Are you confused about the difference between web development and software development? Though the terms are often used interchangeably, they’re two distinct career paths that require different skills and aptitudes. Let’s take a closer look at each of these two fields and examine their similarities and differences to see which might be the best career choice for you.
Software Development
The primary role of a Software Developer is to create and improve software programs for use on desktops and mobile devices. To accomplish this, Software Developers typically research, conceptualize, develop, and implement new software solutions, write and test code, and evaluate and update already-existing software products.
Other job responsibilities for Software Developers include:
- Consulting with project managers or clients to determine their software needs
- Developing a plan to produce software solutions that meet the client’s specifications
- Submitting reports to provide updates on the project’s progress
- Overseeing the project, testing the end product to make sure it works as intended, and ensuring that the software meets all the predetermined requirements
- Creating operational manuals to make it easier for users to learn the software
- Generating technical documentation and systems specifications
- Assessing new and existing software programs, Identifying weaknesses, recommending improvements, then implementing them
- Performing maintenance on existing software programs
Though Software Developers are often confused with Software Engineers, they are not the same; Software Developers create programs for desktop and mobile computing while Software Engineers work on a larger scale, applying engineering principles to create operating systems, games, robots, and network systems in addition to desktop, mobile, and web applications.
Skills Needed for Software Development
Software Developers need a combination of technical and non-technical skills in order to succeed. Some of the most common skills required for software development positions include:
- An understanding of modern software architecture, data structures, and algorithms
- The ability to write, test, and debug code in multiple languages such as Java, C++, Python, and JavaScript
- The ability to research, develop, and execute software solutions that meet the client’s needs
- The ability to assess existing software, detect weaknesses, recommend changes, and implement upgrades
- Strong critical thinking, time management, and problem-solving skills plus an attention to detail
- The ability to communicate clearly, work with a team, and remain adaptable
- An understanding of the latest software trends and how to implement them in a commercial environment
Keep in mind that the skills you’ll need to succeed could vary from position to position; those listed above are just a few of the basic skills required to work in software development.
Web Development
Web development involves using code to create and maintain the core structure of a website. The role of a Web Developer is to build a website that’s functional, responsive, and user-friendly based on ideas and concepts generated by the Web Designer. Web Developers also are responsible for conducting quality assurance testing on their code to detect and eliminate any bugs.
The field of web development falls into three categories: front end, back end, and full stack. Front end web development focuses on the client-side of the website—everything that the user can see and interact with. Back end development deals with everything that goes on behind the scenes that supports the front end such as servers, databases, and applications. Full stack development is a combination of both front end and back end development, incorporating elements of each one.
The job duties of a Web Developer will vary depending upon their specialty, but here are some of the most common responsibilities:
- Working with stakeholders to determine the purpose of the website and how it should look
- Creating and maintaining servers, databases, APIs (application programming interfaces), and overall website architecture
- Developing website design on the front end
- Coding the front and back ends of the website and debugging any errors that may arise
- Utilizing user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles
- Creating and maintaining user interfaces and navigation menus plus modifying them when necessary
- Incorporating multimedia content such as graphics, audio, video, etc. onto websites
- Ensuring that websites can be accessed on a variety of platforms and devices including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones
- Implementing protocols to secure data
- Testing websites for speed, performance, usability, etc. and making changes to optimize performance
- Writing technical documentation for the site
- Providing website maintenance and making enhancements when required
This isn’t a comprehensive list; it just reflects some of the most commonly assigned tasks. When working as a Web Developer, you may be asked to take on additional responsibilities based on your role plus the needs of the stakeholder, project, and employer.
Skills Needed for Web Development
Web development skills do vary between the different specialties, but any prospective Web Developer should have or acquire the skills listed below:
- An aptitude for writing high-quality code using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- The ability to test code, detect errors, resolve issues, and track changes made to the code
- A working knowledge of web development tools such as libraries, frameworks, content management systems (CMS), bug tracking tools, and code versioning software
- A high level of computer literacy, analytical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills
- A general understanding of user experience (UX) principles and SEO (search engine optimization) best practices
- Insight into how databases, hosting environments, APIs (application programming interfaces), operating systems, and servers function
Additional, less technical skills such as effective communication and the ability to collaborate with others will also come in handy while working as a Web Developer. People in this profession should also be able to manage their time wisely, distinguish between essential and nonessential tasks, and remain organized while working on multiple projects.
Job Outlook for Web Development and Software Development
Now is a great time to start a new career in web development or software development; both industries are experiencing tremendous growth and are in dire need of new recruits to help fill open positions. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 17,900 web development jobs opening up every year from now until 2030, which equals a 13% job growth rate; that’s significantly higher than the average growth for all occupations, which is predicted to be 8% over the next decade. The job outlook for software development is even better: its growth rate is projected to be 22%, which is the equivalent of 189,200 jobs becoming available each year.
Salaries for those working in web development and software development can vary based on location, experience, and area of expertise, but they do tend to be lucrative career choices overall. The average annual salary for Front End, Back End, and Full Stack Developers in the United States tends to range between $100,000 to $115,000. Software Developers earn a similar wage, with the national average coming in at over $116,000 per year.
How are Web Development and Software Development Different?
Many people make the mistake of using the terms “web development” and “software development” interchangeably. While Web Developers and Software Developers both work with computers, know how to code, and plan then implement projects to meet their clients’ needs, their jobs are not the same. The key difference is in the scope of their work.
Software development tends to be much broader in scope compared to web development. Software Developers are typically responsible for developing a variety of software to be used on either desktop computers or mobile devices. Web development, on the other hand, is solely focused on designing and creating websites.
Web Development v. Software Development: Which Career is Right for You?
Web development and software development might share a lot of common ground, but they are two distinct career paths that appeal to people with differing interests and strengths. Software development tends to require more technical skills than web development, making it a good career choice for those with above-average programming, mathematics, and analytical thinking skills. The bar isn’t set quite so high for Web Developers; the only things they need to succeed are computer literacy, moderate programming skills, and an understanding of user experience (UX) principles.
If you’re not sure which career path would suit you best, ask yourself these three questions:
- Do I enjoy technical challenges?
- Am I interested in learning Java, C++, Python, and JavaScript?
- Do I want to create a variety of software for desktop computers and mobile devices?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, you’d likely be a good fit for software development. If you answered “no,” let’s see if web development is a better choice by answering the following:
- Do I enjoy work that’s both technical and creative?
- Do I want to improve how users experience a website?
- Am I interested in creating websites that are beautiful, functional, and dynamic?
Answering “yes” to these questions indicates that a career in web development would be the best option for you.
How to Start a Career in Web Development or Software Development
The best way to start a career in web development or software development is to enroll in bootcamp. Often viewed as a viable alternative to university education, these skills-focused programs operate on an intensive, abbreviated schedule to get you career-ready in just a few months. That’s especially good news when you consider how many open positions there are in both fields; you can start to earn back your financial investment shortly after graduation.
Noble Desktop offers live online web development bootcamps that are suitable for those interested in software and web development. They provide a variety of web development bootcamps including a 96-hour front end web development bootcamp, a 210-hour full stack web development bootcamp, and a 300-hour software engineering bootcamp.
If you’re not quite ready for a full bootcamp, you could start on your new career path by enrolling in individual web development classes. Noble Desktop has a wide array of software and web development classes available live online covering languages and tools such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Node.js, Django, Git, VS Code, React, and more.