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Are you ready to make your mark in the world of tech? Join us as we explore the key roles in software development. This microcourse was created with the help of ChatGPT and Synthesia. As AI becomes increasingly popular, there's a growing interest in using large language models to aid in content creation and AI avatars as virtual instructors. At Treehouse, we’re embracing the opportunity to bring the latest AI advancements to our students, and we'll continue exploring the possibilities in future content, offering our students a front-row seat to these incredible technologies. Let us know what you think at feedback@teamtreehouse.com!
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Sign upAre you ready to make your mark in the world of tech? 0:00 Join us as we explore the key roles in software development. 0:03 You just may find the perfect fit on a software team. 0:07 Hello, I'm Kira. 0:12 In this Treehouse microcourse, we'll give you an in-depth look at the dynamic 0:14 roles that make up a successful software team. 0:19 You'll learn the tasks performed in each role, the skills needed, and 0:22 the characteristics of people that thrive in these positions. 0:26 As you'll find out, you don't have to know a programming language to work in tech. 0:30 Whether you're an analytical problem solver, a creative thinker, 0:35 or a little of both, there's a place for you on a software team. 0:40 There are many dynamic roles on a software team, both technical and 0:44 non technical, and each with its own responsibilities and skill sets. 0:48 Here are the eight roles we'll explore. 0:53 Project manager, user experience designer, 0:55 business analyst, product owner, 1:00 software developer, quality assurance engineer, 1:04 DevOps engineer, and technical writer. 1:10 Every team is unique, and the specific roles on software teams can vary greatly. 1:15 Not every team is made up of the exact roles, we'll learn about in this video. 1:20 Some roles can overlap and job titles may differ from company to company. 1:25 Team members may even take on multiple roles depending on the nature of 1:30 the project or the expertise of the individuals on a team. 1:35 Before we dive in, it's worth noting that though these roles are each distinctive, 1:39 they all share something in common. 1:44 They all require effective collaboration between team members, 1:46 a crucial skill on any software team. 1:50 Learning good collaboration skills is the starting point for 1:52 any of the roles we're about to look at. 1:56 So with that, let's get started. 1:58 Think of a project manager like the captain of a team, 2:02 providing direction, motivation, and guidance on a project. 2:06 They oversee the entire software development project from initial planning 2:10 to final delivery to ensure the project is completed on time and on budget. 2:15 A successful project manager is organized, has a detail-oriented mindset, 2:20 is adaptable in the face of changing priorities, 2:26 can communicate across all levels, and motivates their team to rally. 2:30 They are skilled in project management methodologies, communication, 2:36 negotiation, and problem solving. 2:40 The key tasks in the project manager role are, plan and 2:44 manage project timelines, assign tasks and monitor progress. 2:49 Identify and mitigate risks that can impede progress on a project. 2:55 Ensure the project meets its deadlines, which may be rigorous. 2:59 And communicate status to stakeholders regularly. 3:04 If you aren't sure what a stakeholder is, a stakeholder is any person or 3:10 group who has an interest in or can influence a project. 3:15 Stakeholders may be external, for example, customers, users, or vendors. 3:19 Or they may be internal, such as managers, executives, or other employees. 3:26 Next up on our list, user experience designer. 3:33 User experience or UX designer serves as an advocate for the needs of the end 3:39 users, designing the overall user experience of the software system. 3:44 They are responsible for creating user personas, 3:49 designing wireframes, conducting usability testing. 3:52 And ensuring that the software solution is intuitive, user-friendly, and 3:56 meets the needs of the end-users. 4:00 Successful UX designers are empathetic to users' needs. 4:02 Innately curious about human behavior. 4:07 Design minded and thoughtful in their approach to providing 4:10 meaningful experiences to users, and are meticulous in their work. 4:15 The key tasks in the UX designer role are, conduct user research and 4:20 analysis, test and iterate designs with users. 4:25 Create user personas and scenarios. 4:30 Design prototypes and wireframes. 4:33 And act as an advocate for the needs of the end-users. 4:36 Having a strong portfolio is key to landing a UX job. 4:40 Your portfolio should showcase your best work and 4:44 include case studies demonstrating your design process and problem-solving skills. 4:47 In case you're interested, a wireframe is a diagram that represents the user 4:53 interface and core functionality of a digital application. 4:57 Wireframing is one of the most important steps for a UX designer, 5:01 allowing them to visualize the blueprint of a website or app. 5:05 Next up is my personal favorite. 5:09 Business analyst, 5:12 a business analyst is a translator ensuring everyone is on the same page, 5:14 and that the software solution aligns with the business objectives. 5:19 They act as a bridge between business stakeholders and the technical team. 5:24 Translating business needs into written requirements that the technical team uses 5:28 to build software features. 5:33 A successful business analyst has an analytical mind for 5:34 complex problem solving. 5:38 They're curious by nature and flexible to changing priorities, 5:40 possessing exceptional verbal and written communication skills, 5:44 as well as the ability to negotiate effectively. 5:48 A basic understanding of technology and 5:51 software development is a bonus in this role. 5:53 In order to communicate with developers and 5:56 understand technical limitations and possibilities. 5:59 The key tasks in the business analyst role are, gather requirements 6:03 from stakeholders, analyze data in order to identify solutions. 6:08 Translate business needs into user stories. 6:13 Ensure that the software solution meets the objectives of the business. 6:17 And work closely with developers and testers at all stages of a project. 6:21 A user story is a description of a feature or functionality of a software 6:27 application written from the perspective of the user or 6:31 customer who will be using the software. 6:35 Writing user stories is often a responsibility that falls on the business 6:37 analyst, though a product owner may write them depending on the team structure. 6:42 Now, let's look at the product owner role. 6:46 A product owner is like a gatekeeper for the product, defining and 6:50 prioritizing each feature of the software. 6:54 A product owner represents the needs of the stakeholders, ensuring the software 6:57 solution built by the dev team is aligned with business requirements. 7:02 A successful project manager is a visionary who keeps the big picture always 7:06 in focus. 7:11 They are agile if they need to pivot quickly. 7:11 Empathetic in understanding user's needs, decisive in making 7:15 tough calls confidently, and possess a strong business mind. 7:20 They must have a deep understanding of the business and users' needs, 7:25 as well as the ability to communicate those needs effectively to the tech team. 7:29 The key tasks in the product owner role are, collaborate with users and 7:34 stakeholders in order to define the product vision and strategy. 7:39 Ensure that the product being designed and built meets the stakeholder's needs, 7:44 make decisions based on data, and prioritize and manage the product backlog. 7:50 By the way, a backlog is a list of tasks or 7:57 features that must be completed for a given project. 8:00 Next, we'll learn about the role of software developer. 8:04 Sometimes called software engineers, 8:10 software developers are the coders on a development team, writing code, and 8:12 building software applications that meet the requirements of a project. 8:17 They must have working knowledge of the programming languages being used and 8:21 of software development best practices. 8:26 A software developer is a logical and analytical problem solver, is 8:28 detail-oriented and precise in execution, is committed to being a lifelong learner. 8:33 They have a passion for coding. 8:39 As well as proficiency in multiple programming languages. 8:42 Software developers typically know several programming languages, 8:46 as the choice of language depends on the specific task and project requirements. 8:50 Some of the most commonly used programming languages by software 8:55 developers include, JavaScript, Python, HTML, and SQL. 9:00 The key tasks in the software developer role are, analyze requirements for 9:04 the product that needs to be built, design and 9:09 develop features that make up the software system. 9:12 For example, the architecture, interfaces, algorithms and data structures. 9:15 Write and debug code in order to create functional software, 9:21 perform code maintenance, which involves identifying and fixing bugs, 9:25 adding new features and optimizing performance. 9:30 Finally, because the software development industry is constantly evolving, 9:34 developers must continuously learn and adapt to new tools and frameworks. 9:39 If you're confused as to why I keep talking about bugs, that's okay. 9:44 In the world of programming, a bug isn't actually an insect. 9:50 A bug refers to an error or 9:55 defect in a software program's source code that results in unexpected behavior. 9:56 When there's a bug in software, 10:01 it means that something's not working the way it's supposed to. 10:03 Next, we'll learn about QA engineers. 10:07 They're the ones whose job it is to find bugs and fix them. 10:11 Think of a QA engineer as a detective, 10:17 tenaciously testing the software to make sure it works as expected. 10:19 A successful QA engineer has sharp eye for detail and 10:24 can identify even the smallest of defects or issues in software. 10:27 They are critical thinkers and problem solvers, 10:31 doggedly persistent when it comes to seeking out defects in the product, 10:35 and they have an inquisitive nature with a passion for testing. 10:39 QA engineers are responsible for creating and executing test plans. 10:44 So they must have expertise in testing methodologies, knowledge of the software 10:48 development life cycle, and of the software product and its features. 10:53 The key tasks in the QA engineer role are, develop test plans and strategies. 10:58 Execute and automate test cases, analyze test results and 11:04 clearly document any issues found, collaborate with developers on 11:09 solutions to defects, and verify the overall quality of the software product. 11:14 Like any good detective, a QA engineer pays attention to detail, 11:20 asks the right questions, and uses logic and 11:24 reasoning to identify patterns, make connections, and draw conclusions. 11:28 In quality assurance, test automation refers to the use of software tools and 11:33 scripts to automatically execute tests that would otherwise be performed 11:38 manually by a human tester. 11:42 When test automation is used, a QA engineer writes code that performs these 11:44 tests automatically, and then executes the code using specialized software tools. 11:49 Next, we'll learn about DevOps engineers. 11:55 Combining software development and IT operations, 12:00 a DevOps engineer is the automator on a team, 12:03 ensuring that the software development process is efficient and secure. 12:06 They are responsible for implementing and managing the tools and 12:11 processes used in the software development lifecycle. 12:14 In a DevOps environment, even small mistakes can have big consequences. 12:17 So a successful DevOps engineer is calm under pressure. 12:22 DevOps engineers manage complex and rapidly evolving technology stacks, 12:25 which requires them to be adaptable and quick to learn. 12:30 They're versatile troubleshooters, who must be able to solve complex technical 12:34 problems quickly and efficiently. 12:38 They should be able to write scripts to automate repetitive and 12:40 time-consuming tasks, and create tools to optimize the software development process. 12:44 A strong grasp of software development and 12:49 operations is optimal in this role, as well as knowledge of tools, 12:52 technologies, and platforms used in the DevOps ecosystem. 12:56 The key tasks in the DevOps engineer role are, to automate the deployment and 13:00 testing processes, monitor and optimize system performance. 13:06 Maintain and configure system infrastructure as code, 13:11 ensure security and compliance standards. 13:15 And like software developers, DevOps engineers must be committed to continuous 13:18 learning and staying up to date with new technologies and best practices. 13:23 They should always be looking for 13:27 ways to improve the development process and enhance their skills. 13:30 There are a few programming languages that are essential for 13:34 DevOps engineers to know, including, Python, Java, 13:38 JavaScript, Bash, and YAML, to name a few. 13:43 In addition to these languages, DevOps engineers should also be familiar with 13:46 tools like Git, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible, and Puppet. 13:51 It's also important to have a solid understanding of networking and security. 13:56 The final role we'll look at in this video is next, tech writer. 14:03 A technical writer is an interpreter writing clear and 14:09 concise documentation that explains how to use the software. 14:12 User manuals and training materials created by a technical writer convey 14:16 technical concepts to a business audience. 14:21 A successful tech writer is a proficient communicator and 14:24 can express themselves well with words. 14:27 They have keen attention to detail, strong research and critical thinking skills, 14:30 who can translate technical jargon into easier-to-understand language. 14:35 Working closely with the dev team, 14:39 a tech writer ensures the documentation accurately reflects the software solution. 14:41 The key tasks of a technical writer are, write user manuals and 14:47 guides, review, edit, and maintain written technical content. 14:53 Ensure accuracy and consistency in business documentation, 14:58 communicate complex ideas in a concise manner. 15:03 And collaborate with technical teams and subject matter experts. 15:06 To land a job as a technical writer, 15:11 start by creating a portfolio to showcase your skills. 15:13 Include writing samples, articles, and any relevant projects you've worked on. 15:17 Curious what kind of salary a technical writer makes. 15:24 In 2021, technical writers in the software industry average 15:28 just over 80,000 US dollars per year, 15:33 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not too shabby! 15:36 And there you have it, eight different roles, 15:44 all working together to create a high quality, reliable and 15:47 user friendly product that provides value to its users by solving a problem or need. 15:51 From project management and UX design to software development and QA. 15:56 Every role on a software team has its own unique set of tasks and expertise. 16:01 Some are business focused while others are highly technical, those who work 16:06 with code have educated themselves in the programming languages and 16:11 tools for their specific roles. 16:15 Those who interact with end users have cultivated solid collaboration and 16:17 communication skills. 16:21 And those successful in writing and 16:23 design have built strong portfolios of work showcasing their skills. 16:25 So, which role is for you? 16:30 Are you a detective, or more of a captain? 16:35 Perhaps you're drawn to coding, or maybe design or writing is your thing. 16:39 If you still aren't sure, try making a list of your strengths and passions. 16:44 Match them to the characteristics described in the roles we just looked at, 16:49 and decide on a path. 16:54 Then take your first step. 16:55 It doesn't have to be hard to begin a career in tech. 16:58 And with courses for every role in our list, 17:02 Treehouse is the perfect place to start your journey. 17:05 Take the next step with Treehouse. 17:10 Check out the many courses we offer in support of a career in software. 17:13 No matter which path you choose, remember to keep learning and 17:18 developing your skills. 17:22 Good luck and thanks for watching. 17:24
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