Many people often wonder, “Do software engineers code?” You might be one of those individuals who have learned the basics of coding and are now searching for a college course that aligns with your skills. Or perhaps you’re curious about the actual responsibilities of software engineers—professionals who design and build applications to solve real-world problems. So, the question lingers: “Do software engineers code?”
But have you ever stopped to think about how software engineers manage to create these applications, programmed to tackle real-life challenges? Instead of relying on assumptions to answer the question, “Do software engineers code?” this article will provide you with a well-researched, definitive answer. Let’s dive in!
Job Description of Software Engineers
Now I think it’s best we get started by fully understanding the job descriptions of software engineers. Software engineers, what do they do? A software engineer is one who is responsible for developing software programs that are helpful to online users.
Critically studying their line of profession, they are the ones who get the needs of their users analyzed, then develop and test software to meet those needs. Software engineers also work for corporations across industries and as members of IT firms. They use a variety of skills including technical skills, soft skills and industrial skills.
Well, you can feel free to tag software engineering as a complex discipline because they use an analytical, engineering-focused approach and expert knowledge of programming languages in order to be able to develop computer programs . They are also responsible for ensuring that whichever software they develop is functional to meet consumer needs. They often have the following specific responsibilities:
- Analyze the needs of the user
- Design, debug and develop the software to meet those needs.
- Propose upgrades for existing systems and programs.
- Develop separate elements of software that work well in the program as though it were engrafted together.
- Tasked with ensuring the functionality of a program by regular maintenance and testing of the software.
- Responsible for recording every aspect of a system or application, as it is often helpful in future upgrades and maintenance.
- Revisit their development documentary process in order to fix bugs or address client or consumer concerns.
Why Software Engineers Code
Now that we have seen what software engineers do, why do you think they have to code? They need the application of coding in various aspects of their jobs; we’ll see why.
Software engineering has interesting branches of disciplines that take it’s source from it. There are system developers, application software developers, application-focused engineers, and general software engineers.
Despite having many branches, all are still connected with the use of coding in their day-to-day activities. Why is this?
Now you may want to know what system developers do. They are responsible for the hardware and software aspects of building operating systems and networks. It would be difficult to alter and implement changes on OS without being able to code. Coding is like the language computers only pay attention to. So see why system developers code?
What about general software engineers? This branch of software engineering has to do with the creation of apps. Both web-based apps and device apps. Apps perform specific functions and this is only made possible by programming, which involves coding. I believe I’m beginning to give an answer to your question, ‘do software engineers code?’ Apps follow a series of programming steps that could have been only put into place through programming.
Application software developers, on the other hand, deal with creating apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and other native operating systems, which undoubtedly require coding.
Applications-focused and general software engineers are basically full-stack developers, while systems software developers are like backend developers.
We have to understand that it’s a combination of computer science and engineering that yields software for devices of all types. This engineering is the programming involved. Since computers do not communicate like humans, coding acts as a translator. Code converts human input into numerical sequences that computers understand. Once computers receive these messages, they complete assigned tasks such as changing font colors or centering an image.
How Are Programming Languages Connected With Coding?
We have to understand that computer programming languages are developed through a series of alphabetic or numeric codes; these codes in turn instruct machines to complete specific actions. Computer coding functions much like a manual, which the apps that are created adhere to.
A software engineer writes instructions and describes the tasks he or she wants a particular software or app to perform. Computers, which have been made to be so intelligent, scan these coded manuals rapidly and execute the task as desired. This cannot be achieved without coding! All those things we experience with excitement when using different apps, like being able to change the font styles or colours of your text at your will, are all due to the programming such an app was embedded with.
It wouldn’t have been possible for you and me to interact with websites and apps without the help of these coded instructions. Interestingly, codes don’t show up on the screen. Instead, we are able to communicate with our devices and find our apps helpful to us. Coding is more like a translator or what the business-inclined folks would refer to as ‘the’middleman’ communicating varying languages across.
Coding is what tells a machine which actions to perform, the sequence to follow and how to complete tasks. Not just that, programming languages provide the rules for building websites, apps, and other computer-based technologies. It is this programming language that enables humans to accurately communicate with machines in a productive way.
We can therefore now say that coding is a core function of software engineers, as it is what is majorly utilized to build functionalities and features of software applications. Beyond giving apps instructions to play by, software engineers utilize coding for building models and simulations. It is also considered useful in creating algorithms that are used for data analysis and programming microcontrollers.
Programming languages Employed By Software Engineers
The projects to be handled by software engineers determine the programming languages they utilize. However, Python and JavaScript are the two most in-demand programming languages that software engineers use. Let’s look at some programming languages that are best used in various cases:
Web Development
- JavaScript: Giving how that JavaScript can be used for both front-end and back-end development, JavaScript is commonly employed in the development of web applications.
- Python: Being a general-purpose programming language, Python is a universally acclaimed language. Python’s readability and concise structure earned it popularity among many users. It is implemented in web development.
- HTML/CSS: CSS is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation of information written in HTML or any markup language. HTML is one of the cornerstones in web development.
- Ruby: Ruby is a programming language that has the uniqueness of identifying everything as an object. This uniqueness finds it’s use in web development, data processing, automation, and DevOps. While its simplicity resembles Python. Ruby is best used for commercial rather than educational purposes.
- PHP: PHP sounds like HP laptops but then this is a general-purpose programming language that is ideal for web development.
Mobile App Development
- Java: Java is basically used to develop apps which are normally found in Androids.
- Swift: IOS is definitely something fast so I guess Swift was a perfect match for it. Swift is used to develop iOS apps.
- Kotlin: Kotlin also finds it’s application in developing apps for Androids.
Enterprise Software Development
Now it would interest you to know that some of these programming languages are optimal for enterprise developments. We shall see them below:
- Java: Java is one of such; it is used for developing large-scale enterprise applications
- C#: C# finds it’s used in the development of Windows-based applications and games.
- C++: This programming language is used in developing high-performance applications, with an emphasis on ‘high-performance’. It is also used to create games and system software.
However, this is not the exhaustive list of programming languages that software engineers make use of. There are still other programming languages but the ones outlined here are the most commonly employed programming languages that are useful to software engineers.
Conclusion
Considering the complexity of the job of software engineers, the use of code is essential. Ranging from app development to web development, software engineers require programming languages to serve as translators to their end users.
Coding is a key factor in the job description of software engineers, being the bedrock of their developments. There also exists a variety of programming languages that are used by software engineers, some of which include C++, Java, and Python. These are all important for a successful job transition.