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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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

Core web vitals 

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! 

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.

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.

If you’re a developer, having a solid understanding of how to use an IDE can significantly improve your workflow and speed up your coding process. Different IDEs have various shortcuts and plugins to enhance the programming experience; for example, Eclipse shortcuts can assist Java developers in increasing productivity and speed while using Eclipse IDE for Java development.

In this blog, we will uncover some of the best Eclipse shortcuts and productivity tips that can help you save time and increase your coding efficiency. So, let’s get started!

What is Eclipse IDE used for?

Eclipse is a popular Java IDE for software development, specifically for Java language. It provides an integrated development environment for widely used languages and frameworks. Like other IDEs, it is well equipped with a built-in editor, debugger, and code control system.

It is open-source software with large support from the community.

How to install Eclipse IDE for Java? 

To install Eclipse IDE for Java on your system, follow these steps:

1. Download the latest version of Eclipse IDE.
2. Unzip the downloaded file.
3. Navigate to the unzipped directory → install the Eclipse by clicking the “.exe” eclipse file.
4. Once Eclipse is installed, you can launch it.
5. After launching the IDE, select a workspace directory where your projects will be stored.
6. The Eclipse will now open, and you can start creating your first Java project by creating “src” file and Java package.

Important: Latest versions of Eclipse require Java SDK for its run time environment, so make sure Java is already installed on your system before downloading the Eclipse IDE.

Latest Eclipse shortcuts

One of Eclipse’s most useful features is its keybindings/shortcuts, which make coding easier and faster. Here’re some of the most useful Eclipse shortcuts for Java developers.

1. Change case: If you have some text in lowercase and want to change it to uppercase, simply highlight it and hit Ctrl Shift X; for vice-versa, click Ctrl Shift Y.
   
   
2. Autocomplete: If you want to print something in Java, you can type “System.out.println” and click Ctrl + Space. The Eclipse will automatically complete the code and put the cursor in between the two parentheses; here, you can fill in the content you want to print.
   
   
3. Main Method: Enter “main” and press Ctrl + Space; the first proposal will be the primary technique choice. With this Eclipse shortcut, you can write the main method with only a few keystrokes.
   
   
4. Loops: Simply write the loop (for example, “for,” “while,” or “do”) and press Ctrl + Space. The Eclipse will present you with many loop options from which you can select one and enter the conditions.
   
   
5. Conditional statements: In Eclipse, constructing an if statement is as simple as starting a loop. Enter “if” and press Ctrl + Space. Select the conditional statement from the options presented.
   
   
6. Try-Catch block: Eclipse makes surrounding your code with a try-catch block easy. Simply choose the code covered by a try-catch and press Alt Shift Z; many alternatives will show up for enclosing the code, including a try-catch block.

Eclipse Shortcuts for code editing

Whether you want to comment out code or jump to a particular line rapidly, these Eclipse shortcuts for windows will make your code editing smooth.

1. Use Ctrl + / for commenting, uncommenting lines, and blocks
2. Ctrl + Shift + / shortcut is used for commenting and uncommenting lines with block comments.
3. Alt + ↑ + R for renaming class, variable, method (function), etc. 

To format your code

1. Select text, then Ctrl + Shift + F for formatting.
2. Selecting class and press F4 to see its Type hierarchy

To handle the files

1. You can use Ctrl + F4 or Ctrl + w to close the current file
2. Click Ctrl + Shift + W to close all files.
3. Ctrl + F to find/replace in file
4. Ctrl + H to find and replace in file, project, or directory.

To migrate in-between lines

1. Go to the line (line number): Ctrl + L
2. To delete the line: Ctrl + D 
3. Press Ctrl + Q to go to the last edited place
4. You can quickly shift a line or numerous lines of code up or down in your application. Simply move the line by using Alt + up or down arrows. (This allows you to place the code anywhere you wish in your software.)

Shortcuts for quick navigation in Eclipse

Navigate through the Eclipse environment with ease using these Eclipse shortcut keys. These shortcuts will navigate you in a jiffy from switching between editors to jumping to a specific feature/location.

1. Ctrl + 3: Quick access to any menu item or feature in Eclipse
2. Ctrl + Shift + T: Open a type quickly
3. Open a resource (e.g., file, image): Ctrl + Shift + R.
4. Ctrl + O: Quickly navigate to a method in the current class
5. Ctrl + 1: Shows available code actions and quick fixes
6. Quickly navigate to the superclass or implemented interface of the current type with Ctrl + T.
7. Ctrl + Shift + L: Used for “Show Key assist,” previously used for Quicksearch
8. Ctrl + Q: Quick navigation to the last edit location (last edited line).

Also, read Best VS Code Shortcuts and Productivity Hacks for 2023

Eclipse shortcuts for debugging

Debugging can be time-consuming, but with these Eclipse shortcuts, you can streamline the process and get to the root of the issue quickly.

Debug mode

1. F5 (Step into): This allows you to enter debug mode.
2. F6 (Step over): This assists in moving to the next line without leaving debug mode.
3. F7 (Step out): This allows you to step out/return to the current method/caller in debug mode.
4. F8 (Resume execution): This allows you to continue executing the program without stopping debugging.
5. F9 (Toggle breakpoint): This allows you to set or remove a breakpoint on the current line of code. A breakpoint will cause the program to stop executing and enter debug mode.

Application debugging

1. Ctrl + F11: Use this to run the last application opened.
2. F11: Run the program in debug mode, where you can step through the code and inspect variables.

Show Perspectives 

1. Ctrl + Shift + B: This opens the Breakpoints view, which displays all the breakpoints set in your workspace.
2. Ctrl + Alt + R: This opens the Debug Perspective, a special view that provides tools and information specifically for debugging.
3. Ctrl + ↑ + I: Inspect the value of a variable during debugging.

In sum

Eclipse has a strong community and many experienced Java developers for support. Having know-how of effective Eclipse shortcuts and productivity tips can help you in making your coding journey on this widely used IDE efficient. So, try them out and see the change in speed and productivity yourself.

Are you a software developer looking for remote Us jobs that offer high salaries and flexibility to work from anywhere? Top US companies are hiring with Turing. Apply now!

A service mesh is a configurable infrastructure layer for microservices applications that makes communication between service instances flexible, reliable, and fast. It provides features such as traffic management, service discovery, load balancing, failure recovery, and security between microservices. A service mesh operates at the application layer and manages communication between service instances in a distributed architecture, freeing developers from writing repetitive, low-level infrastructure code.

Also, read: What are Microservices? Understanding Architecture, Examples, and Best Practices for 2023

What are the benefits of using service mesh?

The benefits of using a service mesh include the following:

1. Improved reliability: A service mesh provides features like automatic retries, circuit breaking, and traffic management to improve the reliability of microservice communication.
2. Increased security: A service mesh can enforce security policies, such as encryption and authentication, between microservices.
3. Better observability: A service mesh provides a unified view of traffic between microservices, allowing for easier debugging and performance analysis.
4. Decoupled evolution: The service mesh abstracts communication between microservices, allowing individual microservices to evolve independently.
5. Reduced complexity: A service mesh reduces the complexity of microservice communication by centralizing standard functionality, such as load balancing and traffic management, into a standard infrastructure layer.
6. Easy to adopt: Service mesh implementation is usually transparent to the application and can be adopted gradually, minimizing the impact on existing microservices.

Also, read: 8 Microservices Data Management Patterns

What are the major challenges faced by the DevOps teams while deploying a service mesh?

The deployment of a service mesh can face several challenges, including:

1. Complexity: Service mesh can add complexity to an application, especially if the team is not familiar with the technology and its concepts.
2. Performance overhead: Service mesh can introduce additional latency and overhead due to the added layer of abstraction between microservices.
3. Integration with existing infrastructure: Service mesh needs to be integrated with existing infrastructure, such as load balancers, proxies, and firewalls, which can be challenging and time-consuming.
4. Skills and knowledge: Deploying and managing a service mesh requires a specialized set of skills and knowledge, which may not be available within the DevOps team.
5. Security considerations: Service mesh can bring security benefits, but it also introduces new security considerations, such as the management of encryption keys and access control.
6. Testing and validation: Service mesh can affect the behavior of microservices, requiring additional testing and validation to ensure that the application continues to function as expected.
7. Compatibility: Service mesh may not be compatible with all microservices and technologies, and may require significant modifications to be integrated successfully.

Overall, deploying a service mesh requires careful planning, testing, and consideration of the potential challenges to ensure a successful implementation.

Also, read: 4 Reasons to Learn DevOps in 2023

So, how can you deploy service mesh without the hassle?

Here are some best practices for deploying a service mesh without the hassle:

1. Plan ahead: Plan the deployment of the service mesh carefully, taking into account the size and complexity of the application, the available resources, and the team’s skills and knowledge.
2. Start small: Start with a small, simple deployment, and gradually increase the scope and complexity as the team becomes more familiar with the technology.
3. Evaluate different solutions: Evaluate different service mesh solutions to find the best fit for the application, taking into account features, performance, compatibility, and security considerations.
4. Integrate with existing infrastructure: Integrate the service mesh with existing infrastructure, such as load balancers, proxies, and firewalls, to ensure seamless integration and minimize the impact on the application.
5. Automate deployment and management: Automate the deployment and management of the service mesh to reduce the overhead and improve efficiency.
6. Foster a culture of collaboration: Foster a culture of collaboration between the DevOps and security teams to ensure that security considerations are taken into account throughout the deployment process.
7. Continuously monitor and optimize: Continuously monitor the performance of the service mesh and make optimizations as necessary to ensure that the application continues to perform well.

By following these best practices, teams can deploy a service mesh more smoothly, reducing the risk of issues and ensuring a successful implementation.

Benefits of using Configuration-as-Code in a GitOps approach

Using Configuration-as-Code (CAC) in a GitOps approach for service mesh deployment has several benefits:

1. Reproducibility: CAC makes it easier to recreate the service mesh configuration, making it easier to test, debug, and deploy the service mesh.
2. Version control: CAC allows for version control of the service mesh configuration, enabling teams to track changes over time and revert to previous versions if necessary.
3. Collaboration: CAC enables collaboration between members of the DevOps team, making it easier to share and review changes to the service mesh configuration.
4. Automation: CAC allows for the automation of the deployment process, reducing the risk of human error and improving the efficiency of the deployment process.
5. Better alignment with DevOps workflows: CAC aligns with the GitOps approach, which is a popular DevOps workflow that leverages Git for version control, collaboration, and automation.
6. Enforces consistency: CAC enforces a consistent configuration for the service mesh, reducing the risk of configuration drift and ensuring that the service mesh behaves as expected.

In conclusion, using CAC in a GitOps approach for service mesh deployment provides teams with a powerful tool for improving the efficiency, reliability, and consistency of the deployment process.

Also, read: 6 DevOps Best Practices to Know in 2023

How can you lower the cost of service mesh deployment by using Low-Cost Cloud CPUs?

Using low-cost cloud CPUs can help to reduce the cost of service mesh deployment in the following ways:

1. Economies of scale: Cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure offer a wide range of low-cost cloud CPUs, taking advantage of economies of scale.
2. Pay-as-you-go pricing: Most cloud providers offer pay-as-you-go pricing, which allows you to only pay for the resources you use, without having to make any upfront investments.
3. Spot instances: Cloud providers offer spot instances, which are spare computing capacity offered at a discounted rate, enabling you to save money on compute costs.
4. Right-sizing instances: By choosing the right instance type based on the resource requirements of the service mesh components, you can avoid over-provisioning and reduce costs.
5. Cost optimization tools: Many cloud providers offer cost optimization tools that can help you monitor and control your costs, making it easier to manage the cost of deploying a service mesh.

In conclusion, by taking advantage of low-cost cloud CPUs, teams can reduce the cost of deploying a service mesh, making it more affordable and accessible for organizations of all sizes.

What should you consider while choosing the control plane for Service Mesh?

When choosing a control plane for deploying a service mesh, there are several key factors to consider:

1. Compatibility: Make sure that the control plane is compatible with your service mesh technology and supports the features you need.
2. Ease of use: Choose a control plane that is intuitive and easy to use, to minimize the learning curve and reduce the time required for deployment.
3. Automation: Look for a control plane that automates as much of the deployment process as possible, reducing the risk of human error and improving the efficiency of the deployment.
4. Scalability: Consider the scalability of the control plane, to ensure that it can support your growing service mesh deployment.
5. Cost: Consider the cost of the control plane, including any licensing fees, and make sure it fits within your budget.
6. Support: Ensure that the control plane is backed by a reliable support team, to help you resolve any issues that may arise during deployment.
7. Integration with other tools: Consider the integration capabilities of the control plane, to ensure that it integrates with other tools and services you are using.

In conclusion, by carefully considering these factors, you can choose the right control plane for deploying your service mesh, improving the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of the deployment process.

To summarize: Deploying service mesh is a complex process but can provide significant benefits

Service mesh offers a plethora of benefits such as improved reliability, scalability, and security. The complexity of the deployment does make it a challenging process. But, by using Configuration-as-Code in GitOps, choosing the right control plane, and ensuring a positive experience for developers, one can overcome the challenges of deploying a service mesh. 

Are you a software developer looking for a remote DevOps job? Try Turing! Get hired by top US companies and get paid in dollars while working from the comfort of your home. 

As a developer, having the right tools at your disposal is essential. Visual Studio Code, or VS Code, is one such application that has become popular amongst developers. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, VS Code is the editor that can fulfill every demand. Its flexibility and customization options make it a versatile tool that can be tailored to fit your specific needs.

Also, read: 7 Popular Front-End Tools to Check Out

However, having a product that can be customized for every line of code can sometimes be overwhelming. This blog post will help simplify the essential productivity hacks for VS Code to help you work more efficiently. We’ll review everything you need to know, from VS Code shortcuts to extensions and settings. So, whether you want to increase your productivity, improve your workflow, or simply learn new tactics and insights, this blog has you covered.

What is VS code used for?

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a robust, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It supports multiple programming languages and offers features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging, which ease the process of writing and testing code. 

VS Code’s popularity arises from its ability to handle various software development activities such as web development, app development, and data science. Furthermore, its flexibility via plugins and extensions enables customization and optimization to fit unique project needs.

How do you VS Code effectively?

First and foremost, keeping track of official VS Code documentation for finding the updated VS Code shortcuts and tips is crucial; this can help you stay updated with the helpful practices you can follow to boost your productivity.

Another critical part of properly utilizing VS Code is learning how to navigate the UI. For this,  you need to understand the various aspects of the interface, such as the editor, sidebar, and status bar, and know how to use VS code keyboard shortcuts (which we will go over in more detail later).

Additionally, you can use features like IntelliSense for smart completions based on variable types, function definitions, and imported modules to write code more efficiently.

Also, read: Looking for Software Developer Jobs? Learn to Write Clean Code First

Each project in VS Code can be tailored according to your own requirements. You can customize most things, like

• Add your preferred color scheme
• Alter the text size. 
• Reorganize the interface’s structure.

What are some popular VS Code shortcuts? How do you use these VS Code shortcuts? 

Let’s dive in and learn about shortcuts and productivity hacks in detail!

The almighty command palette

Command palette is a powerful tool that allows you to access various commands and settings in VS Code quickly and easily. Press Ctrl + Shift + P to navigate through the command palette and perform the regular and complex functions. You can instantly access a variety of bindings and Visual Studio Code shortcuts that will make your workflow more effective by utilizing the command palette.

For example, you can use the command palette to open recently opened files without navigating through multiple directories in the file explorer. Additionally, you can use the command palette to start typing a file name and quickly find it within your project. This practice can save you time and make your work more streamlined.

Use VS Code keyboard shortcuts  

VS Code Shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts

VS Code has a wide range of keyboard shortcuts to help you explore, modify, and organize your code more effectively. 

Using the mouse to perform regular tasks is appealing due to VS Code’s enticing GUI. But using the keyboard to perform the same functions is recommended because it is faster, efficient, and having your hands on the keyboard more than the mouse makes you a cool developer that everybody wants to hang around.

To traverse around the entire VS code, utilize the command palette (Ctrl + Shift + P). This can help you leave the mouse and rely more on the keyboard because everything can be managed via the single navigation bar in VS Code.

Here are the prominent VS Code keyboard shortcuts.

Best VS Code extensions to increase productivity

VS Code has a large library of extensions that can add new functionality to the editor, such as language support, debugging tools, and productivity enhancements. These add-ons transform VS Code into a robust IDE.

Quokka VS Code extension

Quokka VS code extension

Quokka is a real-time coding tool that lets developers see the outcomes of their code as they type it. It is very beneficial for testing code, and it can save developers a significant amount of time. Quokka is remarkable because it executes your JavaScript or TypeScript code in the background and then inserts the output straight into your editor.

Auto Rename Tag VS Code extension

Auto Rename Tag VS Code extension

This extension enables developers to rename HTML and XML document tags quickly. It saves time and decreases the possibility of errors. When you update the beginning tag, this plugin will automatically rename the closing tag, and it can function in languages other than HTML.

Also, read: Top 21 HTML Interview Questions and Answers for 2023

JS Doc Extension of VS Code 

This extension assists developers in inserting JSDoc comments into their JavaScript code. It includes a set of templates and VS Code shortcuts to help you document code faster and more efficiently. The link tag can be used to link to other symbols in your source code.

Also, read: 10 JavaScript Interview Questions and Answers You Must Know

Remote SSH VS code extension

Remote SSH VS code extension

Remote SSH helps programmers access servers and containers from a remote location. It is beneficial while working on projects hosted on distant servers or containers.

Paste as JSON VS code extension 

Paste as JSON VS code extension

This plugin makes it simple for developers to insert JSON data into their programs. It formats the JSON automatically, making it easier to read and comprehend.

Integrated terminal 

The integrated terminal in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a powerful feature that enables developers to perform command-line commands directly from the VS Code interface. It can be used to compile code, run tests, and manage version control systems such as Git.

One of the primary advantages of the integrated terminal is that it allows developers to work on both code and command-line operations in the same environment rather than jumping between distinct apps. Use VS Code shortcut: Ctrl + ~ or click on View → Terminal to open the integrated terminal.

To start a new terminal, use the shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + ~, and to concentrate on the terminal, use Ctrl + ~. One lesser-known approach is to divide the terminal into different panes using Ctrl + Shift + 5 and navigate to different panes using Ctrl + > or <.

Multiple terminals can also be launched simultaneously, allowing you to perform different commands concurrently. Overall, the integrated terminal in VS Code is a strong and adaptable tool that may significantly improve your development process.

Git Integration 

Git is a version control system that enables developers to monitor changes to their code over time and interact with other developers working on the same codebase. It enables developers to generate and maintain various versions of code, known as branches, and merge them once they are complete.

Visual Studio Code Git integration allows developers to do Git tasks such as committing, pushing, pulling, and branching within the editor. For example, Git integration in VS Code allows developers to manage their code repositories within the editor, speeding the development process and boosting team cooperation.

Some handy VS Code shortcuts for Git integration include “CTRL+SHIFT+G” (or “CMD+SHIFT+G” on Mac) to access the Source Control panel and “CTRL+SHIFT+9” (or “CMD+SHIFT+9” on Mac) to toggle the Git lens on the left sidebar. 

One lesser-known technique is that Git integration can be used to generate and switch between different branches, making it simple to work on numerous features or bug fixes simultaneously.

Use the VS Code debugger effectively

The Visual Studio Code debugger is a powerful tool that can help you increase productivity by allowing you to analyze and debug your code easily. One of the key features of the debugger is the ability to set breakpoints, which pause the execution of your code at specific lines and allow you to inspect variables.

To address the topic, “How to debug effectively in Visual Studio,” here are some strategies you can use.

• Use “breakpoints” to halt code execution and analyze variables at specific lines. To set a breakpoint, click to the left of the line number in the editor or press F9 while the cursor is on the line.
• To keep track of individual variables during debugging, use the “Watch” window: press Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + D (macOS) to launch the “Watch” window and add variables to it.
• To understand the execution path of your code, open the “Call Stack” window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + C (macOS).
• Use “Step Over” to run the current line of code and advance to the next by clicking F10.
• By pressing F11, you can jump into a function or method and debug it line by line (Step Into). Press Shift + F11 to quit the current function or method and return to the calling function (Step Out). F5 will restart the execution of your code (Continue). 
• To switch between debugging environments, access “Debug” settings by pressing Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + D (Mac) (macOS). 
• Depending on the language, you can use the “threads” command to display all threads and the “thread” command to switch to a single thread, and then use all other commands as usual to debug multi-threaded debugging.

In sum: what are the benefits of using VS Code shortcuts?

Incorporating productivity hacks into your daily tasks can be a game changer for you as a coder. You can get the most out of the editor by customizing your workspace, using and creating VS Code shortcuts, and employing extensions. The tips and tricks above can help you become more productive with VS Code. 

If you want to take your software development career to the next level, we can help you. We connect top developer brains like you with remote jobs in top US-based companies. Click on the Apply for Jobs button to know more. 

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If technology has always fascinated you, the IT industry may be a great place to start or grow your career. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the field or looking to switch roles within the industry, it’s important to understand the different types of IT jobs available and the ones in high demand in 2023. Keep reading to learn more.

Types of IT jobs

The information technology industry has various roles and areas of expertise. These roles and responsibilities can be subcategorized into the following categories: 

1. Cybersecurity: This field is dedicated to keeping organizational and user data secure and implementing preventative measures to minimize harm in the event of a security breach.
   Related post: Top 10 Cyber Security Jobs in 2023
2. IT infrastructure: This area focuses on the design, planning, and implementation of IT-related hardware on an organization-wide level.
3. IT support: This refers to the professionals who assist end users and other IT support specialists with day-to-day technical issues.
4. Software development: Software development is a programming-focused branch of IT that involves creating or modifying software applications to meet the needs of users.
5. Data management: Professionals in this field focus on designing structured database systems, creating data-loss contingency plans, and analyzing gathered data.

These are the major categories of IT jobs and roles. But, one should know that sometimes, there can be an overlap between these categories. For eg, someone who has an in-depth knowledge of cybersecurity can help in creating an IT infrastructure. Now, let’s take a look at the 5 trending IT roles in 2023.

5 trending information technology jobs in 2023

1. Software developers

   Software developers are responsible for designing, creating, testing, and maintaining software applications and systems. Software developer roles are one of the top in-demand IT roles in 2023. They use a variety of programming languages and tools to write clean code, troubleshoot issues, and optimize software performance.
   
   Duties of software developers may include: 
   
   
   • Analyzing user requirements and determining the feasibility of a software solution
   • Collaborating with other developers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure software meets specifications
   • Debugging and troubleshooting software issues
   • Maintaining and updating existing software systems
   • Documenting software design and development process
   • Designing, developing, and testing software code
   • Continuously learning new programming languages and tools to stay current with industry trends and developments.
     
     Software developers often specialize in a particular area of development, such as web, mobile, or game development. They may also specialize in a specific programming language or platform, such as Java, C#, or Python.
     

2. Computer network engineers

   Computer network architects, also known as network engineers or network architects, are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the computer networks of an organization. They ensure that the network infrastructure is reliable, secure, and able to meet the needs of the organization.
   
   Duties of computer network architects or network engineers may include:
   
   
   • Analyzing the organization’s current and future network needs
   • Designing and planning the network infrastructure, including hardware and software components
   • Configuring and installing network hardware and software
   • Managing and maintaining network security, including firewalls and intrusion detection systems
   • Troubleshooting network issues and resolving problems
   • Managing network performance and optimizing network resources
   • Knowing about the industry trends and having knowledge of the latest technologies
   • Collaborating with other IT professionals and vendors to ensure the network meets the needs of the organization
     
     Computer network architects are often specialized in a specific type of network, such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), or cloud networks. They also may be specialized in a specific technology, such as Cisco, or Juniper, or networking protocols such as TCP/IP, BGP, or OSPF.
     

3. Computer support specialists

   Computer support specialists, also known as technical support specialists, help individuals and organizations with technical problems related to computer systems, software, and hardware. They provide technical assistance, troubleshoot and resolve issues, and answer questions related to computer systems and applications.
   
   Computer support specialists are responsible for:
   
   
   • Providing technical assistance to customers or clients via phone, email, or in-person
   • Troubleshooting and diagnosing technical issues related to computer systems and software
   • Providing step-by-step instructions for resolving technical issues
   • Maintaining and updating records of customer interactions and support requests
   • Escalating complex technical issues to higher-level support staff
     Collaborating with other IT professionals to resolve more complex technical issues
     
     Computer support specialists may be specialized in a specific type of technology or industry, such as desktop support, help desk, or technical support for a specific software or hardware vendor.
     

4. IT product managers

   IT product managers are responsible for the development and success of technology products and services within an organization. They act as the link between the technical and business aspects of product development and play a key role in the strategic planning, development, and marketing of products.
   
   Related post: 6 Tips to Scale Design Team: A Guide for Product Managers
   
   IT product managers perform the following duties:
    
   • Identifying market opportunities and defining product vision and strategy
     
   • Gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements
     
   • Collaborating with cross-functional teams, such as engineering, design, and marketing, to develop and launch new products
     
   • Defining and communicating product roadmaps and plans to stakeholders
     
   • Analyzing market trends and competitor activity to inform product development
     
   • Manage the whole product development life cycle, from design to the end-of-life
     
   • Collaborating with sales, marketing, and customer support teams to ensure successful product
     
   • positioning and go-to-market strategies
     
   • Analyzing product performance and making data-driven decisions to improve product performance
     
     IT product managers often have a background in technology, business, or a related field, and have a good understanding of the industry and market trends. They have to work closely with different teams and stakeholders, so they need to have strong communication and collaboration skills.

5. Web developers

   IT web developers are responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining websites and web applications. They use a variety of programming languages and technologies to build and implement web solutions that meet the needs of users and organizations.
   
   Their duties may include:
   
   
   • Analyzing user requirements and determining the feasibility of a web solution
   • Designing, developing, and testing web pages and applications using languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and others
   • Collaborating with other developers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure web solutions meet specifications
   • Debugging and troubleshooting web development issues
   • Maintaining and updating existing web solutions
   • Optimization of web pages for maximum speed output and scalability
   • Ensuring cross-browser compatibility and mobile responsiveness
   • Continuously learning new web development trends and technologies to stay current with industry developments
     
     Web developers may specialize in a particular area of development, such as front-end, back-end, or full-stack development. They also may specialize in a specific programming language or framework, such as React, Angular, or Ruby on Rails.

So, these are the top trending IT jobs and roles in 2023. If you want to apply for such IT roles, ensure that you create a strong portfolio, practice tech resume writing and build a great resume, and learn the skills required for the roles that you’re applying for.

Do your research and learn about the company you’re interested in. 

Have you come across a job opening and want to send an email to the employer? Click here to know how to write a job application email.

Did you know? 

IT industry is facing a tech talent shortage across the globe. Top US companies are looking for talented IT professionals to work for them remotely. In return, they are offering high compensation, work-life balance, and flexible timings. But how? Through Turing. Once you become a Turing developer, you never have to look for another job. Visit the Apply for Jobs page and become a Turing developer today. 

Today, automation has taken over every aspect of technology. Subsequently, software testing trends have also evolved to keep pace. Tech stacks like Selenium with Python have made automation easier for scraping, iteration, or testing applications. Manual testing of software serves its purpose in small-scale projects. However, testing teams need to run a huge number of cross-functional tests for large-scale application development and frequent updates. This is where the power of Python and frameworks like Selenium for automation comes in handy.

In this blog post, we will go through the step-by-step process of automated testing by using Selenium with Python.

What is Selenium?

Selenium is a free, open-source automation testing suite for web applications across different browsers and platforms. Selenium is a framework that allows you to interact with HTML elements from any website. With Selenium, we can interact with the elements rather than just extracting information from a webpage. 

For example, we can run automated scripts to test various web app components using Selenium. Selenium works with any major programming language, including Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, and others.

Also, read: Popular Selenium Interview Questions and Answers for 2023

What is Python?

Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Python has become one of the most popular programming languages in the world in recent years. 

In the automation kingdom, Python language is like a lord, ruling the code peasants and turning complex snippets of automation into simple functions. Developers find Python to be an automation wizard because of the following reasons.

Also, read: 8 Python Interview Questions Hiring Managers Love Asking Developers

• Ease of learning for professionals as well as beginners
• Less code, more tasks, which is very important for complex programs like test automation
• Rich libraries with useful modulus to automate (literary) anything.

Below, we will perform basic-level front-end tests using Selenium with Python.

Getting started

First, you’ll need to install Python on your system (Windows/Mac OS/Linux). For this tutorial, we’ll be using Windows.

Install Selenium in Python

If you use the command line prompt, run the python command to get started. If you’re using an IDE, simply create a new Python file.

Use the “pip” command in your terminal to install the Selenium package for Python. 

Using pip command

Download web driver

Selenium works with all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Edge. We are using Chrome for this tutorial. 

Check the web browser version you’re using before downloading the web driver.

>> To find the version of Chrome, you can go to help → About Google Chrome and find the Chrome version. 

Find the version of Chrome

Go to the Chrome web driver website. Here, you can find the version of Chrome that you are using and then click the corresponding version of the Chrome web driver. 

Choose the option for the system you’re using and make sure to download the zip file for your system solely; otherwise, it might lead to misunderstanding. 

Once downloaded, extract the file and place it in a specific location on the operating system. 

We recommend placing it in the safe directory, which is not often accessed like ‘Program files’ in C-disk. 

Now we have everything in place, let’s connect our script with the web browser.

Connecting Selenium with Python and browser

To test Selenium installation, type ‘import Selenium’ in a Python window or Python script. If you don’t get any errors, you’re good to proceed. 

1. Let’s import the necessary modules:
   
   

   Importing necessary modules

   webdriver: This built-in Selenium package function drives the actions; it connects our script to the browser and can do all the actions we describe. 

2. Create an object (every variable created in Python becomes an object) and add the path to the Chrome driver file as an attribute.

   

   Create an object

   Use the command’ webdriver.Chrome()’. The location of the Chrome driver’s “exe” file must be specified in this command.

3. After this, we can use the ‘driver.get()’ command to open any website.
   
   

   Open any website

   
   Your browser should automatically open the site URL when you run the script.

4. Add another attribute to print out the title of the webpage.

   Print

   The output should be something like this.

   Output

If you run into any issues, simply repeat the previous steps. 

(Tip: When executing any module, do not save the file with the module name; otherwise, a ‘circular import error’ may occur.)

So, this is how we connect Selenium, Python, and the web browser. Now, let’s run a basic test to see how we can alter various components of the product’s front-end.

Automated test: Selenium with Python

Now that we have all the prerequisites and have tested them to ensure they are working properly, we can begin working on the website’s components using Selenium with Python. 

Selenium provides a plethora of methods for interacting with HTML components. We are engaging with the search query here to provide input and test the keys. Any clickable elements (buttons, forms, pointers) on the webpage can interact with Selenium’s built-in functions. 

1. First, import the required modules and functions to run the testing.
   
   

   Import the required modules

2. Assign the object to the web driver and provide the URL.
   
   

   Assign the object

   It will load the webpage, and we can now interact with the elements using the “find element by*” function.
   In the method mentioned above, you can inspect and find the HTML element with which you want to interact.
3. This will write or post whatever we want in that section.
   
   

   search_field

4. It will activate that section’s specified key (enter, search, or any other).

   Activate the section’s specified key

As you can see, we searched for distinct elements (id, class) for each of our functions; Selenium gives various choices for interacting with items based on their nature.

However, using the “id” is encouraged because “id” is unique for each element. We can import the time package and add delays between the tasks to see the progression.

Here is an example of the complete code for our testing.

Selenium with Python: Example

It will navigate to the official page of Wikipedia, wait 3 seconds, then access the search box by its “id” and fill it with the text “Selenium Framework,” then identify the search button by its class name and click it using Selenium’s built-in function “click.”

We can also view the results on our terminal by using the print function.

• The ability to harness the various modules and frameworks available in the Python environment is one of the primary benefits of utilizing Selenium with Python. 
• Testers can use the PyTest framework to develop and execute Selenium tests or the Behave library to write tests in Gherkin syntax, which allows for smoother interaction with non-technical stakeholders. 
• Another benefit of using Selenium with Python is its ease of integrating it with other tools and services. 

Testers can use Selenium with the Jenkins continuous integration platform to automatically test tests as part of their build process. They can use it in combination with cloud-based testing platforms to run tests on various browsers and operating systems.

Selenium with Python

Different types of Selenium automation testing

Let’s look at the different types of Selenium automation testing below. 

Regression testing

This test reruns already finished tests to check that codebase modifications have not generated new problems or regressions. 

As opposed to executing these tests manually, Selenium can automate the execution of a suite of regression tests.

Functional testing

This test ensures that an application functions properly and meets the requirements set out for it. 

Selenium can automate the execution of functional tests by mimicking user activities such as button clicks and form filling and ensuring that the application reacts as intended.

Integration testing

Integration testing ensures that different components of software programs work when linked together. 

Selenium can automate the execution of integration tests by simulating application usage involving several software components. 

Performance testing

Performance testing ensures that the software can manage the predicted load and amount of traffic. 

Selenium can perform performance testing by emulating many user activities and evaluating the application’s response time.

Cross-browser testing

The cross-browser test checks if an online application works properly on various web browsers. 

Selenium can organize the execution of tests on many browsers, guaranteeing that the application works in various browser environments.

Drawbacks of Selenium

• Dealing with dynamic web pages, where the page layout or content may vary based on user interactions or other circumstances, is a common challenge for Selenium.
  
  Such testing can be difficult and time-consuming and may necessitate adopting additional tools or procedures to achieve complete coverage. 
  
  
• Another concern with Selenium is the upkeep of test scripts. As the application under test evolves, the test scripts may need to be modified to keep up.
  
  It can be a substantial load for testers, especially if the test suite is extensive and the application is constantly updated.

End-note

Overall, Selenium is a useful tool for testing online applications, and Selenium with Python makes it particularly appealing to testers who prefer to work in a familiar language. 

Despite its shortcomings, Selenium is widely used in the business and has a large community of users and developers continually striving to improve and extend the software.

If you’re a software developer confident in your tech stack, Turing has a wide pool of remote opportunities for you. Click on the Apply for Jobs button and land your dream remote job today.

Sending a job application email is a quick and convenient way to make a lasting impression on hiring managers and differentiate yourself from a sea of applicants. Let’s take a look at what is considered a good job application email and how to write a job application email that can you make you stand out.

What is a job application email?

A job application email is a quick and easy way to present your skills to an employer. Generally, a job application email consists of an explanation of the purpose of the email, an attached resume, and a cover letter, explaining why you have the potential to be a great hire.

A simple job application email format should include:

1. An email body with a clear explanation of who you are, the job role you’re applying for, and your qualifications
2. An attached resume with relevant work experience and required certifications
3. Cover letter explaining why you’d be a great fit for the job 
4. Your contact information, so that the employer can reach out to you

Also, read: 4 Tips to Build A Great Resume and Get Hired

Writing an email to apply for a job is rather tricky because you need to make sure that the email content is striking enough to catch the recruiter’s eye. Your email application needs to impress the recruiter and drive them to consider you for the role. 

Job application email subject: Write one that gets your email opened

Here’s the thing: your email is only as good as your subject line. Your job application email subject line can make or break your chances. In other words, the subject line on your email informs the recruiter whether or not to open your email at all. So make sure to be clear and concise here.

The best way to do this is by simply stating your name and the job role you’re applying for.
Example: 

• Jon Doe- Application for Senior Front-End Developer 

• Application: Junior Python Developer, Jane Doe
• Senior Django Developer Application: Karl Max

How to write a job application email that works?

To write a successful job application email, you have to remember that this email is the first impression you’re making on the employer. So be mindful of the language you use, the attachments you add, and the overall tone of the message. 

The tone of your message should be informational, so keep the contents professional and straightforward. You can make things easier for yourself by considering the mail body as a brief sales pitch for yourself.

Here are a few things to consider if you want to nail your job application email in the first go:

1. Address the employer/recruiter
   

   Make sure to properly address the hiring manager, a simple ‘Hello’ can take your message from being cold and impersonal to be friendly. Take the extra step, and mention the hiring manager by name. However, if you don’t know the name, a direct “Good Morning/Afternoon”, or “Hello” can also be used to start the mail

2. Introduce yourself and the purpose of writing the email within the first paragraph

   Get straight to the point! You may think it a bit abrupt to immediately move towards business, however, recruiters are busy people, and pleasantries would only take up more of their time. Immediately introduce yourself and explain why you’re writing the email.

3. Explicitly mention the job position you’re interested in

   Companies often have numerous vacancies at the same time. Therefore, it is always great to explicitly specify the position you’re applying for. Make sure to clearly state the job role, and where you found the vacancy, i.e., a job board, company website, or even through a colleague. This would help the recruiter understand how familiar you are with the job requirements. Also, read: 5 Tips to Increase Your Chances of Matching With Top US Jobs.

4. Move on to your educational qualifications and relevant work experience
   

   Once you’ve established your purpose, move on to explaining why you’d make a great hire. Mention your educational qualifications, and talk about previous job roles and projects you’ve undertaken. You can even point them toward an attached portfolio here. Remember, this is where you need to make a case for yourself.

5. Sign off with your contact details
   

   Once you’ve clearly stated your merits and what makes you a good hire, sign off with a friendly and concise statement. Something along the lines of “Hoping to hear back from you soon”, or “Looking forward to your reply,” would work. After this make sure to add your contact details- use the Name/ Number/ LinkedIn Profile format.
   
   Example:
   Regards,
   Jon Doe
   +123 456789
   www.linkedin.com/profile

6. Attach your resume, relevant certifications, and other material
   

   Once you’ve signed off, go ahead with the attachments. Adding your resume with detailed work experience and project information is a must. Additionally, you can also attach a cover letter, relevant certifications, and/or a portfolio of your work. Make sure the documents you attach are updated and help back up your qualifications, education, and work experience. Also, read: 7 Ways to Write A Great Software Developer Cover Letter

7. Proofread the email
   

   Go through the entire email once again. Check for mistaken dates, left-out experiences, or even simple spelling errors. Remember, you’ll need to fine-comb this email as it will be the very first impression you make on your prospective employers. Additionally, you can save a draft and send yourself a copy to see if the alignment is correct, and the email is displayed the way you want it to.

8. Hit “send” and prepare to follow-up
   

   Once you’ve gone through the above-mentioned steps, hit send. Don’t obsess over tiny details or overthink your content. At the end of the day, you’re human and allowed to make mistakes. Wait for the reply to come, however, if it takes more than a week, it is recommended to take a follow-up. In a lot of cases recruiters are busy with an influx of applications, so follow up on your job application before leaving things up to fate. 

Job application email attachments: What should you include? 

Attachments can be a confusing aspect of job application emails. The simplest thing to do here would be to go through the job description and attach the requested files. Be mindful of the formats specified, for example- see if the JD mention .docx files, PDFs, or other specific file extensions. 

Generally, a job application email attachment should include the following: 

• Resume: Attach your resume with updated personal details, education, previous work experience, projects, and certifications.
• Cover letter: You can skip the cover letter if you’ve mentioned the same information in the email body. However, if you have a more elaborate version of how your goals align with your prospective employers, make sure to add a cover letter attachment.
• Portfolio samples: A portfolio is your best marketing tool. Work samples will quickly inform the hiring manager of your prowess and skill set. Make sure to put your best foot forward here and attach your best work samples.

Job application email template

Still not sure about writing your own email job application? Refer to the following template to keep things simple: 

To: [Recipient’s email address]

Subject: Application for [Job title]: Your name

Salutation: Hello Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Name of the recipient]

Email body:

Within the first paragraph introduce yourself and the purpose of writing the email, and mention the job position you’re applying for. Mention where you found the advertisement or how you heard about the job. Get straight to the point! Introduce yourself and elaborate on why you’re interested in the job role.

In the second paragraph, move on to your educational qualifications, skills, and relevant work experience. Once you’ve established your eligibility, move on to explaining why you’d make a great hire. 

In the third paragraph, talk about previous job roles and projects you’ve undertaken. You can even point the recruiter toward an attached portfolio here. Make a case for yourself by showing what your skills are worth.

In the closing paragraph, you can inform the hiring manager/ recruiter that you’re looking forward to hearing from them, then make sure to thank them for their time. 

Sign off with a salutation like “Regards” or “Sincerely”. 

Use the Name/ Number/ LinkedIn Profile format here.

Job application email example

A job application by an experienced professional may look something like this: 

To: jondoe@email.com

Subject: Jane Abbot – Application for Senior Front-End Developer

Hello Jon,

This is regarding a recent call for Senior Front-End Developer posted on your company website. I am a Front-End Developer with over 1 year of experience in the field and 3+ years of experience running and managing my own projects and teams. 

I hold a Major in Web Development from Cornell University, I’m proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and hold in-depth knowledge of Website Design, User Experience, Client-Side Development, and Systems Administration. I have worked with and managed teams at several high-ranking companies in US, France, and Germany. 

I am attaching a portfolio- which would include previous projects and their business impacts, a comprehensive cover letter, and a CV for your perusal. Please feel free to connect with me via email or phone if you require any more information.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon. 

Thank you.

Regards,

Jane Abbot

011 1234567

Also, read: 10 Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews

In sum

Writing a job application via email is a huge undertaking especially since email applications have increasingly become the norm. Hence, knowing how to write a job application email, especially a good one, is no longer optional. Although writing job application emails can be a hard task, with these tips you can create an exceptional one in minutes. Remember, you are drafting your own story and with the right approach you can create a lasting impression on your prospective employer! 

Are you a software developer looking for remote US software jobs with great compensation, career growth, and work-life balance? Try Turing. Head over to the Apply for Jobs page to know more. 

The software development industry is valued at around $260 billion and is expected to grow beyond $700 billion by 2026. But which software development trends will rule 2023? Let’s take a look at the five key trends that are set to dominate this year. Keep reading till the end as we answer a much-debated question: will remote work continue for software developers in 2023?

1. The rise of Web 3.0

   As opposed to Web 2.0, Web 3.0 aims to adopt technologies such as machine learning, AI, blockchain, etc. to enhance the user experience. It is also aimed to give more control to the user over their data usage and visibility. Some major benefits of Web 3.0 are
   • The platforms on Web 3 will not be centralized. This means that the data won’t be in the control of a single authority or database. Web 3 will rely on a global network to ensure that no one person or authority can disrupt it. This feature will prevent the hacking of data. 
   • Web 3 will allow users to get paid for the data they share with various platforms. This feature will incentivize users to share their data while helping businesses to be more transparent about their data policies. 
   • Web 3 will be highly beneficial for the insurance sector. Currently, the insurance sector struggles with major issues: incomplete information about the customers, claim settlements, false claims, etc. Web 3.0 is transparent and decentralized, which can help in curbing false claims. Since Web 3 will allow peer-to-peer sharing of data, the chances of data getting hampered by middlemen or some authorities will be reduced to a great extent.
   • The data on social media platforms will be more secure and safe as users will have enhanced control over the data they share on these platforms.
     

2. Blockchain will gain momentum

   While the crypto market has seen its ups and downs, blockchain tech is steadily growing popular. With a high potential of transforming industries such as healthcare, finance, etc., blockchain will be one of the most sought-after technologies in 2023.
   
   Let’s take a look at some of the major advantages offered by blockchain:
   • The data once stored on the blockchain cannot be altered, replaced, or deleted. This feature is known as immutability. And thus, using blockchain technology can help prevent data tampering within the network. 
   • Blockchain technology offers transparency. A member of the blockchain can access any record on it due to decentralization.
   • No single authority is in control of blockchain technology. Thus, it is free of censorship and no authority can exercise its powers with this technology.
   • It is easy to trace any changes in the network as blockchain creates an irreversible audit trail. 
   • Data is encrypted, end to end. Thus, your data is secure on the blockchain network. 
   • The process of transactions on the blockchain is highly efficient and free of human error.
     

3. Kubernetes adoption will skyrocket

   Google developed Kubernetes in 2014 and later donated to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. According to a survey by Statista, over 60 percent of organizations have adopted Kubernetes in 2022. This number is going to increase in 2023. Kubernetes, also known as K8s, is an open-source technology used to manage container technology for cloud computing. It has a vast community of professional coders worldwide that support Kubernetes.
   
   Related post: 7 Reasons Kubernetes Is Important for DevOps
   
   Here are the major benefits of adopting Kubernetes:
   • Kubernetes increases the efficiency of DevOps. With container integration and access to different cloud services, Kubernetes makes the process of development, testing, and deployment easier. 
   • Kubernetes offers increased portability due to the small container size. What’s more, there is very less chance of vendor lock-in. 
   • Using Kubernetes, developers can schedule and automate the deployment of containers across multiple computer nodes. As the demand rises, Kubernetes can automatically scale the deployment.
   • Kubernetes is an open-source tool with a large community to support its innovation and development. 
   • Due to automation, Kubernetes offers the best use of the resources and overall savings on ecosystem management.
     

4. DevSecOps will grow exponentially

   DevSecOps is the term used to describe the collaboration of development, security, and operations. Since security is a major concern and area of focus for businesses around the globe in the coming time, DevSecOps is all set to grow tremendously. Do you know? DevSecOps market evaluation was $2.59 billion in 2021. This value is expected to reach $23.16 billion in 2029, with a CAGR of 31.50 percent. DevSecOps is supposed to introduce security measures at an early stage of the software development life cycle (SLDC).
   
   Some of the major benefits of DevSecOps are:
   
   
   • Developers have great control over monitoring security threats at the very beginning of a life cycle.
     
   • Since the security gets deployed in the early stages, the delivery time of the life cycle decreases. Thus, the software development process becomes more efficient.
     
   • In case of a security breach, the recovery time is reduced with the help of DevSecOps. 
     
   • DevSecOps supports transparency of the whole software development process, right from the beginning. 

5. Artificial intelligence will become prevalent

   

   Revenue for the global AI software market

   AI is becoming more and more affordable and accessible. The AI software market is projected to garner a revenue of over $100 billion by the year 2025. AI can complete complex tasks which humans cannot handle. This is why AI adoption is increasing on a much larger scale, with organizations across the globe adopting it. Let’s take a look at the major benefits of AI:
   
   
   • AI reduces human error to a great extent. As AI analyzes previous information and uses algorithms to take decisions, there is very little scope for human error. 
   • As opposed to humans, AI is available round the clock. It can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, without taking a break. 
   • The decisions made by AI are unbiased. Unlike humans, AI can’t get affected by emotions, situations, etc while making a decision.

Also, read AI vs ML vs Deep Learning

So, these are the major trends in the software development industry that we’ll be witnessing this year. But wait, we are still to answer the question: is remote work going to continue in 2023?

The answer is yes! Remote work is here to stay!

While the whole world is going through a tech talent crunch, companies are now expanding their horizons for hiring new tech talent. Companies are readily adopting remote work as it allows them to hire from a global talent pool. This switch to remote is also helping companies lower their hiring expenditure. 

That being said, top US companies are hiring remote software developers. Are you a talented software developer looking for a high-paying remote US job? Try Turing. Turing jobs offer fantastic compensation and long-term career growth. Head to Turing’s Apply for Jobs page to know more.

Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration system for automating software deployment, scaling, and management. The search engine giant, Google, originally designed Kubernetes. However, today, Cloud Native Computing Foundation maintains the project. With Kubernetes, developers can utilize the microservices architecture to develop applications. Kubernetes has several benefits such as portability, immutability, etc. To use the Kubernetes ecosystem, development teams have to adapt Kubernetes distributions. While there are multiple Kubernetes distributions, in this blog post, we’ll look at the three most popular Kubernetes distributions that can be used by development teams that don’t require the full set of tools and features that come with the default distributions. 

Table of Contents

• Popular Mini Kubernetes Distributions: Minikube
  • Benefits of using Minikube
• Popular Mini Kubernetes Distributions: K3s
  • Benefits of using K3s
• Popular Mini Kubernetes Distributions: K0s
  • Benefits of using K0s
• Why is Kubernetes so popular in 2023?
• Summary

Minikube

Minikube is one of the best Kubernetes distributions which is small enough to be installed on a developer’s notebook. The minimum requirements for Minikube are: 

• At least 2 CPUs
• 2GB of memory
• 20GB of disk space
• Container or VM (Virtual Machine) manager such as Docker, QEMU, Hyperkit, Hyper-V, KVM, Parallels, Podman, VirtualBox, or VMware Fusion/Workstation

Yep, that’s pretty much it! That’s all you need for installing Minikube. The process of setting up and deploying the Minikube cluster is quite simple: 

Step 1: Install the Minikube 

Select the OS, Architecture, Release type, and Installer type on the official website of Minikube and follow the instructions.

Step 2: Starting Minikube

Type minikube start at the command line and use kubectl to interact with the cluster. 

What are the benefits of using Minikube for compact container management?

• DevOps engineers and software developers get different options such as testing or experimenting with their app development. As it is miniature in size, developers don’t have to worry about testing or experimenting on pubic cloud or on-premises servers. Developers can use their own setups to access Minikube.
• Minikube offers an evaluation of key features of a Kubernetes cluster and also has a set of add-ons that can be enabled or disabled easily. Some of these features are default storage class, storage provisioning, ingress, etc. 
• Minikube also offers extensibility as it is an open-source platform, just like Kubernetes. Developers and engineers can easily experiment and learn using the basic platform features or try add-ons as well.

Related Post: 7 Reasons Kubernetes Is Important for DevOps

K3s

K3s is one of the most lightweight Kubernetes distributions available at present. The minimum requirements for installing k3s are:

• At least 1 CPU
• 512MB RAM (Though 1GB is usually recommended)
• 4GB of disc space
• Raspberry Pi OS or Enterprise Linux such as Red Hat

These minimal requirements make k3s one of the most popular Kubernetes distributions.

Benefits of using K3s for compact container management:

• K3s is extremely lightweight and can help developers get Kubernetes up and running real quick.
• Due to its miniature size, K3s doesn’t take up a lot of local resources creating a versatile local Kubernetes development environment. 
• K3s can run on edge devices such as IoT devices and mobile phones that run on ARM architectures. 
• If you want continuous integration for your app on the Kubernetes cluster, K3s offers quick and simple management for your CI automation process.
• If you’re a software developer looking to run a Kubernetes cluster on a tiny device such as Raspberry Pi, you should consider K3s. With its miniature size, K3s won’t use too many resources. 

K0s

A zero-friction Kubernetes distribution from Mirantis, K0s offers a convenient deployment. It is also a very low requirement for Kubernetes distribution. To install K0s, you’ll need:

• 1 CPU 
• 1 GB RAM
• 3.5 GB of disk space (0.5GB for controller nodes, 1.3GB for worker nodes, and 1.7GB for combined controller/worker nodes)

What are the benefits of K0s?

• Zero cost: k0s, just like Kubernetes, is open-source software.
• Zero overhead: The software’s requirements are minimal and can be found on basic local workstations as well. 
• Zero dependencies on the host operating system, k0s is a single binary and does not require host OS distributions or additional packages.

Why is Kubernetes so popular in 2023?

DevOps teams across the globe are adopting Kubernetes for application development and compact container management. But why? 

• Kubernetes offers increased efficiency for microservices infrastructure.
• It also allows you to deploy workload in a single or multiple cloud services.
• You can easily port Kubernetes and it can run with any type of container runtime. You will not have to rearchitect of infrastructure if you port the container.
• Kubernetes offers automation of deployment and scalability according to the demand. It also has a feature that allows the automatic rollback of an application if something goes wrong.
• It is open-source software and has a huge community of developers backing up the advancement of Kubernetes. 

Summary

Kubernetes is going to gain more popularity in the coming years due to its widespread benefits. Are you looking for a software developer looking for a high-paying, long-term US remote software job? Try Turing. Click on the Apply for Jobs button today!