Software is the set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Software development encompasses all of the activities required for software design, deployment, maintenance, and support. Every video game, mobile app, and work-related computer program you’ve ever used goes through this process.

Software development starts by working with users and other stakeholders to determine what the software needs to do. Then, a software architecture is chosen to structure the program’s operation, as well as a software design to determine how it will solve for user requirements. Only then does the actual coding process begin, which also includes extensive team review and testing for quality assurance. Once the program is ready for deployment, software developers continue to be responsible for keeping the software updated, fixing bugs, and providing user support.

Software development careers usually start with coding experience in one or more programming languages. The best languages to learn depends on whether you’re working in front-end development, which often requires knowledge of JavaScript or HTML to provide a smooth user experience (UX), or back-end development, which might require languages like SQL or Node.js to run databases or APIs. You can get certifications to establish your qualifications in pretty much all of these programming languages through online courses.

The software development process isn’t just about programming, of course. You need to know your way around popular software development methodologies like DevOps or Agile which structure your software build process. You’ll also need discipline and documentation skills for a careful QA process that ensures your product ships bug-free. Finally, you need a problem solving mindset that balances curiosity with logical thinking, enabling you to imagine issues from your user’s perspective and come up with creative solutions.

Many popular tech jobs are in the field of software development, and the median salary for software development jobs is over $105,000 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Traditional front-end developers and back-end developers are always in demand, and increasingly companies are seeking full stack developers that can work on both sides of the application. More specialized coding jobs are in demand too, including Java developers, JavaScript developers, and increasingly in-demand Python developers. And on a higher level, organizations need specialists in software development methodologies like DevOps engineers and Scrum masters.

Online courses and are a great way to build up your basic software development skills. You can pick up specific programming languages with courses in Python programming, JavaScript and object oriented programming in Java, C++, Ruby on Rails, Scala, and more. Once you have these foundations, you can learn how to put them to work in specific software development processes through courses in back-end, front-end, and full stack app development.

You can also take more theory-based courses if you have a specialized career paths in mind to help you understand how software development fits into the bigger picture. For example, if you want to work in database management, you can take courses in data structures and data science. For careers in artificial intelligence (AI), you can take courses in machine learning and algorithms. Whatever your goals are in software development, chances are you can find courses - or even entire degree programs - to meet your needs.

In addition to courses, Coursera offers short Guided Projects for you to hone your software development skills.