Month: December 2022

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Community News and Resources

The Art of Community: Why Developers Contribute to Vendor-Owned Open Source Projects

Why Developers Contribute to Vendor-Owned Open Source Projects

Open source software (OSS) development is deeply ingrained in the developer culture, representing a distinct and inclusive collaborative ecosystem. In this chapter, we will explore the motivations behind vendor-owned OSS contributions through the lenses of experience, global region, and the use of Stack Overflow. 

OSS projects represent the power of community: collaborative efforts to develop code and software which positively impacts a wider audience than the individuals involved. Vendor-owned OSSprojects, e.g. TensorFlow and Visual Studio Code, combine this sense of community with financial backing from the world’s largest tech companies – a powerful combination of stability and open cooperation. 

For every developer involved in vendor-owned OSS, there is a different motivating factor – why do developers contribute to these projects? The big picture is that the top-three motivators for vendor-owned OSS contributors are: wanting to learn how to code better (38%), to improve the software that they use (29%),and to contribute to something bigger than themselves (22%).

How does experience affect vendor-owned OSS contribution?

When compared to beginners, those with six years of experience or more are around 13 percentage points more likely to contribute in order to improve a software they use. These experienced and improvement-focussed developers are also much more likely to hold specialist roles compared to their less experienced peers. For example, they are six times more likely tobe software architects and five times more likely to be either tech/engineering team leads or site reliability engineers. They not only believe that the software they use can be improved, but that they also have the capability and skills to improve it.

Experienced developers devote significant attention to enhancing the open-source software (OSS) provided by vendors, which they actively use and rely on

In fact, improving software seems to be the main motivation for many senior developers – those with 16 years of experience or more are the least likely to contribute for the majority of the other reasons we list. Learning to code better, getting noticed by their company, and getting their code reviewed are much lower priorities among seasoned developers. This is to be expected given the amount of expertise and recognition they have typically accumulated by that stage of their career.

At the other end of the scale, those most willing to contribute for their own education are developers with 1-2 years of experience. Compared to those with even less experience,these developers are 58% more likely to be exclusively professionals and 48% less likely to be exclusively students. In other words, at this stage of their careers, they have enough professional know-how and confidence to contribute to vendor-owned OSS software – yet are pursuing further education for their coding skills by giving back to the community.

Vendor-owned OSS contribution around the world

According to our data, 73% of developers contribute to vendor-owned OSS globally, but the level of contribution varies around the world. Developers in South Asia are the most likely to contribute (85%), while those in Eastern Europe are the least likely (67%). As for the two largest regional developer communities, North America and Western Europe,78% and 70% of developers contribute to corporate OSS projects, respectively.

South Asia and the Middle East and Africa are hotspots for developers contributing to vendor – owned OSS projects in order to level up their coding skills

As for specific motivations, there are a couple of hotspot regions that stand out from the crowd. Nearly half (47%) of OSS contributors in the Middle East and Africa and SouthAsia are motivated by learning to code better and similarly, about one in four by the opportunity to have their code reviewed by more experienced colleagues: 10 and 5 percentage points above the global average, respectively. 

Tying in with our previous analysis: these regions also hold the two largest shares of developers with less than two years of experience – 52% for the Middle East and Africa and 73% for South Asia.

However, to see how motivations towards vendor-owned OSS change across the globe, we take a wider perspective. In doing so, we group motivations into three broad categories: individual-focussed (getting noticed by the company, learning to code better, etc), collaboration-focussed (getting their code reviewed by knowledgeable people, etc.), and business-focussed (building community support around a corporate open source software project). In this manner, we can get a view of how sentiments towards vendor-owned OSS change around the world.

For instance, we see that developers in Oceania are at least 5 percentage points more likely than any other region to have business-focussed motivations when contributing to vendor-owned OSS projects. This may be linked to the financial success/focus of developers in this region – 9% of OSS contributors in Oceania report that they or their organisation generate more than $1M of revenue every month on average,compared to the global average of 4%.

Female developers are considerably more likely to be business-focussed when contributing to vendor-owned OSS

An interesting note on gender: we see that globally, female developers are 26% more likely than male developers to be business-focussed in their approach to vendor-owned OSS contribution. This observation is particularly strong in Europe: 54%of female developers in Western and Eastern Europe are business-focussed, compared to 33% of male developers. However, as the proportion of OSS-contributing female developers (22%) is only slightly higher than the global proportion (21%), it’s unlikely that they drive business-focussed regional behaviour. 

How do OSS contributors useStack Overflow?

Let’s look at the usage of a website that is synonymous with cooperation in programming and software development and see how the proportion of OSS contributors changes with varying levels of interaction. For users of Stack Overflow, we see a behavioural trend–those who are more active on the website are more likely to contribute to vendor-owned OSS.

Diving into the specific usage patterns of Stack Overflow,those who don’t use or visit the site are the least likely to contribute to vendor-owned OSS for any reason, compared to those who use the site at any level. This is again related to experience: 39% of those who don’t use Stack Overflow havel ess than a year of software development experience and only 5% have an account with a badge; these developers are the least likely to contribute to vendor-owned OSS projects, after those with more than 16 years of experience.

Likewise, there are differences in motivations to contribute to vendor-owned OSS between those with or without StackOverflow badges. For example, only 28% of OSS-contributing developers without a badge want to improve the software they use, in contrast to 40% of developers with badges. A possible driver here is professional status – 74% of those without a badge are professionals. For those with a badge, 91% are professionals: these developers are not only more focussed on improvement, they are more willing to engage with the community to do so.

The strength of community shines through in vendor-owned OSS projects, where collaborative efforts to develop software have the remarkable ability to create positive impacts on a broader audience beyond the individuals directly involved. Here, we’ve shown that developers involved in vendor-owned OSS have different motivations depending on their experience, gender, and region, which in turn reflects how they use collaborative environments like Stack Overflow. 

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Top career aspirations amongst student developers

career aspirations amongst student

Having long-term career aspirations can provide students with a sense of direction and help them make appropriate choices in their pursuit of knowledge. In turn, this speeds up their professional development and increases the likelihood of them achieving a successful career. In this chapter, we will take a closer look at the top career aspirations of developers who self-identify as students.

Solving problems is the top career aspiration among student developers, mentioned by nearly a third (32%) of them. This is closely followed by becoming an expert in a domain or technology (29%), building innovative products or services(27%), and working on challenging projects (26%). These findings suggest that, despite an apparent financial appeal,curiosity and chasing innovation are the primary motivators for students in their journeys to becoming professional software developers.

However, it is worth noting that maximising their earning potential is important for students too, ranking sixth on the list of top career aspirations.

Having good problem-solving skills when working on challenging projects is usually the key to building innovative products and services. As such, it is no surprise that these aspirations are frequently mentioned together by students who want to become professional developers.Those who want to build innovative products or services show an above-average level of interest in becoming entrepreneurs or working at esteemed companies. Furtheranalysis reveals that aspiring entrepreneurs are more likely to focus on maximising their impact on society, while those who express a desire to work for acclaimed companies show more interest in pursuing challenging projects.

Students who seek to become tech executives or company leaders place significantly lower importance than average on the most popular career aspirations. Instead, they prioritise building their own businesses while also showing an above-average level of interest in getting a specific job title. This is likely due to them being naturally career-focussed and prioritising pathways that will allow them to achieve their long term goals. On the other end of the spectrum, those who want to maximise their impact on society show a similar level of interest in building their own businesses. These developers are the most likely to aspire to build innovative products or services while also showing a high level of interest in mentoring and helping others grow.

As with most other topics, regional differences in culture and socio-economic circumstances manifest themselves as significant differentiators in career aspirations amongst student developers. For instance, South Asia is the region with the highest concentration of developers who self-identify as students (40%). In this region, 30% of students aspire to work on challenging projects -their top motivation-but are significantly less likely than students in other regions to show an interest in solving problems (26%) or building innovative products/services (22%). Instead, South Asian students are the most likely to prioritise obtaining a specific job title (16%) while also showing an above-average level of interest in becoming tech executives or company leaders (15%).

Students in South America, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe show the highest levels of interest in the global top-four career aspirations. However, while European students are significantly more focussed than average on maximising their earning potential (>30%), only 21% of their South American counterparts prioritise this when planning their careers. Instead, South American students are highly focussed on securing job opportunities at esteemed companies/organisations. In turn,they may be more likely to accept junior positions and lower salaries in exchange for job security and a promising career path.

East Asian students are the least likely to express a specific interest in becoming professional software developers. This suggests that students in this region have doubts about pursuing careers in software development and may be looking at other, unrelated jobs. Similarly, students from theGreater China area show below-average levels of interest in many of the top choices. In particular, we find that only 6% of them prioritise building their own businesses or becoming entrepreneurs, which is 19 percentage points below the average of the other regions. However, maximising their earning potential appears to be the key driving force behind why 33% of the students from the Greater China area want to become professional developers.

In North America, a high portion of students aim to become entrepreneurs while also showing the highest level of interest in maximising their impact on society. This is likely due to the highly prominent startup culture in this region. This effect is most apparent in Silicon Valley, which has established itself as the nexus of technological innovation and is home to many tech giants and startups. Similarly, students from the MiddleEast and Africa also show high entrepreneurial spirit in a region that is primed for a booming startup scene. In addition to this, the students in this region are the most likely to prioritise transferring their knowledge and experience to the next generation (28%).

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Make the most out of 24th Edition of Developer Nation Survey – a CheatSheet

developer nation survey

The 24th Edition of Developer Nation survey is now live and this blog post is your cheat-sheet to know everything this survey wave has to offer and how to make most out of your experience as a survey participant. 

What is the Developer Nation Survey ?

If you have never participated in a Developer Nation survey before, this section is for you. 

It is our most complete global survey that we have ever created for professional developers, hobbyists, students, and no-code software creators. It is intended to shape the key trends among developers and software eco-system for 2023. 

When you participate in this survey you’re supporting the developer research which is used by companies and organisations creating developer centric products to provide for a better developer experience and as a bonus, you also get to win some amazing prizes and support the charities and causes you care about by donating to them. 

PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY

The Prizes

When you participate in the survey you’re eligible and automatically enters to win prizes from a pool worth  $19,000+ 

General prize draw: For every participant we have 250 prizes including:

  • 2 x ThinkPad L15 Gen 3, 
  • ThinkPad L13 Gen 3, 
  • iPad Air, 
  • DiY IoT kits, 
  • choice of gifts cards or crypto, 
  • Github CoPilot or Tabnine yearly licences, 
  • IDE licences, 
  • courses, 
  • Swag bags, 
  • cloud credits, and 
  • tech accessories.

Special prizes for Developer Nation community members: 

For our Developer Nation community members, alongside General Prize pool we also additionally have extra:

  • ThinkPad L13 Gen 3, 
  • iPad Air, 
  • swag bags, 
  • $15 vouchers.

You can choose to join the community during the survey sign up process or by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter at: https://developernation.net/subscribe . As a community member you’ll be part of 70,000+ developers around the world and will be getting regular updates about :

All this is powered by the survey results intended to help our community members grow in their career journey and connect with like-minded people.

ARVR prize draw: 

As part of this global survey, we’ve a special section calling all Augmented (AR), Virtual(VR), Mixed(MR) and Extended(ER) Reality developers, designers and creators. 

Let us know what do you think the future holds for creators of these immersive technologies which will only take 10 mins to participate and make you eligible for additional prize draw pool including :

  • iPad Air 
  • ThinkPad L15 Gen 3
  • Meta Quest 2, 
  • KODAK PIXPRO SP360 4K PREMIER Pack, 
  • Crypto and Gift Cards 

Check more about winners from previous surveys in the blog here .

Donations

By participating in the survey, you can also support a cause you care about by donating to one of the following organisation or non-profit :

  • Girls Who Code
  • CoderDojo 
  • Free Code Camp
  • WWF
  • Raspberry pi foundation

You can read more about this in our last donation blog here .

So what’s Next?

The survey is live and will be running from December 8th 2022 till February 3rd 2023. You can pause the survey and finish it at your convenience, within the deadline. 

It is available in English + 8 additional languages including Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Russian, Japanese, and Korean

Participate and let your voices be heard. We’re excited to learn what has changed in the developer world these last 6 months. Which tools and platforms are you using now and if JavaScript still rules the world of programming? 

All these answers unveil along with the prize distribution with the 24th Edition of Developer Nation survey.

PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY

If you’ve any questions feel free to drop it in the comments or reach us back on any social media channels : https://developernation.net/links.

We can’t wait to hear from you. 

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Community

Why Python is the perfect choice for AI & ML project

With most companies using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology, it’s significant to use a programming language that reduces the code complexity and offers simple implementation. 

Though developers have ample opportunity to use different programming languages, Python gives them an edge over other available languages. Python offers a large number of libraries with simple and flexible tools, which makes the job easier. 

Plus, it is one of the leading solutions that can work for ML and AI. Python has gained an extensive advantage over different programming languages and is being used for different projects. You can hire Python developers to know more about compatibility. 

Let’s dive deep and look into what makes Python an ideal choice. 

1. Huge frameworks and libraries 

Building different ML and AI projects can be time-consuming. And at times, the coding process can be a complex one. However, many libraries are prewritten and compatible with Python, so developers prefer it over other languages. 

The libraries available in the stock make the process seamless for new developers. Developers can pick a library based on the need of the project. For instance, the Pybrain is used for machine learning, and Scipy is specifically used for advanced computing. 

Also, programmers can save a lot of time by using the approach, which is a unique library. 

2. Flexible platform 

Python is a highly flexible platform and is suitable for every purpose. The programming language offers the benefit of choosing between scripting and OOPS. Plus, you can consider recompiling the source code in project development. 

It’s easier to bring any changes, which saves time. Additionally, it allows the developers to choose from different programming styles, following which they can combine various styles to create better projects. 

The language is suitable for linking different data structures and offers perfect backend solutions for programmers. Moreover, it’s the most feasible choice for programmers who are often stuck between different algorithms – providing them with the power to check the code.

3. Its quite popular 

Python is quite popular among the developer community for creating projects. It’s one of the top programming languages, and most developers love to use it for simple stacks and tools. 

Moreover, it is one of the most commonly used languages for new developers. Developers can easily choose from the many Python packages available online. With a wide choice of packages, choosing the one for the project becomes simple. 

Leading companies have been using the language for years, so it’s the most preferred choice for the AI community. It is also the number one choice for developers who work on machine learning projects.

4. Platform-independent nature

Python has a platform-independent nature and that’s why most developers prefer the language. It makes the entire process of building solutions more seamless and simple. 

Developers can work on multiple platforms without errors. By tweaking the codes, they can make the applications ready to run or go live in no time. Additionally, they can run the apps on different OS. 

By choosing Python, developers can save a lot of time they otherwise waste on testing applications. The flexibility of coding is the main feature of Python. 

5. Better visualization options 

As discussed earlier, Python comes with a variety of libraries that are available online, and those libraries come with visualization features and tools. Moreover, when it comes to AI, the developers need to develop visuals for a project. 

They need to highlight the visuals for accuracy and attention. Plus, it plays a vital role in presenting the data. For instance, libraries like Matplotlib can be helpful for programmers and data scientists. 

It allows creating of different charts and histograms and – creating plots for data comprehension. The tools help in visualization and representation, which helps the developers to build better reports. 

6. Clear readability 

With Python, you will get the benefit of readability, which is an important aspect of technology. It is a simple language, easy to use, and beginners can change the code. 

Unlike other programming languages, Python is not complex. Besides, ease of use plays a vital part in exchanging ideas, algorithms, and tools. As a result, AI professionals can use the language to bring minor or big changes to the project at any given time. 

Apart from the readability, there are tools available to create an interactive design. The external tools can help in debugging and tab completion. It can also help in testing. Additionally, it also plays a part in facilitating the work schedule. 

7. Rapid development and community support 

Python offers the benefit of prototyping, and if the developers are familiar with stacks, it saves time. Also, the developers don’t have to waste time in the integration of AI. Most developers consider Python simple as far as readability and writing are concerned. You won’t need to learn the complicated codes. 

Python offers extensive community support – backed by experts and professionals in the field. Additionally, it provides the developers with all the essential resources they need to work on. 

New developers can work quickly and hassle-free. Besides, the experts are always preparing to rescue new developers if they are stuck with the project. In every phase of the development cycle, you can take the help of experts. 

Wrapping up,  

AI and ML technology is constantly evolving and bridging gaps between companies. Implementation and integration can help increase efficiency and productivity. 

Additionally, the use of Python for the two technologies is providing solutions to real-life problems. Plus, you can expect a customised user experience with Python. 

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Best way to hire a Senior Java Programmer

Without a reliable and trustworthy web application to depend on in today’s competitive business environment, it might be difficult to prosper and survive.

A website not only provides a multitude of features and services, but it also makes it extremely easy for business organisations to organise their work and improve their internal communication via the use of several web-based apps. Java has been actively employed by developers to give high-end software and online apps to customers regardless of whether they are working on the internet or an organisation’s private intranet.

In the following section, we are going to talk about the multitude of benefits that this platform offers, as well as the reasons why you should hire Java developers. Read on for more information.

Java is now one of the programming languages that are in most demand worldwide. Because of the important function, it plays in the operations of your main company, you will need to find the most qualified individuals to join your team. Everything you need to know to successfully attract Java developers is included in this guide.

Although Java is a general-purpose programming language that uses statically typed expressions, it is also an object-oriented and concurrent language. Java was intended to be a WORA language, which stands for “write once, run anywhere.” This means that the language should be able to operate on any platform and with as few dependencies as possible with the support of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). There is no such thing as speed in languages; all that is required is linguistics. If you want to assess how quickly anything is implemented, you need to choose distinct implementations to compare with one another. Backend web development often makes use of languages written in Java. Backend web development refers to the portion of web development that is concerned with the creation of the software system that may be executed on the server. According to a poll that was conducted among developers on Stack Overflow, java is the most prevalent kind of development.

Java is an older programming language, yet it is still widely used

In the early 2000s, commercial applications were among the first to start making widespread use of Java. It was designed with a few primary goals in mind, including ease of use, durability, and mobility. It is clear how these fundamental characteristics contributed to Java’s rise to prominence as a language of choice, one that is today used in every industry and application layer possible. All of these things may be developed in Java by making use of sophisticated frameworks and tools, including database access, system behavior, service publishing and access, and individual development (mobile, web, and desktop). In addition, Java can be found on every platform imaginable, from SIM cards in mobile smartphones to the high-end servers that operate the cloud. It can even be found on implanted and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. A software developer can’t make a mistake by deciding to study Java. Approximately 51 billion Java virtual machines are operating, which means that well-paying employment is assured for Java applications for many years to come. 98 percent of the Fortune 100 companies are actively employing Java workers.

Java is still one of the most widely used programming languages, and as a result, programmers who are proficient in Java are in high demand. The programming language is used by a variety of significant organizations to build and maintain their internationally recognized products. Java is well-known for the rapid processing speed it offers in software, computer games, and apps for desktop computers as well as mobile devices. It is used in the process of developing software as well as web-based applications for a variety of platforms. It has gained a lot of popularity because it is simple to use for newcomers, even though it may still take some time to grasp.

The creation of programs and software via the use of the programming language Java falls within the purview of a Java developer. A Java developer is a specific sort of programmer that may work in conjunction with web developers and software engineers to incorporate Java into commercial applications, software, and websites. C#, the primary rival to Java, is seeing a decline in market share, in contrast to Python’s competitors R and Ruby, which are more or less remaining stable. This post demonstrates the procedures that need to be taken to hire an acceptable Java developer, which is a challenging process in and of itself. Let’s begin by discussing how to choose a qualified candidate out of a heap of resumes submitted by Java engineers.

A Brief Observation Regarding the salary of Java Developers

You may be wondering what elements have an impact on the salary of a Java developer. There are two primary contributions, which are as follows:

  1. Experience. Even within the seniority level of a Junior Java developer role, more experienced applicants anticipate earning higher money. If you are in the process of recruiting for this position, keep this in mind.
  2. Skills. Developers that possess talents that are in higher demand will be compensated more. Candidates that have expertise in Java/J2EE are often compensated at a higher rate on average. In addition, since developers are such an important part of the process of producing your product, you should look for ones that share the values of your organization. In the long run, it is to the advantage of both parties since developers who are enthusiastic about their work often better represent the company’s ideals in the end product that the customers view.

When looking to hire a Java programmer, what are the best practices to follow?

  1. It may feel like a never-ending hunt for a decent employee while you are in the process of looking for one. There is a significant amount of demand for highly qualified workers all around the globe, and this is especially true when recruiting Java developers is taken into consideration.
  2. Java is the programming language of choice for corporations since it is the most reliable, versatile, and safe option available. As a result of this, Java developers will be among the professions with the second greatest demand in the year 2022.
  3. When looking to recruit Java developers, you must find individuals who are not just technically competent but also excellent communicators and who are aware of what they are doing.
  4. But where can you get people with such qualifications? There are not nearly enough people looking for jobs who have these specialized skill sets, even though there is a significant need for them.
  5. When you confine your search to a certain location, whether it be a city or even a nation, you will quickly discover that the pool of potential individuals is far less than you would have anticipated. 

The following recommendations for searching for an appropriate Java developer:

  1. Employing a Java software developer: The first question that has to be addressed is, “from where can I hire java programmer?” The first place that employers search for people with Java development experience is on several job portals. However, there are online communities and specialized forums such as GitHub, Stack Overflow, and others that can give you a reasonable idea about the level of expertise of the participating developers. This is because people typically use these platforms to demonstrate their level of technical expertise. In addition to this, Java hackathons and conferences provide the opportunity for recruiters to physically connect with developers while also expanding their network of contacts.
  2. A good old-fashioned JD will do the trick: The job description must make it very apparent which particular abilities a potential Java programmer should possess to be considered for the position. Your efforts to filter applicants would be reduced as a result since individuals who exhibit these attributes are more likely to apply for the job. The JD ought to, in an ideal world, contain the requisite years of experience, the required skill set, the domain of the project, KRAs, and so forth.
  3. Examine Your Java Certifications There are many different kinds of Java certifications, and typically, Java developers will earn them to confirm their expertise and demonstrate that they are technically valuable. The recruiter saves a lot of time by having an in-depth grasp of these qualifications, which helps eliminate unsuitable applicants during the basic screening process itself.

What qualities must a Java developer have when you hire?

  1. Skill evaluations

It is necessary to do skill evaluations correctly: In an ideal world, the potential Java developers would have some familiarity with the languages, frameworks, and tools that are used by the JVM when it comes to developing, testing, and designing Java applications. A solid foundation of advanced-level object-oriented features and ideas is also required, in addition to the aforementioned need. Arranging for a developer to have a technical interview with either the team lead or the project manager is one way to evaluate the developer’s talents and level of technical expertise. In addition to this, his coding and debugging abilities need to be evaluated through the use of a practice round. This helps us determine the quality of the candidate’s code, which is another aspect of the evaluation.

  1. A superb cultural fit

No matter where you are in the recruiting process, a red flag should be raised if a Java programmer has the requisite Java competence but lacks the mindset to fit with the culture of your organization. This is the case even if they have the necessary Java expertise. During the interview process, Java programmers have the opportunity to exhibit their skills; but, before you offer them a contract, you should require that they meet with other members of your team. If you don’t sense a connection with that individual, it’s possible that they aren’t the right fit for you. When looking to hire a Java developer, finding someone who is a good cultural fit for your team should be one of your top priorities. You may need to broaden your search to find someone who can contribute to your team right away, so be prepared to do so. However, bear in mind that locating a Java programmer who is compatible with the culture of your business is not only essential when making new hires, but is also something to consider in the market for contract work. 

You may be able to find Java programmers who will remain with you for long-term projects and maybe even become permanent fixtures if you take the additional time necessary to verify that they are a cultural match inside your company.

  1. Problem-solving skills

Every Java programmer needs to have the ability to produce, deploy, and effectively manage code. In addition to these primary roles, they should also be responsible for fixing any problems that come up throughout the testing cycle and delivering implementable solutions. When making hires, you won’t only be able to glance at a candidate’s CV to identify whether they have the characteristics you want in a Java programmer; you’ll need to go deeper. To find out, you should put them through a technical exam in which they have to show their ability to solve problems. However, regardless of how capable a Java programmer is, if they fail to include any advanced techniques in their CV, you should be sure to investigate further to see whether they fit your requirements.

  1. A flexible technique for Java programming

Even if a certain set of skills may be necessary, it could be more beneficial in the long term to take a broader perspective and focus on recruiting for the future. If you do not do a thorough study of a candidate’s curriculum vitae while searching for the right Java programmer, you may find out that they have only worked with a single version of Java, which is probably not a suitable match for your company if you want to grow it. Even if a Java programmer has only ever worked with a single platform in their previous job, a developer who is passionate about their profession will make the effort to learn new skills that will help them in the long run. This is because new skills will help them stay competitive in their field.

Examine the perpetual and signed agreement marketplaces for a Java programmer who can exemplify technical ability while also being encouraged to gain new methods and widen on theories of Java knowledge. This will help you avoid hiring a one-trick developer and ensure that you are not hiring someone with limited Java knowledge.

Why Java Outsourcing?

Even while Java is the technology of the moment for major corporations and firms that often choose to engage a specialized Java developer to instantly solve any challenges related to Java, there are a variety of benefits to engaging an external agency for the development of your software. Work in Java development is often outsourced by businesses to make cost and time savings, and frequently to make up for a lack of in-house technical skills. As a result of the vast skill pool of software engineers available in a variety of locations, outsourcing Java projects have become more popular. 

Outsourcing has several benefits, some of which are listed here 

  1. If one chooses to outsource the Java development assignment, then the entire cost of the project will be reduced by a significant amount.
  2. There is no need for one to spend money on technology, elaborate systems, or infrastructure.
  3. While the team you outsourced to works on the project, you will have a lot more free time on your hands, which will allow you to concentrate on other important responsibilities.
  4. The selection of the team is a challenging undertaking, and the cost of the project will increase with each incorrect pick. Because you outsourced this task, you no longer have to worry about it.
  5. Talking to the customer support team at any time is the best way to have one’s questions answered.
  6. You are no longer responsible for HR or administrative matters. You just need to keep an eye on how the project is moving along as a whole.
  7. You do not have to make concessions because of the technological inefficiencies involved since you have the legal right to request a certain feature for the project.
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Why Finding Programming Jobs is Difficult

A few years ago, I started guest lecturing and volunteering at a few of the coding bootcamps here in Chicago. I had a very non-traditional job search process (more on that in a minute), so it was surprising to me that so many new grads had a tough time finding their first roles.

Since then, I’ve realized that job hunting isn’t just hard for new software developers. There are virtually endless threads on Reddit (1, 2, 3, 4) bemoaning the process and how arbitrarily good programmers are rejected without reason after putting dozens of hours into the process.

In short, it’s demoralizing, but I’ve been on both sides of the table.

In my 12+ years in tech, I’ve been a software developer, an engineering manager, a CTO, and a founder. I’ve been in the hiring seat and the job-seeker’s seat at various times, and like many of you, I think most companies’ hiring systems are deeply flawed.

That said, there are ways to navigate it or work around it entirely. As an applicant, understanding how the system works and playing to your strengths can help make it a lot easier on yourself. So, in this piece, I’ll break down the hiring process from an employer’s perspective. I’ll share some of the reasons this process is so annoying (on both sides) and offer my perspective on how both sides can navigate it.

Why Is Job-Hunting So Difficult for Software Engineers? 

There are a number of factors at play in making job-hunting as hard as it is. Here are just a few factors:

1. Oversupply of Junior-Level Developers

Finding your first role is particularly hard for entry-level programmers, since the vast majority of openings are for mid or senior-engineers with 5+ years of experience. But, employers are somewhat justified because junior developers can be a risky bet.

Hiring a new software developer can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Add to that onboarding and training costs — which are significant for someone who’s completely new to the field — and it’s easy to invest $30,000 or more before they’ve added a line of production code.

Now imagine you make a bad hire.

It takes 8.8 weeks to dismiss someone, does damage to the hiring manager’s reputation, hurts morale, and the company has to recruit for that position all over again. Bad hires mean a lot of money and time is wasted, and most employers are extremely risk-averse (read fearful).

As a result, companies tend to be biased toward experienced candidates who are familiar with the language and frameworks they use. They tend to want proven contributors who are used to working in a professional environment and know all the tools of the trade.

I’m not saying this is right, but this is the economic case that any junior applicant is fighting against.

2. Outdated Hiring Practices

A lot of the frustration also stems from the fact that many steps in the process are not relevant to the actual job. Instead of testing for skills and knowledge applicable to their day-to-day work, applicants are made to jump through arbitrary hoops that often leave non-traditional and diverse candidates struggling.

> “But honestly, as an ACTUAL senior software developer, why do I have to brush up on things that don’t come up in the day to day often?” – Anonymous

Applicant Tracking Systems

For starters, ATSs, which are meant to help facilitate the hiring process and save everyone time, can be a huge barrier. Job seekers have to upload their resume and then fill out the exact same information all over again in most ATSs.

What’s more, many recruiters use these systems blindly.

Most ATSs will parse an application for keywords to determine if a candidate is qualified. If somebody wrote into their application that they’ve used Scala before, but they didn’t explicitly write that they’ve used Java, the ATS might tell the recruiter that they don’t know Java. A real engineer would know that the are closely related enough to be interchangeable in many environments, but naive recruiters may not.

This leads candidates to use hacks like (Amit Juneja’s here) to manipulate ATSs to get more positive replies.

While employers might save time using these tools, they’re clearly missing good candidates who just don’t know (or care) enough to game the system correctly.

Whiteboarding Sessions

Termed “whiteboard algorithm hazing” by David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails, whiteboarding is one of the most aggravating experiences for job seekers.

This interview style, which is widely used by tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, asks candidates to spontaneously regurgitate any one of hundreds of algorithms that were last useful maybe 50 years ago. They’re asked to write out these algorithms on a whiteboard with no access to an IDE or any reference material.

Spoiler alert: this is nothing like the work that real programmers do.

In the job, they’ll get to work on their own computer using reference materials and all sorts of assistive devices. I’d argue that it’s more important that developers know how to actually look things up quickly on Stack Overflow than repeat algorithms by memory, but that’s just me.

Hanssen says as much in his blog: “I’ve known fabulous programmers flame out in the quizzing cage and terrible ones excel. So unless you’re specifically hiring someone to design you the next sorting algorithm, making them do so on the white board is a poor gauge of future success.”

So why do companies default to this method of weeding out applicants?

Some of it is laziness. Many managers do whatever the policy dictates rather than improve the policy. For others, it’s likely a form of elitism or bias. Many companies want to limit their applicant pool to people with more traditional computer science backgrounds rather than those with self-taught or bootcamp experience.

In any case, whiteboarding has forced many applicants to spend months brushing up on arcane programs like maze solving algorithms or the longest possible Collatz sequence, hoping that they get tested on one of those during their interview.

It has also spawned an entire industry of Online Judges — platforms where applicants can solve problems and spend time on coding exercises. LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeForces are some of the most popular ones out there. It’s a lot like SAT prep for a job, except that you have to go through it again every time you want to change your job.

3. Job-Skills Mismatches

Finally, I see many developers struggling in the job market because they don’t have the right skills. This problem affects new and experienced developers.

For example, if you’re a senior developer who’s built a career working in PHP, but all the best companies are looking for Python or Golang developers, you’re going to have a hard time getting offers.

This goes back to point 1, but companies don’t want to spend money and time cross-training new hires. It’s expensive and risky, so they favor candidates who already have the skills they think their job needs.

The problem is that for many developers with a full-time job, family, and other commitments, it’s very hard to spend time learning a new programming language on the side. Keeping up with all the new technologies in this industry is one of the most common challenges of working in this industry.

So How Do I Get Hired? 

While there are movements being made against some of these arbitrary recruitment practices, many big companies have stuck with them. So in the meantime, how do you get hired and not get discouraged throughout the job hunt?

Here are a few pointers from my experience as a job seeker as well as conversations with fellow engineering managers:

1. Network, Network, Network

If you want to avoid the black hole of online applications, you need to build a network and reach out to people. I spend between four to eight hours every week building and maintaining my network.

Networking got me my first job right out of college and every subsequent job I’ve had since then. 

I started attending conferences and meetups very early in my career. As I began making connections, people started inviting me to speak at meetups and bootcamps, even though I was relatively early in my career.

I even kept track of all the people I met and got in the habit of reaching out to reconnect with them periodically. These efforts helped me avoid much of the chaos of traditional recruitment throughout my career. 

In a recent podcast on this topic I recorded with Taylor Dorsett, Software Engineer at Home Chef, he recommended treating each meeting as a learning process, especially when you’re young. “Can I learn something from this interview? Even if I fail at the coding problem, can I connect with this individual and learn something? [Through this] I actually had really good conversations with people and interacted a lot more afterwards.”

This mirrors my own experience. Even if the people I met weren’t looking to hire at the time, I stayed in touch. When they were hiring, I was the first person they thought of.

Whether you’re an entry-level programmer trying to get a foot in the door or an experienced one trying to find the right role, networking will make it a lot easier on you.

2. Contribute to Open-Source Projects

Another way you can distinguish yourself as a candidate is to get involved in a larger, existing project. There are plenty of open-source projects you can contribute to, and you don’t have to make major updates to help. Even bug fixes and documentation updates are valuable contributions!

As an employer, this practice shows me that you can learn an existing codebase, interact with others remotely, and think critically enough to make updates. Greenfield projects are rare in the real world, so showing that you can play well with an existing codebase is a huge asset.

3. Practice Intentionally

If you want to get hired, you have two options:

One: you can limit your search to companies which don’t have annoyingly arbitrary interview practices. Four Square, for instance, has ditched whiteboard interviews in favor of assignments you can take home. Pivotal Labs offers an engaging paired-programming interview style. Networking can help you connect with managers at a number of these companies, but believe me, there are plenty of them out there.

Two: you can spend a couple of hours every week practicing coding interviews. Doing LeetCode exercises is a grind, but you will get better at them over time. Platforms like AlgoMonster and Educative can also help you learn in a more structured way by understanding the patterns rather than memorizing the answers.

You can also practice with mock interviews. I haven’t used it, but Interviewing.io is a well-respected resource where you can anonymously practice interviews with Facebook and Google engineers.

4. Share What You Know

Finally, if you’re looking to stand out from other candidates and have more opportunities come to you, educating others is a great option.

Writing tutorials, recording YouTube videos, or creating an online course is a great way to build your personal brand and prove that you’re worth hiring. I wrote regularly my whole career as an engineer, and many of the blog posts I wrote led to job offers, consulting work, or new connections. Honestly, it’s why I still write pieces like this one, and it led me to create my current company, Draft.dev.

Sharing your knowledge is a great way to help others while showcasing your skills and building an online presence.

Conclusion

The software development field is still growing exponentially and there’s a significant shortage of qualified talent in the space. 

While job hunting can be a huge pain, this is still a good field to be in. But if you’re picky, you may just have to fight a little longer to find that perfect role. Meeting new people and building a body of work you can showcase is a tried-and-tested hack to stand out as a candidate. 

If you found this article helpful or have thoughts of your own, I’d love to hear them. Leave a comment or find me on Twitter to continue the conversation.

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Community

Developer Nation Holiday Gift Guide – 2022

Holidays are around the corner and if you would like to thank a developer in your life with some geeky gifts this guide might come in handy.

Gears:

  1. GaN Charger with Power Delivery : 

Gone are the days where we have to carry multiple power adaptors for each device. GaN chargers use the latest technology based on gallium nitride unlike traditional silicon based chargers, making them compact and more power efficient, Power Delivery (PD) is a specification for handling higher power and allows a range of devices to charge quickly over a USB connection. That means a good GaN charger with power delivery can simultaneously charge your laptop, mobile phone and other devices. Based on the needs you can pick one from amazon with good rating. I’ve personally used and can recommend:

 Anker 

Minix 

  1. Airtags : these have been saviours for me in the last year. If you travel often these are now the must-haves. It basically works with Apple find my network updating the location so you can track your luggage, keys or even pets. 
  1. Multi-tool: a must have accessory for every developer’s toolkit. Leatherman has a range of multi-tools which you can pick from 

DiY Learning:

  1. Arduno Uno: Programming to control hardware is a whole new experience, and arduino is still one of the best ways to get started. Arduino Uno boards and clones are easily available and makes for a great gift.
  1. Learn to solder kit : Soldering can be a life saving skill and Tindie has DiY learn to solder kit from beginner through hole components to advanced 0402 SMD components. Pick one that suits your needs. Best thing is you can wear some as badges after you solder one successfully 😉
  1. Lock Picking Kit : Not for sneaky reasons but I absolutely loved when I first received a lock picking kit, it teaches a lot about mechanical padlocks. You can find many variants on amazon so pick one based on good review ratings. Here’s one I have :  

Miscellaneous:

  1. Nano-leaf smart lights : Who doesn’t love some fancy wifi controlled smart lights? Nano leaf take it to yet another level and any developer would fancy them having it as part their work setup
  1. Rode USB NT mini mic: Level up the audio on video calls with this cute little but professional microphone from Rode
  1. Scented Candles: Nothing beats good scented candles on a Friday night bashing bugs. Find one on local amazon or support a local small business. Every developer would love it 

That’s all from my list, I hope this has given you some inspiration. If you would like to suggest more gift ideas please add it to the comment section, Happy Holidays. cheers!

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Community

A Deep Dive into Studios Game Developers Work for

The nature of professional game developers’ work can vary depending on the type of studio they work for. In this chapter, we will explore the profile of developers working for different types of game studios, focussing on their experience, roles, and technology choices. 

For the first time in the latest edition of our Developer Nation survey, we asked professional game developers to describe the type of game studio they work for. The modern game development space has stratified itself into several different studio types, and within these studios, the types of tools and technologies used can vary significantly. Further to this, the profile of developers also shows differences between studio types.

We break down professional game developers as belonging to the following studio types:

  1. Game publishers, who outsource most of their development;
  2. Large-scale studios that develop and self-publish a collection of games;
  3. Third-party developers who work on various games from different publishers;
  4. Indie studios that publish and develop a small number of games

Here’s what we found

Game developers may be equally spread among different studio types, but we observe some important differences in their profiles. Developers with 3-5 years of experience are most commonly found in all types of studios except third-party developers; for this type of studio, their team is most likely to have 1-2 years of experience. Those with more than 11 years of experience in game development make up only a small portion of the general game developer population (11%) but have a much higher representation at indie studios (20%). 

The most experienced developers in the industry can choose where they work. They may be choosing to work for indie studios due to greater creative control over projects or a preference for working within small teams, now rarely found in AAA development. They may also make personal decisions to work for studio types that are less likely to be involved in ‘crunch’.

“Developers at Indie studios are twice as likely to be highly experienced – 16 or more years under their belts – than those working for other studio types”

Mid-career game developers–those with 6 to 15 years of experience–make up more than a third (37%) of the developer workforce in large-scale studios, compared to only a quarter (24%) among professional game developers in general. The scope and complexity of the properties that large-scale studios work on may drive demand for more experienced developers. Despite this, the most experienced developers still more frequently choose indie studios, indicating that the previously suggested factors may outweigh the offers large-scale studios can make to these developers.

Of the many roles game developers may hold, we consider game designers, artists, UI designers, programmers, and QA engineers as the ones that consumers would likely identify with game development and are often the ‘core’ roles for producing games. Differences in studios can be seen by the different percentages of developers identifying themselves with these roles. Those who self-identify as programmers account for 39% of those working for indie studios, which is significantly higher than the professional game developer average (24%). 

Similarly, the proportion of developers working for indie studios describing their roles as either game designer (46%), artist (27%), or UI designer (14%) is nearly double that of the population average, 23%, 15%, and 8%, respectively. The proportion of these roles between studios makes sense, considering the nature of development within these types of studios. Indie studios are typically smaller than other studios, with 66% of indie developers working for companies with up to 20 employees, compared to only 43% and 34% of developers working for game publishers and third-party studios, respectively. This can lead to more employees in a studio being directly involved in game design and development.

“Third-party studios have twice the proportion of developers in test roles compared to other game studios”

A counter-example can be seen with QA engineers, who are twice as prevalent in third-party studios (10%) compared to the population average (5%). Third-party studios having a larger proportion of QA engineers corresponds to their role in development cycles. These studios do a lot of development in-house, often work on larger projects, and can undertake contract work for larger studios, all of which require dedicated QA departments.

Further differences between game studios can be found in the choices of game engines. Unity and Unreal Engine are the most used game engines, with 33% and 15% of game developers using them as their primary engines, respectively. However, among developers who work for indie studios, these two game engines account for 48% and 20% of developers, compared to less than 28% and 12% for developers at other studios. Both engines are widely used and popular, with Unity being the most used engine for all studio types, but they have specific business and technical aspects that appeal to indie developers.

Why Developers use Unity

Due to its flexibility and ease of use, Unity was the common choice for indie developers when the scene emerged. This has led to a large online community and marketplace to support indie developers with tutorials, assets, and customised libraries. Unreal Engine is also popular amongst indie developers with it being considered one of the most powerful out-of-the-box engines and having a licensing structure that doesn’t require royalties to be paid until a game makes more than $1 million in revenue. The difference in popularity between the two game engines for indie developers likely lies in the availability of assets in the Unity store. Unity Asset Marketplace has over 77,000 assets and tools, compared to Unreal Marketplace’s 22,000, allowing small indie studios to offset development time with ready-made assets and tools.

“Unity and Unreal Engine are the most popular engines for game developers, with particularly high adoption by developers at indie studios”

Unity and Unreal have many tools and utilities but are not capable of performing every possible aspect of game design. In contrast, in-house or custom tools allow developers to focus on working with engines designed around the specific requirements of their games, as well as develop tools to optimise both development and performance. Amongst the large-scale and third-party studios, the second most popular engine choice is the use of either an in-house or proprietary engine–16% and 12%, respectively. These studios have the resources, time, and business motivation to focus on developing their engines. Use amongst large-scale developers is further incentivised by allowing assets and developers to move between projects more seamlessly, with a greater familiarity with the engine.

Engines Game Publishers prefer

Game publishers have a similar level of resources and time, but their in-house engines are often pivoted to commercial engines. Unreal Engine was developed by publisher EpicGames, Source from Valve, and RedEngine from CDProjektRed. Among game publishers, the engines initially developed by a publisher but are no longer in-house, make up another 15% of primary engine choices.

Less than 5% of developers working at indie studios use in-house engines; instead, Godot is the next most common engine choice. Godot is an open-source game engine that has built a strong community of developers around it. It has created supporters due to its dedicated 2D engine and its Python-like language GDScript which accommodates many Python users worldwide and is especially popular among student developers. The open-source nature of the engine also means indie developers do not have to worry about licensing or subscription changes, reducing financial demands and worries. 

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