The software development area is in charge of creating digital products so that they can be used by people who do not necessarily have knowledge in technology.

Those who work in this discipline mainly write the code, that is, the set of lines of text that describe the steps the computer must follow to execute a certain action.

They also have to speak with clients to identify their needs and reach solutions based on the product to be developed, in addition to receiving their feedback to make the necessary adjustments. Also, they talk with the teams to make collaborative decisions and define a roadmap.

The development of Android and iOS applications, as well as desktop and web apps, is performed in 5 stages: discovery, definition, development, testing and maintenance. Although they are presented as something linear, in practice some of them are carried out simultaneously, and also, it is common to go backwards in one of the steps, iterate and move on.

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Software development is the ability to create and design a virtual product that can be used by anyone who has access to a mobile device or browser.

Software is a set of instructions given to a processor in order to execute specific tasks. There are three basic types of software: 

Software developers are mainly in charge of writing code, but before that, they speak with the clients to understand their product's objectives and what problems they intend to solve. 

In this way, they can define a plan of action according to these needs, implement it, do testing, and then go into production. Finally, they are responsible for the maintenance of the systems they code.

The development technicians have to gather the necessary information to be able to outline the structure of the systems. They identify the expectations of the people responsible for a project and the pains that the product will solve.

Then, in close contact with the Project Management area, they define the best ways to face the project by applying different programming languages, as well as structuring the architecture necessary to achieve the goals.

In some cases, together with the QA area, they are in charge of testing these systems to ensure that they meet the company's quality standards and to guarantee the right functioning of all features. 

They also carry out maintenance tasks such as updating systems, repairing errors that arise over time, enhancing security, etc. 

To understand how software development works we must take a look at the work organization inside a company. There is no single way to structure a development area. Some companies divide them according to the specialty: Backend, responsible for handling the logics behind a digital product; Frontend, in charge of the user interface from the point of view of the code; and Fullstack, that works on both the visible and code of the system.

Sometimes, the organization can be according to the technology or frameworks employed to code, for example Node.js, React.js, among others.

At the same time, within each area, there may be a smaller one that is responsible for designing the architecture of digital products and balancing the needs throughout the development lifecycle, which is called DevOps.

To develop software you need knowledge in programming languages: Javascript, HTML, CSS, Node, React, etc. Although it provides very useful tools, it is not necessary to go to University. It is possible to work in software development without a degree or even a paid course. 

Many professionals have learned in a self-taught way. The important thing is to dedicate a lot of time to practice, watch workshops and master classes, access step-by-step guides that may be available on YouTube, ask questions to colleagues, and above all, make mistakes, learn from them and do not get frustrated.

Almost anyone can program. The important thing is to have a computer and a support installed that allows you to write code, combine it and execute it. Sometimes it can be useful to have a whiteboard and a marker, and brainstorm solutions to problems. 

We also suggest having contact with colleagues who specialize in the same technologies as you, so that if you get stuck, you can exchange ideas and achieve good results together.

There are five stages in the software development process. All of them are equally important, so each one must be carried out with great responsibility and commitment. 

At XOOR we work with agile methodologies, that is, we produce, evaluate and propose improvements in the product and then iterate. That is why the definition stage and the development and testing stages are repeated many times: we go backwards, make the necessary adjustments, move forward, and probably go backwards again and iterate improvements.

For our talent augmentation services, we build custom teams according to the needs of the project and the possibilities of the clients. For this, we take into account the functionalities to be programmed, the type of technologies to be used and the fact that the people share the culture of the target company.

At XOOR we focus on nearshore software development work, because we believe that complementary cultural backgrounds and similar time zones are key factors for a successful day-to-day work environment.

Besides, some time ago we decided that all the teams we form to join immediately other companies, either autonomously or integrated, must include a PM from XOOR. The purpose is to guarantee the quality of the products and the correct management of the project, meeting the established deadlines and ensuring a good working relationship. 

It's common to hear that coding is in trend now, but when you see all the learning there is involved, it can be overwhelming. However, these are the top five advantages of working as a developer: 

These are just the main benefits of being a developer. Surely there are many others, as each person can resignify and find opportunities in this profession. 

If you have any questions about how XOOR's development area works, or you want to be part of this team, send us an email to hola@xoor.io and we will answer as soon as possible. You can also follow us on Linkedin and Twitter!