PHP is a preferred language for developing huge applications that demand a heavy user base. It is mainly applied in server-side scripting and command line scripting. Despite some limitations, it can also be used for writing desktop applications and it powers the majority of websites in the world including Facebook and WordPress.
Clearly then, PHP is a language that’s in high demand and one that can form the basis of a career. But some questions remain: as a PHP developer, where would your best career prospects lie? Where would you reach the pinnacle of success?
Benefits of working for a software house
A software house is a company which specialises in the development of software products. The focus is on developing and maintaining a complete software product, for example an application used in the banking sector.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits to be gained from working in a software house that could boost your resume.
1. The onus of delivering top-quality code every time
In a software house, the scope of a project tends to be longer and more detailed than in a web agency. The product passes through several stages before final delivery to the client. It is therefore routine to conduct detailed testing of the products, for example through:
- Peer-to-peer review: the code is tested by fellow team members/team leads to detect flaws or non-performance issues.
- Quality assurance: the code is tested in detail using several documented processes. These tests are discussed well in advance in the project planning stages, and the outcomes often also need to be shared with the client.
The overall outcome of the process is that, as a developer, you would learn to create high-quality code. This ability will ultimately add to your value as a developer and help improve your product knowledge.
2. Creating complete solutions tested in multiple scenarios
A software house has the task of creating a complete solution in which the website is just one component. In such a scenario, the website would be tested to assess its performance in complex integration scenarios.
This gives a PHP developer the opportunity to handle and learn how to optimise performance in complex scenarios. Working on multiple feature enhancements of the application is a learning experience that enables the developer to find out how the website fares under these different circumstances.
Essentially, a software house would offer diverse end-to-end insight into not only how to manage your own development, but also how to optimise its performance when integrated with other parts of a solution. This valuable experience would add considerable weight to your resume.
3. Building best practices into your daily work
Software houses go to great pains to standardise their products. Their priority is to make their products outshine the competition: this is what keeps them in business.
The focus then is to create clean code which is bug-free and high on performance. This attitude towards quality helps all employees to be more efficient. As a PHP developer, you benefit by learning the industry’s best practices and incorporating them into your work.
Take the example of Optimy, a software company that has a dedicated team entirely focused on refactoring. This allows non-functional components of the code to be replaced with high-performing software.
4. Constantly learning about new technology
Software houses also continuously work to keep up with the latest technology tools and process methodology. With the advancement of cloud computing technology, software companies have placed greater focus on assisting their clients to extract the most from the cloud. Take for example Amazon Web Services. Software developers have increased their efforts to build products that are compatible with AWS, so clients can move their IT infrastructure to the cloud and reap the benefits.
Software houses also strive to try out the latest tools such as microservices, which undertake to build applications that work as small units, closely coupled together.
As a PHP developer you become acquainted with the latest trends in technology, at no additional cost to you. Your training needs are usually met by the company, which only asks you to demonstrate a desire to learn and discover new topics.
Additionally, in a software house you are exposed to process improvements, like eg. test-driven development. Traditional software development requires detailed testing where often all the components do not get adequately tested.
TDD requires the creation of module-specific tests which complement a very short development cycle. The software is developed to meet these test requirements only. This also makes it impossible to create software which does not conform to these requirements and can be used to build new code or improve legacy software by removing the redundant components.
Overall, working in a software house offers you the opportunity to upgrade your technical skills and also improve your process-related knowledge, thus making you a valuable asset to many companies.
You’re now sure to agree that working in a software house would be a great boost for your career. A software house provides the ideal environment for honing your technical and process skills. It will also help build your tacit knowledge, as you will always be in the company of like-minded individuals.
Find your perfect place
If you are not sure about working in a software house, or haven’t found the right one yet, why not exploring other options? Discover bevopr.io, a Belgian platform that will show you the companies that fit your needs, along with the match percentage. All you have to do is like, match, and chat. No need to update and upload your CV either!
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