The Developer’s transformation over the past decade: From code bunker to business arena

How it used to be?

Times have changed and with it the software developer’s role. Twelve years ago, we would hire developers who primarily mastered one or more specific programming languages. Coding in one or more of those languages was their niche and focus. Developers collaborated closely with testers, business analysts, and operations, each having their specialized function.

What is it like today?

Today we witness a fusion of these roles. The expectation is that developers, in addition to coding, also understand and communicate with the business, contribute to architecture, test, and optimize their solutions at a technical operational level. Although user tests are still conducted by the business and it’s architects who consider broader perspectives, along with DevOps managing the transition to operations, it’s clear that the developer’s role now demands more. Much more. This evolution poses a personal challenge for some developers; they prefer to focus on creating good code and feel that too much time is spent on other tasks. This paradigm shift requires adaptation but also creates an opportunity for a more holistic and value-driven approach to development.

What will future bring?

For those developers embracing the change and enhancing their skills, they are on the path to becoming not only skilled developers but also key figures in the business arena. However, for some developers, this adaptability or shift is not motivating and the tasks are far from their comfort zone. Can developers be compelled to undergo this change, and if so – where are the limits? Is the developer’s core competency being deprioritized in favor of the time spent creating good code? Is it expected that developers will spend less time on coding in the future, perhaps using AI?

What do you see as your next step in this development?