Turing Blog

What to expect when transitioning from IC to software engineering manager: 1. A rearrangement of your priorities, 2. Managing your former teammates.

Many developers aiming to move up in their professional ladder, spend hours asking themselves, “How do I switch to a software engineering manager?” While there’s no hard and fast process for this, there are certain changes every engineer or developer faces when making this change.

As a developer, transitioning from an individual contributor to a manager can be exciting, but also, challenging. You may be well-versed in testing, coding, and debugging, but managing a team demands different skills, such as delegation, communication, and conflict resolution.

Hence, in this blog post, we will explore what you can expect in the first few months when transitioning from an individual contributor role to an engineering manager. Let’s dive right in.

Table of Contents Transitioning from an IC to a software engineering manager – 8 things to prepare for A rearrangement of your priorities Managing your former teammates Thinking past your individual contributor skills Hiring success and failures are on you Longer feedback cycles The urgency to figuring out your time management strategy Avoiding conflict Stressing about where you stand in your team Apply for remote engineering jobs at Turing

Transitioning from an IC to a software engineering manager – 8 things to prepare for

Let’s look at the things you need to keep in mind one by one. 

1. A rearrangement of your priorities
   

   The individual contributor meaning usually revolves around writing clean code, ensuring your assigned tasks are done on time, and teaching engineering best practices to your teammates. Hence, you will usually have a solid grasp of your priorities as an engineer.
   
   However, when you prepare for a managerial role, one of the first things you will wonder is what the role entails. Will you be a tech lead who will also conduct performance reviews and one-on-ones? Will you still be coding? Will you be expected to mentor or coach your team members?
   
   These questions and their answers will vary depending on where you work. But your priorities as an employee will definitely change. You will have to put your company first, your team second, and team members third. And if we may add, yourself forth. This is one of the critical things that will help you become an effective software engineering manager.
   
   As a developer or engineer, your priorities would naturally be the other way around. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean you would not think about what’s best for the company, but you’d be prioritizing your tasks first, automatically assuming that getting them done would be good for business.
   
   However, the things you must focus on as an engineering manager are knowing how the company performs and increasing its efficiency. This is why it’s important to keep the priority order in mind, as mixing it up can land you with a splendid team that isn’t working towards moving the needle or with one where skilled individuals are going off their own ways, not producing enough value as a whole.

2. Managing your former teammates
   

   A core part of a software engineering manager’s job description is managing a team of engineers. More often than not, when you move into such a role within your organization, chances are you will lead and manage team members who were previously your peers. Some of them may even be your friends and have a similar technical experience as you.
   
   This may come off as a weird dynamic, which it naturally is. As a manager, you now influence who your ‘ex-peers’ work with, what they work on, their promotions, and much more.
   
   So, how can you turn this awkward situation into one that helps you be a good software engineering manager? Start having one-on-ones where you’re vulnerable and transparent with your team members. Address the fact that it’s awkward how you once used to be fellow engineers on the same team, and now they report to you. See their responses, and this will quickly lead to meaningful conversations where the dynamic improves and helps you manage your team effectively.

3. Thinking past your individual contributor skills
   

   As you step into the shoes of a software engineering manager, you will quickly realize how the role requires you to see past your own skills. Software engineering manager jobs are more about establishing workflows and ensuring the team sticks to them, maintaining a healthy work environment, developing project plans, and even participating in software programming. Hence, you must have some empathy and trust as you let others take on roles you once did and ensure your team operates seamlessly.
   
   Maybe you loved solving certain problems or working on coding all day. Now, you will have initiatives to drive, meetings to conduct, and various other tasks to have a proper overview of how your team is performing. This means you won’t have much time to sit and work on coding solutions. You will have to delegate work and allow other members to thrive.
   
   Also, read: 7 Tips to Write an Effective Engineering Manager Resume

4. Hiring successes and failures are on you
   

   Transitioning from an individual contributor to a manager, one of the best things you will experience is building a team. You will have to undertake hiring decisions to build a high-performing team that aligns with the company’s goals. Once you know what the team needs, you can search for candidates with strong traits to balance the team’s weaknesses. As a software engineering manager, you can even be the one to establish diversity within your team, whether that’s in gender, culture, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, or more.
   
   Also, read: Engineering Managers, This Is How You Can Judge the Diversity of Your Team
   
   While all this is exciting, there’s a downside to hiring people as well. You will now be the adjudicator for hiring decisions, which is a massive responsibility. That’s because there are two sides to this coin: if you hire someone and they perform well, your job is well done. However, it can be difficult if a new hire doesn’t do so or if the team doesn’t accommodate them ideally. If that continues, you’ll eventually have to re-hire another candidate and go through the hiring process again.
   
   There’s no way to determine if a candidate will be a 100 percent successful hire at your company. However, the key to being a great software engineering manager is to tip the scales in your favor by practicing effective tips when building your team. Here are some:
   
   
   • Look for individual contributor skills, expertise, and experience that can fill the gaps in your current team.
     
   • A team comprising all junior engineers or senior engineers can be counter-productive. Mix and match to include a good combination of team members from different levels that can help the team be more efficient. 
     
   • Don’t focus just on skills. Hiring brilliant engineers without gauging their soft skills can pose a major risk in your software engineering manager role. Hence, check if they’re team-oriented, good communicators, and have an inclusive mindset, as these are just as critical for a team’s success. 
     
   • Focus on intersectionality and diversity to build your team’s overall skillset as vastly as possible.

5. Longer feedback cycles
   

   As an individual contributor, you may have fallen in love with the magic of writing code and instantly seeing its results on a website being used by many people. This instant feedback cycle excites many engineers, and it’s often one of the reasons they enjoy coding. Once you become a software engineering manager, the absence of this instant feedback cycle is one of the first things you’ll notice as a leader. This is because management seldom yields instant results.
   
   As a manager, you can advise your team members or implement new strategies that will eventually take weeks, or even months, to surface as fruitful or not. The feedback loop a manager experiences is much longer than the one you may have gotten used to in your individual contributor role.
   
   As an engineer, you get feedback on your design documents, code, or how your projects have been going. As a software engineering manager, you will have none of this. There will often be ambiguity about your expectations in your role. But, handling this uncertainty and establishing long-term gains is what makes a leader a team can look up to.
   
   Also Read: 6 Mistakes Hiring Managers Should Avoid Making
   

6. The urgency to figuring out your time management strategy 
   

   When you become a software engineering manager, you’re likely to spend most of your time on these:
   
   
   • Managing – conducting one-on-ones, team meetings, and mentoring team members
     
   • Hiring – establishing interview best practices to hire the right people
     
   • Monitoring – evaluating the team’s individual performance and overall delivery metrics
     
   • Planning and communicating – being the point of contact for both senior managers and your team members, gathering resources, and jointly planning for long-term goals with other teams
     
   • Developing – working on technical tasks, including writing code and conducting code reviews (this decreases the more senior managing role you occupy)
     
     As you can see here, the software engineering manager’s roles and responsibilities involve far more tasks than what you may have undertaken as an individual contributor. Hence, when you move into a managerial role, you will quickly feel the need to figure out your time management strategy.
     
     You will have more meetings than before. Most of the time, you will schedule many of those yourself – the vital ones being the team meetings, one-on-ones, and syncing with key stakeholders. Here, you will have to decide how to structure these and leave time for uninterrupted tasks. Since you’re the software engineering manager, you will also have to take into account how much these meetings obstruct your team’s time and minimize that.
     
     Since there’s no cookie-cutter approach to this, the best way to set up a time management strategy is by noting how many meetings you are involved in (per day or week), how much time they take, and planning your tasks around them.

7. Avoiding conflict
   

   As an individual contributor, there may have been times when you saw one of your colleagues not pulling their weight and wished you could fire them. However, once you become a software engineering manager, you will quickly realize that firing an employee is not easy. That’s because you will be the one to deliver the bad news.
   
   Many first-time managers experience conflict avoidance when they first undertake the managerial role. It’s only natural if you feel the same, as you never had to have difficult conversations with your teammates as an individual contributor. However, having these conversations is a big part of being a software engineering manager. While such conversations may not occur regularly, they are vital. What you say during those conversations can have more impact than you know.
   
   Moreover, not all these tough conversations revolve around work performance either. Some work environments may not be as peaceful as others, and you may find a team member having issues unrelated to work or being closed off as they’re unhappy with you or someone else on the team. No matter what, getting used to having such conversations and not avoiding conflict is key when transitioning from individual contributor to manager.
   
   Also, read: 6 Common Interview Mistakes Remote Developers Make

8. Stressing about where you stand in your team
   

   Lastly, when you become a software engineering manager, one of the hardest (and sadly, most common) things you will experience is worrying about where you stand in your team. Once you get into your managerial role, there will be an invisible divide between your team and you, irrespective of how deeply involved you were with the team as an individual contributor. But you must remember that although this is an unpleasant feeling, it’s completely natural.
   
   You may want to maintain the same relationship with your team members that you had before. However, there will be times when you will have to criticize their work, deliver strong feedback, settle disputes between members, or even handle HR situations.
   
   While you may be worrying about this new divide between you and your ex-peers, don’t forget that you’ll have new peers as a manager – the other engineering managers in your company. That’s why you must network with the other managers once you take up your managerial position. This will help you form invaluable relationships and allow other managers to be there for you, whether that’s to help you navigate new challenges or work on cross-team projects. 

Apply for remote engineering jobs at Turing

Transitioning from individual contributor to manager, as important as it is, comes with its own set of challenges. A managerial role puts you deeper into the company’s bigger picture and hands you the responsibility of creating, managing, and mentoring teams for the company’s success. 

Whether you’re considering a transition to a software engineering manager or you’re already one, this blog will provide you with key insights into what you can expect once you take up the role. Moreover, we hope the information shared here can help you prepare for the move and set yourself up for success. 

If you’re actively searching for lucrative remote engineering jobs, visit Turing. We provide AI-matched, high-paying engineering opportunities where you can work with top U.S. clients from anywhere in the world. Sign up today.

Join a network of the world's best developers and get long-term remote software jobs with better compensation and career growth.

Apply for Jobs

Programmer imposter syndrome is the feeling of self-doubt that developers experience, despite possessing the necessary skills and experience. Here’s how you can

What is programmer imposter syndrome? How can you deal with it? This blog post aims to help developers understand imposter syndrome and the steps they can take to overcome it.

Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough as a developer? Do you feel incompetent in doing your job?  Whether you are fresher or experienced, there will come a point when you compare your performance to other developers. You may feel that it’s a matter of time before you are exposed as incompetent and shown the door. This fear can affect your productivity and slows down your career growth. If you have ever questioned your capabilities as a developer and wondered whether you’re qualified for your job, you are not alone. Many talented developers experience programmer imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. 

According to a recent survey conducted by Blind, as many as 58 percent of tech workers feel like impostors. What’s more, this number includes employees from tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and many others. If you are wondering what imposter syndrome is, why it is common to developers, and how to deal with it, you are at the right place. Keep reading to know ways to maintain good mental health as a software engineer or developer.

Table of Content: How to overcome imposter syndrome as a developer? What exactly is programmer imposter syndrome? How does imposter syndrome affect developers? They fear getting exposed as an imposter Affects career growth Dissatisfaction at work Many developers quit their job Why are developers prone to imposter syndrome? How to recognize imposter syndrome? How to deal with developer imposter syndrome? Accept that there is a problem Learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable Stop comparing yourself to others Give yourself the credit you deserve Take support from seniors Develop an attitude of not giving up

What exactly is programmer imposter syndrome?

Programmer or developer impostor syndrome is the feeling of self-doubt that many software developers experience, despite possessing excellent skills and several years of experience. This syndrome is prevalent in many high-skill industries, especially software development, due to high competition and new technologies. Moreover, the expectations of high performance while delivering high-quality software products on tight deadlines create pressure on developers. 

As a result, many developers start comparing themselves to their colleagues. They feel like they aren’t good enough and develop an inferiority complex. These developers fail to recognize their abilities and are unable to concentrate on their jobs. This further leads to insecurity and anxiety, adversely affecting developers’ confidence and motivation. This feeling is nothing but programmer imposter syndrome. 

 This syndrome is common among many developers, especially early in their careers. Recognizing these feelings early can help you to take effective steps to overcome them. 

How does imposter syndrome affect developers?

Imposter syndrome can adversely affect developers who have just started their careers or working in a highly competitive environment. Let’s look at how this syndrome impacts developers.

• Fear of getting exposed as an imposter 
  

  Developers experiencing imposter syndrome may feel they are not as competent as their colleagues, despite having the same skills. They may also feel whatever they achieve is a result of luck rather than their abilities. This often leads to self-doubt and a fear of being caught as a “fraud.”

• Affects career growth 

  Programmers battling imposter syndrome may lose self-confidence and the motivation to work. They shy away from taking on new challenges or opportunities because they fear failure and suffer from negative thoughts and emotions. As a result, the syndrome significantly impacts their career growth.

• Dissatisfaction at work 
  

  Imposter syndrome causes anxiety and stress, and quite often, developers are unable to leave these feelings behind. In addition, these feelings often lead to a sense of dissatisfaction, and they are unable to concentrate on their work.

• Many developers quit their job
  

  Developers suffering from this syndrome struggle to share their thoughts with others and hesitate to ask for help or guidance. They desperately look for a way to escape this situation. Quitting jobs seems to be the easiest option for many. 

Why are developers prone to imposter syndrome?

Software developers are prone to imposter syndrome due to the tough competition at work and the pressure to learn and adapt to new technologies. They work on projects with high stakes, which creates stress to perform at the highest level, leaving very little room for error.

Moreover, tight deadlines worsen the situation as they don’t have much time to solve complex coding problems. And so, many programmers develop feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt when they encounter a problem and don’t know how to solve it. They doubt their abilities and feel like a fraud. These factors contribute to imposter syndrome and many highly skilled developers are unable to shake off this feeling.

How to recognize imposter syndrome?

Recognizing imposter syndrome at an early stage can help you get rid of it with the right steps. 

Here are some signs that can help understand if you suffer from programmer imposter syndrome. 

• Persistent feelings of not being fit for the job
• A constant fear of getting exposed as a fraud
• Fear of communicating with fellow developers as it may expose your knowledge gap
• Unable to match your colleagues’ performance
• Doubts that you made the wrong career choice

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive. Different developers may notice other signs of imposter syndrome depending on factors like their work-life balance, mental health, and more.

How to deal with developer imposter syndrome? 

Programming is a highly rewarding career, but it comes with its own challenges. Programmer imposter syndrome is one of the most glaring ones. As you read above, almost 58 percent of software engineers struggle with this imposter syndrome. 

So you shouldn’t panic and get overwhelmed. Instead, you must focus on how to overcome it. Here are some solutions to help you deal with programmer imposter syndrome.

1. Accept that you’re dealing with imposter syndrome
   

   Recognizing the problem is the first step toward finding a solution. The earlier you identify this syndrome, the sooner you can get over it. Many developers ignore the signs initially only to find themselves deep into the problem later. So be on the lookout for any of the programmer imposter signs discussed above.

2. Learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable
   

   Here’s the thing: technology is never constant. And nobody’s an expert in every technology stack. The most successful developers are the ones who keep learning always and adapting to the changing industry needs.
   
   Maybe you have a colleague who is an expert in a language you know nothing about. Now this situation might may you uncomfortable. It may even make you believe you know nothing.
   
   However, the reality maybe be different. Your colleague may know nothing about a technology you are proficient in. So, instead of underestimating your potential, try venturing into unknown territories. Expand your skill set. 

3. Stop comparing yourself to others 
   

   Constant comparisons often lead to programmer imposter syndrome. Many developers look down upon themselves thinking they have limited knowledge compared to others. But they forget that every developer is different and has different skill sets.
   
   So the next time you find yourself making such unhealthy comparisons, remember: you have worked hard and deserve to be where you are now. You don’t need to be the best to deserve your position but you can always learn and acquire the skills you don’t have now.

4. Give yourself the credit you deserve
   

   Developers suffering from imposter syndrome often believe that their achievements are driven by luck and not skill. This is a negative approach that belittles your achievements and breaks your confidence. Whatever you have achieved in your professional life is because of your efforts, and you should take credit for your success. Be happy about your achievement and believe in your capability.

5. Reach out to your seniors 
   

   Your seniors can be of help if you are suffering from imposter syndrome. It’s highly likely that they faced the same challenge as you back in their time. So don’t hesitate to bring up this topic with them if you’re comfortable enough to do so. Ask them questions. Reach out to them if you’re stuck with a code or need help finalizing a design. Remember, it is natural to stumble along the way when working on a new project. And asking for guidance only shows your willingness to learn and do better. 

6. Develop a ‘never give up’ attitude 
   

   Success never comes easy and fast. It demands hard work, determination, discipline, and persistence. If there’s something you cannot do as a developer, that’s just all the more reason to go ahead and learn it. If you look back at your journey, you will realize you have worked hard to become a software developer. It was not easy, but you did it with flying colors. Cultivate self-compassion. Learn to believe in yourself. Reframe your failures as opportunities to grow. Focus on progress instead of aiming for perfection. 

Conclusion

Suffering from programmer impostor syndrome can be exhausting but remember, you’re not alone. The majority of developers experience this syndrome somewhere along the line in their careers. Keep Richard Branson’s brilliant quote in mind: “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you are not sure you can do it, say yes. Then learn how to do it later.” Believe in your capability, give yourself the credit you deserve, and allow yourself to grow.

If you’re a developer looking for a remote job that enables you to enjoy an excellent work-life balance and salary, try Turing. Turing developers earn higher than the market average in most countries and work with top US companies. Check out the Apply for Jobs page to know more. 

Join a network of the world's best developers and get long-term remote software jobs with better compensation and career growth.

Apply for Jobs

Progressive Web Apps vs Native Apps: PWAs are apps that work seamlessly on any device, regardless of the platform, be it mobile, desktop, or tablet. Native.apps

The progressive web apps vs native apps battle intrigues many developers and businesses. So, will progressive web apps (PWAs) replace native apps in the future? What is the difference between PWA and native apps? What are the strengths and weaknesses of PWAs and native apps? Keep reading this blog post to find out. 

According to a report by Statista, smartphone subscriptions worldwide today surpass six billion. This number is predicted to grow further by several hundred million in the next few years. This creates an exciting opportunity for businesses to leverage the power of mobile apps to offer seamless user experiences. However, the last few years have seen rising support for progressive web apps (PWAs), and companies now face a pressing question: should they build a PWA or a native app? 

Also, read: React Native vs Swift: iOS Mobile App Development

Let’s explore the key differences between progressive web apps (PWAs) and native apps and determine which is better in 2023. Let’s get started!

Progressive web apps vs Native apps: What are the differences between PWAs and native apps? 

PWAs are web apps that can work seamlessly on any device, regardless of the platform, be it mobile, desktop, or tablet. PWAs offer a native app-like experience with the convenience of a website. They leverage modern web capabilities like service workers, and web app manifests to deliver a seamless user experience. PWAs can be easily installed on a user’s home screen, allowing them to access the app quickly without the need to go through the app store.

Native apps, on the other hand, are applications that are built specifically for a particular platform, such as iOS or Android. Native apps are installed on a user’s device through an app store, designed to take advantage of the device’s hardware and software capabilities. Native apps are built using specific programming languages and tools native to the platform, making them highly optimized for the platform they run on.

Also, read What Is Best for App Development: Flutter, Dart Language or Something Else?

What are some PWA and native app examples?

Let’s take a look at them below. 

• Twitter Lite: Twitter launched its PWA in 2017 and offered its users web push notifications, an “Add to Homescreen” prompt, and temporary offline browsing. Twitter achieved a 75 percent increase in Tweets sent, a 20 percent reduction in the bounce rate, and a 65 percent increase in pages per session. 
• Flipkart: In 2015, Flipkart launched its PWA and reported a 70 percent increase in conversion rate, a 40 percent increase in re-engagement rate, and increased time spent on site by 3x.
• Starbucks: In 2017, Starbucks launched its PWA and reported a 23 percent increase in order diversity and a 2x increase in their daily active users.
• Pinterest: After launching its PWA, Pinterest noticed a 60 percent increase in core engagements and a 44 percent increase in ad revenue rate.

Let’s look at some successful examples of native apps:

• Instagram: With over 2 billion active monthly users, Instagram is one of the most-downloaded apps globally. This native app allows users to share photos and videos with friends and followers.
• Uber: Uber is a ride-hailing app that allows users to book rides on demand. The annual revenue generated by Uber in 2022 was $31.8 billion, with an 82.62% increase from the previous year.
• Spotify: Spotify is the world’s leading music streaming application, with over 205 million premium subscribers worldwide. The app allows users to listen to their favorite songs and discover new music. 
• Headspace: With 1.32 million downloads worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2022, Headspace is a meditation and mindfulness app that helps users reduce stress and anxiety and is popular for its recognizable animations.

Read, also: Top 3 Databases for iOS Mobile Applications

Progressive web apps pros and cons

Here are the main pros and cons of PWAs you need to keep in mind. 

Pros

• Cost-effective: Progressive web apps require less development time and are easier to maintain, resulting in lower development costs than native apps.
• Fast and responsive: They offer quick loading and a smooth user experience due to the service worker technology that enables offline usage and caching.
• Cross-platform compatibility: PWAs are built using web standards and are accessible on any device or browser, including desktops, mobile, and tablets.
• Lower storage requirements: They take up less space on a device than native apps.
• SEO-friendly: PWA can be indexed by search engines like any other website, which means better visibility on search engine result pages (SERPs).
• Secure: PWAs are secure as they follow HTTPS protocols and transmit encrypted information.

Cons

• Limited access to native device features: Progressive web apps may be unable to access all of the features available on a user’s device, including push notifications, a camera, and an accelerometer.
• Limited discoverability: PWA is not widely available on app stores like Google Play or Apple App Store.
• Security risks: PWAs are vulnerable to cyberattacks and may require additional security measures to protect user data.
• Limited user engagement: Progressive web apps may not have the same engagement as native apps, such as social sharing or user-generated content.

Native apps pros and cons 

Just like PWAs, native apps come with their own pros and cons. They’re as follows. 

Pros

• Fast & efficient: Native apps are faster and more efficient compared to web apps as they are designed specifically for the platform they are running on.
• Better user experience: They offer a better user experience as they can use the features and hardware of the device to their fullest potential.
• High performance: Native apps can be accessed offline, providing better performance and stability.
• Offline mode: They can use push notifications and provide offline data storage.
• Accessible: Native apps can be downloaded from app stores, making it easy for users to discover and install the app.

Cons 

• Slow time to market (TTM):  Native apps require more resources and time to develop, requiring a separate version for each platform.
• Frequent upgrades: Native apps must be updated and maintained separately for each platform.
• Higher cost: The development cost of native apps is higher than web apps.
• Lengthy downloading process: Native apps require users to download and install them, which can be a barrier to entry for some users.

Progressive web apps: Use cases

Let’s quickly look at the use cases of PWAs below.

• Offline Mode: Progressive web apps work offline, making them an ideal choice for users who are traveling or have limited connectivity. The PWA can save the user’s data and allow them to continue using the app without a stable internet connection.
• News and Media: Progressive web apps are an excellent choice for news and media companies that want to offer a fast, responsive mobile experience, such as Forbes, Medium, etc.
• Travel and Hospitality: PWAs can help travel companies offer a fast and reliable booking experience by providing real-time updates on travel information, such as flight status, gate changes, and delays. Some well-known examples include Trivago, Make My Trip, Ola, etc.
• Banking and Finance: PWAs are ideal for banking and finance companies as they can offer users the ability to access their accounts, check balances, and pay bills. Examples include payment systems such as PayPal and Stripe.
• Health and Fitness: Progressive web apps can help health and fitness companies offer an interactive and personalized experience. They can provide users with workout plans, track their progress, and deliver customized tips and advice—for example, Fitbit, Headspace, Nike Training Club, etc.

Native apps: Use cases

And here are the use cases of native apps.

• E-commerce: Native apps are often used for e-commerce businesses, allowing customers to purchase directly from their mobile devices—for example, Amazon, eBay, etc.
• Social media: Popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are all native apps, allowing users to easily access and share content on their mobile devices.
• Gaming: Native apps are also commonly used for gaming, with popular titles like Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, and Angry Birds.
• Education: Native apps are also used in education, with many schools and universities providing mobile apps that allow students to access course materials, communicate with instructors, and more. Some popular apps include Duolingo, Minecraft Education Edition, Photomath, etc.
• Productivity: Native apps can also be used for increasing productivity, with popular apps like Microsoft Office, Evernote, and Trello.
• Entertainment: Native apps are often used for entertainment purposes, with streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

Progressive web apps vs Native apps: Which is better in 2023?

The answer to this question depends on various factors, such as your business goals, the target audience, and the required features. However, let’s look at the key differences between PWAs and native apps to determine which is better in 2023.

• Development cost and time
  One of the primary reasons why businesses are turning towards PWAs is their development cost and time. Building a PWA is generally less expensive than a native app, and the development time is relatively shorter. PWAs are built using web technologies that are already familiar to developers and can be easily deployed to multiple platforms.
• User experience
  Native apps offer a more polished and refined user experience than PWAs. Native apps are designed to take advantage of the hardware and software capabilities of the device, providing a seamless and responsive experience to users. On the other hand, PWAs are limited to the capabilities of the web browser and may not offer the same level of responsiveness as native apps.
• Accessibility
  PWAs are more accessible than native apps, as they can be accessed on any device with a web browser. Native apps, on the other hand, are limited to a particular platform and require users to download and install the app before they can use it. This means that PWAs can reach a wider audience than native apps.
• Maintenance and updates
  Maintaining and updating a PWA is generally easier than a native app. With PWAs, updates can be made on the server side, and users can access the latest version of the app without needing to download and install anything. On the other hand, native apps require users to download and install updates, which can be cumbersome.

Conclusion 

It takes careful planning and assessment of project requirements, resources, and timelines to choose the best technology for building your next mobile application. Both PWAs and native apps have their own pros and cons. You can take your pick based on various factors like product requirements, business goals, and target audience. If a business wants to reach a wider audience and save development costs and time, then PWAs are a better choice. On the other hand, if a business wants to provide a more refined and polished user experience and take advantage of the hardware and software capabilities of the device, native apps are what they need. 

If you’re looking to hire pre-vetted, skilled app developers, Turing’s got you covered. Hire from a talent pool of 50k+ developers and engineers ready to work in your timezone. Visit the Hire Developers page to know more.

If you’re a developer looking for top remote US software jobs, you’re at the right place. Head over to the Apply for Jobs page for more information.

Join a network of the world's best developers and get long-term remote software jobs with better compensation and career growth.

Apply for Jobs

Will generative AI take over developers? Absolutely not! Software developers can use generative AI to increase productivity and write better codes, here’s how.

Generative AI has taken the world by storm. Yes, we’re talking about Open AI’s ChatGPT. With other companies like Google and Microsoft introducing Bard and AI-powered Bing, this space is only getting hotter! So, does this mean that AI is going to replace software developers? Or can the software developers use generative AI to improve their own productivity? 

Before we dig deeper into this, let’s take an example of the calculator. When the calculator was invented, it didn’t replace expert mathematicians. In fact, it aided them to make more advancements in the field. In other words, it’s up to the user how to use technology.

Every technology is aimed to improve the efficiency of its users.  AI is no different. Using generative AI, software developers can increase their productivity, write better code, and meet high user expectations. 

Generative AI can improve developers’ productivity by 10 folds!

A prediction by Ark Invest states that AI can boost developers’ performance and increase their productivity by up to 10 folds! Jobs that require recurring coding can be automated with the help of AI. This can reduce the turnaround time for writing code from scratch thus enhancing the productivity of software developers. Developers can utilize this time and create codes that require creative thinking that only a human mind is capable of. They can leverage AI to check for syntax errors, write clean code, debug code, and many more basic requirements. 

As we know, resuing a code can accelerate the software development process. Developers can also use generative AI to enhance code reusability. Generative AI can find the section of the code that can be reused and can tailor it to meet the requirements of another software development process.

Generative AI and software development: Don’t fear AI

Marko Anastov, the co-founder of Semaphore CI/CD states that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT have created fear amongst the developer community. He says that some developers are worried that AI will take their jobs, while others are completely ignoring it. Both approaches are wrong, according to Anastov. He says that developers should integrate AI into their workflow to increase their productivity. GitHub Copilot is a great example of this. The AI I pair programmer has proven beneficial to write clean code faster. The GitHub Copilot is powered by OpenAI’s Codex which is a generative language model. 

GitHub vs GitLab: 11 Key Differences

Generative AI lacks what you have: Context!

Generative AI and software development can go hand-in-hand, but AI cannot completely perform the tasks on its own. Currently, AI is powered by the data that is fed to it, and not by any human intelligence. Generative AIs like ChatGPT lack the understanding of the human context of computing. Therefore, it requires software developers to add more details and create an appropriate experience through the software. 

Also, read 5 Software Development Trends in 2023: AI, ML, and Big Data Solutions

Where can software developers leverage AI?

There’s so much you can do with generative AI. 

Use AI to improve your product’s UX

One thing that ChatGPT and other generative AI have and will keep on improving is the way they interact with the user. If you have a software application that requires interaction with the user using a search bar or something like that, you will have to upgrade it.

You can integrate generative AI into your software applications to improve the way you interact with your users. 

Generative AI cannot write the whole code on its own! You need to intervene!

While the AI is already writing codes and creating apps, it is simply scanning through the already provided database to do so. To create a breakthrough or to execute more sophisticated codes, software developers will have to intervene. 

They can use AI to create basic code and enhance it according to the requirements using their own skills. If you’re a software developer reading this, this is the time to enhance your tech stack with AI development skills.  

Finding syntax errors in a code is troublesome, use AI for that!

So you have written a long code but it’s not working for some reason. Now, this could be because of a syntax error or something like that.  But finding these small errors is a tough task. Let AI do it for you. Generative AI is capable of finding syntax errors in a code using machine learning techniques. Generative AI tools like DeepCode scans your code and recommend fixes for the syntax errors in your code thus improving your productivity.

Developers, don’t be weary of generative AI at all! 

We’re saying it again! Generative AI and software development are meant to complement and not replace each other. You need to understand that AI can perform a certain set of functions. But this performance is still limited to the data that is made available to it. AI will require constant enhancements which will require human intervention, and even then, there will be some complex tasks that only humans can perform. You don’t have to fear AI, you have to use it for your own good. Keep improving your tech stack by adding skills that are required by the AI industry. There are plenty of AI-related opportunities waiting for you out there.

Are you a software developer looking for a remote job in the AI industry? Try Turing! What’s in it for you? Remote jobs with top US companies, high salaries, flexible working hours, stellar career growth, and much more. Head over to the Apply for Jobs page now. 

Join a network of the world's best developers and get long-term remote software jobs with better compensation and career growth.

Apply for Jobs

Core Web Vitals are a set of user-focused metrics designed to measure a page’s “health” in terms of providing a smooth and seamless user experience.

Today, having a fast, smooth, and user-friendly website has become more important than ever. In order to enhance the experience of users on websites that it ranks, the search giant Google in May 2020 announced its Core Web Vitals, which are a group of user-focused metrics designed to measure a web page’s “health” when it comes to providing a smooth user experience.

These essentially stand as KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for developers and a clear area of optimization for web technologies.

Also, read: The 9 Best KPIs for Your SaaS Platform

What are Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure a website’s performance and user experience. These metrics are designed to help developers as well as non-tech-savvy folks understand how their site is performing from a user’s perspective and identify areas that need improvement. Therefore, expertise in performance isn’t needed to tell how well a site performs against another. A Core Web Vitals report can help you understand this.

Core Web Vitals are a subset of the Web Vitals and each targets a distinct facet of a user’s experience

The Core Web Vitals metrics include Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). Let’s take a look at them one by one. 

1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
   

   Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is a metric that measures the loading speed of a page. It is calculated as the time it takes for the largest image or text block on a page to load and become visible to the user. A good LCP score is typically 2.5 seconds or less. A slow LCP can lead to a poor user experience, as users are likely to abandon a site that takes too long to load.

2. First Input Delay (FID)
   

   First Input Delay (FID) is a core web vitals metric that measures the responsiveness of a website. It is calculated as the time it takes for a website to respond to a user’s first interaction with the site, such as clicking a button or typing in a text box. A good FID score is typically 100 milliseconds or less. A slow FID can lead to a poor user experience, as users are likely to become frustrated with a site that takes too long to respond to their actions.

3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
   

   Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) measures the visual stability of a website. It is calculated as the total amount of layout shifts that occur on a page due to changes in the layout, such as images or text blocks that move or resize while the page is loading. A good CLS score is typically 0.1 or less. A high CLS score can lead to a poor user experience, as users are likely to become frustrated with a site that changes unexpectedly or feels unresponsive.

Why are Core Web Vitals important?

Core Web Vitals are important for several reasons. Firstly, they help webmasters understand how their site is performing from a user’s perspective. By tracking and measuring the performance of their site, webmasters can identify areas that need improvement and make changes to create a better user experience.

Secondly, Core Web Vitals are a ranking factor for search engines like Google. Sites with poor Core Web Vitals scores are likely to rank lower in search results, making it more difficult for users to find them. On the other hand, sites with good Core Web Vitals scores are likely to rank higher, making it easier for users to find them.

Finally, Core Web Vitals are important because they directly relate to user experience. A site with poor Core Web Vitals scores is likely to have a poor user experience, leading to high bounce rates and low engagement. On the other hand, a site with good Core Web Vitals scores is likely to have a better user experience, leading to low bounce rates and high engagement.

How to improve Core Web Vitals?

There are several steps you can take to improve Core Web Vitals. Here are some of the most effective methods:

1. Optimize images and other media
   

   One of the most common causes of slow LCP scores is large, unoptimized images and other media. To improve your LCP score, you should optimize all images and other media on your site by reducing their file sizes and compressing them where possible. You can use tools such as Kraken.io or TinyPNG to automate this process.

2. Minimize JavaScript and CSS
   

   JavaScript and CSS are essential for many modern websites, but they can also slow down page load times if not optimized properly. To minimize the impact of these files on your Core Web Vitals scores, you should minimize their size and use techniques such as lazy loading and asynchronous loading to reduce the amount of code that needs to be processed on page load.
   
   Also, read: 11 Great Websites to Test Your Code Online

3. Improve server response times

   Another key factor in improving your Core Web Vitals scores is the speed of your server. If your server is slow to respond to requests, it can negatively impact your FID scores. To improve your server response times, you should ensure that your server is running on modern hardware, optimize your database queries, and use caching and other performance optimization techniques where possible.

4. Avoid intrusive ads and pop-ups

   Intrusive ads and pop-ups can also negatively impact your CLS scores by causing layout shifts on your pages. To avoid these issues, you should minimize the use of intrusive ads and pop-ups and ensure that any that are used are positioned and sized in a way that minimizes layout shifts.

5. Use tools to monitor and track your Core Web Vitals scores
   

   Finally, it’s essential to use tools to monitor and track your Core Web Vitals scores over time. This will help you identify areas where your site is underperforming and take action to improve your scores. Google provides a number of tools to help you monitor and track your Core Web Vitals scores, including the PageSpeed Insights tool and the Chrome User Experience Report.

In sum

Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that are critical to the success of any modern website. By understanding what they are and how they impact user experience, you can take steps to improve your scores and create a better user experience for your visitors. Whether you’re a webmaster or a business owner, it’s essential to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in Core Web Vitals and take action to ensure that your site is performing at its best.

Are you a web developer looking for a high-paying remote job with flexible work timings? Try Turing! Top US companies are hiring web developers with Turing. Head over to the Apply for Jobs page to know more! 

Join a network of the world's best developers and get long-term remote software jobs with better compensation and career growth.

Apply for Jobs