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Website development processes. Website development emphatically refers to the tasks and processes involved in designing, creating and maintaining a website. This includes everything from markup and coding to scripting, network configuration,and CMS development.If you want to get started with web development, a big part of that will be learning various programming languages. Depending on your focus, these could be front-end languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript or back-end languages like Python, PHP, Java, Ruby, and so on.However, I don't think learning programming languages is the only part of website development. You'll also need to learn how the web works at a basic level, especially if you want to go into back-end website development.I'll talk about some of these areas when I take you through roadmaps for both front-end and back-end development.Why is web development important?Can you believe that we're part of a world where over 5.52 billion people are connected through the internet? That's more than half of our global population actively engaging in research, connection, education, and entertainment through this incredible digital universe.Given the rapidly increasing number of internet users, it’s no surprise that web development is a rapidly expanding industry.Between now and 2033, the employment of web developers is expected to grow by 8%, which is faster than most other technology careers. It‘s an exciting time to be in this field, and I’m thrilled to be part of this dynamic industry.Web Development vs. Web ProgrammingWeb development and web programming sound very similar — and they are. But, there’s one very important distinction.Web development refers to the overall process of creating websites or web applications, including the project’s design, layout, coding, content creation, and functionality. It involves using a combination of programming languages, tools, and frameworks to bring a website or web application to life. Web development may also encompass project management activities, such as fielding development requests from stakeholders or freelance clients.Web programming, on the other hand, specifically refers to the coding and scripting of a website, whether the front-end or back-end. It primarily involves writing code to handle data, process user inputs, and generate dynamic content. A web programmer will rarely, if ever, handle a large web development project from end to end. They may build a certain section of a site or troubleshoot bugs.Understanding this difference has been crucial in my career, allowing me to appreciate the depth and breadth of skills required in the world of web creation. It's a reminder of the diverse talents and expertise that come together to make the digital world what it is today.1. What is a website?Websites are files stored on servers, which are computers that host (fancy term for “store files for”) websites. These servers are connected to a giant network called the internet.Now, how do we access these websites? This is where browsers come into play. Browsers are computer programs that load websites via your Internet connection, such as Google Chrome or Safari, while the computers used to access these websites are known as “clients.”2. What is an IP address?I was always fascinated by how the Internet knows where to send data. The answer lies in understanding IP addresses. To access a website, you need to know its Internet Protocol (IP) address. An IP address is a unique string of numbers. Each device has an IP address to distinguish itself from the billions of websites and devices connected via the Internet.If this sounds new to you, that‘s because you’ve been using domain names to reach websites. While you can access a website using its IP address, most internet users prefer to use domain names or by going through search engines.Domain names are connected to website server IPs using something called the Domain Name System (DNS). If you want to be a web developer, I think it's essential to understand how DNS works.Pro tip: To find your device’s IP address, you can also type “what’s my IP address” into your search browser.3. What does HTTP mean?HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is what connects our website request to the remote server that houses all website data. It’s a set of rules (a protocol) that defines how messages should be sent over the internet. It allows us to jump between site pages and websites.If I type a website into my web browser or search for something through a search engine, HTTP provides a framework so that the client (computer) and server can speak the same language when they make requests and responses to each other over the internet.It’s essentially the translator between you and the internet. HTTP reads our website request, reads the code sent back from the server, and translates it for us as a website.Understanding HTTP is important for all aspects of web development, but I think it's especially essential if you want to get into back-end development.4. What is coding?Coding refers to writing code for servers and applications using programming languages. They’re called “languages” because they include vocabulary and grammatical rules for communicating with computers. They also include special commands, abbreviations, and punctuation that can only be read by devices and programs.All software is written in at least one coding language, but languages vary based on platform, operating system, and style. All languages fall into one of two categories: front-end and back-end.Pro tip: Sometimes, you'll see that businesses are seeking a full stack developer. This means that you have expertise in both the front and back end.5. What does front-end mean?Front-end (or client-side) is the side of a website or software that you see and interact with as an Internet user. When website information is transferred from a server to a browser, front-end coding languages allow the website to function without having to continually “communicate” with the internet.Front-end code allows users to interact with a website and play videos, expand or minimize images, highlight text, and more. Web developers who work on front-end coding work on client-side development.6. What does back-end mean?On the contrary, the back-end (or server-side) is the side that you don’t see when you use the internet. It’s digital infrastructure. To non-developers, it looks like a bunch of numbers, letters, and symbols.There are more back-end coding languages than front-end languages. That’s because browsers — at the front end — only understand HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Meanwhile, a server — at the back end — can be configured to understand pretty much any language.7. What is a CMS?A content management system (CMS) is a web application or a series of programs used to create and manage web content. (Note: A CMS isn't necessarily the same thing as a site builder, such as Squarespace or Wix.)While not required to build a website, using a CMS makes things easier. It provides the building blocks (like plugins and add-ons) and lets you create the structure with your code.Pro tip: Your CMS is often used for ecommerce and blogging, but it's useful for all types of websites. I think it can be especially helpful if you need to display and organize large amounts of data.8. What is cybersecurity?There are always malicious actors looking to find vulnerabilities in websites to expose private information, steal data, and crash servers. Cybersecurity is the practice of securing data, networks, and computers from these threats.The methods used by hackers are constantly evolving, as are the security measures taken to defend against them. Failing to understand how your site could be targeted could result in disaster.As a result, a basic understanding of cybersecurity best practices is critical for effective web development. You should also carry out security audits on a consistent basis. This will ensure that your website doesn't fall victim to bad actors attempting to steal your information.1. Front-End DevelopmentFront-end developers work on the client- or user-facing side of websites, programs, and software — in other words, what users see. They design and develop the visual aspects, including the layout, navigation, graphics, and other aesthetics.The main job of these developers is to build interfaces that help users reach their goals. They also often work on the user experience aspect of their projects.2. Back-End DevelopmentIf the front end is what users see, the back end is what they don’t. Back-end web developers work on the servers of websites, programs, and software to make sure everything works properly behind the scenes.These developers work with systems like servers, operating systems, APIs, and databases and manage the code for security, content, and site architecture. They collaborate with front-end developers to bring their products to users.3. Full Stack DevelopmentFull stack developers work in both the front-end and back-end sides of a website. They can create a website, application, or software program from start to finish. “Stack” refers to the different technologies that handle different functionalities on the same website, like the server, interface, etc.Because full stack developers require years in the field to build the necessary experience, this role is often sought after by companies looking to build or update their websites. This developer's all-around knowledge helps them optimize performance, catch issues before they occur, and help team members understand different parts of a web service.4. Website DevelopmentWebsite developers can be front-end, back-end, or full stack developers. However, these professionals specialize in building websites, as opposed to mobile applications, desktop software, or video games.5. Desktop DevelopmentDesktop developers specialize in building software applications that run locally on your device, rather than over the Internet in the web browser. Sometimes, the skill set of these developers overlaps with web developers if an application can run both online and off.6. Mobile DevelopmentMobile developers build applications for mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. Mobile apps operate much differently than other websites and software programs, thus requiring a separate set of development skills and knowledge of specialized programming languages. (Psst: Even if you are not building a mobile application, you should aim to make your website mobile-friendly!)7. Game DevelopmentGame developers specialize in writing code for video games, including console games (Xbox, PlayStation, etc.), PC games, and mobile games — which means this specialty overlaps somewhat with mobile development.8. Embedded DevelopmentEmbedded developers work with all hardware that isn't a computer (or, at least, what most of us imagine as “computers” with a keyboard and screen). This includes electronic interfaces, consumer devices, IoT devices, real-time systems, and more.With a recent rise in interconnected devices — as seen with smart appliances, Bluetooth technologies, and virtual assistants — embedded development is becoming an in-demand practice.9. Security DevelopmentSecurity developers establish methods and procedures for securing software programs or websites. They typically work as ethical hackers, trying to “break” websites to expose vulnerabilities without intending harm. They also build systems that discover and eradicate security risks.Front-End Web Development LanguagesAs I've already discussed, front-end web development focuses on creating the visual and interactive elements of a site. It involves designing and building the user-facing side — what you see, essentially, when you pull up a site in a web browser.In my perspective, front-end development is likely the “easiest” way to begin a career in web development. That said, as with any other aspect of this field, it will have a learning curve. I'll discuss this in the next section when I share a general roadmap for getting started with front-end web development.Here are some of the most popular front-end web development languages. Having an understanding of these will be paramount as a front-end developer.HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)HTML is likely the language you first thought of when it comes to web development, and with good reason: HTML is the backbone of any web page. It provides both semantic structure and defines the elements of a website, such as headings, paragraphs, images, and links. Web developers use HTML to give content a proper layout before customizing it.CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)If HTML is the backbone of a site, then CSS is the muscle. CSS is responsible for styling the visual appearance of a website. It allows developers to customize colors, fonts, layouts, and other design elements. With CSS, you can also create responsive web pages that adapt to different screen sizes.While you can always write your own CSS from scratch, there are also lots of CSS frameworks that can help you more quickly and easily style your website.JavaScriptJavaScript is a dynamic programming language that adds interactive elements to web pages, such as dropdown menus, sliders, forms, and animations.JavaScript is widely used for client-side scripting (that is, the script runs on the client’s browser and not on the server that hosts the website). JavaScript generally enhances the user experience by making websites more dynamic and engaging.There are also a number of popular JavaScript frameworks and libraries that can help you, including jQuery and React.These languages play a crucial role in creating visually appealing, intuitive, and interactive websites. Don’t underestimate them: A website may have the best back-end structure, but unless the UI is modern, interactive, and user-friendly, it won’t be as appealing to a visitor.

Software Development Lifecycle. Software development refers to a set of computer science activities that are dedicated to the process of creating, designing, deploying and supporting software.Software itself is the set of instructions or programs that tell a computer what to do. It is independent of hardware and makes computers programmable.The goal of software development is to create a product that meets user needs and business objectives in an efficient, repeatable and secure way. Software developers, programmers and software engineers develop software through a series of steps called the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Artificial intelligence-powered tools and generative AI are increasingly used to assist software development teams in producing and testing code.Modern enterprises often use a DevOps model—a set of practices, protocols and technologies used to accelerate the delivery of higher-quality applications and services. DevOps teams combine and automate the work of software development and IT operations teams. DevOps teams focus on continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), processes that use automation to deploy small, frequent updates to continually improve software performance.So much of modern life—business or otherwise—relies on software solutions. From the phones and computers used for personal tasks or to complete our jobs, to the software systems in use at the utility companies that deliver services to homes, businesses and more. Software is ubiquitous and software development is the crucial process that brings these applications and systems to life.Types of softwareTypes of software include system software, programming software, application software and embedded software:System software provides core functions such as operating systems, disk management, utilities, hardware management and other operational necessities.Programming software gives programmers tools such as text editors, compilers, linkers, debuggers and other tools to create code.Application software (applications or apps), such as office productivity suites, data management software, media players and security programs help users complete specific tasks. Applications also refer to web and mobile applications such as those used to shop on retail websites or interact with content on social media sites.  Embedded software is used to control devices not typically considered computers including telecommunications networks, cars, industrial robots and more. These devices and their software, can be connected as part of the Internet of Things (IoT).Software can be designed as custom software or commercial software. Custom software development is the process of designing, creating, deploying and maintaining software for a specific set of users, functions or organizations.In contrast, commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) is designed for a broad set of requirements, enabling it to be packaged and commercially marketed and distributed.Who develops software?Programmers, software engineers and software developers primarily conduct software development. These roles interact, overlap and have similar requirements, such as writing code and testing software. The dynamics between them vary greatly across development departments and organizations.Programmers (coders)Programmers, or coders, write source code to program computers for specific tasks such as merging databases, processing online orders, routing communications, conducting searches or displaying text and graphics. They also debug and test software to make sure the software does not contain errors.Programmers typically interpret instructions from software developers and engineers and use programming languages such as C++, Java™, JavaScript and Python to implement them.Software engineers Software engineers design, develop, test and maintain software applications. As a managerial role, software engineers engage in problem solving with project managers, product managers and other team members to account for real-world scenarios and business goals. Software engineers consider full systems when developing software, making sure that operating systems meet software requirements and that various pieces of software can interact with each other.Beyond the building of new software, engineers monitor, test and optimize applications after they are deployed. Software engineers oversee the creation and deployment of patches, updates and new features.Software developers Like software engineers, software developers design, develop and test software. Unlike engineers, they usually have a specific, project-based focus.A developer might be assigned to fix an identified error, work with a team of developers on a software update or to develop a specific aspect of a new piece of software. Software developers require many of the same skills as engineers but are not often assigned to manage full systems.Steps in the software development processThe software development life cycle (SDLC) is a step-by-step process that development teams use to create high-quality, cost-effective and secure software. The steps of the SDLC are:PlanningAnalysisDesignImplementationTestingDeploymentMaintenanceThese steps are often interconnected and might be completed sequentially or in parallel depending on the development model an organization uses, the software project and the enterprise. Project managers tailor a development team’s workflows based on the resources available and the project goals.The SDLC includes the following tasks, though the tasks might be placed in different phases of the SDLC depending on how an organization operates.Requirements managementThe first step of planning and analysis is to understand what user needs the software should be designed to meet and how the software contributes to business goals. During requirements management, analysis or requirements gathering, stakeholders share research and institutional knowledge such as performance and customer data, insights from past developments, enterprise compliance and cybersecurity requirements and the IT resources available.This process enables project managers and development teams to understand the scope of the project, the technical specifications and how tasks and workflows are organized.Developing a designAfter establishing project requirements, engineers, developers and other stakeholders explore the technical requirements and mock up potential application designs. Developers also establish which application programming interfaces (APIs) will connect the application with other applications, systems and user interfaces. Sometimes existing APIs can be used, other times new APIs are needed.Building a modelIn this step, teams build an initial model of the software to conduct preliminary testing and discover any obvious bugs. DevOps teams can use modeling language such as SysML or UML to conduct early validation, prototyping and simulation of the design.Constructing codeUsing the knowledge gained by modeling, software development teams begin to write the code that turns the designs into a functioning product. Traditionally writing code is a manual process, but organizations are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to help generate code and speed the development process.TestingQuality assurance (QA) is run to test the software design. The tests look for flaws in the code and potential sources of errors and security vulnerabilities. DevOps teams use automated testing to continuously test new code throughout the development process.DeployingA software integration, deployment or release means that the software is made available to users. Deployment involves setting up database and server configurations, procuring necessary cloud computing resources and monitoring the production environment. Development teams often use infrastructure as code (IaC) solutions to automate the provisioning of resources. Such automations help simplify scaling and reduce costs.Often organizations use preliminary releases, such as beta tests, before releasing a new product to the public. These tests release the product to a selected group of users for testing and feedback and enable teams to identify and address unforeseen issues with the software before a public release.OptimizationAfter deployment, DevOps teams continue to monitor and test the performance of the software and perform maintenance and optimization whenever possible. Through a process called continuous deployment, DevOps teams can automate the deployment of updates and patches without causing service disruptions.Documentation Keeping a detailed accounting of the software development process helps developers and users troubleshoot and use applications. It also helps maintain the software and develop testing protocols.Software development modelsSoftware development models are the approach or technique that teams take to software development. They dictate the project workflow, how tasks and processes are completed and checked, how teams communicate and more.When selecting a model for development, project managers consider the scope of the project, the complexity of the technical requirements, the resources available, the size and experience of the team, the deadline for release and the budget.Common software development models include:WaterfallWaterfall is a traditional software development model that sets a series of cascading linear steps from planning and requirements gathering through deployment and maintenance. Waterfall models are less flexible than agile methodologies. Development can be delayed if a step is not completed and it is often costly and time-consuming to revert to previous steps if an issue is discovered. This process can be valuable for simple software with few variables.V-shapedThis model creates a V-shaped framework with one leg of the “V” following the steps of the SDLC and the other leg dedicated to testing. Like the waterfall approach, V-shaped models follow a linear series of steps.The main difference is that V-shaped development has associated testing built into each step that must be completed for development to proceed. Robust software testing can help identify issues in code early but has some of the same shortcomings of the waterfall effect—it is less flexible and can be difficult to revert to a previous step.IterativeThe iterative model focuses on repeated cycles of development, with each cycle addressing a specific of requirements and functions. Each cycle or iteration of development adds and refines functions and is informed by previous cycles. The principles of the iterative model, mainly the cyclical nature of working, can be applied to other forms of development.AgileThis iterative approach to software development breaks larger projects into smaller “sprints” or consumable functions and delivers rapidly on those functions through incremental development. A constant feedback loop helps find and fix defects and enables teams to move more fluidly through the software development process.DevOpsThe DevOps approach is a further development of the agile model. DevOps combines the work of development and IT operations teams and uses automation to optimize the delivery of high-quality software. DevOps increases visibility across teams and prioritizes collaboration and input from all stakeholders throughout the software development lifecycle.It also uses automation to test, monitor and deploy new products and updates. DevOps engineers take an iterative approach, meaning software is continuously tested and optimized to improve performance.Rapid application development (RAD)This process is a type of agile development that places less emphasis on the planning stage and focus on an adaptive process influenced by specific development conditions. RAD prioritizes receiving real-world user feedback and making updates to software after deployment rather than trying to plan for all possible scenarios.SpiralA spiral model combines elements of both waterfall and iterative approaches. Like the waterfall model, a spiral development model delineates a clear series of steps. But it also breaks down the process into a series of loops or “phases” that give development teams more flexibility to analyze, test and modify software throughout the process.The visual representation of these models takes the form of a spiral, with the beginning planning and requirements gathering step as the center point. Each loop or phase represents the entire software delivery cycle. At the start of each new phase, teams can modify requirements, review testing and adjust any code as needed. The spiral model offers risk-management benefits and is ideal for large, complex projects.LeanA type of agile development, lean development takes principles and practices from the manufacturing world and applies them to software development. The goal of lean development is to reduce waste at every step of the SDLC. To do this, lean models set a high standard for quality assurance at every step of development, prioritize faster feedback loops, remove bureaucratic processes for decision making and delay the implementation of decisions until accurate data is available.While traditional agile development is largely focused on the optimization of software, lean development is also concerned with the optimization of development processes to achieve this goal.Big bangUnlike all other development models, big band development does not begin with a robust planning phase. It is based on time, effort and resources—meaning work begins when the time, personnel and funding are available. Developers create software by incorporating requirements as they filter in throughout the process.Big bang development can be a quick process, but due to the limited planning phase, it risks the creation of software that does not meet user needs. Because of this, the big bang model is best suited for small projects that can be updated quickly.Types of software developmentUsing software development to differentiate from competition and gain competitive advantage requires proficiency with the techniques and technologies that can accelerate software deployment, quality and efficacy.There are different types of software development, geared toward different parts of the tech stack or different deployment environments. These types include:Cloud-native developmentCloud-native development is an approach to building and deploying applications in cloud environments. A cloud-native application consists of discrete, reusable components known as microservices. These microservices act as building blocks used to compile larger applications and are often packaged in containers.Cloud-native development and practices like DevOps and continuous integration work together because of a shared emphasis on agility and scalability. Cloud-native applications enable organizations to take advantage of cloud computing benefits such as automated provisioning through infrastructure as code (IaC) and more efficient resource use.Low-code developmentLow-code is a visual approach to software development that enables faster delivery of applications through minimal hand-coding. Low-code software development platforms offer visual features that enable users with limited technical experience to create applications and make a contribution to software development.Experienced developers also benefit from low-code development by using built-in application programming interfaces (APIs) and prebuilt code components. These tools promote faster software development and can eliminate some of the bottlenecks that occur, such as when project managers or business analysts with minimal coding experience are involved in the development process.Front-end developmentFront-end development is the development of the user-facing aspect of software. It includes designing layouts and interactive elements and plays a large role in the user experience. Poor front-end development resulting in a frustrating user experience can doom software, even if it’s technically functional.Back-end development Back-end development is concerned with the aspects that the user doesn’t see, such as building the server-side logic and infrastructure that software needs to function. Back-end developers write the code that determines how software accesses, manages and manipulates data; defines and maintains databases to make sure they work with the front end; sets up and manage APIs and more.Full-stack developmentA full-stack developer is involved in both front and back-end development and is responsible for the entire development process. Full-stack development can be a useful in bridging any divide between the technical aspects of running and maintaining software and the user experience, creating a more holistic approach to development.AI and software developmentArtificial intelligence (AI) tools play an increasingly important role in software development. AI is used to generate new code, review and test existing code and applications, help teams continuously deploy new features and more. AI solutions are not a subsitute for human development teams. Rather, these tools are used to enhance the development process, creating more productive teams and stronger software.Code generationGenerative AI can create code snippets and full functions based on natural language prompts or code context. Using large language model (LLM) technologies, natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning algorithms, technical professionals train generative AI models on massive datasets of existing source code. Through this training, AI models begin to develop a set of parameters—an understanding of coding language, patterns in data and the relationship between different pieces of code. An AI-powered code generator can help developers in several ways, including:AutocompletionWhen a developer is writing code, generative AI tools can analyze the written code and its context and suggest the next line of code. If appropriate, the developer can accept this suggestion. The most obvious benefit is that this helps save the developer some time. This can also be a useful tool for developers working in coding languages they are not the most experienced in or haven’t worked with in a while.Writing original codeDevelopers can directly prompt AI tools with specific plain language prompts. These prompts include specifications such as programming language, syntax and what the developer wants the code to do. Generative AI tools can then produce a snippet of code or an entire function; developers then review the code making edits when needed. These corrections help to further train the model.Translating code and application modernizationGenerative AI tools can translate code from one programming language to another, saving developers time and reducing the risk of manual errors. This is helpful when modernizing applications, for example, translating COBOL to Java.AI-powered code generation can also help automate the repetitive coding involved when migrating traditional infrastructure or software to the cloud.TestingDevelopers can prompt generative AI tools to build and perform tests on existing pieces of code. AI tools can create tests that cover more scenarios more quickly than human developers. AI-powered monitoring tools can also provide a real-time understanding of software performance and predict future errors.Also, through their ability to analyze large datasets, AI tools can uncover patterns and anomalies in data which can be used to find potential issues. When AI tools uncover issues, whether through testing or monitoring, they can automate the remediation of errors and bugs. AI helps developers proactively address issues with code and performance and maintain the smooth operation of software.DeploymentGenerative AI helps DevOps teams optimize the continuous integration/continuous delivery pipeline (CI/CD). The CI/CD pipeline enables frequent merges of code changes into a central repository and accelerates the delivery of regular code updates. CI/CD helps development teams continuously perform quality assurance and maintain code quality and AI is used to improve all aspects of this process.Developers can use AI tools to help manage changes in code made throughout the software development lifecycle and make sure that those changes are implemented correctly. AI tools can be used to continue monitoring software performance after deployment and suggest areas for code improvement. In addition, AI tools help developers deploy new features by seamlessly integrating new code into production environments without disrupting service. They can also automatically update documentation after changes have been made to software.