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Career Details

15-1252.00 - Software Developers


Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
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Forecasted Employment
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Change in Employment
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Change in Employment %
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Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Generic
  • Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
  • Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  • Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.
  • Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
  • Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.
  • Coordinate installation of software system.
  • Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
  • Determine system performance standards.
  • Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
  • Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
  • Obtain and evaluate information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, or security needs to determine hardware configuration.
  • Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
  • Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.
  • Specify power supply requirements and configuration.
  • Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
  • Supervise and assign work to programmers, designers, technologists, technicians, or other engineering or scientific personnel.
  • Supervise the work of programmers, technologists and technicians and other engineering and scientific personnel.
  • Train users to use new or modified equipment.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
No specific knowledge is listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computers
  • Application servers
  • Computer servers
  • Desktop computers
  • Directory servers
  • Mainframe computers
  • Notebook computers
 Cameras
  • Digital cameras
 System boards processors interfaces or modules
  • Graphics processing unit GPU
  • Multi-core central processing unit CPU
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content authoring and editing software
  • 3M Post-it App
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffectsHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative CloudHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • Adobe Systems Adobe IllustratorHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Evernote
  • Flipgrid
  • GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP
  • Google DocsHOT
  • Google Sheets
  • Google Sites
  • Google Slides
  • JamBoard
  • LinkedInHOT
  • Loom
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft OneNote
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Open Graphics Library OpenGL
  • Screencastify
  • SmugMug FlickrHOT
  • Social media sitesHOT
  • Trimble SketchUp ProHOT
  • YouTubeHOT
 Development software
  • A programming language APL
  • ABC Compiler
  • ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ
  • Ada
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flex
  • Advanced business application programming ABAPHOT
  • AJAXHOT
  • Algorithmic language ALGOL
  • Allaire ColdFusion
  • American National Standards Institute ANSI C
  • Apache AntHOT
  • Apache GroovyHOT
  • Apache KafkaHOT
  • Apache Maven
  • Apache SparkHOT
  • Apache StrutsHOT
  • Apache TomcatHOT
  • Assembler
  • Atlassian BambooHOT
  • Automated installation software
  • AWK
  • B-Method
  • Backbone.jsHOT
  • Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code BASIC
  • Bigloo Scheme
  • C
  • C#HOT
  • C++HOT
  • Call-processing language CPL
  • Cascading Style Sheets CSSHOT
  • Chef
  • Collaborative Application Markup Language CAML
  • Common business oriented language COBOLHOT
  • Common Lisp Object System CLOS
  • Component object model COM software
  • Component-based Scalable Logical Architecture CSLA
  • Computer On-line Real-time Applications Language CORAL 66
  • Configuration management software
  • Defect tracking software
  • Deployment software
  • Distributed component object model DCOM software
  • DjangoHOT
  • Document Object Model DOM Scripting
  • DrupalHOT
  • Dynamic analysis software
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • E++ pattern language
  • Eclipse IDEHOT
  • Eiffel
  • Embarcadero Delphi
  • Embarcadero JBuilder
  • Embedded systems development software
  • Enterprise application integration EAI software
  • Enterprise JavaBeans
  • Event-driven State-machines Programming
  • EXT js
  • Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • Extensible stylesheet language transformations XSLT
  • Fault testing software
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Forth
  • Functional testing software
  • Gambit Scheme
  • GoHOT
  • Google AngularJSHOT
  • Graphical user interface GUI builder software
  • Graphical user interface GUI design software
  • Haskell
  • Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • IBM InfoSphere DataStage
  • IBM Rational ClearCase
  • IBM Rational ClearQuest
  • IBM Rational PurifyPlus
  • IBM Rational Requisite Pro
  • IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer
  • IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer D93
  • IBM WebSphereHOT
  • ICON programming language
  • Integrated development environment IDE softwareHOT
  • Integration testing software
  • Interface definition language IDL
  • Interoperability testing software
  • Interstate connection ICON
  • J
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSONHOT
  • jQueryHOT
  • JUnitHOT
  • Jupyter Notebook
  • LAMP Stack
  • List processing language LISP
  • Load testing software
  • Microsoft .NET FrameworkHOT
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHOT
  • Microsoft ActiveX
  • Microsoft ASP.NETHOT
  • Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVCHOT
  • Microsoft AzureHOT
  • Microsoft ESP SDK
  • Microsoft PowerShellHOT
  • Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSISHOT
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScriptHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic.NET
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  • Microsoft Visual StudioHOT
  • Migration testing software
  • Modula
  • MUMPS M
  • Mutation testing software
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • Node.jsHOT
  • Oberon
  • Objective CHOT
  • Objective Caml
  • Oracle Fusion MiddlewareHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSPHOT
  • Pascal
  • Patch management software
  • Perforce Helix software
  • PHP: Hypertext PreprocessorHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • Programming language one PL/I
  • Prolog
  • PuppetHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
  • ReactHOT
  • Recovery testing software
  • Red Hat Ansible Engine
  • Regression testing software
  • Requirements management software
  • Restructured extended executor REXX
  • RubyHOT
  • Ruby on RailsHOT
  • Salesforce VisualforceHOT
  • SAP Netweaver
  • SAP PowerBuilder
  • ScalaHOT
  • Scheme programming language
  • Security testing software
  • SeleniumHOT
  • Self
  • Simple API for XML SAX
  • Smalltalk
  • Source code editor software
  • Spring FrameworkHOT
  • Static analysis software
  • Stress testing software
  • String oriented symbolic language SNOBOL
  • Sun Microsystems Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EE
  • SwiftHOT
  • Symantec Visual Cafe
  • System testing software
  • Test design software
  • Test implementation software
  • Unified modeling language UMLHOT
  • Unit testing software
  • Usability testing software
  • Verilog
  • Visible Razor
  • VMWareHOT
  • Web service definition language WDSL
  • Xcode
  • XML Path Language XPATH
 Data management and query software
  • ADO.NET
  • Airtable
  • Amazon DynamoDBHOT
  • Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2HOT
  • Amazon Kinesis
  • Amazon RedshiftHOT
  • Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHOT
  • Apache Avro
  • Apache CassandraHOT
  • Apache Flume
  • Apache HadoopHOT
  • Apache Hbase
  • Apache HiveHOT
  • Apache HTTP ServerHOT
  • Apache Oozie
  • Apache PigHOT
  • Apache SolrHOT
  • Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
  • Blackboard software
  • CA Erwin Data Modeler
  • Computer Associates integrated data management system CA-IDMS
  • Customer information control system CICS
  • Data definition language DDL
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Data manipulation language DML
  • DataVision
  • Distributed database management software
  • ElasticsearchHOT
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Google AnalyticsHOT
  • Hibernate ORM
  • IBM Cognos ImpromptuHOT
  • IBM DB2
  • IBM Middleware
  • IEA Software Emerald
  • LexisNexis
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft Internet Information Service IIS
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • Microsoft SQL Server Reporting ServicesHOT
  • Microsoft transact-structural query language T-SQL
  • MicroStrategyHOT
  • MongoDBHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • NoSQLHOT
  • Object Management Group Object Request Broker
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise EditionHOT
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Suite
  • Oracle DBMS
  • Oracle Eloqua
  • Oracle JDBCHOT
  • Oracle PL/SQLHOT
  • Oracle Reports
  • Oracle softwareHOT
  • PostgreSQLHOT
  • Qlik Tech QlikViewHOT
  • Relational database management softwareHOT
  • Salesforce softwareHOT
  • SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise
  • SAP Business Intelligence
  • SAP Crystal ReportsHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
  • Structured Query Report SQR
  • TableauHOT
  • Talend Big Data Integration
  • Talend Data Fabric
  • Teradata DatabaseHOT
  • Transact-SQLHOT
  • Web server software
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
  • Apache Subversion SVNHOT
  • Atlassian JIRAHOT
  • Document management system software
  • Dropbox
  • Emerald Software Group Emerald Green Office
  • GitHOT
  • Version control software
 Networking software
  • Amazon Simple Storage Service S3HOT
  • Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormationHOT
  • CitrixHOT
  • IBM Domino
  • Migration software
  • PuTTY
  • Storage area network SAN software
 Business function specific software
  • Ansible softwareHOT
  • ConfluenceHOT
  • Google DriveHOT
  • LibreOffice
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
  • Slack
 Operating environment software
  • Apple macOSHOT
  • BashHOT
  • Cisco Systems IOS
  • Disk operating system DOS
  • File server software
  • Hewlett Packard HP-UX
  • IBM AIX
  • IBM z/OS operating systems
  • Job control language JCL
  • KornShell
  • LinuxHOT
  • Magellan Firmware
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
  • Microsoft Windows ServerHOT
  • Operating system shells
  • Oracle SolarisHOT
  • QNX
  • Real time operating system RTOS software
  • Red Hat Enterprise LinuxHOT
  • Shell scriptHOT
  • Ubuntu
  • UNIXHOT
  • UNIX ShellHOT
  • Win CE
  • Wind River VxWorks
 Utility and device driver software
  • Backup and archival software
  • Microsoft DirectX
  • Veritas NetBackup
 Information exchange software
  • Blink
  • Cisco Systems Webex
  • FaceTime
  • Google Gmail
  • Google Meet
  • GroupMe
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • LogMeIn GoToMeeting
  • LogMeIn GoToWebinar
  • Microsoft ExchangeHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
  • Zoom
 Industry specific software
  • Data analysis software
  • Dynamic modeling software
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • MinitabHOT
  • SASHOT
  • Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE
  • StataCorp Stata
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • The MathWorks Simulink
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Delphi Technology
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareHOT
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • Microsoft Dynamics GPHOT
  • NetSuite ERPHOT
  • Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
  • Oracle Fusion ApplicationsHOT
  • Oracle HyperionHOT
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneHOT
  • Oracle PeopleSoftHOT
  • Oracle PeopleSoft FinancialsHOT
  • SAPHOT
  • SAP Business ObjectsHOT
 Network applications software
  • DockerHOT
  • GitHubHOT
  • Oracle Application Server
  • Oracle WebLogic ServerHOT
  • Red Hat OpenShiftHOT
  • Red Hat WildFlyHOT
  • Skype
  • Spring BootHOT
 Security and protection software
  • Encryption software
  • McAfee
  • SymantecHOT
  • Virtual private networking VPN softwareHOT
 System management software
  • IBM Power Systems software
  • Splunk EnterpriseHOT
 Network management software
  • NagiosHOT
  • Software distribution management software
  • Voice over internet protocol VoiP system softwareHOT
  • WiresharkHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

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INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Brightpoint Community College
Central Virginia Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
New River Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Paul D. Camp Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College