Software Development

Learn more about the skills and certifications you need for a career as software or DevOps engineer, mainframe developer, QA tester, and more.

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[Featured Image] A software engineer smiles in front of a computer monitor with code on the screen.
Status: Featured

Software Engineer Career Path 2024: Overview, Jobs, and Pay

Use this article to follow the timeline of a software engineer career path and learn about specializations within the field.

October 31, 2023

Article

[Featured image] An aspiring software developer takes a programming class in a computer lab.
Status: Featured

7 Tips for Sharpening Software Developer Skills

If you’re interested in sharpening the critical skills needed for a successful career in software development, these tips can help.

March 30, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A person in an orange shirt studies for a DevOps certification.
Status: Featured

5 Popular DevOps Certifications in 2024

Earning the right DevOps certification can help you build expertise, gain recognition, and advance your career.

June 16, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A smiling man in a black shirt wears a VR headset and headphones, and wonders how to become a game developer.

How to Become a Game Developer

Game development is a growing career field that uses programming languages to code video games. Learn how to become a game developer, the average game developer salary in the US, and the skills and education you’ll need to be successful.

November 6, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A happy group of engineers working on their laptops at a communal table debate the benefits of a DevOps engineer vs. cloud engineer career path.

DevOps Engineer vs. Cloud Engineer: Which Career Path Is Right for You?

Explore the careers of DevOps and cloud engineers, including job responsibilities, skill sets, educational requirements, and more.

November 6, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] Three web developers sitting at a table in an open concept office use backend languages to write code on their laptops.

Why Learn Back-End Languages?

Modern websites need back-end development to maintain a responsive, smooth system that provides users with a positive experience. Explore back-end development, including role types and paths to learning this skill.

November 4, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A smiling man in a black shirt wears a VR headset and headphones, and wonders how to become a game developer.

How to Become a Game Developer

Game development is a growing career field that uses programming languages to code video games. Learn how to become a game developer, the average game developer salary in the US, and the skills and education you’ll need to be successful.

November 6, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A happy group of engineers working on their laptops at a communal table debate the benefits of a DevOps engineer vs. cloud engineer career path.

DevOps Engineer vs. Cloud Engineer: Which Career Path Is Right for You?

Explore the careers of DevOps and cloud engineers, including job responsibilities, skill sets, educational requirements, and more.

November 6, 2024

Article

Explore popular software development courses

University of Minnesota

Skills you'll gain: Software Engineering, Agile Software Development, Design and Product, Problem Solving, Software Architecture, Software Testing, Leadership and Management, Project Management, Scrum (Software Development), Software Engineering Tools, Continuous Delivery, User Experience, Application Development, Communication, Planning, Collaboration, Estimation, Full-Stack Web Development, Process Analysis, Computer Programming Tools, Customer Relationship Management, Computer Programming, Graphics Software, Search Engine Optimization

4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
9.4K reviews

Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

IBM

Skills you'll gain: Software Engineering, Computer Programming, Software Engineering Tools, Application Development, Programming Principles, Software Architecture, Agile Software Development, Communication, Software Framework, Software Testing, Software-Defined Networking, Collaboration, Leadership and Management, Linux, Data Analysis, Mergers & Acquisitions, Python Programming

4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
43K reviews

Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Status: [object Object]

Amazon

Skills you'll gain: Agile Software Development, Algorithms, Databases, Java Programming, Javascript

4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
13 reviews

Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

[Featured Image] A software developer sits at a table with a laptop and uses a procedural programming language.

Procedural Programming Language: What It Is and When It’s Used

Explore procedural programming languages, including how they differ from object-oriented programming, their advantages, and tips for learning them. Discover some careers that use procedural programming languages.

November 1, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] An app development team discusses its ongoing strategy to improve a new application's performance after evaluating TestFlight results.

What Is TestFlight?

TestFlight is a beta testing tool for iOS applications. Learn how Apple’s beta testing platform helps you inspect apps’ performance prior to releasing them on the App Store so you can get feedback and look for errors in a real-world environment.

November 1, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] Three mobile-friendly website developers gather around a mobile device to analyze a new application created using bootstrap.

What Is Bootstrap and Who Uses It?

Bootstrap is a framework for building mobile-friendly applications using responsive design. Explore the question, "What is Bootstrap?" and learn Bootstrap's pros and cons and why you might want to start learning Bootstrap.

November 1, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A woman who followed a software developer career path presents to two men in an office with a screen filled with code behind her.

Software Developer Career Path: How to Qualify, Develop, and Build Your Career

The software developer career path can lead to many unique and exciting career opportunities. Learn how to become a software developer and what your journey may look like from start to finish.

October 31, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] In an office, a woman points at a computer screen filled with code, as she and a woman colleague discuss software integration.

Software Integration: Examples and Why It’s Important

Software integration is key for efficient, intuitive systems. Learn more about software integration examples, types of software integration, and careers to consider within the software integration industry.

October 31, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] After learning what a hackathon is, a group of young professionals participate in their first hackathon for charity, sitting at computers in a large office space, as one woman addresses the group.

What Is a Hackathon and Why Attend One?

Hackathons are an exciting way to test your knowledge, collaborate with other people in your industry, and be part of an innovative, fast-paced environment. Explore hackathons, why you should enter one, and the different types of hackathons.

October 30, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] An IT specialist examines various computer parts, including the central processing unit.

What Is a Central Processing Unit (CPU)?

The CPU is a collection of circuits that run the operating system and apps and manage other computer operations. Learn more about central processing units and the important role they play in all computing devices.

October 30, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] Two computer programmers sit at a laptop and discuss what is open source software.

What Is Open Source Software and Why Use OSS?

Open source software is software anyone can view, copy, or modify. It’s popular because it’s free to use and a collaborative experience. Learn more about types of open source software and open source software examples.

October 29, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A woman sits at a desk and participates in a virtual meeting, one of many software as a service examples.

Software as a Service: Examples to Know in 2024

Software as a service, or SaaS, is a business model for software providers to offer access to their centrally hosted products for a subscription fee. Read on to learn eight software as a service examples and gain insight into their business models.

October 29, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] Three web developers sitting at a table in an open concept office use backend languages to write code on their laptops.

Why Learn Back-End Languages?

Modern websites need back-end development to maintain a responsive, smooth system that provides users with a positive experience. Explore back-end development, including role types and paths to learning this skill.

November 4, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A software developer sits at a table with a laptop and uses a procedural programming language.

Procedural Programming Language: What It Is and When It’s Used

Explore procedural programming languages, including how they differ from object-oriented programming, their advantages, and tips for learning them. Discover some careers that use procedural programming languages.

November 1, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] An app development team discusses its ongoing strategy to improve a new application's performance after evaluating TestFlight results.

What Is TestFlight?

TestFlight is a beta testing tool for iOS applications. Learn how Apple’s beta testing platform helps you inspect apps’ performance prior to releasing them on the App Store so you can get feedback and look for errors in a real-world environment.

November 1, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] Three mobile-friendly website developers gather around a mobile device to analyze a new application created using bootstrap.

What Is Bootstrap and Who Uses It?

Bootstrap is a framework for building mobile-friendly applications using responsive design. Explore the question, "What is Bootstrap?" and learn Bootstrap's pros and cons and why you might want to start learning Bootstrap.

November 1, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A woman who followed a software developer career path presents to two men in an office with a screen filled with code behind her.

Software Developer Career Path: How to Qualify, Develop, and Build Your Career

The software developer career path can lead to many unique and exciting career opportunities. Learn how to become a software developer and what your journey may look like from start to finish.

October 31, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] In an office, a woman points at a computer screen filled with code, as she and a woman colleague discuss software integration.

Software Integration: Examples and Why It’s Important

Software integration is key for efficient, intuitive systems. Learn more about software integration examples, types of software integration, and careers to consider within the software integration industry.

October 31, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] After learning what a hackathon is, a group of young professionals participate in their first hackathon for charity, sitting at computers in a large office space, as one woman addresses the group.

What Is a Hackathon and Why Attend One?

Hackathons are an exciting way to test your knowledge, collaborate with other people in your industry, and be part of an innovative, fast-paced environment. Explore hackathons, why you should enter one, and the different types of hackathons.

October 30, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] An IT specialist examines various computer parts, including the central processing unit.

What Is a Central Processing Unit (CPU)?

The CPU is a collection of circuits that run the operating system and apps and manage other computer operations. Learn more about central processing units and the important role they play in all computing devices.

October 30, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] Two computer programmers sit at a laptop and discuss what is open source software.

What Is Open Source Software and Why Use OSS?

Open source software is software anyone can view, copy, or modify. It’s popular because it’s free to use and a collaborative experience. Learn more about types of open source software and open source software examples.

October 29, 2024

Article

[Featured Image] A woman sits at a desk and participates in a virtual meeting, one of many software as a service examples.

Software as a Service: Examples to Know in 2024

Software as a service, or SaaS, is a business model for software providers to offer access to their centrally hosted products for a subscription fee. Read on to learn eight software as a service examples and gain insight into their business models.

October 29, 2024

Article

Software development covers a wide variety of skills and careers, from programming to quality assurance to DevOps. With so many options and opportunities available, it can be tricky to know where to start. On Coursera, you'll find expert resources to support your goals, whether you're just starting out or are ready to take the next step in your career. Explore software development topics, including:

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

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