Many sectors of the South African economy have suffered severe setbacks leaving many unemployed and without an income. However, one area has been experiencing a boom. The IT sector has been a leading recruiter since the rise of digital electronics during the ’60s. More recently, difficulties arising from lockdown constraints have led to even more job opportunities in this field. Not surprisingly, this has also sparked increased interest in software development courses. 

A future cashless society now seems increasingly likely. Contactless card payments and the migration from high street shopping to online purchasing and home deliveries alone have been responsible for a surge in demand for web developers. Imagine how much greater the need for IT skills might become as the nation moves from dependence on coal and petroleum fuels to clean, green power generation and transportation technology. Anyone who wishes to play a significant role in this vital transition would be well-advised to attend relevant software development courses.

Surprisingly few people are aware of the extent to which programmers have changed and are continuing to change so many aspects of our daily lives. Many modern fridges, washing machines and family cars now rely on programmes embedded in microchips for their operation. Some can even perform self-diagnostic routines, report any problems found wirelessly and download an appropriate fix. More and more households now depend on AI devices such as Alexa to activate lighting, heating and entertainment. Others use mobile phone apps to lock and unlock doors or activate a burglar alarm. There are software development courses to help anyone master the computer code that has made possible these modern-day miracles we now take for granted.

One of the most powerful tools in the developer’s armoury is Java. The language was first developed by Sun Microsystems in 1995 and taken over by Oracle in 2010. That it is still in use 25 years later is a testament to its versatility and power. The product boasts some significant benefits that have ensured its continued popularity. Firstly, Java code runs on multiple platforms, making it suitable for web, desktop or mobile use. Another reason why Java software development courses are popular is due to the language’s straightforward syntax. It closely resembles written English, making it easier to learn than most alternative languages.

Nevertheless, while Java skills are in high demand, these alone cannot meet every developer’s needs. For example, when building a website, the visual impact on the visitor can be as crucial to its success as any underlying functionality such as shopping carts and membership signup apps. Sound knowledge of layout and formatting tools like HTML5 and CSS3 is essential to ensure that necessary wow factor. Together with Javascript, these will generally form the basis of software development courses for front-end developers with a greater focus on more powerful coding options for those seeking the skills of a full-stack developer.

geeks4learning offers excellent opportunities for anyone considering a career in IT or already employed in the sector but wishing to upgrade their skills. The company combines a proven blended training model with industry-relevant content compiled by acknowledged specialists in their fields. The result is a range of internationally-recognised, software development courses that could transform your future.