Tech Topic Connection

Greetings Broders!

The Brahma Code was created to inform readers about making a career change to become a Software Engineer. Making a career change is not an easy task. Making a career change into a tech career is even harder. However, I found that there are many ways to assist with the transition. Degrees, boot camps, and employee benefits are some ways someone could get the training they need to succeed. I would encourage readers to see what options are available from their companies in benefits for employees seeking education and training. The partnership between the University of Arizona Global Campus and Leidos is how I was able to now pursue a degree in IT at a very discounted rate. This came at a great time because the job outlook for Software Engineers is anticipated to grow by 25% in the next nine years (by 2023) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).  

To become a Software Engineer, having background knowledge of the fundamentals of information technology is essential. This rich history of computers explains why current programming approaches must be completed in a particular sequence or fashion. Everything done within Information Technology and Computer Science is a step-by-step process. Early computing, or calculations, were performed by manually adjusting a room full of switches to on and off positions (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). These on-and-off positions, more technically called 0’s and 1’s or binary, are a language used for computers. This can be considered the first type of programming and is a crucial concept in understanding how computers operate. In the modern world, switching is done within the computer chip after responding to a programmer's input instructions. 

Today a modern computer system relies on hardware and software working in tandem to complete the instructions a programmer gives. A programmer uses hardware to input the instructions (such as a keyboard), store the data (such as RAM), run the instructions (CPU), and output the displays (such as words). Application software is one of the many programs Software Engineers can create. Software Engineers utilize different programming languages depending on the software they are programming. If creating a website or a mobile application, a programmer may use JavaScript. If making a game, a programmer may use C++.  

Within database and database management, software engineers play a role in "building the system that imports and stores the data, be it a website, specialized software, or app" (Thinkful, 2023). After a Software Engineer builds the framework of the system, data engineers maintain the database's information. Many people are confused about these roles and think they are interchangeable. With the capabilities of building systems, Software Engineers should also have a solid foundation in network architecture, management, and security. "They are experts in programming, testing, and solving problems with systems" (Should You Become a Network Engineer or a Software Engineer?, 2021). Understanding a client's need is essential and can help a programmer program, test, and solve problems within their client network architecture. This includes making infrastructure more secure as technology (and knowledge of those who have malicious intent) advances. The more information that is available on a computer or in a system, the more it needs to be protected. Hackers or attackers can get the information they need by also going the easy way and allowing users to divulge it themselves. This is done through Social Engineering. By having specific frameworks in place, like a firewall, a Software Engineer can lower the ability for this type of network security issue to take place. However, it is not only the responsibility of the programmers to protect assets. It is vital that clients are also aware of how they, too, can help protect their systems and information.  Happy Coding!

Lotus

References

Should You Become a Network Engineer or a Software Engineer? (2021, August 13). Lyleonline.smu.edu. https://lyleonline.smu.edu/blog/network-engineering-vs-software-engineering-difference-explained/

Thinkful. (2023). Data Engineer vs Software Engineer. Thinkful, Inc. A Chegg Service. https://www.thinkful.com/blog/data-engineer-vs-software-engineer/

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, September 9). Software developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and testers : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm 

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing technology for all. zyBooks.