Software development team structure and skills

IT organizations can adapt software development team structure and skills to suit business needs or individual strengths. Learn how to structure DevOps and Agile teams, divvy up responsibilities, communicate with team members and keep everyone on the same page.

Top Stories

Tip 08 Aug 2024
Tips for onboarding remote developers

More companies today hire developers who work remotely. Follow these steps for an efficient remote onboarding process for devs, from a tech on-ramp to cross-org team interaction. Continue Reading
Tip 16 Jul 2024
10 skills an SDET needs

SDETs need a blend of development and testing skills to be effective, as well as soft skills critical to both disciplines. Learn to develop important skills for this hybrid role. Continue Reading

Definition 07 Aug 2024

What is offshore software testing?

Offshore software testing is a software development model where an organization outsources the software testing process to a service partner team located in a different country and time zone. Continue Reading
Tip 16 Jul 2024

10 skills an SDET needs

SDETs need a blend of development and testing skills to be effective, as well as soft skills critical to both disciplines. Learn to develop important skills for this hybrid role. Continue Reading
News 25 Jun 2024

JFrog buy bolsters MLOps combo with DevSecOps

JFrog plans to meld AI/ML development with established DevSecOps pipelines through the acquisition of Qwak in a bid to help more enterprise AI apps reach production. Continue Reading
Tip 21 Jun 2024

Improving DevOps collaboration: Challenges and tips

At the heart of DevOps lies collaboration. Learn why DevOps success depends on collaboration among teams, more than any tool, product or individual. Continue Reading
Definition 23 May 2024

impact mapping

Impact mapping is a visual planning technique that aligns project processes with business objectives. Continue Reading
Definition 25 Apr 2024

DevOps Dojo

A DevOps Dojo is a place where DevOps team members go for hands-on training. Continue Reading
Tip 04 Apr 2024

How to apply impact mapping to software with examples

Impact mapping can reduce scope creep and enable flexibility in the SDLC by creating a shared understanding among all stakeholders. Learn how to apply it to software projects. Continue Reading
Tip 29 Feb 2024

The importance of edge case testing: When to fix the bug

While edge cases in software testing only affect a small subset of users, testing for them is still important. Learn which edge fixes are worth making and which can be ignored. Continue Reading
Definition 02 Feb 2024

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) encourage companies to set, communicate and monitor organizational goals and results in an effective, transparent manner. Continue Reading
Tip 13 Dec 2023

Is Scrum master certification worth it?

Considering a Scrum master certification? Let's look at the considerations that factor into a decision to pursue certification and whether being a Scrum master benefits a career. Continue Reading
Definition 06 Dec 2023

citizen development

Citizen development is a business process that encourages non-IT-trained employees to become software developers, using IT-sanctioned low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms to create business applications. Continue Reading
Tip 05 Dec 2023

What's the value in an Agile release train?

When multiple development teams work on code, integration and deployment become more complicated. ART could be a useful tool to smooth out these wrinkles. Continue Reading
News 17 Nov 2023

IT pros wary as Microsoft Copilot juggernaut gains steam

Microsoft is now 'The Copilot company,' along with GitHub. But concerns linger about the accuracy of AI-generated results, code lineage and long-term job security. Continue Reading
News 07 Nov 2023

Behind the scenes, Spotify's Backstage a work in progress

Spotify-created Backstage, now a CNCF project, is popular as enterprises add developer portals to internal platforms, but setup is hard, and getting dev buy-in can be even harder. Continue Reading
Tip 06 Nov 2023

The key role testing plays in a Three Amigos strategy

Because testers are skilled in asking questions and suggesting scenarios that lead to alternative workflows, they can be especially useful in Three Amigos efforts. Continue Reading
Tip 19 Oct 2023

Is continuous testing in DevOps worth the effort?

Continuous testing isn't simple to implement, but it can add exceptional business value to software development when done right. Here are the key elements. Continue Reading
Tip 06 Sep 2023

What does a developer advocate do?

Developer advocates have a special vantage point because they talk to -- and hear from --both the people who develop a particular software product and the people who use it. Continue Reading
News 30 Aug 2023

Google AI plans could spur low-code/no-code faceoff with AWS

Google's generative AI products play catch-up with Copilot and others, but the upcoming addition of Duet AI to AppSheet might fill a market gap as AWS scraps Honeycode. Continue Reading
Definition 29 Aug 2023

change request

A change request is a formal proposal for an alteration to some product or system. Continue Reading
Tip 16 Aug 2023

5 essential best practices for QA teams to adopt

Performing QA duties properly should mean more than checking lists of basic application requirements. Here are five ways software QA teams can improve review processes all around. Continue Reading
Feature 25 Jul 2023

5 tips and career advice for young tech professionals

Want to be taken seriously as the youngest member of a tech team? Start networking, don't be afraid to ask questions and polish your communications skills. Continue Reading
Feature 18 Jul 2023

IT hiring picks up amid ongoing economic concerns

TechTarget's 2023 salary and careers survey shows most organizations are hiring for selected IT skills, making progress on DEI initiatives and offering workplace flexibility. Continue Reading
Tip 30 Jun 2023

What developers should know about working for a startup

Think you want to be a developer working at a startup? There are reasons it's appealing, but know what you're getting into, from workloads and resources to compensation options. Continue Reading
Quiz 20 Jun 2023

More Scrum master certification exam questions

To pass the Professional Scrum master exam, you need to know the tricks. These Scrum master exam questions will show you how to answer even the toughest questions on the test. Continue Reading
Quiz 20 Jun 2023

Scrum master certification exam questions and answers

Are you ready for the Scrum master certification exam? Test yourself on these 10 tough Scrum master exam questions and answers. Continue Reading
Quiz 20 Jun 2023

More Scrum product owner certification exam questions

Want to get Scrum product owner-certified? These tough practice exam questions test your ability to apply the Scrum framework in the capacity of a Professional Scrum Product Owner. Continue Reading
Quiz 20 Jun 2023

Scrum product owner certification exam questions and answers

Here are 10 tough sample Scrum product owner exam questions and answers to help gauge your readiness for the certification test. Continue Reading
Feature 04 May 2023

Essential skills for data-centric developers

To become more data-driven, organizations need data-centric developers. Developers can learn a mix of technical and interpersonal skills to be an attractive candidate for the job. Continue Reading
Tip 07 Apr 2023

The enduring link between Conway's Law and microservices

While Conway's Law is a decades-old concept, some would argue that the industry's rush to adopt microservices makes this take on development team structure more relevant than ever. Continue Reading
Feature 06 Apr 2023

Mainframe modernization to AI apps: USPTO reinvents itself

How the US Patent and Trade Office, founded in 1802, maintained IT resilience while managing systems ranging from mainframes to the cloud, AI and beyond. Continue Reading
Definition 23 Mar 2023

Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps -- rebranded from Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) in 2018 -- is a software-as-a service (SaaS) platform from Microsoft designed to provide a comprehensive toolchain for developing and deploying software projects. Continue Reading
News 20 Mar 2023

Oracle OKE takes on Azure, AWS with serverless Kubernetes

Oracle added serverless Kubernetes and a financially backed SLA to its OKE managed service, playing catch-up with AWS, Google and Azure and taking a swipe at them on pricing. Continue Reading
News 17 Mar 2023

How ChatGPT and generative AI will affect IT operations

As generative AI programs improve, they raise questions for many engineering disciplines about the future of work -- and IT operations is no exception. Continue Reading
News 28 Feb 2023

Nearly 40% of software engineers will only work remotely

Hired's annual software engineering study found that remote work is now a competitive hiring differentiator. It also found that younger engineers are at a greater risk of layoffs. Continue Reading
Feature 28 Feb 2023

10 open source coding books to read in 2023

Open source technology and programming languages are the foundation of modern software development. Use these books to take advantage of all that open source software has to offer. Continue Reading
News 23 Feb 2023

CEO reflects on remote work, team-building amid Ukraine war

A GraphQL API management company is on track for an official launch in the coming months, despite a year of massive challenges for its developer team in Ukraine. Continue Reading
Definition 22 Feb 2023

Git

Git is an open source distributed version control system that is available for free under the GNU General Public License version 2. Continue Reading
News 10 Feb 2023

GitHub to lay off 10% of workforce, sparks remote work debate

GitHub's plan to cut jobs and move to fully remote work sparks more discussion on whether remote workers will be first on the next tech chopping block. Continue Reading
News 30 Jan 2023

Big tech layoffs may ease software engineer shortage

Recent layoffs will create an influx of software engineers on the job market in the coming months, which might benefit smaller enterprises searching for talent. Continue Reading
Definition 27 Jan 2023

yak shaving

Yak shaving is programming lingo for the seemingly endless series of small tasks that have to be completed before the next step in a project can move forward. Continue Reading
Tip 25 Jan 2023

Make the shift-left testing approach work for your team

Developers test to find defects and correct flaws before an application reaches release. But the ever-quickening pace of development puts pressure on testing. Continue Reading
Tip 18 Jan 2023

3 software developer goals that are top of mind in 2023

Like many people, software professionals have their own goals in mind for 2023, including a focus on project management, software accessibility and data structure decisions. Continue Reading
News 17 Jan 2023

CircleCI incident adds to SecOps toil

SaaS CI/CD vendor CircleCI urged customers to rotate all secrets data, the latest of several security breaches weighing on SecOps pros charged with responding. Continue Reading
News 05 Jan 2023

Micro credentials could stave off software engineer layoffs

Software developers can take measures to protect their jobs with micro credentials tailored to their company’s needs within hot trends such as cloud computing and AI. Continue Reading
Feature 28 Dec 2022

8 coding books to read in 2023

Coding books are a great learning resource for developers of all skill levels and backgrounds, offering authoritative and comprehensive coverage of a specific topic area. Continue Reading
Tip 21 Dec 2022

10 essential Scrum Master skills

From sprint planning to servant leadership, Scrum Masters help Agile developers, product owners and other team members perform at their best. Here's what makes a good Scrum Master. Continue Reading
News 15 Dec 2022

Lego site vulnerabilities highlight API security gaps

What's old is new again: Lego site BrickLink was found vulnerable to cross-site scripting and other well-understood types of attacks, intensifying scrutiny on API security. Continue Reading
News 13 Dec 2022

Geek gifts 2022: Business travel essentials and music-making

For better or for worse, the world re-opened this year, renewing geeks' need for business travel accessories, while others sought to explore their musical creativity. Continue Reading
Feature 08 Dec 2022

What I learned at a 4-week Nucamp coding boot camp

Would a four-week web development coding boot camp designed by a Microsoft veteran provide me with enough skills to land a job? I was going to find out. Continue Reading
News 01 Dec 2022

AWS DevOps tools expand low-code features, focus on devx

Many of the features of AWS CodeCatalyst and Application Composer were technically possible before, but the new services package them accessibly via a low-code UI. Continue Reading
Feature 17 Oct 2022

Fixing software developer burnout could increase retention

Software developer burnout is a pervasive issue that can cause problems for companies and their employees, but tackling it won't be easy. Continue Reading
News 11 Oct 2022

Tech for democracy gains traction but may pay lip service

The Copenhagen Pledge on Tech for Democracy highlights how tech can crumble or shore up democracy and human rights. But it lacks action and accountability, industry experts say. Continue Reading
Feature 11 Oct 2022

HubSpot DEI program shores up software engineer shortage

HubSpot has been building its DEI program for years, which includes in its hiring practices. By focusing on a more diverse talent pool, the company has found it can better manage the software engineer shortage. Continue Reading
Tip 11 Oct 2022

The role of the T-shaped software tester in modern dev

While a T-shaped tester delivers a powerful and specialized skill set, continuous learning should be an ongoing priority for all software team members. Continue Reading
News 29 Sep 2022

Climate LLC taps feature flags for mobile app development

Feature flags facilitated fast rollbacks and trunk-based mobile development for a digital farming software maker amid volatility due to business growth and climate change. Continue Reading
Feature 22 Sep 2022

Globalization won't fix software engineer shortage

While a global talent search can fill niche positions and diversify a development team, it isn't a silver bullet for the software engineer shortage, experts say. Continue Reading
Tip 20 Sep 2022

The major differences between QA and SDETs

How do SDET and QA roles differ? The similar positions both focus on code testing, but it's their unique focuses that makes them a valuable part of an Agile team. Continue Reading
Tip 13 Sep 2022

Make quality a priority in your software engineering culture

A software team needs quality to ensure a strong product. Here are some ways to implement quality in all facets of development and build it into every software release. Continue Reading
Podcast 25 Jul 2022

The awkward state of the remote vs. in-person work debate

TechTarget senior news writer Beth Pariseau discusses return-to-work initiatives for IT pros and in-person tech conferences coming back onto the schedule. Continue Reading
Tip 11 May 2022

Important DevOps engineer programming languages to learn

We've learned that DevOps demands some code knowledge -- but there are a lot of languages to choose from. Think about CI/CD, object-oriented languages and infrastructure as code. Continue Reading
News 06 Apr 2022

Software developers need more than coding skills

Employers are increasingly looking for software developers with soft skills, including time management and the ability to work on a team. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Mar 2022

Why a successful software tester's skillset is more than just technical

How can you become a good software tester? It requires more than just technical expertise. Here are some important personality traits QA pros need to have. Continue Reading
News 23 Mar 2022

NPM 'protestware' raises questions on open source security

The deliberate sabotage of an NPM package to protest war in Ukraine worsens the already complex threat of software supply chain attacks, open source and security experts said. Continue Reading
Feature 01 Dec 2021

Skills and responsibilities in a QA engineer role

According to Emily Thomas, a QA engineer at VoIP provider Vonage, effective quality assurance involves far more than just skillful testing. Continue Reading
Feature 12 Oct 2021

New Scrum Master guide covers both theory and practice

In his new book, a senior software engineer shares his in-depth hands-on knowledge to both prep readers for cert exams and guide them on the job. Continue Reading
Definition 15 Sep 2021

trunk-based development

In software development, a trunk is the base code into which all subsequent code is merged. Continue Reading
Tip 21 Jun 2021

What are an SDET's roles and responsibilities?

A QA professional remains essential to the creation of quality software, while a software development engineer in test adds a different layer to the process. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Apr 2021

How software testing certifications can boost your career

How can software testing certifications give QA professionals a leg up in their careers? Learn how in this overview, as well as what certification types testers should consider. Continue Reading
News 20 Apr 2021

Pulumi cloud engineering boosts dev infrastructure control

A Pulumi early adopter says this week's cloud engineering update will save time and resource costs with more support for developers to test infrastructure-as-code plans locally. Continue Reading
Feature 10 Mar 2021

AWS helps train formerly incarcerated people to code

The Justice Through Code program, which Amazon sponsors, teaches formerly incarcerated individuals how to write code in Python as it preps them for careers in the tech industry. Continue Reading
News 09 Mar 2021

Lyft helps drive new foundation for mobile developers

The Linux Foundation, along with Lyft, wants mobile developers to ride together and help eliminate obstacles in building large-scale, enterprise Android and iOS apps. Continue Reading
News 24 Feb 2021

IBM extends Call for Code for Racial Justice program

IBM, in conjunction with the Linux Foundation, has delivered two additional projects to its Call for Code for Racial Justice program. Continue Reading
News 27 Jan 2021

AWS Dev Hour focuses on cloud-native app building

Amazon is set to launch a new training program on its Twitch service called AWS Dev Hour: Building Modern Applications. The series targets developers building cloud-native apps. Continue Reading
News 25 Jan 2021

IBM tackles racial justice in Call for Code hackathon

IBM has issued a Call for Code for applications that help promote racial justice in an attempt to combat systemic racism. Continue Reading
Feature 30 Dec 2020

Top 10 software development and test tips of 2020

What can you do better in 2021? Adopt different test tools, automate more processes, run a more productive dev team? Follow this advice from various experts to make it all happen. Continue Reading
Tip 22 Dec 2020

5 examples of ethical issues in software development

As software becomes entrenched in every aspect of the human experience, developers have an ethical responsibility to their customers. Continue Reading
Opinion 17 Dec 2020

How to use Agile swarming techniques to get features done

Agile teams can produce a viable product in no time when they swarm, but this all-hands approach to produce a user story or feature isn't easy. Continue Reading
Feature 25 Nov 2020

Software development outsourcing throughout the lifecycle

Whether to accelerate a project or overcome a particular skills gap, it might make sense to engage an external specialist to bolster your software development efforts. Continue Reading
Feature 23 Nov 2020

7 keys to a successful diversity and inclusion initiative

Today's workforce is calling for a stop to bias and prejudice, and business and HR leaders need to take effective action. Here's a look at diversity initiative best practices. Continue Reading
Feature 12 Nov 2020

IBM's Lisa Seacat DeLuca on being a woman in the tech industry

IBM's master inventor Lisa Seacat DeLuca gives insight into promoting gender diversity. Learn why both official programs and informal outreach are so important. Continue Reading
Tip 21 Sep 2020

3 dramatic ways to increase developer productivity

Developers work best when distractions are at a minimum, yet most organizations simply aren't doing their part to reduce them. Be brave and try these three aggressive methods. Continue Reading
Tip 03 Sep 2020

Why development team membership should change regularly

Static development teams might be hurting your company. But too much reorganization can cause chaos. Here's how to strike a balance that keeps teams engaged and innovative. Continue Reading
Feature 26 Aug 2020

5 SMART goals for a QA analyst

QA testers can earn respect and gain influence with peers through SMART goals. Take ownership of the software you work on, look up to good product managers and achieve these five goals. Continue Reading
Infographic 10 Aug 2020

IT staffing trends evolve during a trying 2020

Surveys indicate few IT pros should be concerned about layoffs due to COVID-19. But other factors, such as reskilling, training and the new WFH reality, are having a profound effect. Continue Reading
Feature 07 Aug 2020

Agile FAQ: Get started with these Agile basics

Check out these tips on Agile basics for a quick catch-up or a great head start on maximizing the value of using Agile methods in your organization. Continue Reading
Feature 28 May 2020

Virtual software development and testing conferences to attend

Yes, you're stuck at home, but developers and testers can actually learn more for less money than in the past. Connect with dev and test experts at these virtual conferences. Continue Reading
Photo Story 29 Apr 2020

5 best practices for remote development teams

More developers than ever now work from home and must quickly adapt to remote life. Our experts explain how to proactively support the isolated members of your development team. Continue Reading
Feature 22 Apr 2020

5 ways to empower remote development teams

It's hard to maintain productivity when you work from home. Take up these remote dev and test practices to keep software projects on track despite the obstacles. Continue Reading
Tip 08 Apr 2020

Deal with remote software testing challenges

Is your software QA team new to remote work? Learn what technical, process and culture challenges you will encounter, and how to surpass them to ensure quality. Continue Reading
News 03 Apr 2020

IBM Call for Code unleashes developers on COVID-19

IBM's Call for Code competition wants developers to create applications that help communities deal with and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Reading
News 06 Mar 2020

Developers vie for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure certs

Oracle hopes to attract new developers to its cloud platform with its new developer certification for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, as it trails AWS, Microsoft and Google in market share. Continue Reading
Tip 07 Feb 2020

3 reasons testers need a QA manager in Agile

Agile teams without a QA manager prioritize developers' perspectives -- even to the software's detriment. Here are three ways in which a QA manager offers value to Agile teams, and how they support testers. Continue Reading
Photo Story 31 Jan 2020

Organize your team with an Agile scaling frameworks comparison

It's not easy to get Agile right, let alone replicate an individual team's success. For enterprises looking for a wide-scale transition, an Agile scaling framework might do the trick. Continue Reading
News 16 Jan 2020

IBM expands patent troll fight with its massive IP portfolio

IBM has contributed more than 80,000 patents to the LOT Network, a group of more than 600 companies that IBM has joined to fight patent trolls and their often frivolous lawsuits. Continue Reading
Tip 03 Jan 2020

How user story mapping aids requirements gathering in Agile

Agile requirements are dynamic, not static. Collaborate on user story maps to make sense of frequently evolving customer needs, and put a Scrum Master at the center of it all. Continue Reading
Feature 31 Dec 2019

6 key ways to improve developer productivity

Unproductive dev teams aren't necessarily staffed by unskilled or unmotivated workers. Give developers a boost with these concrete strategies, not strict mandates or inspirational posters. Continue Reading
Tip 30 Dec 2019

How to train junior developers in 5 steps

Junior developers thrive on trust and training -- even if you're wary of the former and have little time for the latter. Here's how to get inexperienced programmers tuned up fast. Continue Reading
Feature 27 Nov 2019

5 vital QA skills for software testers

As testing extends throughout the SDLC, QA engineers do much more than execute a quick functionality check. Pick up these skills to ensure an effective, team-wide approach to quality. Continue Reading
Podcast 04 Nov 2019

Why it's time to take IT burnout seriously

Disengaged or apathetic employees are a sign of weak culture -- not weak people. In this podcast, Dr. Christina Maslach shares what IT job burnout looks like and how to address it. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Aug 2019

Try these 5 team-building activities for software developers

Whether it's a soft skills workshop, simulated outage exercise or in-house tech conference, these one-day events get dev teams out of a coding rut. Plan yours now. Continue Reading