Soumik Majumder

Metaverse guide: a metaverse is a single, shared, immersive, 3D virtual space where humans experience life in ways they could not in the physical world.

Imagine sitting on your couch but exploring the beautiful city of Las Vegas. You’re meeting new people, engaging in exciting activities, and even purchasing souvenirs without actually being there. But all of this is happening virtually, in the Metaverse! Keep reading this Metaverse guide to learn more.

As we know, the Metaverse has been making waves in the digital world in recent years. Many experts believe that it could be the next major shift in technology. But what exactly is this Metaverse? In this Metaverse guide, we will cover everything about this emerging concept, right from what it is and how it works, to its potential impact on society. And last but not least, we’ll also cover how to become a Metaverse developer. Let’s get started!

What is the Metaverse? What does the Metaverse comprise? How does the Metaverse work? Virtual reality use cases in the Metaverse Why is the Metaverse important? How to access the Metaverse? Devices to access the Metaverse Steps to access the Metaverse How do NFTs fit into the Metaverse landscape? Metaverse pros and cons: What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of the Metaverse? Metaverse pros Metaverse cons When will a full-fledged Metaverse be available? What will the Metaverse’s impact be on the future? How to become a Metaverse developer? What does a Metaverse developer do? What skills do you need to become a Metaverse developer? How to get a job in the Metaverse? Final thoughts FAQs

What is the Metaverse?

The Metaverse is, what many in the tech sphere believe, the next version of the internet: a shared, singular, immersive 3D virtual space where humans can experience life without physically moving from one place to another. 

In other words, the Metaverse is a network of immersive, shared virtual worlds that users can access to interact with other users, engage in conversations, work, learn and teach new skills, attend events, play games, shop virtual goods, purchase virtual real estate, and do a lot more. You can imagine the Metaverse technology as a ‘cyberspace’ – a three-dimensional, evolved internet – where logging in isn’t required.

The concept of the Metaverse was first mentioned in Neal Stephenson’s science novel, “Snow Crash,” published in 1992. Stephenson, in his novel, envisioned a virtual universe where users could use virtual reality (VR) headsets to enter with their digital avatars. This concept was again popularized in Earnest Cline’s 2011 sci-fi novel Ready Player One, where individuals use VR headsets to enter a virtual world. 

Metaverse has yet to develop fully, but it quickly rose to popularity when Facebook rebranded itself to Meta in 2021 and announced its plans to invest $10 billion in the Metaverse concept. Since then, other tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Sony, and Nvidia have also invested billions of dollars into the same. Let’s see how. 

• Facebook (now Meta) – Facebook has been heavily involved in the VR space for a long, releasing devices like the Oculus that offer a seamless VR experience. Now, Meta is also focusing on the Metaverse’s software aspect with the newly built Horizon Marketplace, which allows users to purchase and sell goods virtually. 

• Google – Google has been an early player in the AR space with its Google Glass, which wasn’t made mainstream for the public but did become successful in the private sector. In 2021, Google merged its AR and VR departments under the ‘Google Labs’ label, and this new team is now working towards Project Starline, a holographic video conferencing technology. 

• Nvidia – Given Nvidia’s global reputation as one of the top players in digital design, the company is using its position to accelerate efforts toward Metaverse development. For this, Nvidia is handing out a free version of its Omniverse software suite to individual artists. This suite contains the required tools to help designers create full-fledged virtual assets and worlds, which they can even put up on digital content libraries and marketplaces.
• Sony – Alongside Epic Games, Sony has been one of the biggest but silent players in the Metaverse. Sony’s efforts towards the Metaverse began with a simple game called Fortnite, which went from being a battle royal game to a full-fledged virtual world where players can socialize, play, and also attend virtual performances.

What does the Metaverse comprise? 

Today, the Metaverse comprises ten layers under four key categories: content and experiences, platforms, hardware and infrastructure, and enablers. Here’s what these layers entail.

• Content and experiences 

• • This includes the content developed by creators, developers, and users which establishes and enriches the Metaverse experiences.
  • It also involves virtual worlds where users can gather, interact, create, and engage in other activities.
  • Last but not least, it includes applications required for Metaverse use cases, such as events or learning sessions.

• Platforms 

• • Platforms made for creators who will create 3D experiences.
  • Platforms that help access and discover content, applications, and experiences.

• Hardware and infrastructure 

• • The Metaverse is built on underlying infrastructure like semiconductors, cloud computing, networks, and more.
  • Users access and interface with the Metaverse using various devices (AR/VR headsets), accessories, and operating systems.

• Enablers

  • Applications and tools to manage digital identity.
  • Privacy, security, and governance are key to the Metaverse’s fair and proper functioning.
  • Tools that can help users access the Metaverse economy through monetization and payments.

How does the Metaverse work? 

You can envision the Metaverse as a visually represented internet. But here’s the best part. You can actually enter the Metaverse instead of just looking at it. 

The Metaverse leverages various technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), blockchain, and others to create a seamless and immersive user experience. In addition, devices like VR headsets and AR glasses project the Metaverse around you. Let’s delve a little deeper into this to better understand how the Metaverse works.

• Creating the virtual experience 

  To build a virtual environment for experiences like participating in events, socially interacting via platforms, or playing games, one would need to use Web3 development and 3D designing libraries like libp2p, three.js, light.js, web3.js, web3j, ethers.js, and web3.py.
  
  Selecting which library to use depends on the type of experience one wants to create for the users. Today, three.js is one of the most popular choices for Web3 designers, which uses scenes, cameras, effects, meshes, animations, and render performance monitoring. 

• The importance of discovery tools 
  

  Once a virtual experience is created, discovery tools such as search engines can be created using extended services over the Metaverse. These would allow users to interact virtually with the search result via augmented reality (AR).
  
  For instance, let’s say you want to build a VR platform that offers real-time navigation through suggestions and directions via the user’s camera. For this, you would need spatial computing through geo-tagged tokens on OSM (OpenStreetMap) data points, Blockchain, and Metaverse elements that operate the same way as 3D designing for AR. 

• The role of virtual reality devices 
  

  Once the virtual environment is created and the discovery tools are ready, VR comes into play, where users can actually experience the Metaverse. Users can enter the virtual environment with 360-degree vision using a virtual reality headset or other immersive technologies.
  
  Moreover, users can create their avatars, i.e., digital representations of themselves in the Metaverse. These avatars can be customized to reflect the user’s appearance, attire, and preferences. In other words, virtual reality technology enables you to get a fully immersive experience in the Metaverse by creating a sense of presence and realism.

• The need for virtual currencies 
  

  The growing popularity of the Metaverse has also increased the need for virtual currency. This is a digital currency that we can use to purchase goods and services in the Metaverse. You can get virtual currencies by exchanging real money at cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, and others. You can also connect your wallets to these platforms to carry out transactions.

Virtual reality use cases in the Metaverse 

The combination of VR and the Metaverse can prove to be extremely useful for several industries. Here are some examples:

• Travel – Using VR, people can travel virtually to almost any place through the Metaverse, be it monuments, popular cities, must-visit eateries, or even local spots that are unique to each city.

• Games – VR-based games are already popular and many tech giants are investing in exploring this foray even deeper. In the future, users can even connect with one another in the Metaverse and experience next-level immersiveness through VR headsets, playing with their friends from anywhere in the world.

• Medicine – VR and Metaverse can also be significant to the healthcare industry. Medical doctors, practitioners, and students can use VR to perform digital surgeries on digital avatars in the Metaverse, as a new and more efficient form of practice. This will further help newcomers of the industry to sharpen their skills and be better professionals down the line. 

• Education – VR can also play in evolving the education sector for better learning experiences. Teachers can use VR-supported devices to make lessons more immersive and engrossing for students. Plus, VR can be implemented to explain concepts virtually through diagrams, interactive content, and more. Virtual tours in the Metaverse can also be used to explain lessons in history, science, and other areas.

• Military – Forces can use the Metaverse to conduct simulated training sessions where soldiers can better train for combat situations using appropriate AR/VR gear.
• Virtual events – One of the most obvious use cases of VR in the Metaverse is the ability to hold events virtually, allowing participants worldwide to attend or experience them. In the long run, this can make event hosting more time-saving and cost-friendly than ever.

Why is the Metaverse important? 

Given how AR, VR, XR (extended reality), MR (mixed reality), and various other virtual-oriented devices and platforms are already discovering use cases for the Metaverse, its importance can’t be underestimated. Companies are increasingly working towards building roadmaps to evolve and mix reality better than ever. Let’s take a look at why Metaverse has quickly become the center of attention for many. 

• User interaction improvement 

  Using VR or AR, businesses can leverage the Metaverse to offer better consumer support through digital avatars acting as virtual agents/assistants. Companies can use even use games, galleries, VR/AR showrooms, VR tours, interactive case studies, and various other methods to generate new users through the Metaverse and be at the top of their game.

• Better advertisement experience 
  

  Print ads are now outdated, and even social media ads are something many users simply skip. The Metaverse can help revive the highly lucrative advertisement landscape by enhancing the interaction with an ad. Companies can use dynamic ads, interactive ad components, and 3D elements to attract more customers and let them better engage with their products/services.

• Corporate events 
  

  Businesses were already hosting business conferences, webinars, and seminars through online platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, etc. Now, the Metaverse can help elevate the experience by letting employees virtually attend the conference as their digital avatars, actively engaging in discussions, interactions, and even giving presentations more immersively. 

• Better e-commerce experience 
  

  Using AR and VR in the Metaverse, brands can completely change the way shoppers and consumers interact with their products. For instance, a shoewear brand can let users try out various shoes by trying them on virtually. This intriguing experience can also help companies nudge the user to purchase their products by offering a brilliant shopping experience.
  
  Brands like IKEA, Warby Parker, and Glasses.com have already implemented AR into their e-commerce platforms. These allow consumers to explore products from the comfort of their homes and experience how a product would actually look and feel once they purchase it, in a way they never have before.

• Better operations 
  

  Metaverse concepts can also assist companies in establishing more productive and efficient operations. This will allow companies to not only build better products, but also enhance their maintenance cycles, find defects/bugs/issues quicker, and expedite their time to market.
  
  A good example of this would be BMW. The automobile giant currently has an all-electric vehicle production line that it ran solely as a simulation for roughly six months. For this, BMW built virtual cars on a 1:1 scale in the Metaverse to explore all their options before determining the factory’s final layout. 

How to access the Metaverse?

While Metaverse is still in its early stages, users can access this immersive virtual world using specific steps and devices. Our detailed Metaverse guide covers both so you can easily access the Metaverse and enjoy the experience. Let’s dive in!

Devices to access the Metaverse 

As of today, there isn’t a singular entrance into the Metaverse as the idea of just one Metaverse is still theoretical. However, those who want to experience the Metaverse can do so by using the following devices.

• VR headsets – VR headsets are one of the most common devices today to access the Metaverse. Wearing it, you will receive a digital display of the Metaverse virtual world. A VR headset tracks your head positioning, meaning your POV will change in the virtual world whenever you look around, the same way it would in the real world. Oculus is a prominent player in this space, who had first launched their line of VR headsets in 2012. Their latest release, the Oculus Quest 2, is a major example of a Metaverse device as it boasts impressive VR tech with both PC and Android compatibility.

• Gaming consoles – Prominent gaming consoles like the PlayStation and Xbox already allow users to access the Metaverse in some way or the other. For instance, the Xbox, despite not having any AR or VR support, provides platforms such as an interactive “metaverse museum” and Roblox, where a virtual world can be entered. PlayStation also comes with a PlayStation VR headset to access VR features, which has now become an intriguing platform to develop Metaverse features in. 

• Smartphones – Just like gaming consoles, Roblox also works on iOS, Android, and other mobile platforms, allowing smartphone users to enter the virtual world. Roblox comes with VR support as well, meaning you can use your phone to access a virtual world, the same way others do with expensive PC setups. 

• AR gear – Augmented reality gear is another way to access the Metaverse. It’s similar to VR devices in that both put digital imagery to your point of view. However, a key difference is that AR gear overlays Metaverse elements on top of the real world you see, whereas VR entirely replaces your POV with a virtual landscape. Microsoft HoloLens and Google Glass are some of the most prominent AR gear examples that have been developed to access the Metaverse.
• Computers – While not the most user-friendly, computers are one of the most powerful options for accessing Metaversal systems. Most of the programs for accessing the Metaverse run on computers. However, your computer would require a good GPU and an accompanying VR/AR system to let you access the Metaverse.

Steps to access the Metaverse

Accessing the Metaverse depends on the specific platform you want to enter. Here are the common steps to help you get started:

1. Choose a platform: Today, multiple Metaverse platforms are available out there, such as the ones we’ve mentioned above: The Sandbox and Decentraland. Plus, you can also experience the Metaverse through other platforms like Roblox, Second Life, and Axie Infinity.
   
   
2. Create an account: Once you choose a platform, you need to create an account. Provide your email address and create a username and password. Some platforms may ask for additional information, such as age or location.
   
   
3. Download the app: Depending on what platform you choose, you may need to download their app to access the Metaverse. Follow the instructions shared by the provider to install the necessary software.
   
   
4. Customize your avatar: Almost every Metaverse platform requires you to create an avatar that represents you in the virtual world. You can customize the avatar according to your appearance and personality.
   
   
5. Start exploring the Metaverse: Once you create your account and the avatar, you can access the Metaverse. You can interact with other users, make friends, explore different virtual locations, shop, and discover everything Metaverse offers.

How do NFTs fit into the Metaverse landscape?

As we covered in the previous section, NFTs are quickly gaining traction in the virtual tech space. In a nutshell, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are secured digital assets that operate on the same blockchain technology cryptocurrencies do. While cryptocurrencies represent financial currency, NFTs represent art, music, or even digital real estate that the owner can purchase or sell in the Metaverse.

The Metaverse Group is the world’s first real estate company to operate virtually. The Group helps buy or rent real estate in Metaverse virtual worlds like Sandbox, Decentraland, Upland, and Somnium. Users can get spaces for commercial and conference uses, purchase land for art galleries, houses, and even spots to hang out with friends and family. These are all done through NFTs, and the more they are normalized, the more types of real estate people will get to access.

New-age companies aren’t the only ones riding on this virtual wave. Prominent brick-and-mortar brands are doing the same, such as Nike, who acquired a started called RTFKT, which makes unique virtual sneakers and digital collectibles through NFTs, AR, and blockchain authentication. Before this acquisition, Nike even filed trademark applications to create virtual apparel and sneakers consumers can buy virtually. Roblox and Nike have also collaborated to create a digital world called Nikeland, where Nike consumers and fans can connect, play games, and dress up their avatars in virtual Nike apparel. 

Hence, it’s becoming evident that alongside blockchain, NFTs form the foundation for virtual ownership. As people become accustomed to the Metaverse, NFTs will be the vehicle through which their real-world goods’ ownership will transform to digital ownership, which will be critical to ultimately interacting in the Metaverse. 

Metaverse pros and cons: What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of the Metaverse?

As we’ve discussed here, the Metaverse is a key technological advancement and hence, has attracted many eyeballs. It has the potential to offer many benefits, but it’s not perfect and does also come with certain drawbacks. Let’s take a look at some of the most important Metaverse pros and cons. 

Metaverse pros

Let’s quickly take a look at some of the pros Metaverse offers 

1. Negates physical distance and enhances social interaction

   When you are in the Metaverse, your geographic location becomes irrelevant. The Metaverse allows you to connect with people from across the globe in a super interactive and immersive way. Unlike social media platforms, where you can only hear and see someone, Metaverse allows you to engage with your friends in activities such as gaming, shopping, and attending events together through your avatar. 

2. Promotes new business opportunities

   The Metaverse can create new business opportunities, allowing companies to advertise and sell virtual goods and services. You can see the products and even feel them using haptic technology.

3. Enhances education and training

   Metaverse will further improve the current online education. With the Metaverse, quality education will be accessible to everyone, irrespective of their physical location. People from any part of the world can teach and learn together in real time, just like in a physical classroom.

4. Enables immersive gaming experience

   The Metaverse can create highly immersive gaming environments that allow the players to get fully engrossed in the game. It provides detailed and realistic environments where gamers feel they are interacting with other players physically.

5. Fosters innovation

   The Metaverse can foster innovation because creating immersive and interactive environments will require new technologies. This will encourage innovation in areas like game development, content creation, marketing, and more.

Metaverse cons

Now that we’ve covered the pros, let’s go over the cons. 

1. May lead to privacy issues

   Metaverse platforms usually collect users’ facial attributes, blinks, and personal information like name, location, browsing behavior, and other details. Businesses can use this data for targeted advertising and other purposes, raising concerns about our privacy. 

2. May lead to identity theft

   Hackers and miscreants can hack your avatars and pretend to be you in the Metaverse. They can also misuse your sensitive data and get you in trouble.

3. May negatively impact kids

   The internet is often cited to have an adverse effect on kids. Many people consider the Metaverse to be the next version of the internet. They fear that the new platform may cause physiological and psychological risks for young minds. Moreover, children may also come across sexual and other harmful content on such platforms, which can negatively impact them.

4. May pose health concerns

   Just like the internet, the Metaverse can be very addictive, impacting our physical and mental health. Science has concrete evidence that excessive use of digital devices causes mental health issues such as depression, losing interest in social activities, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, etc. Spending hours in the Metaverse can increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues. Moreover, prolonged use of VR headsets can cause eye strain, headaches, etc. 

Also, read What Is Programmer Imposter Syndrome and How Can You Deal With It?

When will a full-fledged Metaverse be available?

As discussed earlier, Metaverse is still in its early stages. The primary idea of entering and engaging in a virtual world has existed for many years, but a full-fledged Metaverse where realistic interactions can occur will take some time to develop. 

Many experts and tech moguls have spoken similarly about the Metaverse and truly accessing a virtual world. For instance, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in his yearly review blog, stated that many don’t possess the required motion capture gloves and VR goggles to precisely map and represent their body language, voice quality, or facial expressions.

Gates also noted that things would be different for businesses. In the next two to three years, the majority of virtual meetings will move from physical offices to the Metaverse, a 3D world where participants will attend as their digital avatars. 

What will the Metaverse’s impact be on the future?

Since Metaverse is not a reality yet, many possibilities and unknowns surround it. How a full-fledged Metaverse will come about, who will control it, and what it will entail is all up for debate. Having said that, many believe in the Metaverse’s capability to enhance our lives by enabling interactions not possible in the physical world. 

A recent Accenture survey indicated the same opinion Gates mentioned about the Metaverse affecting the business sphere. The survey, conducted on 4,600 technology and business leaders, found that 71 percent of the people think that the Metaverse will positively impact their company, while 42 percent believe that it will be a major breakthrough.

Moreover, in 2022, Pew Research Center partnered with Elon University’s Imagining the Internet Center to survey 624 business leaders, technology innovators, and activists. This survey was conducted to get their response on Metaverse’s impact by 2040. As per the report, 54 percent of individuals expect the Metaverse to be a fully-functioning, completely immersive aspect of everyday life for half a billion or more people worldwide, while 46 percent said that wouldn’t be the case.

Despite the Metaverse being a relatively new concept, many reports, including the ones mentioned above, suggest how many believe in its potential to enhance human interaction. Plus, other key facets suggest how Metaverse will affect the future, such as:

• The Metaverse will result in constant technological improvements, especially in large-data processes like graphics rendering and computing power. This will help build even bigger virtual worlds that people can access easily through their smartphones, especially after the rapid adoption of 5G. 
• Metaverse’s capabilities in shaping future VR/AR technologies is also resulting in the decrease of production costs of VR and AR hardware. Hence, these gears will become more accessible to the public. Plus, tech firms are working on bringing new devices to the market, such as bodysuits and haptic gloves, to further enhance how users engage with the Metaverse.
• As discussed earlier, gaming in the Metaverse is already becoming mainstream. However, Metaverse’s expanding use cases will increase its accessibility, with immersive sports, retail, educational, and other experiences becoming more available. Metaverse will also likely expand its use cases in the corporate sector, with team collaborations, employee training, team one-on-ones, etc. moving to the virtual space.
• The examples of Bitcoin and Ethereum prove how cryptocurrencies are already becoming the norm in many cases. As a result, commerce in the Metaverse will also become more mainstream, as cryptocurrency will be needed to buy and sell goods virtually. The emergence of NFTs is the biggest proof currently that making and selling goods virtually is possible and will indeed increase as the Metaverse takes its full form. 

In a final note on Metaverse’s impact in the future, we can consider McKinsey’s recent report which states that the Metaverse may amass nearly $5 trillion within 2030, via enterprise and consumer use cases. Hence, the Metaverse future looks quite promising as this new-age technology will radically develop the internet we use today.

How to become a Metaverse developer? 

The Metaverse has become a hot topic in recent years. Naturally, the demand for Metaverse developers is growing. It’s an exciting time for developers looking to build their careers in the Metaverse space. This Metaverse guide lists the steps to becoming a Metaverse developer.

What does a Metaverse developer do? 

A Metaverse developer designs and develops interactive and immersive experiences for a virtual world. They write, debug, and execute code for the Metaverse platform. Their responsibilities include:

• Creating immersive and engaging 3D environments using tools such as Unreal Engine, Unity, etc
• Designing user interfaces that allow users to interact efficiently with the Metaverse
• Developing programming logic to support immersive and interactive experiences on the Metaverse
• Implementing security measures to ensure security on the Metaverse 
• Collaborating with other developers and stakeholders to plan and implement new features for the Metaverse
• Monitoring performance and troubleshooting to optimize performance
• Learning emerging technologies for the Metaverse development

What skills do you need to become a Metaverse developer? 

Metaverse development demands strong programming and problem-solving skills. Let’s look at the seven Metaverse developer skills that can help you become a good Metaverse developer.

1. Artificial intelligence

   The application of artificial intelligence (AI) has increased exponentially in recent years. From healthcare to business strategy planning, and surveillance, AI has made a significant impact in every industry. In the case of Metaverse, AI is used to provide a personalized experience and to create intelligent non-player characters. AI is also used to create and customize your digital avatars. You need to be proficient in languages such as Python, R, and C++ to develop efficient AI models.

2. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)

   The immersive experience is one of the most important features of the Metaverse, which is possible through technologies like virtual and augmented reality. These technologies are used to create immersive virtual environments that enable users to explore different elements using various AR and VR glasses and other input devices.
   AR applications allow users to view their surroundings with interactive visuals like the mobile game Pokémon GO. On the other hand, VR produces a computer-generated virtual environment that you can explore using VR headsets, sensors, and gloves.

3. 3D modeling and animation

   Creating a digital environment that appears much like the real world is one of the major challenges in developing the Metaverse, and thus, an important Metaverse developer skill. 3D reconstruction enables you to create a virtual replica of the physical world with natural-looking spaces. Software like Maya, Blender, and Unity is used to create 3D models and animations.

4. Blockchain and cryptocurrency

   Blockchain is one of the most important technologies for the Metaverse. It is used to create decentralized virtual economies within the Metaverse, allowing users to buy and sell virtual assets. Blockchain technology provides the security and transparency necessary for the Metaverse.
   You can use cryptocurrencies in the Metaverse, as the platform does not support physical currencies. Cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology; you must master it as a Metaverse developer.

5. Cloud computing

   Metaverse will require a lot of storage space to handle the massive data volume. Cloud computing technology comes in handy in creating storage space for the Metaverse.

6. Internet of Things (IoT)

   The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology that uses sensors and devices to connect elements of the physical world to the Internet. In the case of the Metaverse, IoT is useful in collecting data and feeding it to the Metaverse to adjust accurately to real-world conditions. 

7. Haptic technology

   This technology is used to create a sense of touch and motion in a virtual environment. It uses sensors and specialized actuators to simulate various sensations, such as vibrations, pressure, and temperature. 

Now that we’ve covered the most important Metaverse developer skills, let’s see how you can land a Metaverse job. 

How to get a job in the Metaverse?

Once proficient in the above technologies, you can start looking for jobs. Tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, and many startups often hire Metaverse developers. You can look at their career pages and on job sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor for open positions.

However, these traditional ways of looking for Metaverse developer jobs can be tedious and may take time. Moreover, you may not find the right opportunity you are looking for. Turing can help you find the best Metaverse developer jobs quickly. 

If you’re a developer looking for long-term remote AI and ML jobs with top US companies, try Turing. Earn salaries higher than the market average and enjoy fantastic career growth. Head over to the Apply for Jobs page for more information.

Final thoughts 

The Metaverse can revolutionize the way we use the internet. We will see significant growth in this area in the coming years. With evolving technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, the Metaverse will turn more realistic than ever, allowing users to have more engaging experiences and opening several business avenues. 

---

FAQs 

1. What are the four pillars of the Metaverse?
   

   The Metaverse currently has four tech pillars: a 3D world that’s interactive and realistic, a platform to let users create and share content, certain services and tools to let users interact with one another, and a system to track and manage user interaction and data.

2. What are the eight elements of the Metaverse?
   

   The eight elements that currently form the Metaverse are user interactivity, extended reality (XR), blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), computing vision, future mobile networks, edge and cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

3. What are the five dimensions of the Metaverse?
   

   The five dimensions of the Metaverse we know today are linearity, context, time, space, and planarity.

4. Is Metaverse 3D or 4D?
   

   Currently, the Metaverse is a 3D virtual space that’s immersive and shared. It’s persistent and presents a 3D virtual world where humans can experience life digitally. However, as the Metaverse progresses and more development takes place, the Metaverse will comprise several dimensions, each one filing with various types of content. Along with the 2D internet and 3D world, the Metaverse will also have 4D augmented reality, and even a 5D mixed reality, if that’s possible. 

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

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

8 deadly mistakes to avoid in your software development career: 1. Not focusing on soft skills 2. Not taking ownership of mistakes 3. Misunderstanding software.

Transitioning from a software developer to a team lead or manager is a critical part of one’s software development career. To get this change right, you must make the right professional decisions, upskill, and, more importantly, avoid career-threatening mistakes to ace each role. 

This blog post will cover the software developer and software manager mistakes you must avoid in navigating each role efficiently. Both roles have their unique challenges, as your contributions and duties are different when you’re an individual contributor and a team lead. Hence, this post will discuss both roles separately, where we will highlight the common mistakes you need to steer clear of.

Table of Contents What are the most common errors made by developers? Not focusing on soft skills Not taking ownership of mistakes Misunderstanding software requirements Not asking for help What are some common mistakes managers make in their software development careers? Prioritizing the project over people Poor task division Being hesitant with constructive criticism Not having one-on-one conversations The bottom line

What are the most common errors made by developers?

The software development landscape is challenging and constantly evolving, which is why even the most experienced developers make mistakes. However, certain common errors developers make can severely impact their career opportunities in software development. Moreover, these mistakes can even hamper the quality, security, and efficiency of the applications developers work on. Hence, developers should avoid these errors to be adept at their role. 

Not focusing on soft skills

 Writing clean code is no longer enough. As a developer, you may think that having a strong suit of technical skills will do the job. Well, that’s one of the most common mistakes in a software developer career path. Being able to thoroughly communicate with team members, stakeholders, and other organization members is key to understanding business objectives, speaking with clients, delivering quality products, and even improving your technical skillset through group discussions and learning.

The latest data also suggests that every developer needs soft skills—be it for their in-person or remote software jobs. As per West Monroe’s survey, 78 percent of recruiters actively seek IT professionals with robust soft skills. 43 percent of the surveyed HR professionals have also said that tech roles have become harder to fill as candidates lack good soft skills. Hence, you must hone your soft skills, along with your technical skills to secure your desired position and move ahead in your software development career. 

Not taking ownership of mistakes

More often than not, developers simply say, “It’s not in my code,” when a bug or error is found. This is a major mistake in the software development career path as it’s important to leave arrogance at the door. 

As a developer, you must take ownership of your mistakes to show professionalism, which will ultimately impress your manager. Irrespective of your responsibility for the mistake, your manager or team lead is sure to receive criticism from their higher authorities. Knowing that you stepped up, acknowledged the issue, and said you would go back and thoroughly evaluate your work to resolve the issue quickly will make a strong impression. Needless to say, maintaining such an attitude is critical to climbing up the ladder in your software development career.

Misunderstanding software requirements

When discussing the most common mistakes in your software development career, misunderstanding software requirements can’t be overlooked. That’s because many developers with little experience tend to do this when working on a project.

The penultimate goal of establishing a software specifications document ahead of time is to test the process and its results continuously against a user’s expectations. Since requirements are unique, developers must stick to them and ensure that the product matches what a user expects. However, misunderstanding the requirements and not checking them from time to time causes errors that can spread to the end of the SDLC (software development life cycle). 

Hence, at every stage of development, developers must thoroughly understand the requirements and verify them with the concerned stakeholders and end-users.

Not asking for help

Even the most seasoned developers can feel they’re at their wit’s end with certain projects in their software development career. Sometimes, you simply won’t know where to start on a new task or what you’re doing. Here, not asking for help and taking it upon yourself to get the task done will be simply counterproductive, as you may make costly mistakes or waste the team’s resources. 

Instead, reach out to your manager, team lead, or even coworkers. Chances are, someone in your organization has experience in what you’re doing and can guide you. Send them an email, drop by their desk, or ping them in a chat. Whatever the method, be respectful and tactful of their time as you request some guidance in tackling the project or task, and they will probably help you out.

Also, read: How to Simplify Code Complexity? Avoid These Complexity Pitfalls

What are some common mistakes managers make in their software development careers? 

Once you transition from an individual contributor to a team lead, like a software manager, you will quickly realize how the responsibilities change. Your job will involve dealing with multiple resources, technologies, and people, pushing you to tackle several tasks simultaneously. Thus, it’s not surprising that even effective engineering managers make occasional errors. However, knowing and avoiding these are key to being efficient in your role. Here are the most common mistakes you must avoid when working in software development manager jobs.

Prioritizing the project over the people

As a developer, your focus is streamlined on delivering projects and deadlines. This means ensuring committed deliveries to prove your mettle to your boss, team lead, or manager. 

However, once you become a manager yourself, carrying that mentality can be a brutal mistake in your software manager career. Yes, projects are indeed important. However, if you focus solely on them without worrying about the people working on them, you’re on the wrong path. 

As a manager, it’s your responsibility to not only meet project deadlines but also contribute to the individual growth of your team members. You must build them, connect with them, and understand their character traits to make project deliveries more natural and effective. Maintaining this people-first focus will allow you to grow your team members, connect with them deeper, and ensure seamless project deliveries for overall company growth. Automatically, being a manager with people-first focus will also help you be efficient in your role, allowing you to progress well in your software development career. 

Also, read: The 6 Best Project Management Tools for 2023

Poor task division 

One of the most vital software manager duties is properly delegating tasks within the software development team. If tasks aren’t divided well, the entire team can become counterproductive due to confusion, ultimately leading to poor product quality, compromised deadlines, and programmer burnout. 

Therefore, as a manager, you need to avoid poor task divisions to not make a harmful software development career mistake. For this, you must establish a strong control mechanism in your team to avoid delegation-related mistakes in development. Every team member should know what task they’re responsible for, and you must divide tasks based on their strengths. 

Being hesitant with constructive criticism

Not giving constructive feedback is one of the most common software manager mistakes. As a first-time manager, you may shy away from having candid conversations about a team member’s performance and providing them with constructive criticism. While not having the tough discussion may be the easy way out, it will ultimately result in your team’s poor performance and you being responsible for it. Instead, use these tips to deliver effective and constructive feedback, and avoiding this critical mistake in your software development career: 

• Earn their trust – Every great relationship is built on trust, and the same goes for the one between you and your team. Have one-on-one conversations and be yourself with your team members. Without trust, delivering criticism would be useless, as your team members won’t receive and work on it.
• Prepare for the session – It’s always a good idea to prepare before beginning a feedback session. Start with ensuring that you’re in the right mindset to have the conversation so that it doesn’t stray from what needs to be discussed. Next, check with the team member if it’s a good time for them to discuss the feedback. Offer to reschedule the session if they want to. Lastly, try to have this conversation as soon as possible.
• Discuss the problems jointly – Ensure that your constructive criticism doesn’t make it an ‘us vs. them’ discussion. The feedback session must involve both you and the recipient on the same side, jointly discussing the concerns. 
• Discuss expected outcomes – After viewing the situation holistically and agreeing on the concerns, you can discuss future expectations, which should include exploring actions to mitigate similar problems and one or two actionable items for the team member to work on.

Not having one-on-one conversations

As we mentioned earlier, having one-on-one conversations is a great way to build trust between you and your team members. However, many first-time managers consider this a waste of their time, which can not only hurt their software development career but also create a toxic work culture. 

As a manager, you are responsible for identifying blockers and clearing them, improving your team’s productivity, and ensuring it runs optimally. This will be possible when you thoroughly know your team members, and they trust you enough to discuss concerns.

Therefore, have regular one-on-one meetings with your team members. When you schedule the first one-on-one with each member, use it to explain why you’re scheduling the call and what your expectations are. Once these discussions become regular, you can check weekly how your team members are doing, if they’re facing bottlenecks, and how you can help them with their tasks. This will end up optimizing project cycles and ensuring timely deliveries consistently. 

Establish a ‘sharing culture’ by encouraging feedback to occur both ways. Ask your team members what they think about the one-on-ones, if they think you can improve, or if more topics should be covered in them. This way, you will learn more about the team members, establish trust, identify problems sooner, and boost engagement.

The bottom line

While there is no cookie-cutter approach to being an efficient software developer or manager, there are certain mistakes you must avoid to advance in your software development career. The errors we have shared above are some of the most common mistakes in software project management and development. Understanding and working on avoiding these errors can not only help you be an effective individual contributor, but also a robust leader who optimizes reportees to be a high-performing team. 

If you’re looking for high-quality software development jobs, apply at Turing. Choose from various high-paying remote software development jobs that can match you with top U.S. companies in just 4 easy steps. Click on the Apply for Jobs button below.

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