5 Tools to Help Developers Keep Up with Changing Technologies

The internet has brought with it new industries and jobs that were never accessible before. Innovations are being witnessed in every field, even Education.

Many developers would probably agree with us when we say that this area of expertise is all about “Survival of the fastest.” Before we look into the tips, you need to ask yourself why I should try to always keep up with the latest trends?

Why you should stay abreast with new technology trends?

To stay relevant in the job market

A developer’s job market is ever-changing. New technologies are being introduced every day, week and month. You want to keep up with the latest trends so that you don’t become a dinosaur in the digital age.

This will make you stick out. As a rule of thumb, try to keep tabs of technologies that are in the 1 to 3 years of range in the market. Updates happen daily, so keep yourself subscribed to the top blogs and keep a good tech circle on social media.

You’re passionate about your job

We think this says it all, and we need not explain it further. When you’re passionate about your job, you’re going to come across the new trends. All those blogs and market influencers you follow are probably going to let you know when something new and productive hits the market.

You like being productive

New technologies always evolve to solve a certain problem or offer a better solution compared to the one that’s already in the market. By being up to date, you stand a chance of being more productive and getting one step ahead of your peers in the industry.

The people that are willing to learn and adapt to the ever-changing landscape are the ones that always succeed. It’s imperative as a software developer that you’re always on top and “in the know” to succeed. Here are our 5 tips to help you keep up with new technologies. 

5 tips to help developers keep up with new technologies

You don’t need to spend a lot of time and money to keep on top of the latest trends and technologies. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Research & Development

“Practice makes perfect” that’s a phrase you probably hear all the time. It does ring true in the world of software development. Testing new technologies is always key to keeping afloat.

It doesn’t matter if you’re always reading about all the latest trends or listening about them during events, you won’t get any benefits from the information if you don’t practice/try it out. It’s not always about research, development matters as well.

Soak up the information and start a project on the side to learn the technology whenever possible. Many programmers’ advice writing one line of code daily as a healthy habit that can help you learn and grow.

It’s only through practice that you’ll hone and sharpen your skills. If you face difficulty in handling your projects, get do my assignment online from different writing services, or look through essayshark review.

You can open an account at bitbucket ( a private repository that allows you to practice without the glaring eyes of the public) and test your skills there. The options are endless.  

2. Be part of a community

Being a part of a community is important as it allows you to learn from other people in the industry. No one knows everything and so you always stand to learn from someone else. Connecting with your peers is one of the best ways to learn.

You can look at a real-life case study of a developer who gained a lot from being a part of a community here. You can join communities on different platforms. Facebook, Reddit, and Github are just some sites that we can think of off the top of our heads with great developer communities.

You can also look and join forums in your area of expertise. They can be a great place to bounce ideas and learn about what other people in your space are doing.

Another option could be joining professional associations. Depending on where you live, there might be an association in your area that you could join. These associations normally hold training sessions every week or every month. It’s also a great way to meet other professionals in your field (some more experienced than you) and get to learn from them.

Communities allow you to talk about problems you might be facing and receive solutions as well. At the same time, you can also help other people by solving their problems. You can even get to make great connections that can open up new doors for you via these groups.

3. Always be on the loop about industry news

You need to stay on top of all the new trends that emerge in the market. It’s from these trends you get to learn the direction your industry might be taking. There are many blogs and channels you can follow to get the latest industry news.

Anything that’s popular will be talked about and shared about a lot on these channels. With that said, you don’t need to be spending hours at a time scouring the web for news articles. You only need to take a few minutes or an hour a day to read articles about your industry. Sign up to RSS feeds to receive the news as it’s posted.

As much as being a developer is all online and digital, information isn’t. Trade shows and Industry events can also be a great way to not only be part of a community but to also learn about the latest news and trends in the industry.

You should follow other industry news as well. Let’s face it, tech is in every industry right now. The market is calling for tech to be utilized in about everything. By following other industries, you could find a niche that can be of benefit to you.

4. Never Stop Learning

The tech space is different as we already know. Things are always changing with new trends and technologies emerging. To keep up, you should always open yourself up to learn new things.

Yeah, we know it sucks. You already did 4 years for your Bachelor’s and thought it was all over. Sorry, mate! The learning has just begun.

Take time out of your day to learn something new. In the digital age, there are various ways to learn. There are sites like Khan Academy and Udemy that offer an affordable alternative to formal education. They also offer a different way of learning compared to traditional means.

Of course, you could also choose to go for a Master’s degree (if you have the time and money) to increase your knowledge. All are suitable ways and means of learning.

5. Analyze the Job Market

You probably didn’t see this one coming, but yes, the job market can be a great place to learn about what’s trending and what you need to improve upon.

You analyze the job market by looking at the current job descriptions for the role you hold or the role you dream about. By reading the skills and requirements, you get to learn what practical skills are in demand at the moment.

You also get to know what steps to take to improve and get up to a higher level. Analyzing the job market gives you awareness of the skill gap in the market and where you’re positioned in relation to market needs.

This might sound counterintuitive considering the 5 tips we just provided above, but you should always stay grounded. All that glitters isn’t gold.

Trying to evolve every other week or month can leave you drained. You don’t want to be a jack of all trades and a master of nothing. It’s always important to weigh the risk vs the reward of moving towards a new technology before fully adapting to it. 

Conclusion

Being a member of the tech industry allows you to meet and learn from some great minds that change the way we do things. As a programmer, you never know where the next great tech innovation is coming from. That’s what’s exciting about being a developer, the project that you’re working on could end up being a game changer. The tech industry is big and can be daunting when looked at from the outside. The truth is the industry is not that complex. You just need to decide what you want to do/learn and take it slowly on a day by day basis. By doing that, you make the experience manageable and you put yourself on a path to success.