Software developer is the number one job in 2023, according to the U.S. News 100 Best Jobs Ranking. It is a highly competitive and expanding field: the U.S. Bureau of Labor expects 25% employment growth in the next 10 years.
The demand for software development across industries makes this the ideal choice for career advancement, be it in a software development company or other organizations. And if you have been yearning to become a software developer at the highest level, you can enroll in world-class software development courses to learn critical skills that will secure your job prospects.
So, which are the best software development courses? Let’s see.
Best Software Development Courses Right Now
We prepared the top software development courses to consider. These courses offer the best software development curriculums to study online. They include free and paid courses hosted on various educational platforms.
Some may require experience in coding while others teach software development from scratch.
1. Software Engineering Bootcamp by Flatiron School
This course covers the core software engineering skills for front end and back end web development. In 2022, 90% of Flatiron graduates landed a new tech job as demonstrated in their jobs report.
Students can choose between full-time online or in-person classes to complete the course in 15 weeks. There is also the option of completing the course in 40 weeks part-time, online only. In addition, there is a 40-hour prep course to get all students up to speed on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
To qualify for this course, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. You should also be fluent in English and complete the prep course to begin the program. Students must also pass a 15-minute aptitude interview. The course costs $17,900 which can be paid upfront or in installments, starting with a $99 deposit.
Also Read: Difference Between SRE and DevOps Approaches
2. Full-time Online Coding Bootcamp by App Academy
Since 2012, thousands of App Academy graduates have landed jobs in top tech companies including Google and Microsoft.
The Full-time Online Coding Bootcamp takes 24 weeks to complete. It focuses on full-stack web development with the goal of creating an outstanding portfolio. Online lectures run from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday, with ample time allocated for team projects.
While this course costs $20,000, the good news is that you can defer payment until you’re hired and earn over $50,000. Isn't this a nice thing!
It means you can start learning software development with no upfront costs. The only condition is that the course is not available to residents of New York. Otherwise, App Academy is an inclusive learning environment and anyone can apply and qualify for the course. The admission process includes technical and non-technical assessments. Students with no coding experience can start with the Bootcamp Prep Online course from $995.
Also Read: Types of Software Testing
3. Full-Stack Web Development by Bloom Institute of Technology (formerly Lambda School)
This course is a deep dive into web development, featuring 960 hours of online classes delivered in sprints.
Students can complete the coursework either through daily live classes or pre-recorded on-demand video lessons. However, students have 7 weeks to complete the first two sprints, then 18 months for the rest.
The course begins with a free 3-week trial where students can engage with the BloomTech platform before committing to the full course. It also has rolling starts, so there's no need to wait for a start date or join other students.
This course costs $21,950 for students in all U.S. states and $12,000 for international residents. Like the App Academy, students can defer tuition payment. However, BloomTech offers a full tuition plus 10% if students don't get a job offer paying $50,000 or more within a year of graduation. BloomTech offers 1:1 career coaching to fast-track job placements, so graduates have a high chance of breaking into the tech industry.
It's worth noting that BloomTech is not an accredited institution. However, it is regulated at the state level like a vocational or post-secondary education institute.
Also Read: What is SecDevOps?
4. Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) by University of Michigan via Coursera
If you are interested in learning Python, Programming for Everybody is the ideal starting point.
The course is taught by Dr. Charles Severance (Dr. Chuck) of the University of Michigan School of Information. It's offered free of charge through Coursera, with study materials available in 15 languages.
It comprises seven modules in a total of 19 hours, which students can learn at their own pace.
These modules include:
- Why we program
- Installing Python
- Variables and expressions
- Functions
- Loops and iteration
The modules take two or three hours to complete. They include videos, quizzes, and further reading materials. The Coursera platform enables prospective learners to preview the modules before enrolling.
Dr. Chuck designed this course to correspond with the first five chapters of his book titled "Python for Everybody: Exploring Data Using Python 3."
You require no previous programming knowledge or experience, beginning right from the basics of what a program is. The course and book are highly rated, with nearly two million students already enrolled.
At the end of the course, you receive a shareable certificate to add to your resumé and LinkedIn profile. You can proceed to the rest of the Python for Everybody Specialization courses for $49 per month.
Also Read: Feature Driven Development (FDD)
5. Full-time JavaScript & Python Coding Bootcamp by Hack Reactor
This 19-week course takes students from beginners to tech experts ready for the job market. Hack Reactor guarantees an immersive experience with full-time live classes.
Graduates work with over 2,500 companies in software engineering roles, earning an annual average of $95,000. The enrolment process is designed for students with no coding background.
The only requirements are:
- A 15-minute cognitive aptitude test
- A 1-minute typing test
- A 15-minute non-technical interview
- An optional live online information session
The first three modules include collaborating on projects similar to a real-world DevOps team. The fourth module is an interactive 1:1 career coaching week where students build resumés and conduct mock interviews. There are also networking exercises and workshops to help you land your dream tech job after graduation.
This course costs $19,480 with multiple payment options, including income-contingent options that only require a $100 upfront deposit. Hack Reactor also partners with lenders and offers scholarships to support learners.
Also Read: Dynamic Systems Development
6. Software Engineering Immersive by General Assembly
General Assembly boasts over 12,000 hires, which is more than any other coding course can say. This comes from a robust network of employers in the tech industry, including Slack, AT&T, and Apple.
The Software Engineering Immersive Course has five parts beginning with a fundamentals session. The course takes between 12 and 24 weeks depending on one's pace. By graduation, students have a portfolio of full-stack applications in a range of languages and frameworks.
While the course doesn't have any prerequisites, the admissions process includes coding challenges. It's helpful for students to have some knowledge in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before starting.
The Software Engineering Immersive Course costs $16,450. General Assembly offers various financing options like installments, income shares, and discounts. Prospective students can RSVP an info session with a General Assembly advisor to learn more about this course.
One advantage of the General Assembly course is the exclusive access to software engineering leaders. The platform includes discussion panels with recruiters and guest speakers to engage with students. These value-adds prepare students for job searching after completing the course.
Also Read: Vue.js vs React
7. Google Cloud Computing Foundations via edX
This course is a professional certification recognized by tech employers worldwide. It is ideal for individuals with programming knowledge seeking to become cloud professionals. It can open the path to careers like cloud database engineering and cloud administration. The course also introduces students to machine learning and big data.
At this time (September 2023), the course tuition is $356.40, discounted from $396. It takes about a month to complete at a pace of 5 to 6 hours per week. It covers the following topics:
- Cloud computing fundamentals
- Google Cloud infrastructure
- Cloud networking and security
- Cloud data, ML, and AI
The course can help students qualify for cloud computing jobs, earning an estimated $92,067 per year.
Also Read: Lean Software Development
8. Actualize Online Live by Actualize
Unlike other software development bootcamps, nothing is prerecorded for the Online Live Training by Actualize. Only the 5-week pre-work session is done remotely with exercises due each Saturday.
Otherwise, classes are delivered similar to in-person learning. All students communicate and interact with each other and with their instructors throughout the lesson, including during exercises. This enables immediate feedback as students write code, which enhances learning.
The course teaches the following languages and frameworks:
- Ruby
- Rails
- JavaScript
- React
- HTML
- CSS
- SQL
- Git
The Actualize course costs $15,900. There is a non-refundable $1,000 deposit to book the course, which also goes into the tuition fees. Students who pay the full amount upfront can receive a $500 discount. Installments usually range between $450 and $540 per month through Ascent financing.
It's also important to note that this course takes place in the evenings from Monday to Thursday, and all day Sunday. Students need to plan their schedules around the coding classes and career support programs.
Also Read: Crystal Agile Methodology
9. Flutter & Dart — The Complete Guide (2023 edition) via Udemy
With this course, you can create high-quality mobile applications for iOS and Android devices. It's a step-by-step series of training videos for beginners and experienced developers alike.
The course simplifies the Flutter framework and Dart programming language, enabling students to build native mobile apps. Companies like NASDAQ, Eventbrite, and Volkswagen recommend this course for upskilling their employees.
You will learn the following aspects of mobile development:
- Setting up Flutter on macOS and Windows
- Debugging apps
- Integrating Google maps and backend servers
- Integrating device features like the camera and microphone
- User authentication
- Adding widgets
- Creating manual and automated push notifications
Students may require macOS to create iOS apps, but Android apps have no such restrictions. The course demonstrates Android app creation on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
By completion, you will have created a range of apps including expense trackers, shopping list apps, and chat apps. The course currently costs $13.99, discounted from $74.99.
Also Read: Types of Agile Methodology
10. CS50's Introduction to Computer Science by Harvard University via edX
The CS50 course at Harvard University is one of the most popular courses on campus. The school developed this online version to reach a wider community of students.
According to edX, over four million students have already enrolled since the course began in 2012. It is an entry-level course, so students don't need previous programming knowledge. It takes 12 weeks to complete. Students can opt to continue further to earn a Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Python Programming.
This course covers topics such as:
- Algorithms
- Data structures
- Cybersecurity
- Web development
- Resource management.
It also applies computer science principles to real-world use cases, e.g., finance, gaming, and forensics.
The course is free and self-paced, but the certificate costs $199. To earn this certificate, you must pass nine programming assignments and complete a final project.
11. Computer Programming by Khan Academy
We included this course because it’s a great one for the young people that are getting started, if this is what you were looking for. Khan Academy offers free education for a range of subjects, but their computer programming course stands out from the rest.
The platform is gamified to motivate students and is accessible on iOS and Android devices. It is the ideal learning tool for K-12 students to learn software development at their own pace. Although the course is not accredited, it serves as an excellent foundation to qualify for other more advanced software development courses.
The computer programming course includes introductions to:
- JavaScript drawing and animation
- Making webpages with HTML/CSS
- Managing data with SQL
- Computer programming experts from around the world.
Students earn points and badges for completing videos and tasks in each unit. There are no entry requirements or interviews to learn at Khan Academy. Students can even access course content without an account, although signing up opens up more features on the platform.
Conclusion
Software development is a far-reaching and lucrative career choice. There is a growing need for talent, from startups to multinationals.
However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the numerous software development courses available today.
The selections above are a great starting point to unlock your possibilities of a software engineering career.
Any one of these courses can help you set a good foundation in software development and kickstart a successful career. All the best!
