7 Tools & Libraries every Software Developer should learn
When working in software development, you’re always learning something new, evolving your skills to keep pace with innovation.
Through the years being in the software development business, we had the chance to work with companies in different sectors on hundreds of projects. It wasn’t always easy. We went through countless challenges, both technical and cultural, and learned lessons that can’t be taught in a classroom.
We want to share with you the top 7 tools and libraries that every software developer should learn. Good knowledge of these tools goes a long way in your software development career.
1. Git [Version Control]
Git is a Version Control System (VCS). On a very basic level, there are two awesome things a VCS allows you to do. You can track changes in your files and it simplifies working on files and projects with multiple people. There are multiple Version Control Systems, but Git is by far and large the most popular. Both for individual and company use.
If you are a beginner or a programmer and want to improve your Git knowledge, we suggest you go check out the Git Complete: The definitive, step-by-step guide to Git course from Udemy.
2. Docker
Docker is another important tool that every programmer and software developer should learn. It makes your development easy as you don’t need to install many separate applications. Just downloading a Docker image with the required software is enough.
Docker is also becoming a standard tool for deployment as more and more teams are adopting Docker to deploy Microservices and other Cloud Native apps in a consistent manner. The main advantage of Docker is that you can deploy a Java Microservice or a C++ app in the same way because you actually deploy a Docker container.
If you want to learn Docker and need a resource, we recommend Docker and Kubernetes: The Practical Guide by Maximillian Scwarzmuller on Udemy. A great hands-on and affordable course to learn both Docker and Kubernetes in 2021.
3. Linux Commands
Since most programmers have to work on Linux machines at some point, good knowledge of the Linux command line goes a long way.
It allows you to work effectively. You can search files, know what’s going on with the system by checking its CPU and memory usage, and perform basic and advanced tasks.
If you want to learn Linux commands, we suggest going through Learn Linux in 5 Days and Level up your Career course on Udemy.
4. Postman
Postman is an API (application programming interface) development tool that helps to build, test, and modify APIs. Almost any functionality that could be needed by any developer is encapsulated in this tool. It is used by over 5 million developers every month to make their API development easy and simple. It has the ability to make various types of HTTP requests (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH), saving environments for later use, converting the API to code for various languages (like JavaScript, Python).
If you want to learn the Postman tool and you are looking for some excellent resources, we recommend Postman: The Complete Guide course on Udemy.
5. AWS [Cloud Platform]
AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a comprehensive, evolving cloud computing platform provided by Amazon. It includes a mixture of infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and packaged software as a service (SaaS) offerings.
AWS offers many different tools and solutions for enterprises and software developers. They can be used in data centers in up to 190 countries. Groups such as government agencies, education institutions, nonprofits, and private organizations can use AWS services.
If you want to learn AWS, there is no better time to do so than right now. There are plenty of opportunities for employment or to start your own business if you have AWS certification. Here you can find some amazing courses where you can learn from real-time experts.
6. JIRA
Jira Software is part of a family of products designed to help teams of all types manage work. Originally, Jira was designed as a bug and issue tracker. Today, Jira has evolved into a powerful work management tool for all kinds of use cases. From requirements and test case management to agile software development.
The platform leverages all kinds of project management skills, including software development, agile project management, bug tracking, scrum management, content management, marketing, professional service management, and much more.
Learning JIRA is also a good way to progress in your career. As you grow and become a team lead or tech lead, you will get more responsibilities. JIRA can help you there. If you want to learn JIRA, we recommend Learn JIRA with real-world examples (+Confluence bonus) course on Udemy.
7. VS Code [Code editor]
Visual Studio Code is a streamlined code editor with support for development operations like debugging, task running, and version control. It aims to provide just the tools a developer needs for a quick code-build-debug cycle and leaves more complex workflows to fuller featured IDEs, such as Visual Studio IDE.
Software developers do a lot of text processing jobs and knowing a text editor will always help. Apart from NotePad, which is a very good, omnipresent basic text editor, we encourage programmers to learn some advanced text editors like Sublime or NotePad++. But, if you know VS Code, then you can do advanced text searching, replacement, and even run macros.
If you want to learn more about the VS Code, we recommend you to join the Learn Visual Studio Code 2021 course on Udemy. It’s a great course to not only learn basic VS code but also advanced tips, tricks, and shortcuts to boost your productivity.