Although the fundamental principles of software development have remained the same for decades, technology is always changing with new ideas, libraries, and tools arising every day. In a constantly evolving environment, it's that much more important to keep up-to-date. Companies search for professionals who are always looking to do just this by improving their skills and continuously learning. Keeping your knowledge and skills fresh will help you to make wiser decisions, seek creative and innovative solutions, and become more attractive to prospective employers.However, it's easier said than done. The software development field is extensive and knowing everything is, unfortunately, impossible. This article intends to help you narrow your focus on your learning journey and provide you with a list of valuable online learning resources and tips to point you in the right direction. Where to StartAssessing Your Skill Level An essential first step on your learning journey is to understand where you are professionally and how to define your career goals. For instance, experienced developers looking to switch stacks will follow a different path from mid-level developers looking to increase their seniority. To assess your skill level, you can:Consider difficulties and tasks that are most challenging for youReview feedback from job interviews Ask for advice from more experienced colleagues on where you can improveTake tests that suggest your level (e.g. Plural Sight Skill IQ). While doing this exercise, don't forget to consider soft skills like time management, leadership, communication, and teamwork. They are as relevant as hard skills and should be worked on as well.Setting Career Goals When it comes to setting goals, it's important to consider if they align with your career's trajectory. Expanding the breadth of your technical knowledge by constantly changing stacks may be a good goal for a software architect. The same isn't the case for a developer, though. Although there are benefits of becoming experienced in areas adjacent to your own expertise, developers need to first dig deeper into the stacks they work with. Knowing how to use and apply tools, libraries or frameworks is not enough to reach greater heights, either. It's essential to focus on how things work, as well as their pros, cons, and alternatives. Once you have a good indication of where you are in your career and where you want to go, you'll have an easier time choosing a learning path that's the right fit for you. Choosing a Learning Platform There are many online learning platforms out there today, so it's understandable if you're unsure where to begin. Here are some questions to help you evaluate your options: What is my preferred learning approach?Is the platform reputable?How much does it cost?Do they offer certificates?Preferred Learning ApproachesLearning is a unique and individual process and everyone has their own preference for how they learn. However, according to this study, there's no evidence to suggest that following a single preferred approach positively affects a person's ability to learn new information. The best way to learn involves varying the types of materials and stimuli to see what works. Consider a subject you want to learn, test out different approaches and recognize which ones are most effective. It may help you along the way. In general, you can classify software development learning platforms according to different criteria. For the sake of clarity, we'll consider the following:Text vs Video: Online platforms usually present their content in two ways: video and text. While, on average, a person's reading speed is greater than the words per minute in a video, it's worth figuring out which channel works best for you.Theoretical vs Applied: How the content and courses are structured will vary depending on the material and the platform as well. Some may fall under the traditional lecture-style format and focus on covering theories and concepts, while others may follow a more practical approach that involves active participation and practice like developing a system from scratch. Interaction with instructors and peers: As for interaction with other learners and instructors, some platforms have forums and peer-reviews, while others offer direct interaction with instructors and detailed feedback.ReputationThe reputation of a platform or course is another good reference to evaluate, especially when they aren't free or when there are different options for the same content. When in doubt... Search the web for popular opinions about the platform and the course Look for the instructors' curriculum and check if they have experience in the area, or if they have published other well-reviewed coursesChat with colleagues or use social media to ask your networkIf the platform allows users to rate content, referring to it can be helpful CostThe cost of courses can vary greatly from platform to platform and may involve a cost per course and/or a full-access subscription. Some platforms that offer feedback from instructors tend to have higher price tags. If you don't want to stick to free courses then set aside a monthly budget for investing in training to help you choose courses that fit your budget. CertificationCertificates are a way to show future employers that you are keeping up-to-date. They also may help you become more distinguishable in the market. Depending on the platform, these certificates can sometimes be used as university credits.Learning platformsThe following table lists several online learning platforms that are worth checking out. Each is classified by content channel, material, cost, main skills, the main form of interaction, theory versus application, and certification.PLATFORMCONTENT TYPE & MATERIALCOSTSKILL Main Form of InteractionTheory-Application balanceCERTIFICATEAluraVideo, content presentation$75/monthVariedForumMore practicalYesAWS AcademyVideo, content presentation and exercisesFree and paid (varies per course)AWSForumBalancedYesCodecademyText, guided hands-onFree and paid options ($15/month)VariedForumMore practicalYesCodeCourseVideo, content presentationFree and paid options ($12/month)PHP, JS, and FlutterForumMore practicalNoCourseraVideo, content presentation and exercises/side projectsFree and paid options ($59/month)VariedForum and peer reviewBalancedYesEducative.ioText, explanation and exercisesFree and paid options. ($16/month) Discounts apply for different countriesVariedForumMore practicalYesEdxVideo, content presentationFree and paid (varies per course)VariedForumBalancedYesFrontend MastersVideo, content presentationMonthly subscription $39/monthFront-endPlatform supportMore practicalNoLaracastsVideo, content presentationFree and monthly subscription options ($15/month)PHP and JSForumMore practicalNoLinkedIn LearningVideo, content presentationPaid and monthly subscription optionsVariedForumMore practicalYesO'Reilly Learning PlatformText and video, books, interactive learningMonthly subscription $49/monthVariedForumBalancedNoOracle AcademyVideo, content presentationFree and paid optionsOracleForumBalancedYesPluralSightVideo, content presentation and hands-onMonthly subscription $29/monthVariedForumMore practicalYesSkillsoftVideo, content presentationMonthly subscription $29/monthVariedForumBalancedYesTeamTreeHouseVideo, content presentation and projectsMonthly subscription $29/monthVariedPeer review and chatMore practicalYesThinksterVideo, content presentationFree and monthly subscription options $19/monthJavaScriptNoMore practicalYesUdacityVideo, content presentation and exercises/projectsFree and paid (varies per course)VariedForum and detailed feedback from instructorBalancedNoUdemyVideo, content presentationFree and paid (varies per course)VariedQuestions to the instructorVaried, but more practicalSome coursesLet's break this table down a little...Courses/Platforms for Theoretical Learning: Some of these platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udacity cover more theoretical content than others. They are strongly linked to academia and offer courses both in partnership with universities as well as large companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and IBM. Coursera and edX both have individual courses, course sequences (specializations/xSeries), (micro) bachelors, (micro) masters, and professional certification courses. Udacity, on the other hand, has individual courses as well as special courses known as nanodegrees. The main differences between these platforms are related to the cost and degree of feedback and support they offer. Tutorial-Style Applied Courses/Platforms: PluralSight, Frontend Masters, CodeCourse, Laracasts, TeamTreeHouse, Alura, and Thinkster are platforms that have a tutorial-style approach. These platforms deliver content by video and students are given instructions to replicate what they learned (some also have hands-on activities in the platform itself like PluralSight).Text Only Courses/Platforms: Some platforms like Codecademy and Educative.io offer text-based courses. Codecademy follows a guided course approach, in which brief textual content and instructions are presented and for each learned topic. Learners must replicate what they have learned in an interactive terminal/IDE in order to continue (similar to O'Reilly's interactive content). Educative.io, in turn, brings courses with longer textual content, usually with questions that validate learning and space where you can practice what is being studied.Courses with In-Depth Instructor Feedback: If you prefer a more personalized experience, Udacity's nanodegrees may be a good option. They're more expensive than traditional courses but offer individual instructor feedback, with tips on how and where to improve. Coursera/edX (micro) bachelor's or (micro) master's programs, also offer a differentiated degree of feedback for students and are more expensive. In other courses/platforms, the forum is the main interaction channel. F
