Like any engineering-based industry, the world of software development is complex and intricate. It takes a vast knowledge base and ability to adapt and learn on the job in order to become successful in this line of work.
If you are someone who is hoping to gain just a brief overview of software development concepts, here is a short guide to some of the more common concepts that programers deal with on a regular basis.
Application Programing Interface
Application programing interface, which is commonly referred to as API, is a concept that is implemented by most major companies for both internal use among employees, and externally for customers. Although it is a common tool, API is not necessarily the easiest concept to understand.
Essentially, API has to do with the way that different servers on the web communicate with one another. So, making sure that a company’s API is working properly ensures that messages that are sent between servers are directed and received correctly. (That is just a very basic description of APIs; for more detail see this explanation from freeCodeCamp.) In order to make sure that everything is functioning correctly, API testing is highly recommended.
What is API Testing? Basically, it is a testing service that checks on the functionality, performance, and security of an API.
Web Security
The concept of security is becoming more and more significant in the world of software development as the world’s dependency on computers continues to grow. Furthermore, with computer hacking techniques becoming more sophisticated, cybersecurity must, in turn, grow and expand as well.
Software developers who work in security will typically focus on authentication processes as well as network protection. It is also an area that requires a penchant for problem solving, as an engineer must be able to look at and solve any current or potential security issues within a particular system.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is another concept that is growing in both usage and popularity. Using a cloud to store information remotely—as opposed to doing so on a personal computer or server—makes more sense for most businesses these days.
Aside from the convenience of being able to access information from anywhere that a secure connection can be established, the ability to control and monitor such data is a benefit that is too appealing for most companies to pass up. With so many companies implementing cloud computing, the market itself has seen incredible financial growth over the last decade.
Caching
The concept of caching is so common that, in fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a modern web system that runs without a cache.
According to Leo A. Notenboom, “the browser cache… [is] nothing more than a place on your hard disk where the browser keeps things it downloaded once in case they’re needed again.”
The benefits here are generally related to an increase in speed while browsing. Software developers implement cache systems in order to allow for a faster browsing experience for users.
