The software engineering industry is thriving, and there is a growing need for professional programmers. A bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science, or information technology is excellent to start in this field.
However, you must continuously update your skills and knowledge to meet the tasks. If you need quick and effective teaching programs, don’t miss the top 10 courses below.
Now, let’s discuss the best courses for starting a career as a software developer.
1. IBM Full Stack Software Developer
Specifications
- Difficulty: All
- Duration: 14 months, 3 hours/week
- Price: Free
- Provider: IBM
Course’s Highlights
Professional Certificates IBM Full Stack Cloud Developer taught me skills in Cloud Native and Full Stack with hands-on projects with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. That’s what I was looking for to start my app development career.
I appreciate the enthusiasm of the experts at IBM. They always support and help me in the process of learning how to build cloud-based applications.
Furthermore, they gave me valuable knowledge and handy tips to practice the technologies behind each app.
Rich learning lectures are a big plus. Many video lectures came with the practice project at all levels, which created many opportunities for me to hone my skills and improve my technique.
Since it doesn’t require any prior programming experience or knowledge of the cloud platform, I think this course is suitable for all learners.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/ibm-full-stack-cloud-developer
Pros
- Rich lecture content
- Good lesson organization
- 100% online, flexible learning time
- Enrolled, experienced instructors and advisors
Cons
- Short lesson video
2. Software Development Life Cycle Overview
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 11 lectures (1h 16m)
- Price: $19
- Provider: Udemy
Course’s Highlights
I would recommend SDLC Overview (1 Hour) for anyone looking for a good quality course.
This course covers the patterns, techniques, and essential planning involved in rapid, sustainable code generation.
It gives me information about the software development lifecycle. I think all these values are critical to the later stage of software development and planning.
I have an excellent impression of Sai Ram, the lead teacher. He is a self-taught multimedia designer and computer scientist with over eight years of experience and is very student-friendly. All his sharing has helped me to solve even the most challenging problems.
Enroll Here: https://www.udemy.com/course/sdlc-phases/
Pros
- Affordable
- Helpful examples
- Reputable, experienced teachers
- Intuitive, easy-to-understand instructions
Cons
- Few projects
3. Software Development Process
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Duration: 3 months
- Price: Free
- Provider: UDACITY
Course’s Highlights
If you’re looking for the skills you need to define or set up an IDE development environment, the Udacity Course Software is a solid choice.
This course taught me to select and implement some of the best software processes for my development projects. I know some essential unified modeling languages (UML) for designing and building Android apps.
I love Professor Orso’s fascinating examples. They are always intriguing and provide me with a lot of valuable information.
I also enjoy interviews with people in the industry, as it helps me to grasp every practical aspect of software engineering.
Notably, taking and learning this course is entirely at your own pace. Accordingly, it is suitable for anyone who has time to save but still wants to hone their skills in the software development process.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/agile-software-development-nanodegree–nd144
Pros
- Free
- Fascinating examples
- Self-paced self-study
- Rich lecture content
Cons
- Challenging to reach newbies
4. Google IT Automation with Python
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 6 months, 10 hours/week
- Price: Free
- Provider: Google
Course’s Highlights
I chose Coursera Professional Certificates Google It Automation with the need to hone my skills in Python, Git, and IT automation. These skills are necessary conditions for me to have the opportunity to advance in my career.
First, this course taught me how to code to solve problems and automate solutions with helpful examples and real projects.
Next, it taught me to program with Python and showed me how to apply the language to everyday system administration tasks.
After completing the course in 6 months, I received the certificate and quickly shared it with potential employers like Walmart, Sprint, and Google.
Note that some classes require you to install Git or set its installation administrator for your computer.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-it-automation
Pros
- Fully online learning
- Learn at your own pace
- Free 7-day course support
- Lesson videos with subtitles
- Certificates are available after the course.
Cons
- Accessibility limited
5. Software Development Lifecycle
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Duration: 4 months, 4 hours/week
- Price: Free
- Provider: University of Minnesota
Course’s Highlights
I would recommend this Software Development Lifecycle course to anyone looking for a flexible study plan. It is also for those who want to delve deeper into the context and theory of software development practice.
I love the SDLC method that this course introduced. It allows me to build high-quality software with absolute safety and find suggestions for better improvements for my project.
I appreciate the situations in the course. They have helped me solidify concepts into skills, solid techniques, and mastery of their application in practice.
Overall, this course broke my mindset that online learning is lonely, dull, and unattractive. Because studying and working with like-minded people makes me even more hopeful for my great passion.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/software-development-lifecycle
Pros
- Sign up for free
- Very flexible study time.
- Good grading exercises
- Lots of videos and practice readings
- Super friendly and enthusiastic advisors
Cons
- Little practice compared to dry theory
6. Software Project Management Training
Specifications
- Difficulty: All
- Duration: 3 days
- Price: $2,650
- Provider: Learn Tree International
Course’s Highlights
Software Project Management Training is my go-to place for software development projects based on Waterfall and Agile methods.
For just $2650, I mastered every standard management technique and learned how to deliver successful projects. I also received a certificate of completion and quickly shared it on my CV to set myself apart from other colleagues.
This course provides a very convenient online training form to meet the needs of every student, no matter where they are.
Yet, you won’t get 23 NASBA credits without taking an in-person training class. So, this course isn’t the ideal choice for those who are busy or have limited time.
Enroll Here: https://www.learningtree.com/courses/software-project-management-training
Pros
- Affordable
- Well-organized and accessible
- Provide effective learning solutions
- Modular system and easy to understand
- Training advisors available to support students
Cons
- NASBA credits only training in offline class
7. Agile Software Development
Specifications
- Difficulty: All
- Duration: 3 months; 5-10 hours/week
- Price: Free
- Provider: UDACITY
Course’s Highlights
Agile is the approach I most often use for developing software and conducting several vital projects. To exploit all the features and gain experience with this approach, I decided to take the Agile Software Development Nanodegree course.
I learned many new skills in building products that deliver continuous value to my customers. Furthermore, it taught me all the high-level aspects of agile planning, such as product vision and future direction of operations.
I love the actual project included in this course. They help me navigate career opportunities and master the technical skills in demand in today’s job market.
Last but not least, this course also allows me to adjust my study plan to suit my free time proactively.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/agile-software-development-nanodegree–nd144
Pros
- No experience required
- Join real projects
- Great technical advisor support
- Easily optimize LinkedIn profiles
- Offers unlimited access
Cons
- No detailed explanation yet for concepts and definitions
8. Fundamentals of Secure Software Development Training
Specifications
- Difficulty: All
- Duration: 2 days
- Price: $1,295
- Provider: Learn Tree International
Course’s Highlights
Secure Programming Training Developer is ideal for all needs, from proactive to coding and testing. This course covers best practices and is tailored to the high-security requirements of application layers.
Unexpectedly, the information security risks and the project flow I am working on have significantly reduced after this course. So, I take full ownership of the initiative and am always ready to build higher-quality apps.
I mean, this course doesn’t require any formal prerequisites. And it is suitable for any developer to learn software security best practices.
In short, this course teaches students how to develop software securely in all cases where the code and process go into the application.
Enroll Here: https://www.learningtree.com/courses/secure-programming-training-developer-security-training
Pros
- Flexible study time
- Easily accessible
- Good lesson organization
- Enthusiastic support and mentoring team
- Reputable and experienced instructors
Cons
- Limited hands-on projects
9. Developing Extensible Software
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes/session
- Price: $29 per month
- Provider: Pluralsight
Course’s Highlights
Pluralsight Developing Extensible Software provides a wealth of resources to launch a career in software development.
It has more than 7,000+ additional classes and has a super-wide practice library to meet every student’s need to apply knowledge effectively.
Its learning path includes an intuitive, accessible, and highly applicable lecture system. It helps me understand all the essential information on design, application development, and diversified types of training and consulting.
Also, this course taught me how to build my project from the blocks and basic information available. It showed me the skills to make my apps more maintainable even as they constantly update and evolve.
Enroll Here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/developing-extensible-software
Pros
- Support service
- Reasonable prices
- Lots of resources and rich libraries
- The intuitive and easy-to-understand lecture system
Cons
- Long learning time
10. DevOps and Software Engineering
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 14 months, 3 hours/week
- Price: Free
- Provider: IBM
Course’s Highlights
DevOps And Software Engineering promises to equip every student with technical concepts and know-how to build skills and hone their knowledge of software engineering.
This course introduced me to several DevOps tools for skill set development, such as Agile, Scrum Methodology, and Zero Downtime Deployments.
I’ve learned to program with Python and Linux shell scripts and orchestrate my applications using Docker. Notably, the technical support team closely monitors and ensures my code safety and fixes any deployment issues in the cloud.
I appreciate the lab and hands-on projects in this course. They equip me with practical skills, so I’m always ready to launch my new, higher-demand career.
In short, this course is suitable for anyone with no programming experience to those without a college degree.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/devops-and-software-engineering
Pros
- Rich hands-on projects
- Consistently structured lecture modules
- No experience or prior qualifications required
- Excellent technical support and mentoring staff
Cons
- Study time lacks flexibility
Learning Guides
Joining a software development course is a wise choice because it is essential to a stable career and a high salary. So what are the criteria and factors to consider before choosing? Continue reading to understand!
Cost
Learning and improving your skills in software development can cost you a significant deal upfront. The good news is that there are plenty of mid-priced and free options. In addition, some training courses also offer excellent financial aid policies and scholarship proposals for students.
In short, I recommend you carefully examine the course fees payable and consider the available financial possibilities to make the best choice.
Resources
Beginners’ courses provide material that covers basic principles and theory. The question is, are these courses suitable for someone who already understands the knowledge? The truth is no, they are costly and waste your time.
Therefore, it is better to research the course’s source material and training level before making a final decision.
Learning Tools
Most of the best software development courses require you to prepare the necessary learning tools, such as GitHub and Bash.
It’s worth mentioning that some studies have these tools available for you to use.
FAQs
Is Python enough to get a job?
Understanding Python’s fundamental principles and syntax are not enough to land you a good job. In addition to that knowledge, you need to equip your technical expertise and know how to apply this language to real projects.
Which programming language is the hardest?
One of the difficult programming languages to mention is C++. However, it’s also the fastest, most powerful, and best-performing language on any platform.
Do certifications increase salary?
The short answer is yes. Certifications are the most effective solution to increase wages and expand career possibilities for anyone.
How complex is coding?
After doing some research and market research, I realized that programming tends to be at the forefront of the most challenging industries to master.
It has a form of education far from the traditional paper and requires many skills related to software engineering.
Does coding need math?
The short answer is yes. However, you don’t necessarily have to possess advanced or extensive math skills for every coding job.
Final Thoughts
Mastering software development skills are ideal for helping you improve your working skills and have more job opportunities. If you’re a newbie and hesitating between courses, I’d recommend choosing DevOps and Software Engineering.
Thank you for reading!