Software Development

Learn more about the skills and certifications you need for a career as software or DevOps engineer, mainframe developer, QA tester, and more.

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[Featured Image] A woman works at a desktop computer in an office.

Java vs. C++ Comparison: What Are the Differences in These Programming Languages?

Are you interested in becoming a developer? If you want to create computer software, produce apps, or develop the next popular video game, you will need to write code. Read on to explore if you should learn Java or C++.

March 31, 2022

Article

[Feature Image] A person works at a desktop computer on the front end and back end of a website.

Front-End vs. Back-End Developer: Understanding the Differences

There are three primary types of software development: front-end, back-end, and full-stack. Compare and contrast them in this guide.

March 30, 2022

Article

[Featured image] An aspiring software developer takes a programming class in a computer lab.

7 Tips for Sharpening Software Developer Skills

Discover seven opportunities to hone your software development skills and tips for how to get started.

March 30, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A woman works at a desktop computer in an office.

Java vs. C++ Comparison: What Are the Differences in These Programming Languages?

Are you interested in becoming a developer? If you want to create computer software, produce apps, or develop the next popular video game, you will need to write code. Read on to explore if you should learn Java or C++.

March 31, 2022

Article

[Feature Image] A person works at a desktop computer on the front end and back end of a website.

Front-End vs. Back-End Developer: Understanding the Differences

There are three primary types of software development: front-end, back-end, and full-stack. Compare and contrast them in this guide.

March 30, 2022

Article

Explore popular software development courses

Status: AI skills

IBM

Skills you'll gain: Istio, Node.JS, Software Development Life Cycle, Unit Testing, Object-Relational Mapping, Cloud Computing Architecture, Server Side, Application Deployment, React Redux, Kubernetes, Cloud Services, OpenShift, Git (Version Control System), Cloud Applications, Full-Stack Web Development, HTML and CSS, Cloud Computing, Jupyter, Generative AI, Interviewing Skills

Build toward a degree

4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
54K reviews

Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

IBM

Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Development Environment, Software Engineering, Software Architecture, Software Design, Programming Principles, Unified Modeling Language, Agile Methodology, Software Development, Scrum (Software Development), Web Development, Cloud Development, Integrated Development Environments, Application Development, Back-End Web Development, Front-End Web Development, Computer Programming, Python Programming

4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.1K reviews

Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Microsoft

Skills you'll gain: Database Management, C# (Programming Language), Azure DevOps, SQL, CI/CD, ASP.NET, Load Balancing, Relational Databases, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Application Deployment, Scalability, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Databases, Authentications, Debugging, .NET Framework, Graph Theory, Back-End Web Development, Data Structures, Algorithms

4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
85 reviews

Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

[Featured image] A Javascript developer writes code at their computer.

Java vs. JavaScript: What's the Difference?

It’s important to know the difference between Java and JavaScript, two popular programming languages. Read on to explore the differences, uses, and pros and cons of both.

March 30, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A back-end developer in a blue shirt and blazer works on a laptop in an open office space.

What Does a Back-End Developer Do?

A back-end developer writes code that forms the backbone of a website or app. Learn more about this career and how you can get started.

March 23, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A computer science student in a yellow turtleneck reviews data on two computer monitors.

Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering: How the Jobs Differ

Explore the similarities and differences between the skills, jobs, and salaries of computer science and computer engineering.

March 14, 2022

Article

[Feature Image] An aspiring Python developer works on Python application development with another learner.

Python Developer: What They Can Do, Earn, and More

As a Python developer, you can do everything from web or game development to quantitative analysis or creating new programming languages. Learn more about this career.

March 10, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A full-stack engineer sits at a desk, working on a laptop.

What Is a Full-Stack Engineer? Job Description

Explore the duties of a full-stack engineer, from software development to team leadership. Plus, learn what skills full-stack engineers need, some of the challenges they may face, and how to get started.

March 9, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A programmer analyst works at their computer workstation in an office.

What Does a Programmer Analyst Do?

If you have a passion for technology and enjoy learning new things, working as a programmer analyst may be a good fit for you.

March 9, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A woman applying for a back-end developer job shakes hands with a hiring manager standing next to a desk in a brightly lit office.

4 Common Back-End Developer Interview Questions

Plan ahead and be prepared with this back-end developer interview question guide.

January 21, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A DevOps engineer types on her computer and looks at her dual monitors as she updates software coding.

What Does a DevOps Engineer Do? A Career Guide

A DevOps engineer is responsible for optimizing an organization's software, including software maintenance and server administration. Learn how to get the skills you need to be a DevOps engineer.

December 15, 2021

Article

[Featured image] A full-stack developer wearing a blue and red-striped sweater sits at a wooden desk in a home office working on a desktop computer.

What Is a Full-Stack Developer?

A full-stack developer helps build and maintain both the front-end and the back-end of a website. Learn about full-stack developer skills, salary, and how you can become one.

December 9, 2021

Article

[Featured image] An aspiring software developer takes a programming class in a computer lab.

7 Tips for Sharpening Software Developer Skills

Discover seven opportunities to hone your software development skills and tips for how to get started.

March 30, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A Javascript developer writes code at their computer.

Java vs. JavaScript: What's the Difference?

It’s important to know the difference between Java and JavaScript, two popular programming languages. Read on to explore the differences, uses, and pros and cons of both.

March 30, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A back-end developer in a blue shirt and blazer works on a laptop in an open office space.

What Does a Back-End Developer Do?

A back-end developer writes code that forms the backbone of a website or app. Learn more about this career and how you can get started.

March 23, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A computer science student in a yellow turtleneck reviews data on two computer monitors.

Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering: How the Jobs Differ

Explore the similarities and differences between the skills, jobs, and salaries of computer science and computer engineering.

March 14, 2022

Article

[Feature Image] An aspiring Python developer works on Python application development with another learner.

Python Developer: What They Can Do, Earn, and More

As a Python developer, you can do everything from web or game development to quantitative analysis or creating new programming languages. Learn more about this career.

March 10, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A full-stack engineer sits at a desk, working on a laptop.

What Is a Full-Stack Engineer? Job Description

Explore the duties of a full-stack engineer, from software development to team leadership. Plus, learn what skills full-stack engineers need, some of the challenges they may face, and how to get started.

March 9, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A programmer analyst works at their computer workstation in an office.

What Does a Programmer Analyst Do?

If you have a passion for technology and enjoy learning new things, working as a programmer analyst may be a good fit for you.

March 9, 2022

Article

[Featured image] A woman applying for a back-end developer job shakes hands with a hiring manager standing next to a desk in a brightly lit office.

4 Common Back-End Developer Interview Questions

Plan ahead and be prepared with this back-end developer interview question guide.

January 21, 2022

Article

[Featured Image] A DevOps engineer types on her computer and looks at her dual monitors as she updates software coding.

What Does a DevOps Engineer Do? A Career Guide

A DevOps engineer is responsible for optimizing an organization's software, including software maintenance and server administration. Learn how to get the skills you need to be a DevOps engineer.

December 15, 2021

Article

[Featured image] A full-stack developer wearing a blue and red-striped sweater sits at a wooden desk in a home office working on a desktop computer.

What Is a Full-Stack Developer?

A full-stack developer helps build and maintain both the front-end and the back-end of a website. Learn about full-stack developer skills, salary, and how you can become one.

December 9, 2021

Article

Software development covers a wide variety of skills and careers, from programming to quality assurance to DevOps. With so many options and opportunities available, it can be tricky to know where to start. On Coursera, you'll find expert resources to support your goals, whether you're just starting out or are ready to take the next step in your career. Explore software development topics, including:

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)