Are you an aspiring programmer, or perhaps just interested in learning more about the programming field? Read on to learn more about the hard and soft skills that programmers need to succeed.
Technology has become the backbone of our everyday lives, and programmers are needed to keep moving that technology forward. The options are endless: an aspiring programmer can bring the next life-changing smartphone app to life, create new worlds in gaming, or craft the way millions of people across the globe interact and communicate online. These are just a few of the ways programmers impact the world around them, but all programmers have certain things in common — the in-demand hard and soft skills that propel their career success.
Hard Skills Data structures and algorithms Database and SQL Object-oriented programming (OOP) languages Integrated development environments (IDEs) Cloud computing Web development Containers Text editors Git version control Soft Skills Communication (verbal and written) Teamwork and conflict resolution Problem solving Empathy Patience Curiosity Adaptability Accountability Time management 9 Hard Skills Programmers Need Graphic listing 9 hard programming skills
Data structures and algorithms Database and SQL Object-oriented programming (OOP) languages Integrated development environments (IDEs) Cloud computing Web development Containers Text editors Git version control 1. Data Structures and Algorithms Many programmers think that data structures and algorithms (DSAs) are just something you have to “get through” in school, but will never need in real life. However, they’re surprised when so many interviews include DSA questions. There are several reasons companies are interested in a prospective employee’s DSA knowledge, and why programmers should be interested in it too.
For many companies, such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, writing code is just the final step in a long process. The majority of a programmer’s time is actually spent considering the best way to approach a project, including the best data structures and optimal algorithms to employ. These decisions have a real impact on the company’s resource usage and profitability, so it’s no surprise that DSAs figure prominently in their interview process. And, even for companies outside of Silicon Valley, these questions are important because they demonstrate a programmer’s foundational knowledge and problem solving abilities.
Once a programmer has the position, DSAs still play a role in day-to-day work. Specifically, data structures are a particular way of organizing data so that it can be used most effectively, and there are many to choose from. One of the most commonly used data structures is an array, which holds and indexes items of the same data type such as integers. Additional types of data structures include linked lists, which organize data into linear, sequentially-linked order; and stacks, which allow programmers to access recently placed items first, as if they were picking up the first book in a pile.
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