solid understanding of what makes code amazing, you won’t be able to write code that’s actually good. Fortunately, you can always learn to write code, and you should do so by starting with some basics.

Start with Swift, but don’t stop there. Once you’re ready to learn something new, go to GitHub or Stack Overflow and read a code sample. This will help you write a more comprehensive blog post about the topic.


4.  Version control

Another essential skill is version control. This is a set of practices used to track the state of a project from beginning to end, so you can make sure that there are no conflicts.

If you don’t have a solid understanding of what version control is and how it works, consider picking up a book about Git. Once you’re familiar with Git, you’ll be able to use it to create the history of your project.


5.  Growing your skill set

Being able to successfully apply the skills you’ve just learned is not enough. You need to practice what you learn, especially when you’re learning new languages or tools.

But if you have the right tools, you don’t even need to work on your own projects. Instead, you can join a coding academy that offers courses in a broad range of technologies and get paid for it.

Once you complete the courses, you can go back to work on your own projects or start one of your own.


6. Conducting tests

A fundamental part of any software project is creating and testing the code. The better your code performs in the real world, the more useful your app will be. But testing doesn't have to be complicated. You can create mock data to test your code on, or use a service like Selenium to test the program interactively. You can even create complex graphical mockups, like a "rubber band" test that demonstrates timing issues.

The key is to do the tests early, and often. Don't be afraid to alter the code, or re-run tests if you find they need tweaking. Doing so will keep you from spending too much time fixing errors and bugs, and it will make your app more robust and reliable.


7.  Learn how to present

Being able to present your work can be the difference between getting hired and being unemployed. You need to have a way to share your ideas with people, but be careful to avoid sharing information that could hurt you down the line. Even in normal, everyday situations, you should always be aware of who you're talking to and what information you're giving them.

Most of the things you'll need to present in your job will happen at conferences or meetings. You'll need to get up, speak, and ask questions for hours at a time, and it's important that you learn how to present well. How to present:

  • Know what your audience wants to know about.
  • Know how to present that information in a way that's easy to understand.
  • Know how to write appropriate questions for your audience.