So… you want to code the next big app or make the next gaming phenomenon — but your hardware isn’t exactly cutting edge?

That’s less of a problem than you may think!

Because upgrading your components is often a simple, painless process.

As long as you know what needs to be swapped out.

That leads to the obvious question:

[pullquote align=”normal”]What hardware specs do programmers really need? [/pullquote]

More speed and bigger hard drives for storing code assets are pretty obvious answers.

But there’s more to this story than you might expect.

Let’s see what it’s all about:

Take a Hint From Coding Program Requirements

Students entering a coding program can typically find minimum laptop spec requirements in their course material.

While your specific needs may change depending on what OS and coding language you’re using, these spec guidelines offer an excellent baseline idea of the sort of hardware resources you need to work effectively as a computer programmer.

Most programming courses recommend these basic specs:

• Intel i5 CPU, with an i7 recommended.
• 8GB RAM, with 16GB recommended.
• 1920 x 1080 resolution display.

Those are a great starting point for seeing what to upgrade, and we’ll examine each of those specs in detail below. But first, don’t forget about something that might not be immediately obvious:

Periphery!

Some components can be an absolute necessity for a coding-work laptop, like a USB hub, a card reader, or HDMI ports for connecting extra devices or transferring data in different ways.

Let’s now dive into all the components you could upgrade:

1. Upgrade Your Monitor Setup

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Let’s start with the hardware component that can make or break your coding experience:

[pullquote align=”center”]Why do college programming courses want you to have at least 1920 x 1080 display? [/pullquote]

They’re not telling you to get a high-res screen because you need to stream 1080p video.

It’s because a higher resolution gives you more viewing area for multiple applications at the same time.

For your desktop PC, buying a better monitor is a snap — but for your laptop, upgrading your display isn’t really an option. Unless you’ve broken the display, replacing the screen and video cables on a laptop is too much trouble.

As a laptop user, you DO have another option:

Use those extra HDMI and USB-C ports to connect an external monitor (or even two).

A multiple-monitor setup is a great idea. It makes it so you can easily switch back and forth between your code and the running program — without having to Alt/Tab all over the place.

The Best Coding Monitor in Our Eyes: Dell 27″ 4k Monitor

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We recommend the Dell S2722QC as a high-end coding monitor.

• • • Its 27″ screen size at 4k resolution gives you endless “real estate” to open your coding environment, documentation, and browser windows all at the same time — while still keeping complete overview.[blank_space height=’0.5em’]
    • Dell is know for building high quality hardware. And this monitor is no exception. You’ll be able to enjoy it for many many years without having to worry that stuff stops working.[blank_space height=’0.5em’]
    • You have the ability to create a dual-monitor setup with it. In case you’re a professional programmer who wants even higher coding productivity. Check out the Dell S2722QC on amazon.

2. Upgrade Your Hard Drive/SSD

Before we get into the components like the processor and physical memory, it can’t be overstated how much switching from a hard disk drive to a solid-state drive (SSD) will boost your PC’s speed.

While that’s great for the average user who wants quick boot ups and fast data retrieval, it’s absolutely crucial for programmers, especially if coding is how you plan on making your income.

With an SSD, you’ll spend a lot less time waiting during the many Windows updates and restarts.

Solid state drives are simple to install, especially with laptops these days, as there’s typically only a single screw to remove to pull out the old drive.

While SSDs are the way to go for whatever drive your OS has installed, don’t forget you can add a cheap secondary hard disk drive (HDD) for extra storage of files that don’t particularly need to be accessed immediately.

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Whether you go with the faster SSD or slower but larger HDD, keep in mind you may end up needing a drive large enough to run a dual boot system if you plan on coding in multiple environments.

Virtualization of other operating systems is another option, but that requires a fast CPU and a large amount of RAM to work well.

Finally, don’t forget there’s a cheaper and easier “upgrade” option here that doesn’t involve swapping out components.

Simple cloud storage solutions can alleviate your PC speed problem so long as you have reliable internet speeds in your area and a hardware combo capable of quickly transferring files around.

Which SSD Drive Should You Get?

[one_half_first]Our pick for the best SSD hard drive for coding is the Western Digital 4TB SSD. It’s fast, reliable, and offers enough space for most projects — even if they’re space-intensive like game development.

Check out the WD 4TB SSD on amazon.[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

3. Upgrade Your RAM

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Here we arrive at the most obvious (and most helpful) upgrade.

Coding requires a lot of memory because your programs will eat up every last available megabyte while compiling.

If you find you get a lot of stutters, lag, and crashing while debugging or compiling, a quick and easy option is just to slap in some extra RAM.

At this point, 16GB is basically the bottom line for any sort of advanced user applications, but if your motherboard can handle it, I’d recommend upgrading to one or more 32GB modules.

The Best PC RAM Recommended for Coding

[one_half_first]The OLOy Hairline Gaming RAM is the fastest memory you can get — perfect if your gig is programming memory-intensive software. If you have the funds, get the 2x32GB bundle. You’ll never have to worry about anything lagging or running out of memory ever again. Check out the OLOy PC RAM on amazon.

[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

4. Upgrade Your CPU

Still getting slow speeds, even with more RAM?

The culprit is going to be your processor, as older CPUs have trouble compiling programs or using other tools you may need as a programmer—like video and image editing apps.

Unfortunately, upgrading the CPU isn’t particularly an option for the laptop crowd, short of buying an entirely new machine with a better processor altogether.

However, since the average budget laptop typically only lasts about 3 years, that may not be a bad idea.

Whether upgrading your desktop PC’s processor or just flat out buying a new laptop, going with one of the later-generation Intel iX core CPUs is a surefire way to get great speed now and future-proof against updates.

The Fastest CPU for Coding Recommended by Simple Programmer

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For ultimate coding performance, get the Intel i9 12900K 8+8 Core CPU. It’s the absolute high end in computer processors. But, first make sure your mainboard is compatible with it! If you’re a bit more budget-minded, the i7 is still a great choice for a CPU.

Check out the Intel i9 12900K 8+8 Core on amazon.

[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

5. Upgrade Your Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

This is really only necessary for programmers working with graphics-intensive apps, like Windows games or video editing tools.

Unfortunately, this also isn’t typically an option for the laptop crowd, but there’s a workaround now.

External GPUs are becoming more prevalent and are incredibly easy to hook up.

Although they reduce your portability, connecting to an external graphics card can quickly and easily give you advanced performance when coding graphics-intensive programs.

While the new RTX series cards are available now from NVIDIA, in most cases, a GTX 1070 or 1080 will be all you need for any programming application.

Recommended GPU for Game Development

[one_half_first]

The overall best GPU for developing games we’ve found is the Geforce RTX 3060.

You get high performance at a medium price. 

Check out the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce 3060 on amazon.

[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

Don’t Throw Out Your Old Components!

After going through all those upgrades, you’re probably left wondering what to do with the old hardware.

I mean, who really needs a sad 4GB stick of RAM?

As it turns out, you do!

Keeping older tech on hand is an excellent way to test your programs on a variety of hardware setups.

Not every user is going to have a high-end machine with cutting edge specs, so you need to know your programs will work on everyday hardware.

Upgrade Your Hardware, Upgrade Your Coding

Now that we’ve got that last tidbit of info out of the way, let’s take a quick recap of the best hardware to upgrade for programmers:

1. Upgrade your display, or switch to a multimonitor setup.
2. Switch to an SSD, or add a secondary HDD.
3. Add additional RAM up to your motherboard’s maximum.
4. Upgrade to a better CPU, or get a new laptop.
5. Install a newer GPU.

With these upgrade-friendly components in mind, you should be well on your way to whipping up the next Tinder or Angry Birds.

Good luck with your coding career or personal programming project!

The post 5 CRUCIAL PC Hardware Components Programmers NEED to Upgrade appeared first on Simple Programmer.

… get your name out there as a programmer?

… share your solutions with the world?

… make extra income by writing about your passion online?

Start a programming blog and you can enjoy each of these & more.

Stick around for the exact step-by-step path to creating your fun, popular and profitable programmer blog.

I’ll take you by the hand and show you step-by-step how to create a blog that makes you income. And that income could come in different forms – one of which is a high-paying job. 

5 Good Reasons Why You Should Start a Programming Blog

Let’s look in depth at the 5 main reasons why writing your own coding blog is a good idea.

1. Personal Brand: Become a Thought Leader, Create Opportunities & Get a Great Job

As a software developer, you should be thinking of yourself as a business: The Brand of You. And starting a blog is great for showing off your portfolio as a programmer.

When your blog is helping other programmers and they start sharing it around, your personal brand will become more and more popular.

And the goodwill and trust you’ve built up leads to a slew of new opportunities for you:

• People want to be coached by you
• People want to work on (potentially profitable) projects with you
• People want to buy products as per your recommendation (and gladly have you earn an affiliate commission)
• People want to hire you for perky programming jobs

2. Learning: Adding New Languages, Working Through Problems, Discovering New Methods

When you tell others about what you’re working on, it forces you to be exact. Thanks to your new programming blog, you’ll be carefully exploring the object of any new learning challenge from all angles. 

Because afterwards, you want to be able to teach it to your audience! In any teacher-student situation, the teacher has to be more diligent than the student – and he gets the greatest learning benefit. 

Blogging about your coding experiences will make you more aware and stronger in your problem-solving process, push you to fully explore approaches you weren’t yet familiar with, and make what you’ve learned more ‘sticky’ than ever before.

3. Sharing Code With Others: Helping, Innovating, Creating Community

Coding can be lonely. 

Even if you get a win, you sometimes don’t have anyone to share it with, outside of a forum where you can’t be sure people are going to see it. Or maybe you do have a few friends who understand and care. 

But how cool would it be to make a write-up of what you did that’s super helpful for others, and have it live on a website you personally own, forever?

Starting your programming blog allows you to share solutions that improve the lives of others while adding your explanations to make them easily consumable. People can then add their comments on your blog article. 

Ét voila, you’ve just formed your own little programming community around the content on your website!

4. Improve Communication Skills

There’s no better way to improve your clarity than typing out your thoughts, as coherently as possible, for others to read. Writing a lot and trying to write well turns you into a much better communicator. 

Luckily, you don’t need to write essays for magazines or publish books to do that. You can do it online, and without investing too much money.

I’ve been booked for many speaking engagements and have made hundreds of YouTube videos. My ability to organize my thoughts and communicate clearly and concisely has been sharpened by writing endless articles for this programming blog. 

And it’s transformed my performance in those areas.

5. Make Money

Once your blog is popular, you’ll have many options to monetize it. 

Just a few of the money-making methods for your programming blog are display advertising, affiliate marketing and selling info products. 

In some cases this can become a full-time income, or even a massive business. 

The formula for financial success with your blog is simple: The more you’re writing to solve people’s problems, the more money you’re going to make. 

After you have a sizable audience who trusts you and is hungry for your help, it’s easy to slap on the monetization and start raking in a good amount.

[responsive_video type=’youtube’ hide_related=’0′ hide_logo=’0′ hide_controls=’0′ hide_title=’0′ hide_fullscreen=’0′ autoplay=’0′]https://youtu.be/MtRT8-WGKaQ[/responsive_video]

How to Start Your Programming Blog

The first step on creating a blog is choosing a web hosting company that you can trust and that is reliable. 

There are many Web Hosting Services nowadays and you should pay special attention into this step because it can definitely save you hours of stress and headaches on the future.

Should you start for free?

You can get free hosting at WordPress.com (which leaves you with an ugly domain address and limited functions) or Squarespace. 

Squarespace is free and looks good, but if you want more freedom and functions later, you’ll have to switch. There’s a reason half the internet runs on WordPress.

If you want to run the full WordPress CMS (content management system), you’ll need paid hosting to run it on.

The best Website Hosting for Beginners

I personally recommend Bluehost, which is the only service officially recommended by WordPress itself. 

The combination couldn’t be better. Bluehost is amongst one of the reliable and strongest web hosting companies, having thousands and thousands of clients. The server almost never goes down, it counts with a 24/7 technical support team, offers a free domain and, of course, it has a one-click WordPress install feature, which makes the process so much easier and faster.

To speed things up, think of a domain name for your blog and have your credit card ready.

Done that, follow the steps below.

Set Up Your Website Hosting

To get started, go to Bluehost’s homepage and click on “Get Started Now”.

Next step is choosing the right plan for you. If you’re just starting out, the best plan for you is definitely the “Starter Plan”. 

However, if you plan on getting a decent amount of traffic or even creating more than one blog, you should definitely consider acquiring more robust plans, such as the plus plan or the business pro plan.

After that, you’ll be asked to choose a domain name for your blog. If you don’t already have a domain name, you can purchase one right at this step. 

The best part is that is comes FREE with this new WordPress hosting account purchase. 

Choose a domain name and click on “Next”. 

(Note: If you already have a domain name, just enter the name of your current domain on the “transfer domain” field and follow the steps provided by Bluehost)

Once you’ve chosen your domain name, it’s time to enter your personal information.

Next step is to choose your package plan and enter your billing information. 

Normal, shared hosting is priced at 12, 24 and 36-month terms. Longer term plans will help you save more money and the lower your monthly rate will be. 

Study what will be the best option for you and choose a package. You’ll also see some offers from Bluehost partners, such as SEO jumpstart and domain privacy. 

Select the ones that fits your needs.

After filling your billing information and choosing your hosting package, click on “Next” to complete your purchase. You’ll be asked to create a password for your account. 

You can either use Bluehost’s password generator or come up with yours on your own.

Now that you’re all set up on the Web Hosting part of the process, it’s time to install WordPress.

Installing WordPress

This used to be one of the most complicated steps when it comes to starting a blog.

However, Bluehost recently made it so that you don’t even have to do anything. Check out this video where I show you exactly how easy it is:

You now have your WordPress install created for you automatically and you are automatically logged into your new WordPress blog!

 You’re done creating your blog and installing WordPress. 

Now, simply log into your WordPress website by going to the admin login URL. Enter your username and password, then click “Log In”. This will take you to your WordPress dashboard. 

From here, you can control everything about your WordPress website, such as writing blog posts, creating pages, changing the overall appearance, etc

Pick Your Favorite Theme

You now have the opportunity to put a nice theme on your blog. 

WordPress comes with thousands of free themes, of which you could just pick one and go.

If you go for a paid theme, you’ll have more customization options. The paid themes also often look a lot better right out of the box. 

I use Thrive Themes and I love how it has fully customizable themes, plus a complete drag & drop website builder, quiz builder, and Thrive Leads to create opt-ins for your email marketing.

Plugins

There are a number of additional plugins you should install on your new programming blog to make things easier for you and to make everything run more smoothly. 

The ones I recommend are:

Gutenberg Blocks

A block editor that lets you build pages on your website using special blocks, without having to use any code.

ShortPixel Image Optimizer

Having your blog load fast is essential in the 2020’s. Compressing your images (while still having them look good) is one of the main ways you’ll achieve this. 

The ShortPixel Image Optimizer Plugin is the best plugin to size down your images at the click of a button without sacrificing much in image quality.

WP Rocket

This plugin speeds up your site, so it always loads a fast as possible for the user. It’s $49/year, but well worth the investment.

YoastSEO

The YoastSEO plugin makes sure your site and posts are optimized for search engines. It’ll also help you by managing your sitemap, robots.txt, page title, and meta descriptions.

Code Inserter

When you’re blogging about programming, you want to have a way to nicely display code snippets on your website. 

The code inserter plugin does just that: You put in the raw code, and it outputs it in a pretty and well-formatted manner.

Your Programming Blog’s Content Strategy

Congrats! You’ve finished setting up your blog. 

Now, how do you figure out what to write about? And how do you structure those blog ideas?

To have endless ideas to write about on your coding blog, you should start creating a content strategy. It doesn’t have to be huge or complicated at first. 

In fact, I recommend you start with just one topic, and write a number of blog posts about all the details of it.

Pick One Topic to Start

When you’re first starting out, you have two main weapons to compete with bigger, more seasoned programming websites:

1. Making your content better and more engaging than theirs. This can give you a chance to outrank those more authoritative websites in case their articles are missing the mark
2. Creating ‘topical authority’ in the eyes of Google by thoroughly answering many questions around the same topic. Google then considers you an authority on this topic and ranks your site more highly for any term related to it

That’s why you should consider writing on a more narrow range of topics at first, instead of following every idea you get about everything you know.

Come Up With 10-30 Posts for Your First Topic

The goal is to create a ‘content cluster’ of 10-30 posts around the first topic you picked. 

So you’ll start mapping out your content strategy by coming up with enough blog ideas to make up that first cluster.

Start With The Long Tail

As a brand-new coding blog, you’re not going to rank for those big, juicy keywords. 

Instead, go after what’s called the ‘long tail’ of Google searches: Longer, more detailed phrases that are searched less, and are less competitive. This gives you the chance to rank in the top 10 even if you’re new. 

It lets you build up that topical authority over time. At some point you can then start going for those more competitive search terms.

Keyword Research & Planning

To make your keyword research process most comfortable, use a paid keyword tool – it’ll save you a lot of time and stress. You’ll get hundreds of keywords at a time, and you’ll be able to see their search volume and competition at a glance.

But, of course you can choose to do basic keyword research on your own, without paid tools, for free:

1. Enter your main topic keyword into KeywordSheeter (free). This tool will spit out all variations, questions and related searches to the keyword you entered. You can then pick queries to use as keywords to cover with an article.
2. Google the phrase and manually analyze the competition. Look out for other small niche blogs, quora, reddit, or forums in the top results. If those are able to rank, so should you, especially if you answer the search query better than they did. 

If a bigger site is ranking, but they’re completely missing the point, you also have a chance of outranking them if you create a more well-targeted article.

Types Of Topics To Pick & How They’ll Help You Reach Your Goals

You can pick between different types of articles on your programming blog that can be monetized differently:

• Answering specific coding questions. There’s thousands of these. And while people are just looking for answers – not to buy something – you can still monetize these posts by running ads on them.
• In-depth tutorials on how to code or how to be a more successful programmer. You can establish yourself as a subject matter expert and sell courses on the same topic. For most topics it’s likely good tutorials already exist – so you either have to make something that’s a lot better, or find topics that are underserved or emerging.
• Reviewing software & hardware. These have the potential to make you good money by way of affiliate commissions, but they’re also competitive topics.

In your first batch of 30 articles, it won’t hurt to include some of each type. 

But, you want to be careful not to go for a super competitive review-type keyword, for example – you’ll never rank for it with a new blog. 

Try to find the more niche topics that haven’t been covered by all the giant competitors.

How to Write Your Programming Blog Posts

Now that you’ve got your content strategy all planned out, it’s time to start writing the posts! Your goal is to create the best resource your readers can find on the internet. 

If you…

• Write satisfying answers to their questions
• Help them solve their pressing programming problems
• Give useful career advice
• Create genuinely helpful reviews

…your programming blog WILL be successful.

Here’s how to create the best blog posts that get found by Google and delight your readers:

Go For One Main Keyword

Make your articles focused on a specific search term, and cover that one term as well as you can. Google will be able to pick up what your post is about and start ranking you for that keyword. 

Include this main term in the title of your post, in the first subheading (these are called ‘H2’ subheadings), and multiple times throughout the text (in a natural way).

You can go for 2-3 secondary, related keywords as well – but first and foremost, focus on the main one. 

Also, make sure you’re not rambling, and that even ¾ of the way through, you’re still talking about the same topic. 

This stops readers from dropping off, and it shows Google your article is relevant from start to finish.

Match The Search Intent

Blogging today is not so much about writing interesting, “magazine-style” content – but it’s about providing focused solutions to the problems people are asking Google about:

• When people are searching for: “How to do something” in programming, they expect you to give them the exact answer in your blog article. 
• When they’re searching for a “Why?”-question, they want you to give them the reasons. 
• When they’re searching for “best” or “versus”, they want you to give an honest review of that thing.

You can tell how to structure your article by how the search query is phrased. If you match the search intent well, you’ll satisfy both your readers and Google’s algorithm.

Make The Title Interesting

In Google’s “Search Engine Results Page” (SERP), you’re competing with other articles targeting the same keywords.

Your chance to stand out from the crowd is choosing an interesting title. 

Here are a few elements you can include to make your title “pop” and entice people to click on your article over the others:

• Include a number, e.g.: 7 Secrets to Writing Better Code
• Add “power words”, such as easy, secrets, crush
• State the benefits: How to market yourself as a programmer and make lots of money

Mind Your Blog’s Style

You want to make your articles as easy to read as possible – especially considering a majority of your audience is consuming your content on their small phone screen.

Use Large Font Sizes

Nowadays, you want your font size to be between 18-22px. It’s easier on the eyes and keeps people on the page for longer.

Pay Attention To Line Spacing

In the 2020’s, nobody is putting up with having to read walls of text. They’d rather click away and move on to something else.

Make most of your paragraphs between 1-3 sentences long. If you use plenty of white space in your articles, you’ll do your readers a big favor. And they’ll reward you by consuming more of your content.

Don’t Make Your Content Area Too Wide

If your sentences stretch too far across the page, they’re too hard to read. Try to stick to a content area that’s 850px or less, so people have an easier time scanning your article.

Write Engaging Content

Don’t try to write scholarly articles on your website. 

Yes, people come to your programming blog to learn something. But that doesn’t mean you should sound like a college textbook. That’d be just another reason for them to tune out. Your readers want you to explain things as simply as possible. And if you can make it more personal, fun, or even tell a relevant story, that’s even better. 

Here are a few ways to make your writing more engaging:

• Talk to your audience like they’re a friend
• Keep your sentences short & sweet
• Avoid using “big words”. You won’t sound smart – but boring
• Sell them on the benefits of what you’re going to tell them
• Start your article off with something exciting or intriguing: A smart question, surprising statistic, or a hint at something interesting you’re going to reveal in the article

Create Your Home & About Pages

To make your programming blog look complete and professional, be sure to create these important pages:

Home

This is what people see if they just type your blog’s URL into their browser, or they follow a direct link from somewhere to your website. 

Think of your home page as the sales page for your personal brand. It should be a great introduction to your content and showcase your expertise as well as your best articles.

In the beginning, it’s fine to keep it simple: 

• A “hero shot” image of yourself up top
• A few lines about what the blog is about and what makes you unique
• Some social proof of what people are saying about you and places you’ve worked or your work has been featured
• A display of your best and / or most recent articles

About

Your about page is where you can get more personal – go into your story and how it relates to your reader. 

You can go into detail on your accomplishments. 

State your motivation for starting this blog, and what people can expect from you in the future.

Contact

You should have your business address on your website, as well as a way for people to contact you. 

Not only does this increase trust, but as your blog grows more popular, you’ll be contacted with valuable feedback, enlightening questions, and business opportunities.

Analyze Your Content

To see how your coding blog’s content performs over time, set up Google Analytics and start monitoring your website traffic. 

But – don’t obsess over these metrics, especially in the beginning. It’ll likely take six to eight months before your new content reaches its final ranking position. 

So it doesn’t make sense to check your Analytics all the time when you’ve just started.

Promote Your Blog

Besides writing great content on your programming blog, there’s another way you can get more readers and increase your site’s authority. 

The main way search engines judge the authority of your site is the number and quality of external links pointing for it. 

As you publish more and more content over time, you’ll naturally have more people linking to your blog – especially if your articles are of exceptional quality. 

But with the right promotional strategy, you can speed this up and gain more links in less time.

Guest Blogging

This is where you’ll reach out to other blogs in the coding or tech space and offer to write an article for them for free in exchange for a link back to your site. 

You can increase the chance they’ll say yes if you do some keyword research beforehand and pitch them a topic they could be ranking for, but don’t yet have an article on. 

Also, when reaching out, make sure to mention any of your credentials and accomplishments to make it more attractive for them to feature you on their blog.

Link Building

While guest blogging is a common and effective way to build links back to your site, there’s other ways to do it, too:

• One example is partnering up with other programming bloggers: Whenever they write a guest post on another site, they’ll link to your site, and you’ll do the same for them
• Another way to potentially gain new links is to use a tool to check for broken links on a site you’d like to get a link from. You then tell them about it and ask them to link to one of your articles instead
• Finally, you can check your competitor’s backlinks and ask those sites to link to you over them, in case you have a higher quality post on the same topic

How You’ll Monetize Your Programming Blog

Now, how are you going to get paid for all the hard work you’ve put in solving coding problems and publishing great content on your blog to help out other programmers?

Here are 5 ways you’ll earn money from your programming blog:

Display Advertising

Once you have thousands of visitors per month to your blog, it’s worth it to put display ads on it to monetize some of that general traffic. 

It’s especially useful for those short info-articles that answer a specific question. Your readers will just get the info they need and then bounce – they won’t buy any affiliate offer or join your email list to potentially buy your course later. Display ads are perfect to make at least some money from those people as well.

The most popular ad companies, sorted by how much they’re paying, are: Google AdSense, Ezoic, Adthrive and Mediavine. The higher-end ad networks have strict requirements for joining, such as 50,000 page views per month for Mediavine.

Affiliate Marketing

As you’re reviewing tools and hardware related to coding, you can link to those recommended products and earn a commission. 

Especially for software products, those can be highly attractive because they’re so-called ‘recurring’ commissions – you get a cut for every month the user stays subscribed to the service. 

Additionally, you can earn good money affiliating for high-priced coding hardware, online courses and bootcamps.

Selling Courses & Other Informational Products

With your programming blog, over time you’ll establish yourself as an authority on certain subjects. 

Your readers are loyal – they know, like and trust you. That’s when you can start offering your expertise in the form of ebooks, courses, or a coaching service. 

The best way to do this is to first get people on your email list, where you keep giving them even more valuable content. 

Once it’s time to pitch your new info product, you’ll have a warm audience willing to buy from you.

Sponsorships

If your blog has become popular and it’s bringing in some good traffic, you can also reach out to companies you like and sell them banner ad space or sponsored placements in your posts or emails.

The advantage of this tactic over standard display advertising is that you directly control which kind of ads your audience are seeing on your blog. 

Sponsored banner ads also pay better. 

Time to get started!

That’s a wrap! Now you’re armed with all the info you need to set up your site, create your content strategy, start writing, and publish your first post!

I wish you the best of luck with your new programming blog.

P.S.: If you’d like an even more in-depth course on how to start your blog as a software developer, make sure to enroll below for free:

The post How to Start a PROFITABLE Programming Blog From A-Z (2022) appeared first on Simple Programmer.

However, Rust still isn’t among the top five most used programming languages. This indicates that Rust programming remains a largely unexplored territory full of unused potential. Given its popularity, more and more users are flocking to Rust, meaning it will soon reach that top five status and establish itself as a staple for programmers everywhere.

To keep you from falling behind the times, here’s a quick guide to what the Rust programming language is, as well as seven reasons why you should use Rust programming for your next project.

What Is the Rust Programming Language?

Like the fungus (yes, there is a fungus called rust!) after which it is named, Rust is a programming language that is spreading quickly in the programming world.

In essence, Rust is a programming language that is built to overcome the drawbacks of the C++ language. While C++ is a powerful object-oriented language with unlimited capabilities, it is quite difficult for programmers to manage memory manually in C++. Rust allows you to write fast code with an insanely low memory footprint, giving you an immensely powerful programming tool.

Rust was launched by Mozilla in 2012, but the idea originated in the mind of a passionate language engineer, Graydon Hoare. Hoare began working on the language in 2006 and, soon enough, Rust’s potential caught the attention of folks at Mozilla. They joined with Hoare to set up a dedicated development team to experiment with the language and build it in the best possible way.

In Hoare’s words, “The language is targeted at frustrated C++ developers.” Let’s understand what makes Rust better than languages like C or C++.

Is Rust a good language?

Rust is a popular programming language, but is it good? For starters, it offers excellent performance, similar to C and C++, and solves the memory safety problem. 

In addition, you can use Rust to handle large amounts of data without any performance loss.

And, if you’re not yet convinced. Then, you can look at the industry use of Rust, where companies such as Dropbox, Firefox and Cloudflare use Rust in production.

At its core, Rust is a statically-typed programming language. This means it offers safety and performance out of the box. It provides memory management and safe concurrency better than C++. Also, Rust is easy to learn if you have C++ knowledge, considering Rust syntax is similar to C++.

According to Nature.com, scientists also lean towards using Rust due to its superior memory-management features and usability. These points only mean that Rust is an excellent programming language.

All these points hint that Rust is an excellent language.

5 Reasons Why Rust is so Popular

Rust has been the most “loved” programming language in the StackOverflow Developer Survey for the last three years. More than 86% of developers are using Rust or expressed interest in using it, making it the most loved programming language.

The interest is now making Rust more popular as the number of developers using Rust increased to 7.03% in 2021 from 5.1% in 2020. It is currently 9.32% in 2022.

The steady increase in Rust’s popularity also means it has climbed up the ladder from bottom 7 in 2020 to top 14 in 2022.

So, what makes it so popular? Let’s list six reasons.

1. Rust is popular because of Rust Foundation backing, which includes members like Microsoft, Meta, Dropbox, Arm, Google, Amazon and others. It came into effect during the economic meltdown when COVID started. 

2. Rust is popular because it is a modern alternative to C++. Rust bypasses C++ bugs due to the use the non-use of nulls. Additionally, Rust almost matches C++ compiling speeds, with developers across the globe focusing on improving its compiling speed further with LLVM (low-level virtual machine) improvements.

3. Rust is popular because of its official package manager Cargo. It solves a major C++ drawback of recompiling code every time you make a change. Cargo bypasses recompilation by checking dependencies.

4. Rust is popular because of its superior memory management. With Rust, you’re in command of how memory allocation and de-allocation work. A smart pointer is allocated when you create a variable to simplify memory management. If the smart pointer goes out of scope, de-allocation takes place. This approach gives you complete control and lets you use multiple smart pointers sharing the same data.

5. Rust is popular because it masters concurrency by providing a bug-free approach to writing code that is also easy to refactor. 

6. Rust is popular because it offers WebAssembly support. This means developers can create audio, video, 3D environments, games, and more on the web.

Rust is growing with each passing day. Even Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, aims to use Rust in Linux Kernal in 2023 to program Kernel’s performance-based aspects.

Why Rust Is the Best Language For Your Next Project

Rust is packed with many features that web developers absolutely love to use. The following are the top reasons I choose to use Rust:

1. Rust Solves Memory Management Problems

System programming usually demands a low-level memory control, and with C’s manual memory management, this task can prove to be a real nightmare.

Rust has an incredible ability to offer convenience on low-level details. It has direct access to hardware and memory because it doesn’t require a garbage collector to run continuously in the background.

This means coding in Rust feels like using a microcontroller application for low-level codes. You have full freedom to replace pieces of code without taking memory safety risks.

2. Rust’s Low Overhead Makes It Ideal for Embedded Programming

Constrained resources are the norm, with embedded systems normally found on machines and home appliances. This is the reason that the embedded systems need a modern programming language like Rust, which has a very low overhead.

Rust is a resource-efficient and in-demand feature in an embedded system. It allows programmers to identify bugs early, preventing any future mishaps with the device.

The cherry on the cake is Rust’s power of zero-cost abstractions. Whatever abstraction of code you use, Rust is generous enough to accept it all. You could use loops, closure, or whatever flavor of code that you are in the mood for that day, and they all will compile down to the same assembly without affecting the performance of your code.

3. Rust Facilitates Powerful Web Application Development

An important consideration when choosing the right technology stack for web app development is the choice of programming language. There are good reasons to include Rust programming in your web application tech stack.

If you are accustomed to developing web applications in high-level languages like Java or Python, then you will love working with Rust. With Rust, you can be fairly more confident that the code will be error-free.

Rust is easy to learn for anyone already well-versed in C. Moreover, you can start tinkering with Rust immediately without spending years learning the ropes.

Major highlights of web development with Rust are:

• You can compile Rust to WebAssembly so it’s easier to get near-native performance on the web.
• Rust allows any language to compile into WebAssembly, thus allowing for portable, executable running code online.

In short, for web development, Rust is the language that has taken all the right vitamins!

4. Rust’s Static Typing Ensures Easy Maintainability

Rust is a statically typed language. While programming in Rust, all types are known at compile-time. Rust is also a strongly typed language, meaning that it is harder to write incorrect programs with Rust.

Managing complexity is the core of successful programming. As the code grows, so does the complexity. Statically typed languages allow a high-level of simplicity by allowing you to keep tabs on what’s going on in the code.

Rust also does not require you to repeat the type of variable multiple times, encouraging long-term maintainability.

In a nutshell, Rust allows nesting and closures, which in turn improve the maintainability of the code.

5. Rust Has Fast and High Performance

Rust’s performance is on par with C++ and beats languages like Python hands down.

The absence of garbage collection contributes to Rust’s high speeds. Unlike many other languages, Rust does not have runtime checking and the compiler nips the wrong code right in the bud. This prevents erroneous code from proliferating and wreaking havoc on the system.

Lastly, as mentioned previously, Rust performs blazingly fast with the embedded systems, too.

6. Cross-Platform Development and Support

With Rust, you can easily build cross-platform solutions that work on a wide range of operating systems like Linux, macOS, Windows, and other platforms.

Notably, Rust allows you to code both the front-end as well as the back-end of the application. The availability of Rust web frameworks like Rocket, Nickel, and Actix make development easier with Rust.

It’s extremely easy to start developing with Rust—just open Rustup, a quick toolchain installer and version management tool, and follow the instructions. You have the option to format the code as you like. Rustfmt allows automation of the code formatting based on the default formatting styles. Clippy, a tool that helps in maintaining an idiomatic code style, takes care of the rest.

7. Rust Has an Expansive Ecosystem

With Rust’s rising popularity, the Rust ecosystem is expanding quickly. A major factor in the vast ecosystem is that it’s more than just a language or a compiler. Software production quality requires many more aspects, and the Rust ecosystem considers all of them to be very significant.

First of all, Cargo is a command-line tool used by Rust programmers that helps in managing dependencies, running tests, and generating documentation.

Secondly, Rust has a community site, crates.io, that takes care of your Rust library needs. You can find the documentation of any library published on crates.io on docs.rs.

Property-based testing, benchmarking, and fuzzing are easily accessible to budding Rust developers as well.

Networking and learning from the pros is easy, too. There are multiple Rust conferences like RustConf, RustBelt, and RustFest that are a gold mine of knowledge for Rust developers.

What makes Rust special?

Rust’s speciality arrives from its ability to give programmers the tools to write bug-free code without compromising performance. Its memory safety feature overcomes the drawbacks of popular programming languages such as C and C++. 

You also get zero-cost abstractions that add performance to your code as it generates the same assembly despite the approach you take to code the solution. The excellent concurrency support also means you write code that is easy to refactor.

Rust vs Go

Go by Google borrows heavily from C to overcome C++ drawbacks. It adds structural typing, garbage collection and memory safety with a focus on multi-core development for better concurrency and parallelism. 

Rust, on the other hand, is a multi-paradigm general-purpose programming language which solves C++ memory safety issues while providing similar performance.

Go is an excellent pick to program microservices, CLIs and streaming processing. Its small footprint means you can use it with cloud-native applications. Rust is much more versatile as it can be used to develop programs for the embedded system while also viable for web development thanks to WebAssembly support.

Both are great programming languages with many similarities, even when created for different purposes. As both are compiled rather than interpreted, they offer performance out of the box. 

So, if you’re looking for a general-purpose language which offers simplicity and ease of use, choose Go. It provides a good concurrency model with a focus on performance. Rust is a great pick if you’re developing a performance-focused solution. It lets you do low-level coding without worrying about memory management.

Rust vs C++

C++ is one of the oldest programming languages, released four decades ago in 1985 by Bjarne Stroustrup, a Danish computer scientist. It is a general-purpose programming language which aims to extend C programming language functionality. Rust borrows heavily from C++, and that’s why you’ll find a lot of similarities between them.

The very first difference between Rust and C++ is how they handle memory. With better memory management, you can use Rust to write bug-free code that performs well at the machine level. Both of them are compiled language and requires no runtime or garbage collector.

Performance-wise, C++ wins marginally. Rust is fast but requires more polishing to become as fast as C++. However, the Rust community is working hard to optimize Rust at the LLVM level to gain more performance.

As for learnability, if you’re new to programming, it’ll take a significant amount of time to learn C++. This is also true for Rust which requires more effort and time. However, if you already know C++, you can quickly start with Rust.

The Top 6 Rust Use Cases – When to Use it

With all that said and done, it’s easy to see how great Rust is to use on all future projects.

But exactly where and when do you use Rust programming? 

We know there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to coding. That’s why it’s important to know the cases where Rust would be a better solution.

Here are a few examples where it is beneficial to use Rust for programming:

• Rust can prove to be a great choice when you are developing an application where performance is crucial.
• Go for Rust when your solution needs to process humongous amounts of data in a short time.
• Use Rust when you want better control over resource allocation in threads.
• Rust provides memory safety but comes with complexity, so choose it when memory safety is of prime importance.
• Use Rust to rewrite sensitive parts of applications where the speed of the program is of the essence.

The above-mentioned factors make Rust an ideal candidate for developing applications like game engines, operating systems, file systems, browser components, and VR simulation engines.

1. Rust Is a Great Language for Writing Code for IoT

Rust is the top language for programmers writing code for IoT applications.

The maker movement is in full vogue with the advent of devices like Raspberry Pi and Arduino. If you are one of the programmers who see IoT as the next billion-dollar opportunity, then you can’t neglect learning Rust programming.

Rust is a close-to-the-metal language, meaning you can use it where the memory reserves are limited.

Because of this, Rust proves to be an excellent language to write code for microcontroller hardware like Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or Tessel.

2. Rust Programming Can Be Used for HPC (High-Performance Computing)

The problem with using Rust for HPC is that most of your code will be written in C. The beauty of it is that using its FFI (foreign function interface), you can execute Rust code without any overhead. In other words, Rust allows you to rewrite your application module after module.

The developer experience is also much better with Rust because it doesn’t affect the performance of the application. Rust will also enable your application to scale better on a high number of cores, which is critical in HPC.

3. Writing Web Apps With WebAssembly (WASM)

Rust supports WebAssembly, a fast, modern and safe way to create web applications. Using Rust with WebAssembly gives you predictable performance, small code size and access to an excellent library set.

WASM + Rust works great with JavaScript. This means you don’t have to replace your existing code-base and can augment to benefit from Rust’s performance. Additionally, Rust works with existing toolchains such as npm.

4. Science Projects 

Rust’s speed and safety have also caught Scientists’ attention. They are moving from Python to Rust, even when it takes time to master and use. According to the Nature.com article, scientist Köster created Varlociraptor that identifies genomic variants by comparing sequences against genetic bases. Rust makes it possible to do millions of these calculations with optimal speed.

The Rust memory model also prevents scientists from worrying about memory leaks or security bugs. Scientists iron out errors during compile time with higher learning and implementation time. And all of these also work with parallelized code.

5. Game Development

Game development is another excellent Rust use case. There’re plenty of Rust game engines that can help you get started. These include Amethyst – a data-oriented game engine; bevy – another data-driven game engine; Fyrox – a production-ready engine and Nonnou – an open-source game framework.

6. Blockchain Development

You can also do blockchain development with Rust. The idea behind blockchain is to offer an immutable decentralized digital ledger with no way to tamper with data once it is written. Rust’s excellent memory safety means developers can create memory-safe blockchain apps. Other Rust features, such as speed and reliability, make it a good pick for blockchain. Here, you can try OpenEthereum and Lighthouse frameworks based on Rust.

Who uses Rust?

Rust is not only popular among developers(as seen in the StackOverFlow developers survey) but also among companies. The top companies using Rust in production are:

Why Rust is bad? Some disadvantages of the language

Rust is new and exciting and offers many benefits, including memory safety, zero-abstraction, web-assembly support and performance. But, it is not free from disadvantages which include:

• Compile-time errors and slow compilation time: Rust achieves memory safety because of the rules it enforces during compile time. This means you’ll see tons of errors which can frustrate many programmers.
• Lack of desired libraries: Rust is new and hence lacks the desired libraries you can easily get with other programming languages.
• Not prototype friendly: As it takes a lot of time to compile and needs 100% conditions coverage, Rust is not good for prototyping solutions.
• Not beginners friendly: Rust is not beginner-friendly as it contains advanced concepts that can take time to master.
• Small market: Rust market is still growing, and there are fewer opportunities than in other established programming languages.
• It’s never finalized: Rust is an ongoing project to offer backward compatibility and stability. This means Rust features take time to get stable support.
• Smaller target platforms: Due to the use of LLVM in the Rust compiler, the target platforms’ numbers are smaller than C/C++.

Should you learn Rust?

Rust is growing rapidly (as suggested by StackOverFlow developer’s survey for the past three years). So, it is not a bad idea to learn Rust as it will increase your employability.

From a technical perspective, Rust provides a robust tooling solution for creating safe, fast, and portable applications. It offers concurrency, memory safety and high performance, focusing on developers who want to develop reliable products. And that’s why developers love it. You can also access a growing Rust community and Rust packages.

So, if you’re a developer who wants to develop a robust and memory-safe application, Rust is your choice. It offers long-term stability as you write dependable code from the start — you don’t get null pointers or runtime problems after a few months of deployment.

The compiler throws errors at you as if it is your code assistant. It offers detailed errors and helps messages so you can debug them. The other features that make Rust enticing include

• handling branches with pattern matching.
• Crater tool that checks if new Rust versions will break your Rust project before you update through a detailed report.
• WebAssembly support allows you to create applications that live on the web.

Should you learn Rust or Python?

It’s recommended that you learn both. Rust is a fairly new programming language and has a limited market opportunity. As for learning difficulties, it is always better to get started with Python. Python is beginner-friendly. It’ll help you master abstractions, object-oriented paradigms, functional programming, and other programming concepts. Once you master it, you can then shift to Rust.

When learning Rust, you’ll explore more advanced concepts. Here, you’ll learn how to write bug-free code with the help of detailed compiler errors. Rust’s support of WebAssembly means you can also code diverse applications on the web.

However, choosing between Python and Rust depends on your goals. For example:

• Choose Python for scientific research
• Choose Python for data science
• Choose Python for web development with Django and other web development frameworks
• Choose Rust for software and operating system development
• Choose Rust for blockchain technology development
• Choose Rust for WebAssembly-focused development
• Choose Rust for neural networks development

How to learn Rust programming

The best way to start learning Rust is to visit Learn Rust site. Here, you can find detailed core Rust documentation with access to different types of books. The Rust Programming Language (nicknamed “the book”) covers Rust in excellent detail. In the book, you can learn Rust by creating a few projects. Apart from that, you can also take the Rustlings course, which contains small exercises.

Additionally, you can also read other guides on the Learn Rust site, including:

• Cargo book to learn about Rust’s package manager.
• Edition guide to learn about Rust editions.
• Rustc book to get you familiar with Rust compiler’s knobs.
• Compiler error index to get an in-depth explanation of Rust compiler errors.
• Command line book to learn how to use an effective command line in Rust
• WebAssembly book to learn how to use Rust to create browser-native libraries.
• Embedded book to learn how to use Rust for embedded systems.

You’ll also find multiple resources on the web teaching Rust. If you’d like an alternative to written content, you can find detailed Youtube videos.

Discover Rust’s Potential

The major benefit of using Rust programming is its efficient memory management abilities.

However, on top of that, it offers great speed and safety for various kinds of applications, especially web applications. Because it has a powerful command line interface tool, it’s a great tool for developing cross-platform applications, too. Highly suitable for low-resource environments, Rust also saves development time by enabling programmers to cross-compile new code with existing code.

In addition to being an ideal tool for developing game engines and operating systems, Rust programming has immense potential for IoT development.

A vibrant community welcomes you when you choose Rust, so trust the Rust programming language and take a plunge into this exciting world of possibilities!

The post 7 Reasons Why You Should Use Rust Programming For Your Next Project appeared first on Simple Programmer.

A programmer’s daily life consists of auditing and debugging code, coding new software, and monitoring the performance of finished programs. What’s more, a programmer has to be in constant communication with coworkers, clients, and their boss. The average developer’s work day spans across 8 hours. 

Read on to learn about the 12 realities of a programmer’s life: 

1. You Attend Daily Stand Up Meetings

This is often overlooked when you think about what a developer’s life is like. We all picture the lone wolf coding away in front of his computer. 

But there’s a significant social aspect to programming jobs:

Each and every day you’re having meetings to discuss your current project and your next steps. You’re brainstorming with your team, you’re asked to report on your progress, or you present new features. 

So even if you’re a more extraverted person, or you need your daily dose of talking to people, you find that in a programming job – in spite of the stereotype.

2. You Spend a Lot of Time Solving Problems as a Programmer

Being a software developer means solving problems, and applying the solution using code.

It’s what most of your daily work life revolves around:

You get handed an outcome that needs to be achieved. Then it’s up to you to come up with a course of action to achieve that outcome.

Software developers are sought-after and command high salaries because they excel at this high-level approach – essential for effective problem-solving. 

They’re much more than “code automatons”.

3. You’re Learning Every Day

The nature of the job is that you’re constantly confronted with new problems. Some of these require a skill you don’t yet have – so you go and learn it.

But you’re already used to that from your journey to becoming a software developer: 

• Mastering programming from the ground up 
• Developing skills in new languages
• Sharpening your problem-solving abilities 

– these have turned you into a superlearner. 

A developer’s life is spent reading books and blogs, browsing code repositories and taking apart other people’s programs to copy their code principles. 

4. You Drink a Lot of Coffee

It’s a cliché, but also true: Many programmers drink large amounts of coffee every day.

One reason is to combat lack of sleep. But mostly it’s because caffeine puts your brain into high gear. As a developer, it feels great to have your greatest tool become even more activated.

Easy to see why so many programmers are addicted to coffee!

Of course there’s always exceptions to the rule. If you don’t drink coffee at all while you’re coding – that’s great.

After all, you do “go into debt” borrowing extra “unearned” energy from your body. And if you push it too far, you can crash.

5. You Communicate With Other Developers

Every day you’ll have a back-and-forth with your programmer coworkers. 

• You make sure everyone is working in the right direction 
• You coordinate current and future tasks 
• You show your progress and compare notes

In your life as a programmer, you’re working together on tough problems and important projects. This means you’ll grow close with your coworkers. From this can spring friendships that go way beyond the job.

Again, soft skills are an important part of your working life as a developer. The better you communicate with others, the better you can address problems, coordinate actions, and motivate your peers.

And that leads to projects being finished more quickly and with higher quality.

6. You See Opportunity Everywhere

Because you’re looking at life through a problem-solving lens, you keep seeing ways things could be improved by using a piece of software.

Many programmers have gotten rich by following these hunches, building out prototypes and releasing them to the public. In general, applying the software engineering mindset to other areas of life can lead to great success.

To be a smart programmer is a gift. No matter what you go after – be it climbing the career ladder, becoming a world-traveling freelancer, or launching your own startup – your chances of success are higher than average.

7. You Can Have a Life Outside of Coding

Yes, many programmers are so obsessed with coding that they dedicate their whole life to it, almost 24/7. After they get home from work, they start on their personal side projects – and don’t quit until it’s time to go to bed. 

But not all programmers don’t have a “real life”.

The typical developer job is 40 hours per week or less. So you still have a bunch of free time. And how you spend it is your choice.

It’s true that coding attracts “nerdy” personalities – those that like to play games, browse the internet, or keep coding during their free time.

If you want though, you can have a perfectly outgoing, active, and adventurous life as a programmer. You just need to want that kind of lifestyle badly enough and set some goals to achieve it.

8. Your Life as a Programmer Can be Stressful

Everything takes twice as long as you think. Sometimes you go down a particular path with your code, only to realize it doesn’t work and you need to start from scratch. You uncover a lot of bugs you’ll need to fix during debugging.

Your clients are often not empathetic with regards to your work as a programmer. They can’t grasp how difficult it is, and they look for results ASAP.

And when you’re starting to solve a problem from a high-level perspective, it’s often hard to pin down every small part of the solution and give a realistic time frame for each.

The result is that as a developer, your life is spent chasing deadlines. It’s one of its not-so-pleasant realities.

You need to be cut out for this kind of work:

Fired up by challenges, determined to push through against all odds.

9. You Support Your Client’s Software

After you’ve launched your newly-created software, your job is not done.

Oftentimes you’re asked to provide continuous support for the program. This includes customer service, frequent testing for bugs, and adding new features.

To make your life as a developer easier, it’s a good idea to create a quality product the first time – so your task list for servicing it becomes much shorter.

Companies need someone they trust looking after their software. So be prepared to always have this be part of your working days as a developer.

10. Your Lifestyle at Work is Sedentary

As a software developer, you spend most of your day sitting down, staring at a screen – often with bad posture.

If you want to keep your body healthy, you need to take serious steps to combat this sedentary lifestyle:

• Take frequent “eye breaks”
• Consider a standing desk
• Adjust your posture often
• Get up and walk around once in a while

Without using tactics like these to stay fit as a developer, developing conditions such as “coder’s neck” is inevitable, unfortunately.

Also be as active as possible in your free time:

Take walks, play a sport, go to the gym. This way you can reverse the negative impact of a daily life spent sitting.

11. You Take Home Good Money

One of the perks of programmer life: The great take-home pay.

Software developers have always been in high demand, and increasingly so. It’s a skill that makes companies millions of dollars. And it’s an advanced skillset – not everyone has the guts to learn programming to a good level.

For these reasons, software developers are earning between $60,000 and $120,000 per year. Freelance programmers can command hourly rates over $100.

So even if the job is stressful, the monetary benefits might be worth it:

If you’re making a six-figure salary, you can afford a nice lifestyle.

12. You Can Go Remote or Freelance

Working as a programmer doesn’t have to mean being stuck in a corporate office all day.

Software development is a type of job that’s well-suited to being taken remote – and there’s lots of those offers out there. 

Alternatively you could strike out on your own – living the freelance lifestyle.

Then you’re combining the great pay with the freedom to work from wherever you want and set your own hours. 

Your Path to Living the Programmer Life

To speed up your way to living the programmer life, check out the free checklist “The 4 Most Important Skills for a Software Developer”:

The post 12 REALITIES of Daily Life as a Programmer appeared first on Simple Programmer.

I’ve used these tips to create courses, write books and build apps, websites & digital products at a rapid pace.

Below you’ll learn 13 programmer productivity tips that actually work.

Make a plan to implement these tips and you’ll be able to explode your output.

Get 2x More Done Using These High-Level Developer Productivity Tips

Software Engineers and Lead Developers Need to be Extra Productive

As a software engineer, you have to take care of many varied tasks each day. You also hold a lot of responsibility. This means you need A+ productivity to get everything done and make sure you keep bosses, coworkers and clients happy.

1. Stop Wasting Time

The average office employee is wasting more than eight hours per work week.

What if you could reclaim that time and use it to finish your coding projects more quickly?

Procrastination can happen for different reasons. But in the end it comes down to pushing through The Resistance (as Steven Pressfield calls it) and working on your stuff no matter how you feel.

Use the following tips to give you a strategy for the fight against procrastination.

2. Prevent Unnecessary Task Switching

Let’s say you’ve just finished a difficult coding task. Your head is on fire; but there’s another tough assignment waiting down the line.

You commit yourself to it, but after a while, you say “Well, this one is actually not so urgent; I’ll get back to it later.” Then you start doing something easier because you’re mentally drained.

After a few hours, you go back to the committed task, but you feel absolutely puzzled because you don’t remember what you were supposed to do. This means you now need to take some extra time to get back on track.

This is an example of context switching and is something that can lose you a lot productivity as a programmer.

A study conducted by the American Psychology Association reveals that shifting between tasks creates mental blocks that can cost 40% of your productivity.

3. Laser-Focus Your Efforts with WIP Limits

Work-in-Progress limits will help you fight overwhelm and ensure higher quality work.

If you have multiple projects in the pipeline, and you need to wait for something for Project A, it could be tempting to start on Project B. But in the end, this will lead to you working on all projects at once: You’ll constantly be task-switching.

To prevent productivity snags from happening, you should limit the number of work items you’re handling at once.

Limiting work in progress has the potential to speed up your work by slowing yourself down.

If you’re able to process four tasks in the span of three days, then your WIP limit would be four for that specific time period. From here, you can use the information as a rule of thumb and prevent overburdening yourself.

4. Take Control with Management Tools that Fit Your Work

Being stuck in problem-solving is the most common cause of unhappiness in developers, reported by 186 participants.

Time pressure came in at number two, with 152 participants reporting it as something that makes them unhappy at work.

You can relieve this pressure by scheduling your tasks and managing your time well.

There’s different tools that can help you manage your time as a coder and also your workflow in different areas like web development.

I use KanBanFlow to schedule my weekly and daily tasks. I love that it has an integrated Pomodoro timer as well.

Crucial Tips to Improve Your Coding Productivity

5. Pomodoros Boost Productivity

The Pomodoro method is simple.

You set up a timer that has dedicated work sessions and dedicated rest sessions. The basic setting is 25 minutes work to five minutes rest. Totalling up to a half-hour period. You finish four 30-minute cycles and then take a long break and start over.

The Pomodoro method is the best for coders who have a hard time focusing on their work or are trying to get into a good work pace to meet a deadline, with dedicated rest to avoid burning out. You can completely optimize the time periods to fit your work.

6. Use Code Snippets

As a beginner programmer, I’d advise you to try and write all your code yourself – to make sure you’ve learned how to do it. If you’re already proficient though, there’s no harm in going to Google, finding other people’s code snippets, and including them in your programs.

You can speed up the process so much if you do that. Of course, we’re talking about copying snippets here, not whole programs. And always make sure you understand what you just copied.

You – or others using your code – should be able to come back to it and still be able to make sense of it all.

7. Avoid Code Clutter

To build on that argument, following clean code principles in your work will also make you more productive: 

• You’ll waste less time sifting through messy code 
• You won’t have as many bugs to fix 
• You’ll finish each program more quickly and be ready for the next – with less stress 

8. Use the Best Software Tools

Get the best productivity-boosting software tools for coders to help yourself work faster and more efficiently. An example would be the Silver Searcher, an app to help you sift through code.

Developing software to its deployment can be a complex process with lots of single tasks. For most of these tasks, tools exist to batch them or otherwise make them require less effort. 

If you want to be more productive when developing software, these can be a godsend.

9. Learn to Type Lightning Fast

When you’re a fast, efficient typist, you spend less time between thinking that thought and expressing it in code.

This is what Jeff Atwood said in his 2008 blog post ‘We Are Typists First, Programmers Second’

Get the code out of your brain faster. Produce more code in less time. If you’re not a fast touch typist yet, it could pay off to work on that.

10. Detox from Digital Distractions

When you’re starting to work on an important coding project, turn off your phone. Put it where you can’t easily reach it.

If you often find yourself losing focus and opening random websites or social media apps – block those while you’re working on your project. Focus on your work as much as you can. It’ll get easier over time. And when you’re starting to feel drained – don’t give in to the urge to randomly browse the internet. 

Take a real break instead. 

How to be a Productive Programmer (& Stay Healthy)

11. Take Productive Breaks

If you take frequent real breaks, you’ll be a more productive programmer. What’s a real break?

• You get up from your chair
• You move around
• You take deep breaths
• You go outside for fresh air
• You close your eyes to give them a break

12. Stay Sharp – Mentally & Physically

A sound mind in a sound body. The cliché is true.

Take care of your fitness as a developer, and you’ll gain the mental clarity to solve tough problems, the energy for long coding sessions, and the strength to sit pain-free for many hours if you need to.

13. Avoid Burnout

In your quest to be as productive as possible, don’t run yourself into the ground. Follow the tips we laid out – scheduling your tasks, setting limits, killing energy drains, and taking enough breaks – and you’ll stave off developer burn out.

Caveat: If your workload isn’t huge, but you still have zero motivation for weeks on end, the issue isn’t with the amount of work, but maybe with the type of project or job you’re working right now.

Your Next Step to Impressive Productivity

I invite you to check out my free ebook ‘Peak Performance Habits for Software Developers’.

It teaches you the 7 simple habits I used to become a 7-figure developer:

The post 13 POWERFUL Productivity Tips for Developers appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Code playgrounds let you do just that. They are online platforms that let you quickly run both client and server-side code without the need to set up, configure and own the infrastructure.

All you need to do is create an account and code away!

What is a Code Playground?

Code playgrounds are online platforms that let you build, test and share code with colleagues and the community. These playgrounds are breeding grounds for ideas and offer an easy way to share your ideas with the community.

For example, Codepen, one of the most popular code playgrounds platforms, lets users explore others’ work through the Trending section that lists unique and interesting code samples from developers worldwide.

Generally, code playgrounds are optimized for front-end development, especially HTML and CSS, but you’ll also find server-side code playgrounds.

Apart from sharing your work, you can also use code playgrounds for learning. Beginners can use it to create simple web templates(HTML/CSS) or run their JavaScript. That’s great, considering new learners generally struggle to set up and configure a development environment.

Most code playgrounds are free to use but come with a paid tier offering advanced features. Some of the common code playgrounds features include:

• Feature-rich web editor(HTML, CSS and JavaScript) supporting auto-complete.
• Real-time preview window.
• Support for Sass, Less, HAML, Stylus and other processors.
• Support popular JavaScript libraries, including Vue.js, Angular, React, etc.
• Collaborative coding features
• Fork Github repositories
• Easy sharing options
• Code validation and developer console tool

How can Code Playgrounds help you become a better programmer?

Programming is all about practice. The more practice you do, the better you become. Code playgrounds provide the environment for practice, sharing and experimentation. It facilitates an easy way to get up with your project and share it with the world.

Moreover, many code playgrounds have weekly challenges(for example, CodePen). These challenges are unique and let you solve problems, increasing your skills. In short, Code playgrounds provide a seamless way to do coding, especially for beginners.

The 7 Best Code Playgrounds To Play With Code

1. CodePen

CodePen is a top-tier online code playground where you can create front-end Pens and full-blown projects for teams. CodePen has grown from a code playground to a more global social hub(with over 1.8+ million developers), where they host weekly challenges and offer a trending page where the community can inspire by some exciting work.

As for functionality, you can build and test directly from the browser. It offers a neat user interface and real-time results. As a beginner, you can enjoy being a part of CodePen, whereas experienced developers can share their experiences. They also run CodePen Spark, a newsletter subscription that offers excellent coding resources.

Features

• Supports Autocomplete and Emmet
• Private pens supported in their Pro plan
• Supports Embed pens on site
• Supports asset hosting
• Comes with live collaboration mode(Pro)
• Teams can build entire projects

CodePen Pro is their paid service which offers advanced features such as asset hosting, multiple projects, collab mobile, private pens and live view.

2.JS Bin

If you’re into JavaScript, then JS Bin is what you need. It is an online coding platform that supports JavaScript and bins(similar to CodePen’s pen). The interface is sleek, and you can break it down into multiple column-based sections to handle multiple files simultaneously.

Moreover, it also supports extensive editing, including the ability to edit the <head> section of an HTML page. It is also one of the few playgrounds that started supporting the console, which is essential for JavaScript development.

Feature-wise, JS Bin offers live reload, gist support, debugging, custom templates, library and preprocessors support. You also get access to keyboard shortcuts for better productivity. Just like CodePen, only the Pro plan lets you create private bins.

If you want privacy with your work and don’t want to get their Pro plan, you can download JS Bin locally and run your projects.

Features

• Console support
• Full unmodified rendered view
• Support for major processors including HTML, CSS, Markdown, Sass, JavaScript, etc.
• Custom template and libraries support
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Drag and drop files

JS Bin’s Pro version offers 1 GB storage, unique vanity URLs and unlimited bins and embeds.

3. JSFiddle

JSFiddle is another popular code playground that offers minimalistic features and lacks the real-time view of your code. However, it makes up for it by offering excellent editor layout customization and support for Async requests.

Here, you create Fiddles(similar to Pen and Bin). It supports HTML, CSS and JavaScript snippets. Moreover, if you like others’ projects, you can fork them and play with the code.

Collaboration is easy on JSFiddle. All you need to do is click the Collaborate button on the top menu and share the generated link with your colleague or friend. Once your friend joins, they can communicate via audio and chat.

Features

• Extensive layout customization
• Support for HTML, CSS and JavaScript
• Collaborative features

JSFiddle is free to use and doesn’t have any paid versions. This means JSFiddle depends on donations to run its operations.

4. CodeSandbox

CodeSandbox lets you bring your team together to create projects remotely. It is more than just a code playground; it offers a streamlined development experience by offering preconfigured environments, command palettes, and dev tools.

To start, you need to sign in with GitHub or Google account and import your project. Next, invite your team members to collaborate in real time.

You can also bring CodeSandbox to your IDE by using their extension. It is also available for iOS, iPad and iPhone, giving complete freedom from where and when you code.

Like CodePen, CodeSandbox also offers a Featured section where you can find community projects.

Features

• Supports IntelliSense
• Prebuilds
• Organize workflow with magic branch management
• Keyboard shortcuts supported
• Live preview as you code

CodeSandbox is free to use. However, you can take advantage of its Pro version, which offers advanced features such as private NPM package support, bigger storage, private sandbox, advanced permissions and centralized billing.

5. Sololearn

Sololearn is a distraction-free online platform ideal for learners and professionals alike. It supports Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, C#, and other major programming languages.

As it is not a dedicated code playground, the Sololearn code editor is not advanced. Sololearn does come with a Code Playground section where you can create “new code” and experiment with new ideas.

Here, you only get a console and different sections to write your code.

However, Sololearn is an excellent community for learners. You can learn through their Discuss section, compete with others, and get ranked on their leaderboard.

Features

• Dedicated learning platform
• Minimalistic yet functional code playground
• Support of a variety of programming languages
• Global and course leaderboard
• Discuss and get feedback from the community.

You can get started with Sololearn for free. Their Pro version gives access to unlimited practice, goal tracking and interactive code demos.

6. Replit

Replit is an extensive online code playground. It offers a collaborative environment with over 50+ languages support. Replit’s in-browser IDE is advanced and doesn’t require any user-side setup.

As a programmer, you can quickly get started with GitHub Repos and do a real-time collaboration with your colleagues and teammates.

Replit is helpful for anyone despite their experience. To improve the learning experience, Replit offers learning resources and a great community. Also, you get a shareable live Repl(similar to CodePen’s pen) as soon as you create one. 

Features

• No setup is required to start coding
• Instant sharable Repl
• GitHub support
• Customizable setup if needed
• Complete control over your files and setup
• Universal package manager
• Template support

Replit comes with a free tier that lets you create as many Repls as possible. Replit Hacker plan offers access to advanced features such as AI-powered helpers. It also comes with better storage, memory and speed.

7. CSS Desk

CSS Desk is a feature-rich code playground where you can create web projects using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. It is popular among the community, with the number of users reaching 100K.

Despite being a simplistic code playground, it does offer social and collaboration features. By being minimal, it does benefit by providing faster loading times.

Features

• Simplistic and minimal layout
• Good layout options
• Loads fast

CSS Desk is free to use with no paid options.

Which Code Playground Should you choose?

Choosing a code playground is easy. You must look if the code playground supports the programming language you are working with. If it does, try it out to see its features, such as configurability, shareability and collaborativeness. 

We recommend CodePen as it is a great starting place if you’re into web development. It offers an excellent interface, great community and good editor features.

For JavaScript specific-projects, you can go with JSFiddle and JSBin. And, if you’re looking for more programming language support, then Replit should get your attention.

For learners, Sololearn is an excellent place to start. For a similar experience but no code playground option, you may also want to check out FreeCodeCamp.

Your search should not stop here. The web is full of options when it comes to code playgrounds. We suggest checking out Dabblet, PLAYCODE, Plunker, Glitch, Liveweaver and ESNextBin.

Finally, remember code playgrounds are for experimenting, sharing your work and collaborating. So, which code playground do you want to try first? Comment below and let us know.

The post The 7 Best Code Playgrounds to Learn, Share and Experiment appeared first on Simple Programmer.

In this article, we will explore what is an IDE and how it can help you do faster development.

What is an IDE?

An integrated development environment (IDE) is a toolbox (software suite) that offers developers the tools to write, debug and test code, saving developers a lot of time.

A typical IDE consists of three main features: source code editor, local build automation and debugger.

This means you don’t have to leave your IDE’s environment when working on your project. At IDE’s core, you get a compiler that converts code to platform-specific machine instructions to compile and build executables.

Other IDE features include code completion, syntax highlighting, refactoring, and version control. 

To facilitate an easy way to write, edit and test code, IDE’s come with a graphical user interface(GUI). Also, most IDEs support major programming languages, including C++, Python, JavaScript, etc.

However, there are specific language IDEs that only support a single programming language. For example, Pycharm supports Python, and IntelliJ IDEA supports Java.

IDE is popular among developers because it makes programming easy.

Here, you don’t have to shift between tools to debug, test or deploy your code.

Moreover, IDEs are very flexible and customizable and support plug-ins, enabling developers to add more features on the fly.

IDE’s history

In the early days, programmers used multiple tools such as flowcharts, punched cards and compilers to write programs.

This required careful planning and execution as it was time-consuming, and it could take even longer if programmers made errors.

IDE was first used during the creation of the Dartmouth BASIC programming language, a part of the Dartmouth Time Sharing System.

They used console/terminal as there was no fancy GUI during that period. However, it did utilize file management, integrated editing, debugging, compilation and execution — the core features of an IDE.

For software development, Maestro was the first integrated development environment. The first IDE to support plug-ins was Softbench.

What is the difference between IDE and text editor?

Text editors are a minimalist version of IDE.

It comes with some common features such as syntax highlighting or auto-complete but doesn’t offer an extensive feature-set compared to IDE.

This means that text editors are best suited to do small tasks such as writing a script or making changes to an existing code for a website.

What is the difference between IDE and command-line tool?

Command-line is a powerful tool just like IDE. However, it lacks a graphical user interface.

Using the command line, programmers can directly interact with the system and work at a low level, requiring good experience and expertise.

What are IDE’s core features?

Integrated development environments are rapidly evolving and provide many features out of the box. Then, plug-ins are supported by a few IDEs that allow developers to side-load features.

To understand IDE, we need to go through its core features.

Throughout this section, we will use Visual Studio Code as an example.

Code Editor

Your IDE journey begins with the code editor. It is where you write code, debug and test it.

The code editor is also where you will see other key IDE features in action, including syntax highlighting, auto-complete, etc.

Let’s see the Visual Studio Code in action.

When you open Visual Studio Code, it starts with a Welcome Page.

As you can notice, there are shortcuts to create a new file, open a file or open a folder. You can also do advanced tasks, including cloning a Git repository.

When you open a new project or a file, the interface changes to this:

We have the explorer on the left, where you can see project files. The code editor is on the right, where the Python code is showcased intuitively and follows proper code formatting.

Moreover, you can also use shortcuts to navigate easily or make edits to your code. If you’re a seasonal programmer, you can use Vim and Emacs key combination.

Compiler

IDEs come with a compiler that converts source code to machine code. It improves productivity to a new level as you don’t have to open a standalone or separate compiler to debug or optimize performance.

Testing and debugging

With IDE, you can also do debugging and testing. Debugging starts as you hit compile. The IDE provides a detailed list of code errors that need to be fixed.

Moreover, it also notifies of any runtime error if your code hits a snag when running. Modern IDE’s debugging tools include breakpoints, automated debugging, and so on. IDEs also support testing tools, including profiler and test terminal.

Graphical User interface

Modern IDEs offer a graphical user interface. The GUI consists of navigational shortcuts to simplify programming and save time. Most modern IDE supports GUI customization, where you can make changes based on your preference and improve productivity.

For example, the Visual Studio Code user interface is customizable.

Here, you get the explorer on the left and the code editor on the right. The other basic layout includes a sidebar, status bar, activity bar and panels.

As for customization, you can open as many editors as needed to do side-by-side editing or try the Zen Mode, which hides all UI elements except the editor.

If you’re interested in knowing more about Visual Studio Code UI and its customization, check it out here: Visual Studio Code User Interface.

The GUI is necessary as it means easy access to essential features. If you’re old school, you may not find GUI useful and want to use a command-line interface.

For example, IntelliJ IDEA support command-line.

Syntax Highlighter

With syntax highlighter, your programming becomes easy as it highlights the different programming language elements. For example, Visual Studio Code(VSC) Python code looks like below.

Here, VSC has highlighted a different part of the code with a color-coded system making it easy to glance through the code and improve your programming experience.

The syntax highlighter is unique to Python, and if you code in a different programming language, you will see a different syntax highlight.

Refactoring

IDEs have refactoring features that let you make bulk changes to your code, such as changing the variable name.

For example, IntelliJ IDEA offers great refactoring features, including invoke refactoring, review refactoring changes, resolving conflicts, and configuring refactoring settings.

Similarly, you can refactor your code in Visual Studio Code with features like Extract Method, Extract Variable, Rename symbol, Keybinds for code actions, and more.

You can also choose to install refactoring plug-ins to your IDE.

Version Control

The version control system lets you track your code changes over time and enables remote teams to work collaboratively on a project. Most IDEs come with version control support(source control management).

If not, you can always install it through a plug-in. For example, Visual Studio Code supports version control through its plug-in ecosystem.

Code completion

Code is like poetry, but it becomes monotonous to type out all the code.

That’s where IDE’s code completion feature comes in. It suggests common code snippets when you code with reasonable accuracy. You can quickly select the suggestion and save time without writing the code yourself.

Apart from that, you also get other information, including quick info, parameter info and member lists. Code completion is also known as IntelliSense, Content Assist and Code Hinting. 

Visual Studio Code supports IntelliSense out of the box. As different programming languages have different IntelliSense, you may need to install a language extension.

What are the type of IDEs?

There are different-purpose IDEs in the market. The most common type of IDE is multi-language IDEs that support multiple programming languages.

Next comes specific-language IDEs specializing in offering a development environment for that particular programming language.

There are also IDEs specific to Microsoft and Apple ecosystems. And, if you’re a traveler and do remote work, then there are Cloud IDEs.

If you’re looking for a more generic approach to programming, then multi-language IDEs are best for you. There are many popular IDEs in this segment, including Visual Studio Code, Komodo, Eclipse, NetBeans and Geany.

However, if you’re looking for a specific-language IDE, then you can take a look at:

• Pycharm, IDLE, Spyder, PyDev for Python
• IntelliJ, JCreator, Jikes for Java
• RubyMine, RadRails, Redcar for Ruby/Rails
• C-Free, Dev-C++, Code::Blocks for C/C++

Next comes the web/cloud-based IDEs, which you can use to code from anywhere. These include Cloud9 and CodeTasty. Both are excellent and support multi-language.

And, if you’re into mobile development, you need to check out Xcode for developing Apple products and Android Studio for creating Android-based apps using Kotlin and Java.

There are other notable IDEs that you can try are:

• PhpStorm
• Syncfusion
• The Jupyter Notebook

The Benefits of Using an IDE as a Developer 

Contrary to popular belief, programming doesn’t need to be stressful. As a developer, you need tools to simplify your work process and improve productivity.

An integrated development environment provides the necessary infrastructure and toolset for developers to focus on projects with tools that can ease product development. By using IDE, they can code faster with high efficiency and output. 

Another reason why developers should use IDE is project awareness. The IDE provides a centralized place to have your assets and code together, ready for publishing.

Alongside, you can see the project structure, its associated libraries and other vital project details that you might miss if you don’t use an IDE. The search functionality also comes in handy for large projects where it is not possible to do manual searches.

Overall, IDE simplifies project management and gives you an eagle-eye view of your code, libraries and associated files.

The tools are there to assist you. You’re visually aided in writing your code from code completion to code highlight. It shows code errors almost instantly or when you debug or run your program.

This way, you can fix the errors quickly and continue your development. Hence, we can say that IDEs provide great value during the development process. 

In short, the IDE benefits include:

• Great project and environmental awareness
• Single environment approach
• Refactoring capabilities
• Code completion and code automation
• Increased development satisfaction
• Improved productivity and efficiency

Advantages and Disadvantages of using IDE

Advantages of IDE

There are advantages of IDEs that you should know. They are:

• You can code faster, more confidently and more efficiently.
• IDE supports collaborative features that can help you manage your big projects.
• IDE’s shortcuts let you cut down the time you need to do trivial things and improve productivity.
• You can customize your workspace according to your needs, improving your workflow.
• Many IDEs support plug-ins, which you can use to add more features.
• Easily track code changes with version control support.
• Use power search to find what you’re looking for quickly.

Disadvantages of IDE

IDEs do have some disadvantages. They are:

• IDEs can be hard for beginners to grasp
• IDEs are constantly updated, requiring developers to learn continuously.
• IDEs require good system resources to run smoothly.
• Learning different IDEs for a different programming language is time-consuming.
• Beginners using IDE can slow down their learning process by using features such as code completion, debugging, etc.

What To Look For in A Good IDE

One of the biggest challenges, especially for beginners, is to find a good IDE for their project. On paper, almost all IDEs are good and provide competitive features.

So, what should you look for in an IDE? Below are a few pointers that you can use to choose the right IDE:

• Check if the IDE supports the programming language you want to work with.
• If it does, you may want to see if it fits your budget. Not all IDEs are free; you must factor in the add-on pricing and premium features if required.
• Next, try out the free/trial version of the IDE to see if you’re comfortable with it. This is because not all IDEs are beginner-friendly and can easily overwhelm you.
• Also, check out the packages and libraries.
• Finally, choose an IDE that you find fit and meets your expectations, needs and preferences.

That’s it! This leads us to the end of our Integrated Development Environment (IDE) guide.

The post What is an IDE? A Must-Have Tool For Developers appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Blockchain programming.

Now’s your perfect time to get into it. 

Here’s why:

• As a blockchain developer, you’re guaranteed to be in high demand for the next decades.

It used to be that blockchain developers were only needed by people who want to start their own cryptocurrency, which aren’t that many.

Now that everyone is seeing the benefits, blockchain adoption is going through the roof.  Governments, Fortune 500 companies are starting to get into blockchain. It’s going mainstream – exploding the need for competent blockchain coders.

• You can get rich programming for blockchain

Simple Programmer is about getting you to success and making the most money as a developer. 

The average salary is $109.000 per year, and the average freelance hourly is $81-$100

If you want to be a wealthy and successful programmer, we’d recommend you this career path as a great option.

• Your competition is still small.

Among 20 million software developers in the world, only 0,6% know blockchain coding. 

And not all of those are at a level where they can deliver high-quality code on demand.

Learn Blockchain Programming: This 3-Step Tutorial Will Get You There

As a beginner, learning blockchain programming can seem overwhelming.

Where do you even start?

Fret no more. 

This tutorial will guide you to the topics, so you can dive into them one by one.

Take it step by step! Learn everything from the ground up.

You’ll beat the overwhelm. You’ll start gaining a deeper understanding. And you’ll be well on your path to mastering blockchain programming – even if you’re still a beginner right now.

1. Blockchain programming basics

You’ll learn the blockchain programming basics, such as

• Get to know blockchain technology
• How blockchain is transforming the software development industry
• What exactly you’re doing as a blockchain developer
• What are its use cases

2. Coding for the blockchain

• How to do it
• Which languages are best
• What software & hardware you need

3. How to win at your career as a blockchain programmer

• Skills you need to build
• Your developer roadmap
• How much you can make

Alright, are you ready to become a blockchain developer wizard?

Let’s dive in then!

Getting to Know the Technology

Blockchain is a time-stamped sequence of unchangeable recorded data managed by a cluster of computers as opposed to a single entity. It is a decentralized and unbreakable electronic ledger used to record economic transactions and is a highly reliable technology for transparent data transfer.

It follows the basic principles of a chain, where each block is tightly secured.

For example, when an application is developed using blockchain technology, the user has the authority to view and add a record to the software database.

They can’t modify or delete any data records, which improves the integrity of the entire process.

What Are Smart Contracts?

A smart contract is a software protocol that enforces a contract such as the performance of credible transactions without the need for third-parties. The smart contracts are stored on the blockchain, and they execute automatically as certain predetermined conditions are fulfilled.

How Blockchain is Transforming the Software Development Industry

The software development industry has witnessed a significant shift to cloud-based products. Cloud technology facilitates the decentralization of digital assets, which forms the backbone of Blockchain.

Blockchain technology is growing by leaps and bounds, addressing the various challenges faced in the software industry. Its purpose is to ensure productive testing activities, enhance collaboration within teams, and increase the use of smart contracts in software development.

Why Use Blockchain for Software Development?

As I stated, Blockchain software is highly secure. It’s used to store data in transparent ledgers and for data traverse in peer-to-peer networks.

The increase of mobile applications with enhanced security and higher quality has led to the rise of blockchain-oriented apps.

The key features of blockchain-oriented software (BOS) systems are as follows:

• Data Replication: The data is replicated and stored in thousands of systems, which ensures data security. Each node has a copy of the blockchain code.
• Requirement Checks: BOS checks the transaction requirements before processing for validation.
• Transaction Recording: BOS records transactions in a sequential log of interlinked blocks that are created by a consensus algorithm.
• Public-Key Cryptography: Transactions are based on public-key cryptography.

These features make blockchain software a huge benefit in ensuring the safety of data.

How it’s Used in the Software Industry

Blockchain technology acts as a propeller in software quality assurance, ensuring security, which is vital in the finance industry.

Many renowned companies are exploring opportunities to integrate blockchain technology into their databases for maximum security. 

For example, General Electric is planning to implement blockchain-developed databases in their Aviation Division plans. They’re also working on software that could manage sales, tracking, record-keeping, inventory details with high-end security, transparency, and integrity.

In conventional development methods, transparency counters integrity, as transparency of data increases the chances of someone tampering with it. But with blockchain technology, they exist together and are offered as an added advantage to the companies.

What is Blockchain Programming?

Blockchain programming is writing smart contracts that run exactly as programmed without any chance for fraud, and building end-to-end applications for blockchain.

So, blockchain coding is either:

1. Designing the blockchain peer-to-peer technology and its processes
2. Developing the applications that use that technology

What is a Blockchain Developer, Exactly?

As a blockchain developer you’re either working on the blockchain itself – this would make you a core developer. 

Or, you’re a blockchain software developer – you’re designing smart contracts and creating decentralized applications (dApps).

It’s harder to be a core than a software developer for blockchain.

The Best Programming Languages for Blockchain

Here is a look at a few blockchain programming languages, the purpose they serve, and some resources for further learning. Each section will be purely introductory, as the topic can get pretty extensive and full of code.

1. C++

Let’s start with the oldest of them all, C++. The language came to life in 1985 through the efforts of Bjarne Stroustrup. By then, the rudimentary C language existed, but it was process-oriented; C++ cropped up as an upgraded extension that is object-oriented (where data and functions are bundled up into a package called “Objects”). For the complete freshman, an object-oriented product can be reused on other platforms without the need for fresh coding.

C++ retained the efficiency, security, and flexibility of C. Its evergreen nature has made it the core language for blockchain coding, including the bitcoin blockchain. Warning to the newbies, though: As a type-only language with fairly outdated syntax, the learning curve is a bit steep. However, as most blockchain technologies are written in this language, any efforts you put in to learn this language will pay forth abundantly.

Here are a few more reasons why C++ is preferred for blockchain coding:

Better memory control. There are a lot of demands in the blockchain ecosystem. For instance, the platform needs to be a secure fortress but at the same time execute transactions and interact with all the nodes at a faster speed. For all these to happen, you need to have better control over memory and CPU usage. C++ can offer you that.

Superb multithreading. Threads are a bundle of instructions that are to be executed at the same time. During blockchain development, you will come across tasks that parallelize and those that do not. Most languages can only handle one of these tasks and not both. Guess what, C++ allows you to handle both simultaneously.

Compile time polymorphism. As was said before, C++ is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language. It also happens that polymorphism (using a certain feature in several ways) is a property of OOP. Now, by coding your blockchain through C++, you will be able to execute some tasks separately, thus enhancing the performance of the entire digital ledger.

Code isolation. This archaic but revolutionary coding language has namespace features that can be shipped from one place to another. But at times, collisions can occur and distort the entire system. However, thanks to the language’s segmentation ability that groups various APIs differently, code isolation/separation can become a little easier.

Maturity. As one of the oldest coding languages, C++ is mature and gets updated on a regular basis. Besides that, the language sports practical features like debuggers and special analytical tools that can detect or optimize various functions. This complexity and up-to-dateness of the language may be some of the reasons why Satoshi used it for bitcoin’s source code.

2. Python

Python is another simple coding language for a beginner programmer who is afraid of C++’s complex nature. It was developed in 1991 by a Dutch programmer by the name of Guido van Rossum. The language’s structure is based on a simple premise: simplicity, readability, and minimalism.

The simple nature of this language has seen it be supported by a massive crowd of both new and established developers. Rather than the curly brackets and keywords used in C++ to represent code blocks, Python uses simple and less-scary white spaces.

Simplicity can be easily translated to mean inefficiency. However, Python is good enough to build complex digital ledgers that are stable and reliable. And here is the best part: This language is scripted and can be compiled and uncompiled. For instance, when you find a bug in your code, you just fix it and reload your application.

For other languages like C++, you need to stop the app, fix the bug in your source code, and recompile it before restarting the application. It’s quite a lot of work that can be avoided by choosing Python. Additionally, the language offers developers a vast, free resource center that they can use to write their blockchain code.

3. JavaScript

JavaScript is one of the most-used languages on the World Wide Web. If you want an interactive site with beautiful UIs, this is the language to use. All the major browsers such as Google Chrome and Firefox support it.

We already said that a blockchain is, roughly put, a system of blocks placed one after the other. However, there is something special about this ledger—it’s immutable, meaning once data has been written, there is no undoing. JavaScript is one of the go-to languages when making a simple but tamperproof blockchain that is impossible for hackers and other deceitful individuals to alter. Just one setback, though: The language lacks the SHA256 hash function.

4. Solidity

This is the most complex, high-level language that applies JavaScript’s scripts and functions as well as C++’s classes. The language is not only beginner-friendly but also offers tips and instructions on how to go about using its code. While the language is not very complicated, those who have a fair grasp of modern programming languages have an advantage.

Even though Solidity is still trying to establish its footing in the coding world, Ethereum (the second-biggest cryptocurrency after bitcoin) is already using it. Well, they made the language, so it makes sense that they be the first ones to use it. Nevertheless, Ethereum blockchain is one of the most efficient when it comes to speed and ease of creating smart contracts.

So if you are looking to create a decentralized app, hold an initial coin offering, or build a secure, immutable, and multipurpose blockchain, Solidity is the language to use. It’s a must-know language for anyone who wishes to integrate smart contracts in their digital ledger. For tutorials on Solidity, you can check out ConsenSys Academy or the languages’ documentation from readthedocs.io.

5. GO

GO is the short form of GOLang, a relatively modern coding language that was developed in 2007 at Google and officially released for public use in 2012. This robust and multipurpose coding language was created in an effort to combine both the syntax and user-friendliness of other common languages like JavaScript while retaining the reliable security aspects of older languages like C and C++.

GO inherently runs in an operating system, and this means maximum flexibility, especially when dealing with several parts of a blockchain simultaneously. Ethereum’s SDK protocol is written in GO, and there are many other blockchain applications of this language.

9 Blockchain Use Cases You Can Work in as a Developer

Every year, there’s more use cases for blockchain. 

Applications are being developed for different industries:

1. Cybersecurity
2. Healthcare
3. Manufacturing
4. Legal and Government
5. Charity
6. Retail
7. Real Estate
8. Tourism
9. Media

and many others.

If you become a blockchain developer, you can have your pick of which use case in all these industries you’d like to work on.

How to Code Blockchain – Simplified in 5 Easy Steps

When you’re a beginner, you might not know how the process of coding for blockchain will look for you. 

Let’s give you the easiest example for how to code blockchain.

Here’s how it works, in a nutshell:

1. Code your smart contract or dApp inside your IDE
2. Test it on a local blockchain
3. Run or Connect to a node
4. Test it on a Testnet
5. Deploy it

What do you need for blockchain programming?

Software

• an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) to compile, test and run your blockchain software. Examples are Hardhat, Truffle and Remix, of which Remix is the easiest to use.
• Front-End environment such as Node.JS to program the user-facing part of dApps
• An API to explore blockchain data and transactions (example: blockchain.com’s developer API)
• the blockchain core for Bitcoin, or client for Ethereum, for example, compiled on your computer to run your own node 
• OR a service like NOWNodes that connects you to a node. They also offer a block explorer.

Hardware

The hardware requirements are similar to what we outlined in what you need for programming. 

Do consider the added strain of running your own node.

To start out, it’s okay to run a node on your own PC. In the long term, you might think about having another computer just to run the node. That way you’ll have better performance and security, and no added strain on your main PC.

The biggest bottleneck for your hardware is hard disk size. Ethereum for example requires a lot of back-and-forth communication and takes up a lot of hard disk size. 

You’d need a fast hard disk like an SSD – and a bunch of empty space: While the whole Bitcoin blockchain size is only a few Gigabytes, Ethereum is about 1 Terabyte in size.

What do you need for blockchain programming?

• CPU: 2-4 Cores
• RAM: 8-16 GB RAM
• Hard disk: 500-1000+GB free space (preferably SSD)
• Bandwidth: 10 MBit/s – 25+ Mbit/s

The Top 7 Blockchain Developer Skills You’ll Need

There is no definitive answer to this question since blockchain technology is still in the early stages of its evolution. However, some of the skills that may be required to become a blockchain developer in 2022 include:

1. Grasp basic cryptography concepts

Cryptography can be scary for programmers. 

But essential cryptography concepts will be underpinning what you do as a blockchain developer – so make sure you get familiar with the basics:

• Hashing functions
• Encryption
• Public & Private Keys
• Signing

If you’re going to be coding decentralized applications, you’ll be working with these concepts. It makes sense to first skill up in this area!

2. Understand how blockchain & distributed ledgers work

What is a blockchain? What is a distributed ledger?

If you’d like to be a good blockchain coder, you need to be able to answer these questions.

Because it’ll be your job to either design these things directly (as a core developer), or to build applications on top of them (as a blockchain software developer).

To get this understanding, you could start with a beginner-level book about blockchain.

3. Know Popular Blockchain Platforms

Familiarize yourself with the most popular blockchain platforms and how they work, such as:

• Ethereum
• Hyperledger
• Stellar

Once you know the specialties of each blockchain platform, you’re ready to take on projects running on them.

4. Have Coding Skills in languages used in web development, smart contracts & web3

Be specific with which coding skills you’re learning as an aspiring blockchain developer – 

you’ll at some point in your career need to use the following languages. 

But be smart about how you use your time and and energy. Always learn what you need for the current project you’re working on. Don’t spend six months upfront, studying books and learning languages in isolation, before starting on your first hands-on blockchain coding project. 

If you use the ‘learning while doing’ approach, you’ll shorten your learning curve. 

Solidity

With Solidity you can program smart contracts in most blockchain platforms. It’s a great skill for you to have as a blockchain developer. It’s also the easiest one to pick up!

HTML & CSS

If you want to be a front-end developer for decentralized apps, you need good skills in the web development languages of HTML & CSS.

JavaScript / node.JS

Learn Web3.js, which is a JavaScript library that lets web applications interact with the blockchain node.

GO & Python

These are generally used for Web3 apps, so they’re a great skill to add to your toolbox.

C++

C++ was used by the founders of Bitcoin to create its original blockchain. If you’re going to be working on the Bitcoin blockchain, it’d be a good idea to learn C++.

5. Be Good at Object-Oriented Programming Concepts

Being good at Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) means you have to understand Inheritance, Polymorphism & Classes and how to use them in your code.

Blockchain coding languages like Solidity are based on Object-Oriented Programming. These ‘traditional development concepts will show up whenever you have to integrate applications with existing blockchain technology.

You don’t need to learn full-stack development to start as a blockchain developer. But in many cases you’ll need some aspect of traditional full-stack coding in your blockchain projects. 

So keep learning it as you go along. 

6. Know Databases, Data Structures & Networking Concepts

As a blockchain developer you’ll need to know databases, data structures, and networking:

• Flat & relational databases
• Stacks, Linked Lists, Queues
• LAN/WAN, Switches & Routers

All these are going to come into play when you’re dealing with blockchain. 

A blockchain is a form of database, your applications will rely on stacks, linked lists and queues to recall information, and you’ll need good knowledge of networking to understand how communication on the blockchain works.

7. Be Hungry

Work to improve your developer skills all the time. Be willing to learn and keep up with new blockchain technologies.

Go and join the Reddit forums, Github pages, and StackExchange.

To become a top-tier blockchain coder, always stay hungry for more knowledge and skills.

Blockchain Developer Roadmap – The 13 Milestones to Become one from Scratch

Becoming a blockchain developer is not just about getting certified. It’s about becoming a pro at the skills blockchain coding requires.

Taking courses helps your learning journey. Becoming certified does give a boost to your credibility.

But what companies look for most (the smart ones, at least) is your ability to execute the relevant blockchain programming tasks – so they can get results in their business.

Learn by doing, be able to prove your proficiency with projects you’ve done on your own, and you’ll get that high-paying job or freelance contract sooner than you think!

Here’s your roadmap to get there, ASAP:

1. Learn programming basics

If you’re not yet a developer, start with learning the basics of your first language. For different blockchain projects, you might need to learn different languages. 

Always start with one, though. And you have to start somewhere, right?

So, what language should you learn first?

For example, you could start by learning to code with the node.JS platform (based on JavaScript). 

JavaScript and Node.js are enough to build programs that interact with cryptocurrency APIs in real time. JavaScript is the most popular language for blockchain programming, while Solidity is the easiest to learn. 

You’d be well-advised to learn both.

2. Learn how the blockchain process works

Here are the basic concepts you should learn to understand the blockchain process:

The foundational parts of a blockchain

Make sure you grasp the following:

• What is a peer-to-peer network?
• What is cryptographic hashing?
• What is asymmetric key cryptography?

Ledgers

Get the concept of a ledger, and how transactions are recorded in a ledger.

The technical blockchain terms

Be familiar with terms like:

• Authentication
• Authorization
• Mining
• Nonce
• Proof-of-work
• Validating Transactions
• Consensus
• Creating & Adding blocks

The white paper

Read the white paper and work through its different sections one by one.

Books about blockchain and how to program for it

Read: Blockchain by Josh Thompsons, Ethereum by Henning Diedrich, Introducing Ethereum and Solidity by Chris Dannen, and Blockchain by Melanie Swan.

Crypto wallets and dApps

Start playing around with crypto wallets and dApps.

3. Start blockchain coding tutorials

The best choice are tutorials that are divided into little projects you have to complete yourself. This way you’re not just taking in a bunch of new information – but you’re always learning by doing. 

That’s how you make the knowledge stick!

1. Learn Solidity. It’s a beginner-friendly language and it’s used in many applications. You could start with free tutorials and gamified courses like Space Doggos & CryptoZombies.
2. Take advanced courses. Once you know your way around the basics, consider investing in a higher-level course that can take you all the way to becoming a professional blockchain developer. 

Make sure to pick a course that has you do professional level projects in a guided way. Once you’ve been through one of those, you’re ready for a real-world job, freelancing career, or your own blockchain projects.

4. Get practical: Set up your own node

While it’s not 100% necessary to run your own node – it’s recommended if you want to be a serious blockchain developer.

It lets you monitor your coding efforts and gives you full control.

5. Understand consensus algorithms

Consensus Mechanism: The instrument by which a decentralized system goes to an agreement on specific issues.

E.g., the original consensus mechanism presented in the white paper, Proof of Work.

6. Learn to fork an existing blockchain, like bitcoin or ETH

For this, you’ll have to download and compile the core code on your computer. Then you’ll reprogram the code to include the changes you want in your personal blockchain fork.

7. Fork a wallet

Learn how to create your own cryptocurrency wallet from scratch.

8. Change the consensus algorithm in your fork

To better understand the different consensus algorithms in blockchain, try and change which one your own blockchain fork is using.

9. Set up a testnet for that fork and put it online

A testnet is a blockchain which doesn’t require you to spend real currency to use its network.

This makes them ideal for trying out your code ideas or pre-launching a new tool you created. Getting started on a testnet can be a good sandbox exercise in your roadmap to become a blockchain developer.

10. Write a smart contract and put it online at Ethereum or similar platforms

Get your feet wet creating your first smart contract and putting it online.

11. Code a dApp and put it online at a platform

Now you’re ready to develop your very own dApp, and release it to the world after you’re finished.

12. All the while, keep improving

If you work hard at it, you can achieve all this in about three months.

But while you’re learning and getting your hands dirty coding your first projects on the blockchain, don’t forget to mix with like-minded others: 

The best places for this are GitHub, Reddit and StackExchange. 

Chat with other developers, ask questions and seek their help. You’ll learn everything even quicker, you’ll start getting your name out there, and you’ll make some cool connections.

How You’ll Make Mountains of Money as a Blockchain Developer

The salary for a blockchain coder is quite high – usually over six figures per year.

As a freelancer, you can command hourly rates upwards of 100$ per hour.

And if your own blockchain project takes off, it could be a way for you to get rich in a short amount of time.

What is the salary of a blockchain developer?

In North America, blockchain coders can make between $150-$200 per hour, or low-to-mid six figures per year. In Western Europe, developers can also make at least $100-$150. In the Far East, predominantly in India, you can find a blockchain developer for as little as $40 per hour.

FAQ about Blockchain Programming for Beginners

Does a blockchain developer need coding?

So far there aren’t complete no-code solutions for working on blockchain technology, developing smart contracts or creating dApps. This means that you’d need some amount of coding knowledge for any blockchain development project. For many applications, you can get away with specialized skills in only one or two programming languages.

Is blockchain programming difficult?

Blockchain programming can be more difficult, because you can’t move as fast as in traditional development – you can’t afford to break things in a decentralized database. Also, you need to be well-rounded in cryptography, back-end and front-end development and networking concepts. 

How long does it take to learn blockchain?

You can learn blockchain programming to a decent level within 1-3 months if you follow the roadmap we outlined. To become an elite-level blockchain developer will take 1-3 years. Put in the time needed, and you’ll be able to go far in this lucrative career.

Can you teach yourself blockchain?

In theory you can learn blockchain by yourself. Teach yourself with free tutorials and a lot of coding practice. While many employers require a university degree, not all do. You also don’t need to pay for a course. But it’ll be easier if you don’t do it all by yourself, but with expert instruction.

The post How to Be a Blockchain Programming WIZARD: Beginner to PRO appeared first on Simple Programmer.

If you’re a software developer? You’ve picked an awesome profession.

There’s so much growth to be had as a programmer. You can make great money either just coding or being a software engineer. Your options are limitless. 

But… that wealth of options can also be overwhelming. 

Where do you even start?

Problem #1: You don’t know which goals to set in the first place as a developer

There’s different directions you can go in with your goals. 

And there’s different types of goals. 

1. Language goals 
2. Career goals 
3. Personality goals 
4. Money goals…

Which goals make most sense for you to set? 

Which can you realistically achieve? 

Which should you attack right now – and which should you leave for later?

Which goal will get you the most money and success when you achieve it?

Problem #2: ‘Programmer Goal Overload’ has you confused and unfocused

Are you suffering from too many goals at once – a.k.a. Goal Overload?

My goal here is to give you some structure. So you can pick the right goals. 

So you’ll actually achieve them.

It’s fun to think about all the possible goals and fantasize how great it would be to achieve them.

But if you can never give enough focus to any one of those goals –  because Goal Overload has you stuck – how does it help you to keep thinking about every potential goal out there?

Goals are great, though. I’ve successfully used goal-setting to achieve a bunch of stuff:

• Code apps
• Write books
• Create courses
• Build websites
• Become fit, healthy & wealthy

Your success as a programmer – whether it be becoming a software engineer in the first place, moving up the career ladder, writing the best code, making lots of money – I want to help make all of that simple for you. 

You start by mastering setting goals the right way. 

Let’s dive in.

The 4 Pillars of Powerful Programmer Goals: The Fulfilling Future Exercise, Infinite Improvement, The Non-Stop Value Formula, Powerful Habits

How do you advance your career most effectively? You do that by first setting goals that make sense for where you’re at and where you want to go.

Here are the 4 types of goals you need to have for maximum impact, money, and happiness as a programmer:

1. The Fulfilling Future Exercise

The key to success in life is to be fulfilled with the work you’re doing each and every day. 

Do you get excited about writing gaming code for 8-10 hours on a Monday and then repeating it for the next four days? Or are you passionate about the thought of working on machine learning systems at Amazon?

What type of work (that you’ve had a taste of, or KNOW it would be perfect for you) excites you the most?

Visualize your ideal life as a programmer. 

You’re spending most of your working day doing your favorite activities. Of course even those aren’t 100% enjoyable. They might be quite tough actually. But they allow you to express your gift, have maximum impact, and give you long-term fulfillment.

After you’ve created the idea of your optimal developer lifestyle, strive to get closer to it every day. Set intermediate goals on the way there. Pick tasks that’ll move you towards your vision. Reject those that pull you away from it. 

Use the 80-20 rule.

“Am I doing the 20% of tasks that are getting me closer to my goal?”

Focus on those and you’ll get 80% of the results – by only doing what matters. You’ll also make sure you’re 100% on the right track. So you’re not climbing a ladder, only to find out it was leaning against the wrong wall all along.

Instead, your actions will be perfectly aligned with fulfillment and success.

Finally, live each day as much as you can as if your goal had already come true. 

That’s how you’ll speak into existence your vision of your most fulfilling life as a software developer.

2. Infinite Improvement

When doing your goal-setting, don’t just focus on the outcome: As in, ‘I want to create an amazing tool that helps thousands of people and makes me millions of dollars.’

Also set goals for leveling up your skills. Because that’s when one leads to the other. 

If you’re so competent and complete as a programmer that you can:

• tackle tough coding problems without flinching
• strategize masterfully
• present yourself, communicate & negotiate like a pro

that’s when you’ll be able to actually achieve those awesome high-level goals. 

Because you’ve turned yourself into the kind of person who does. 

Work towards improving your skills, and with each passing day you’ll be inching closer to your goals.

By the way: I have a whole course on becoming that elite-level programmer. It’s called “5 learning mistakes programmers make”. You can grab it here for free:

3. The Non-Stop Value Formula

The vision, the skills… those are important to focus on when setting your goals as a programmer.

What else is? Having a positive impact on others.

Setting goals that impact others is not altruistic. It’s selfish – because it’ll accelerate your own success as a developer. You’ll get better skills, more exposure and higher status, faster. The money will soon follow.

So how do you set goals that impact others?

You do it by staying connected to the real world while you’re building yourself up. 

• Build stuff in public.
• Have people actually use it.
• Help others with any new programming skill you’re learning. 
• Apply your new soft skills to give valuable presentations. 
• Put your coding skills to the test by working with others on their projects. 

Impactful goals are those that have you connect and contribute – as opposed to goals about making you better in isolation. 

The latter are much easier to quit on as well.

4. Powerful Habits

Break your programming goals down into weekly & daily goals – because habits are more powerful than goals.

Once you’ve created those productive habits, achieving your long-term goals is as simple as executing those habits day after day. 

Luckily, while it’s hard work to first establish a new habit, it gets easier over time to keep them going. That’s the power of habits – use it to turn achieving your goals into a simple, repeatable process. 

You’ll finally feel that your goals are within your reach.

5 SMART Programmer Goals Examples – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant & Time-Bound

For any new goal it’s best if you follow the SMART goal setting formula. 

And to write them down. By writing down your goals, you have a 42% better chance of achieving them.

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. 

A SMART goal is a really specific way of writing down your goal, a key component of improving your chances of achieving any goal.

Which one is a SMART goal?

1. I want to work out more.
2. I will go to the gym three times per week for the next six months.

It’s the second one. 

This goal gives a clear breakdown of what you’ll do, how you’ll do it, and over what time period.

Just saying you want to work out more doesn’t give you any idea about how you intend to do it. And most importantly it doesn’t hold you accountable.

You could work out for five minutes, one day of the week, and if that’s more than what you are currently doing, it’s technically achieving your goal.

However, it’s probably not going to get you the desired outcome of why you want to work out more.

Now that we know what a SMART goal is, let’s look at 5 SMART goals you can set to become a better programmer this year:

SMART Goal #1: Spend Three Nights per Week Creating Your Own Website if You Want To Make a Career Change

If you’re currently employed but looking to branch out on your own and build your own programming business, it’s great to have your own programming blog showcasing your skills.

You’ll need to dedicate some time after work to specifically work on the site and commit to a time-frame where you will have it done.

S—The goal is to build a website

M—Three nights per week

A—A challenge, but easily doable

R—Relevant if you want to start your own business

T—Three months

SMART Goal #2: Take an Online Course for a Specific Programming Language Twice per Year

If you’re a competent Java programmer, you could look to broaden out your skillset by learning a new programming language. A great way to do this is to commit to doing some online courses to improve your knowledge. 

Online courses are something that we think about doing but never really commit to.

Set a goal to do two per year. And a top tip is to find one that you need to pay for, as you’re much more likely to commit to it.

You can decide on any programming language in which you think you need to improve your skillset.

S—The goal is to learn a new programming language

M—Two courses that I pay for

A—Challenging but attainable

R—Relevant if you to build your programming skills

T—One year

SMART Goal #3: Spend Five Hours a Week Learning How To Develop a New App Over the Next Six Months

Building a new app takes time, and if it’s not your full-time job, it can be hard to find the time needed to work on it. 

However, taking the time to learn how to build a new app broadens your programming skillset and will make you more valuable to employers and clients.

Set yourself a goal that over the next six months you will spend five hours every week working on your new app.

This is a SMART goal where you can adjust parts to make them more relevant to you. 

For example, if you know you can easily work for five hours a week, increase it to 10. Or if you think it will only take you three months to develop, shorten the time frame.

S—The goal is to develop an app

M—Five hours per week

A—Hard but doable

R—Relevant if you want to build a new app

T—Six months

Smart Goal #4: Dedicate Two One-Hour Blocks of Time To Increase Productivity Every Day for Three Months

Programming requires intense concentration. If there are lots of distractions going on, properly focusing on the work you need to do can be really hard, and productivity can drop.

In Cal Newport’s bestseller, Deep Work, he suggests one of the best ways to concentrate on your work is to block out times to do specific intense work. This is a time where you just work on a specific task you have set yourself. For example, if you need to write code for a specific part of a website you’re developing, you do that, and only that, for the one-hour time block.

Turn off your phone, close down your emails, and avoid the internet if you can. Schedule an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon for periods of intense focus. The reason for choosing an hour is it’s long enough to really focus and get plenty done, but short enough to not be intimidating from the start.

Again, this part of the SMART goal can be reframed to suit you better. If you know you concentrate better for shorter periods of time, reduce the time period. Twenty-five minutes can be a good place to start; that’s the time frame used in the Pomodoro productivity technique.

You’ll be surprised at how much you get done.

S—The goal is to do intense work

M—Two one-hour blocks every day

A—Challenging but doable

R—Relevant if wanting to increase your productivity

T—Three months

SMART Goal #5: Spend One Hour at the End of the Month To Plan Your Time for the Following Month

As the saying goes: “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” Plan out your month and you’ll get dramatically more done each month.

Most successful people in the world will plan out their months ahead of time so they know exactly what they need to do to achieve their goals.

Give yourself an hour at the end of each month to plan what you intend to do for the upcoming month. 

This can involve looking at what key tasks you need to complete, blocking out time to get them done, and making a to-do list of the less urgent tasks.

Also, use this time to refer back to your goals to make sure you are making progress toward them every month.

S—The goal is to plan for the month ahead

M—Once a month

A—Easily attainable

R—Relevant if wanting to be more organized

T—One month

Let’s now get into 21 developer goals for you to go after – so you can become the highly paid, fulfilled programmer you want to be:

21 AWESOME & EFFECTIVE Career Goals for Coders and Software Engineers

Short Term Programmer Goals

1. You’ll make your own learning curriculum

This is where you make sure you’ll progress towards your goals. If you fail to do this, it’s too easy to get lost and abandon one, multiple or even all of your goals. 

You can’t just set goals by themselves. You need to outline exactly how you’ll get there.

So, set aside a number of hours per week that you’ll dedicate to learning. Pick a number of hours you know you’ll be able to hit. Don’t go overboard! 

Now, decide which resources you’ll use during those hours, and how you’re going to study them – for example by thinking about a problem, sketching it out, writing and debugging the code, documenting your results in a written report, etc.

2. You’ll create a weekly & daily schedule

For every activity that’s important to your programming career, outline it in a similar way.

Figure out what needs to happen each week to keep you chipping away at your goals.

Then, break it down even further: Into little chunks of work you can put into a daily list of tasks. Now you just need to focus on completing your daily schedule. 

And you’ll automatically get closer to your goals as a developer.

3. You’ll start your portfolio website

Never underestimate the power of your portfolio. 

Build stuff you can be proud of. Doesn’t matter what. A blog website, photo slider, Web Scrapper. To-Do app, Resume portfolio, etc.

Once a client sees your portfolio and the amount of stuff you’ve built, is when he knows what you’re capable of. Your work speaks for itself.

In the free course How to start a blog, you’ll get guidance on how to start building your portfolio site so you can start attracting more clients by showing off the quality of your work to the world.

4. You’ll take on a freelance coding project to develop yourself and make extra income

Now you’re getting paid to learn! 

And after you’re done, you can add the completed project to your portfolio. 

You can even get a testimonial from your client, building trust with your audience, so you’ll more easily get the next, better-paid freelance project.

5. You’ll give a talk on a technical topic you’re passionate about 

You can do this at any meetup, conference or event. You’ll gain communication skills, get your name out among potential collaborators or employers, and gain that momentum to keep taking your programming career to the next level.

6. You’ll write a valuable article or report that people love to share

For some, this can launch them into a completely new career outlet: Writing for a living. 

If your article was a hit, why not expand on it and make it into a whole book? Today, with how easy it is to self-publish a book, the world could be your oyster.

7. You’ll study one new coding book

You don’t need to read all the books. But studying just one book deeply can take your programming skills to a whole new level.

Again, you’ll set aside an amount of hours to dive into the knowledge and solve the problems presented in the book. If you do this, you’ll get a hundred times more value out of it than if you were to simply read through dozens of books.

In the article on top programming books, you’ll find a good selection of books. Pick one that sounds like an exciting challenge for you to tackle. 

Commit to that and see how your coding skills benefit.

8. You’ll upgrade your debugging skills

Set a goal to get better at debugging this year. 

Vow to approach every bug with a formula:

1. Hypothesize: Where do you think the problem could lie? 
2. Experiment to prove or disprove your hypothesis
3. Repeat until you’ve found the bug

Optimizing your debugging process could be a worthy goal for you as a programmer – it’ll make you more effective at churning out functional code, in a repeatable manner, more quickly.

9. You’ll get better at project-based interviewing

If you’re looking to find work as a software developer, get ready to crush those project-based interviews.

Make a goal to thoroughly research the interview process and topics, to tackle a number of new programming interview questions each day, and to frequently hold mock interviews with your friends.

You want to get to a point where you can easily solve most of those Leetcode-style questions thrown at you. 

That’s when it becomes only a matter of time until you’ll be getting a highly paid programming job.

10. You’ll start doing soft skills challenges

Programmers with good soft skills are invited for more projects, rise up higher in their company, get more recognition, and overall become more successful, wealthy and happy.

So install the worthy goal of improving those skills. 

Turn it into a challenge: 

• How many new people can I reach out to this week? 
• When can I practice and deliver an impactful speech in front of people? 
• How will I start negotiating like a pro to get what I want during my next meeting?

11. You’ll gather at least one new piece of feedback each week

Most programmers fail to achieve their goals because they don’t even know what they’re doing wrong.

When it comes to our work, we all have blind spots. It’s just human.

Those who can rise above their ego, ask their peers or higher-ups for honest feedback, and accept and implement it, are the ones who’ll become successful.

12. You’ll improve your problem-solving skills

“The biggest mistake I see new programmers make is focusing on learning syntax instead of learning how to solve problems.” – V. Anton Spraul

Set a goal to solve one new problem each week. It’ll help if you pick different platforms to solve problems on. 

Create and improve on your problem-solving framework: The system you use to assess, structure, and ultimately overcome every problem. 

Soon enough you’ll be able to use this system with every challenge you face, be it related to programming or not.

Long Term Programmer Goals

13. You’ll create a personal brand

Want to rise up the ranks as a programmer – make better connections, get better jobs, multiply your income? 

Start building your personal programmer brand ASAP.

• Let people know which area you’re specializing in as a developer
• Write your biographical elevator pitch: Who are you and how are you helping me?
• Create your portfolio website
• Build your LinkedIn profile
• Start sharing content around your area of expertise
• Join a community – or start your own!

Once people know you as an expert on their topic, they’ll start coming to you with offers.

Building a personal brand is a proven way to rise above the masses as a programmer and snatch the best opportunities. 

14. You’ll learn a new language (one at a time!)

A classic goal for any developer is to learn a new programming language. And the best way to do it is strategically. 

Pick ONE language at a time. Conservatively estimate how long it’ll take you to learn it. Create a weekly schedule. Purchase any resources if necessary. 

Follow through with your daily learning habit, and soon you’ll have achieved your goal.

Professional Goals for Software Engineers & Developers

15. You’ll complete a new certification

Courses, bootcamps and certifications can be a quick way to level up your programming skills and increase your professional status at the same time.

You could set a goal to complete one or two new of these per year.

Over time, this will put you in the upper echelon of developers in terms of coding knowledge, skills and accolades.

If you’re at a job, put that professional development budget to good use and have them pay for any cert or course you take.

16. You’ll prepare for & apply to your dream job

Two things separating you from your dream job as a programmer: You need to set a smart goal to actually go for that job, and then do the work to make that goal come to fruition.

If you have a strategic plan for getting there, and you’re executing on that plan – it’s only a matter of time until you’ll get that job.

17. You’ll take responsibility for one new project at work

If you want to increase your influence at work and climb the ladder – set a ‘leadership goal’ specifying how you’ll start a new project, and collaborate with others to make it succeed, creating a positive impact in your company.  

18. You’ll start mentoring someone once or twice per week

It’s unclear who learns more when you work on this goal of mentorship – the mentee, or you as the mentor.

To teach successfully, you need to know the topic by heart. 

Apart from giving back and helping someone in their programming career, you’ll deepen your own understanding. 

In short, this goal helps you become both a better coder and a better human.

Financial Goals for Programmers

Want to earn more as a programmer? Get the free course ‘7 Reasons You’re Underpaid As A Software Developer’. You’ll get my best strategies for moving up the ranks and making more money.

19. You’ll start investing your money into assets

Once you make good money as a programmer, a worthwhile goal is to start putting any extra money to work for you.

A great way to do that is to invest into assets.

I’ve made great money investing in real estate, but you could choose other assets to invest in as well, like businesses or websites.

Make a goal to set X amount aside each month to put into new assets. Once these assets start paying you back without much upkeep, you’ll be glad you did!

20. You’ll apply for a raise each year, citing your accomplishments

If you’re someone who sets and achieves new goals every year? Then you keep increasing your value for the company you’re working for: 

• Those difficult jobs you finished. 
• How you improved team collaboration by managing projects and mentoring new hires. 
• Your better productivity because you leveled up your skills. 

So you have every reason to ask for a raise at each opportunity. 

21. You’ll start commanding an elite hourly rate

Whether you’re at a job or you’re working as a freelance developer: Make upping your hourly rate one of your major goals. 

This is most simple when you’re freelancing: Simply set your rate higher after each bout of successful projects. 

Don’t accept less. Because your results are speaking for you, you will get hired even as you become more expensive.

Start planning your week around your goals

Want to know how I plan my week to get as much done as possible? Here it is.

I use a tool called Kanbanflow to plan out my week based on Pomodoros.

Using this technique I am able to be extremely productive, avoid distractions and know exactly what I’ll be able to get done each week.

Now go Crush your Goals – Become a Finisher!

If you want to accomplish your goals, you need to learn to finish what you start.

It really is as simple as that. Become the kind of person who always finishes what you start.

Getting 50% done is worthless and 90% done is worthless and a big waste of time. You only get benefits from doing something when you reach 100%. Getting to 100% is all that matters. 

• Not all the work you put into it leading up to that point. 
• Not your initial enthusiasm. 
• Not even the time you spent. As soon as you spend it that time is gone.

The only way any of those things have any chance of showing a return on your investment is by reaching 100%–taking the big rubber stamp that says “done” on it and stamping it right across your work in dark red ink.

Ultimately it comes down to this: 

You have to decide that you are tired of having a closet full of half-completed projects. You have to decide that finishing is important to you and that despite how you feel, despite how bleak the outcome may seem to be, once you start something you will finish it–barring some extreme circumstance.

It’s not an easy journey, but once you decide to embark upon it, you’ll start to see rewards you never imagined possible.

My life completely changed once I became a finisher. Yours will too.

To start leveling up smarter and faster, get the free guide: 5 Learning Mistakes Software Developers Make

The post 26 Developer Goals That ACTUALLY WORK – with SMART Examples appeared first on Simple Programmer.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been transforming the globe with its many salient features, touching upon our lives personally and professionally. Almost all segments of industry  are influenced by the spread of AI, leveraging its potential to the utmost degree. AI has turned out to be instrumental in bringing other modern-day technologies (like IoT, machine learning, big data, and robotics) closer to us.

Moreover, the recent pandemic has served as a catalyst in encouraging the business world to adapt to AI-based technologies for enhancement of their organizations. Indeed, the size of the global artificial intelligence market is estimated to reach 309.6 billion dollars by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate of 39.7% during the forecast period.

AI has been expanding the technology landscape by serving multiple layers like continuous delivery, serverless microservices, orchestration, multi-cloud computing, and data analytics. It has been generating a lot of economic value for organizations, and we are witnessing an increasing involvement of AI in our daily routines.

Nonetheless, however rich the technology may be, it can’t always outperform humans. There are still some limitations; certain activities are not yet able to be executed through artificial intelligence development alone.

But, before we have a look at what AI can’t do, let’s take a quick glance at its numerous capabilities.

Artificial Intelligence – What Can It Do?

AI is everywhere, be it in your business, your home, or your smartphone. You can certainly say AI is ubiquitous and very useful to humankind, yet it does have its problems—privacy concerns and difficulty in troubleshooting errors, to name a few.

Overall, there is a lot coming together with AI—both good and bad—and we need to find a way to properly use it and live with it.

Here are some of the significant things that AI can do:

• Self-driving cars
• Predict your preferences and offer relevant recommendations
• Track down illegal activities such as human trafficking or smuggling
• Help diagnose rare diseases and treat them
• Utilization of AI chatbots for human-like assistance
• Online shopping and advertising
• Machine translations
• Digital personal assistance
• Help people with disabilities to read, write, see, speak, smell, touch, and move with limitations
• Play games
• Recognition of emotions in speech or written text
• Security in homes and organizations

And many more…

Artificial Intelligence – What Can’t It Do?

At the same time, there are many things that AI still has not been able to accomplish. Though there is a speedy advancement in AI-related mechanisms, there are a few things that still lag.

Briefly, we could say that AI can’t multitask, and it can’t feel sympathy or empathy for anyone. As a result, AI can’t completely replace human labor and certainly not professionals such as lawyers, writers, designers, developers, or psychiatrists.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the things AI still can’t do very well, if at all.

AI Can’t Write Software

AI, however developed it may be, lacks the human understanding needed to write software code. Developing code requires a great deal of human thinking, as it involves error detection, possible hurdles, customer perception, real world scenarios, etc.

All these thought processes may not be feasible through AI since it can’t think deeper. AI can surely help with finding patterns, software testing, test case generation, and test arrangements, but it can’t write the code itself.

Furthermore, AI can’t find malware or do creative writing. It can create content directly based on guidelines, but it must be overseen by humans since AI has limited creative capability with a less genuine focus on emotions.

AI Can’t Independently Accomplish Tasks With Compassion, Ingenuity, and Innovation

AI is of great help to humankind, in the sense that we feel it is replacing certain laborious human activities. However, it lacks a few attributes that only humans possess. AI is not able to conceptualize, plan, and create something, given a set of associated goals. It can’t choose objectives and implement activities based on those chosen tasks.

AI cannot feel any emotion. It may try to replicate human feelings but can’t bring the necessary authenticity to the table. There may be robots that can replace humans but only in mundane tasks, not in offering emotional services.

AI may fall back when it comes to performing complicated tasks. It can work on predefined simple tasks, but it may not be able to give perfect results when there are uncertain or complex areas of handling things.

AI Can’t Perceive the Reason and Impact Equation

AI techniques can find out detailed patterns and data correlation, provided they have the underlying raw data with them. But AI is unable to understand real-life scenarios, including the reasons behind their occurrence and any further impact they may have.

Overall, AI can function in situations but cannot understand the basic cause behind it. It will not be able to see the world the way we do, and that will always be a gap that humans must fill.

AI Can’t Make Moral Decisions or Invent on Its Own

AI cannot make moral decisions on its own. It does not have any emotion, and hence, when a moral judgment must be made, AI needs to depend upon human interaction. Self-driving cars are in vogue, but there must be human involvement, since on the road, the car can’t make all the decisions on its own.

Undeniably, AI can help accelerate and automate, but when it comes to complete innovation, it can’t help without human resources. AI is excellent at playing by the rules, but it can’t create the rules from the start. It can only base its decisions on past experiences and can’t think out of the box.

Moreover, AI cannot make instant decisions based on the current scenario or surroundings like humans can. It sticks to its predefined rules and involves no morality in its decision-making.

AI Can’t Utilize Common Sense

A very significant quality that humans have—that AI does not—is common sense. This is very important in all routine activities, and that is where humans have the upper hand. AI cannot grasp any concept on its own using reason, since it depends only on predefined facts and figures.

There are many facts that exist in this world because of common sense used by humans. AI may not be able to perceive these facts if they don’t coincide with an established set of actions. AI can’t prepare models of things mentally using the environment and experience, as humans do; it can merely link the relationship in the raw data to the model that it is looking at.

AI Development Continues to Rule

Artificial intelligence and AI solutions are instrumental in our lives, on a personal and a professional level. Almost all industry segments—healthcare, transportation, finance, entertainment, education, retail, etc.—have been benefiting from the use of AI.

Yes, as we saw in this post, there are things that AI has not been able to accomplish as of now. But the way it is growing, and AI development companies are expanding, the next few years might see AI outperforming humans in the activities above! Only time will tell how widespread AI will be in the coming years.

The post 5 Important Things AI Still Can’t Do appeared first on Simple Programmer.