2017-01-12



Whether you’re a seasoned expert or looking to start a career in software development, it’s important that you’re always learning and keeping pace with the fast moving and ever changing world of software development.  Luckily software development is a progressive industry and as a result there are a plethora amount of software development resources that allow developers and coders to acquire the skills and knowledge they need through any number of avenues, including traditional higher education programs as well as through coding academies, boot camps, online learning communities and more.

Keeping up with and sourcing all of the best software development resources can be a daunting and time consuming task, so we’ve done the research for you and have compiled a remarkable list of the top 111 software development resources for all skill levels and domains of expertise. This post covers the following software development resources:

Coding Academies and Boot Camps

Online Learning Communities

Self-Taught Resources

Colleges and Universities

Software Development Conferences

Books, Magazines and Online Publications

Podcasts

Thought-leaders, Influencers and Blogs

Coding Academies & Boot Camps

Among the most popular options available to aspiring coders and software developers, software development courses such as coding academies and boot camps make it possible to acquire the skills needed to enter the profession through an accelerated educational program.



1. Actualize

Overview: A 12-week program available in Chicago, San Francisco, and New York, Actualize is scheduled on nights and weekends for the sake of convenience for working students. The program largely focuses on HTML, CSS, Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, and more.

Link: http://anyonecanlearntocode.com
Cost: $12,500
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/actualize

Key Takeaway: Actualize promises to provide real-world experience through in-class instruction followed by a guaranteed apprenticeship of four months. Ideal for working professionals who wish to become a web developer while continuing to work in their current profession.



2. DESIGNATION

Overview: Front-end development and UX/UI design serve as the primary areas of focus for DESIGNATION, an 18-week immersive web design program based out of Chicago.

Link: http://designation.io
Cost: $12,800
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/designation

Key Takeaway: With a central focus on frond-end development as well as UX/UI design, DESIGNATION has created a collaborative environment in which creativity is emphasized for its role in creating not just good, but truly great design.

3. Dev League

Overview: Full- and part-time programs are available through Dev League, which provides students with coursework pertaining to more than 20 languages and frameworks while learning full-stack JavaScript.

Link: http://www.devleague.com
Cost: $12,500
Reviews: https://www.switchup.org/bootcamps/dev-league

Key Takeaway: An intense and immersive 12-week experience, Dev League promises that new software developers will be “dreaming in code” by the end of the program. Over the course of four individual program modules (foundation and core concepts; client-side UX development; server-side programming; and project architecture), Dev League aims to teach in 12 weeks what it contends would otherwise take seven years for a self-taught developer.

4. Epicodus

Overview: Through two courses each lasting four months, Epicodus offers coursework focusing on Ruby, PHP, Java, C#, Rails, and Drupal while allowing students to create a comprehensive coding portfolio for future job-seeking purposes.

Link: https://www.epicodus.com
Cost: $400 (part-time); $1,200-$1,500 (full-time)
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/epicodus

Key Takeaway: Aspiring software developers are provided with what Epicodus calls a “flipped” classroom in which lectures are non-existent. Instead, “pair programming” provides students to collaborate with peers and spend all of the available class time on coding.

5. Founders and Coders

Overview: A free coding academy based out of the United Kingdom, Founders and Coders features a 16-week program in which the first eight weeks involve full-stack web-development coursework. This initial portion of the program is then followed by eight weeks in which students work closely with professional mentors on external projects for which they are financially compensated.

Link: http://www.foundersandcoders.com
Cost: Free
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/founders-coders

Key Takeaway: Students tend to rave about the transformative experience made possible through Founders & Coders, as the free program boasts a “collaborative environment and cutting-edge curriculum.” The program is peer-led, allowing students to manage projects and code reviews while also delivering seminars.

6. Hack Reactor

Overview: Hack Reactor’s principal focus is on teaching JavaScript, something of a rarity among coding boot camps and academies. Additional subjects include CoffeeScript, HTML, jQuery, Express, and AngularJS, among many others.

Link: http://www.hackreactor.com/
Cost: $17,780
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/hack-reactor

Key Takeaway: Each of Hack Reactor’s four locations (San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, and New York), as well as its remote programs, provide an experience in which aspiring web developers are able to expect “life-changing outcomes.” The various locations boast high graduation rates ranging from 91 to 98 percent, and the average annual salary of program graduates is as high as $104,000 (San Francisco).

7. Ironhack

Overview: A web development boot camp available in Miami, Madrid, and Barcelona, Ironhack’s principal subjects include JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Sinatra, and Ruby on Rails.

Link: https://www.ironhack.com/en
Cost: $6,916 (6,500 €)
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/ironhack

Key Takeaway: Ironhack’s intensive software development program clearly emphasizes the benefits of replicating the real-world environment in which graduates will eventually work. This real-world experience is accomplished through the use of projects requiring industry-specific tools and workflow processes.

8. Le Wagon

Overview: A comprehensive program with an entrepreneurial focus, Le Wagon teaches JavaScript, HTML & CSS, GitHub, Heroku, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and APIs, among a multitude of others.

Link: https://www.lewagon.com
Cost: 4,900 € – 5,900 € (varies according to location)
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/le-wagon

Key Takeaway: A challenging, immersive learning experience, Le Wagon believes its comprehensive approach is perfectly suited for creative individuals in need of the technical skills required of successful software engineers.

9. Startup Institute

Overview: Offering full- and part-time programs, Startup Institute’s courses focus on subjects like web design and development, digital marketing, and sales and account management.

Link: https://www.startupinstitute.com
Cost: $9,100 – $9,500
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/startup-institute

Key Takeaway: In addition to providing students with the skills necessary to excel in web design and development — along with many other critical subjects — Startup Institute’s programs also provides additional professional support for graduates once they enter the field.

10. The Software Guild

Overview: A full-stack web development program in both Java and .NET, The Software Guild is a 12-week program in which students can acquire valuable skills in SQL Server, MySQL, CSS, and HTML before entering the tech industry workforce.

Link: http://www.thesoftwareguild.com
Cost: $10,000
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/software-guild

Key Takeaway: The Software Guild features experienced instructors and an extensive network of employers to go with the full-stack web development programs offered in Java and .NET.

Online Learning Communities

Some of the best coders and software developers offer access to their unique professional expertise through online learning communities such as the ones listed below. These supportive communities allow aspiring coders to ask specific questions regarding any coding or programming issue they might encounter. These communities also feature practical advice on a wide range of subjects while exposing newcomers to multiple perspectives and philosophies.

The majority of these communities feature a question-and-answer format along with articles, tutorials, and other resources, all of which are of immense value to an aspiring coder or software developer.

11. Code Year

Overview: A guided approach to learning software development skills, Code Year makes it possible to acquire a basic programming skill foundation while building an interactive website.

Link: https://www.codecademy.com/en/tracks/code-year
Cost: Free
Reviews: https://www.coursetalk.com/providers/codecademy/courses/python

Key Takeaway: Code Year’s program design allows aspiring web developers to have access to support and guidance while learning at a pace best suited to their individual needs.

12. Codecademy

Overview: An interactive setup enables aspiring coders to focus on acquiring the skills they believe are most instrumental in the achievement of their own individual goals.

Link: https://www.codecademy.com/
Cost: Free
Reviews: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2484745,00.asp

Key Takeaway: Codeacademy provides access to free programs focusing on building the skills needed for comprehensive web development, but it also provides educational programs tailored to a specific language — CSS, HTML, or JavaScript, for example — thereby allowing students to essentially craft their own curriculum while working at their own pace.

13. Dream.In.Code

Overview: A robust online community featuring hundreds of thousands of registered members, Dream.In.Code connects experienced programmers and web developers with the goal of sharing relevant, detailed information with one another.

Link: http://www.dreamincode.net
Cost: Free
Reviews: http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews87040.html

Key Takeaway: With detailed programming tutorials, code snippets, and an active forum, Dream.In.Code is dense with information and is a vital free resource for any aspiring web developer.

14. Ladies Learning Code

Overview: Through its hands-on, collaborative approach to education, Ladies Learning Code seeks to inspire women and youth to acquire a host of software development skills. A non-profit that got its start by providing workshops, Ladies Learning Code has since added a digital skills program lasting seven weeks.

Link: http://ladieslearningcode.com
Cost: “Pay what you can”
Reviews: https://www.coursereport.com/schools/ladies-learning-code

Key Takeaway: Ladies Learning Code hosts workshops and programs that are bot convenient and affordable, and its mission to shape digital literacy education is a noble pursuit that already generated impressive results.

15. Processing Forum

Overview: Processing Forum allows members to access a question-and-answer style forum covering all manner of subjects pertaining to software development. The format is straightforward and easy to use, making it simple for beginners to quickly find the information they are looking for.

Link: https://forum.processing.org/two/
Cost: Free
Reviews: N/A

Key Takeaway: Individuals attempting the self-taught approach to learning software development can benefit from this exhaustive resource, especially by providing details describing their specific question or issue.

16. Programmr

Overview: An online teaching tool designed to introduce programming skills to beginners while also sharpening the skills of those with previous experience, Programmr offers a simple and straightforward learning experience covering just about everything an aspiring software developer should wish to know.

Link: http://www.programmr.com
Cost: Free
Reviews: http://blog.allmyfaves.com/fun/programmr-learn-to-code-and-interact-with-other-programmers/

Key Takeaway: Programmr is an enjoyable online education tool, and its comprehensive learning tools cover a broad range of subjects, including Ruby, SQL, C++, Python, C#, Java, HTML, CSS, PHP, and countless others.

17. Code Review Stack Exchange

Overview: A question-and-answer community, Code Review Stack Exchange features a wide variety of topics, all of which are organized in a useful and accessible manner. This informative community is an excellent resource for aspiring developers as well as established software developers.

Link: http://codereview.stackexchange.com
Cost: Free
Reviews: https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.stackexchange.com

Key Takeaway: Code Review Stack Exchange’s organizational system makes it easy for beginners to find the best and most relevant answer to a specific question, as the question-and-answer community allows members to vote for the best answer, thereby pushing it toward the top of the page.

18. Stack Overflow

Overview: Part of the Stack Exchange network, the Stack Overflow community focuses on providing information relevant to web developers of all skills levels through its easily navigated question-and-answer forum.

Link: http://stackoverflow.com
Cost: Free
Reviews: https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.stackoverflow.com

Key Takeaway: The Stack Overflow community is quite robust in its membership, ensuring that questions are answered by multiple experts in a timely fashion. The ranking system ensures that beginners are able to utilize this resource to acquire all of the skills needed to become a software developer.

19. The Code Project

Overview: In addition to its active community forum, The Code Project provides information relevant to aspiring software developers through articles and other resources. Members are able to post articles on relevant subject matter, and the archive is an especially useful resource for beginners.

Link: https://www.codeproject.com
Cost: Free
Reviews: https://www.quora.com/Which-one-is-better-The-Code-Project-or-Stack-Overflow

Key Takeaway: Since most of the articles feature actual code examples, beginners have the opportunity to learn many of the techniques needed to excel as a software developer.

20. Village88

Overview: A tech accelerator, Village88 ensures entrepreneurs are able to transform an idea into a scalable business. Entrepreneurs, sponsors, and mentors connect through Village88, which reserves its resources for just five startups at any one time.

Link: http://techlab.village88.com
Cost: Varies (equity or some other form of compensation TBD)
Reviews: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/village88-techlab#/entity

Key Takeaway: With a possible investment of $10,000 to $200,000 in engineering resources available to entrepreneurs over a brief period of time, Village88 asserts that a partnership with the tech accelerator will yield a mutual benefit in relatively short order.

Self-Taught Resources

Many professional coders are self-taught and take a great deal of pride in their self-taught programming and coding background. Anyone seeking to enter the profession as a self-taught programmer can benefit from the wealth of resources freely available via the internet. In addition to the resources listed below, many top colleges and universities make computer science courses available through Coursera or iTunesU.

21. Google Code

Overview: A searchable resource, Google’s code repository is of immense value to self-taught coders and software developers.

Link: https://code.google.com/archive/
Cost: Free
Reviews: N/A

Key Takeaway: The Google Code Project Hosting Service was shut down recently, but, according to Google, the archive still contains more than 1.4 million projects, 1.5 million downloads, and 12.6 million issues, making it a critical resource for all software developers, particularly beginning software developers.

22. OER Commons

Overview: An open-education directory, OER Commons offers access to programming courses from Teachers’ Domain and the Saylor Foundation, among many others.

Link: https://www.oercommons.org
Cost: Free
Reviews: https://edshelf.com/tool/oer-commons/

Key Takeaway: The resources available through OER Commons are freely available to all, making high-quality information regarding a wide range of relevant subjects  readily accessible to aspiring software developers all over the world.

23. SitePoint Reference

Overview: In addition to offering an array of valuable resources on SitePoint, self-taught programmers can access vital references relating to CSS, JavaScript, and HTML.

Link: http://reference.sitepoint.com/css
Cost: Free ( additional resources also available at varying price points)
Reviews: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/sitepoint-reference/

Key Takeaway: SitePoint Reference is a solid starting point for beginning software developers, as it offer free insight — as well as support from experts — into the basic concepts associated with CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.

24. WIRED Tutorial Library (formerly Webmonkey tutorials)

Overview: Aspiring web developers can learn to build a website for the first time through the tutorials made available through WIRED and Webmonkey. This online resource also provides tutorials on a number of other subjects, including web development with HTML5.

Link: https://www.wired.com/tag/tutorial/
Cost: Free
Reviews: N/A

Key Takeaway: Although Webmonkey.com now redirects to WIRED.com, the tutorials that made Webmonkey so popular among aspiring software developers can still be found through on WIRED’s site.

Colleges and Universities

There is a great deal to gain from enrolling in a traditional academic program, and those seeking a career as a coder or software developer should certainly consider applying to a school capable of boasting a highly ranked computer science program. The following colleges and universities are considered the very best in the world, but there are many fine academic programs available through institutions not appearing among those listed below.

25. Harvard

Overview: One of the world’s most universally respected academic institutions, Harvard University features a computer science program drawing from a diverse array of fields, including physics, biology, chemistry, and electrical engineering, not to mention the university’s revered business and medical schools.

Link: https://www.seas.harvard.edu/computer-science
Cost: $43,280 (2016-17 tuition rate; does not include room, board, etc.)
Reviews: https://www.coursetalk.com/providers/edx/courses/introduction-to-computer-science-3

Key Takeaway: Consistently ranked at the top of the education rankings for computer science, Harvard’s program offers students access to and experience in cutting-edge and groundbreaking work in all facets of the field, including artificial intelligence, robotics, computational linguistics, and much more.

26. MIT

Overview: MIT’s electrical engineering and computer science department is the school’s largest, featuring a faculty composed of many of the world’s leading researchers and innovators in their respective fields. Upon graduation MIT alumni are among the most sought-after professionals in the software development industry.
Link: https://www.eecs.mit.edu
Cost: $46,400 (2015-16 tuition rate)
Reviews: http://www.studentsreview.com/MA/MIT.html

Key Takeaway: Few programs can make the legitimate claim that its students fundamentally “change the world,” but MIT undeniably among the institutions capable of backing up this assertion with ample real-world evidence.

27. Nanyang Technological University

Overview: A balanced academic program in which computer science and engineering are equally emphasized, NTU’s program has an international reputation for producing graduates who go on to thrive in a wide range of professional roles.

Link: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Pages/home.aspx
Cost: $9,250 (subsidized citizens of Singapore) to $36,280 (non-subsidized students)
Reviews: https://www.iagora.com/studies/uni/Nanyang_Technological_University

Key Takeaway: Aspiring web developers reap rewarding benefits from NTU’s comprehensive approach to computer science, which features a hands-on approach to learning as well as a clear emphasis in theory, practice, project-based learning, and more.

28. Princeton

Overview: Known for its lengthy history of innovation and its critical contributions to the field of computer science, Princeton University’s computer science program continues to rank among the top institutions for individuals with software development aspirations.

Link: https://www.cs.princeton.edu
Cost: $41,820 per year
Reviews: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/princeton-university-186131

Key Takeaway: Princeton’s computer science program boasts a particularly exceptional reputation when it comes to programming language, theory, and systems.

29. Stanford

Overview: Stanford’s program has many strengths, including a reputation for innovation and research in the fields of computer science, scientific computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics, among many others. The computer science department is part of the Stanford University School of Engineering and offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.

Link: https://cs.stanford.edu
Cost: $45,195 per year
Reviews: http://www.studentsreview.com/CA/STFU.html

Key Takeaway: Stanford’s sterling academic reputation certainly holds true with regard to its computer science program, as the university has played a key role in critical research, scientific discovery, and innovation in all aspects of computer science.

30. Tsinghua University

Overview: Tsinghua University emphasizes innovation and exploration with regard to the fundamental and methodologies of information science, and its students stand to benefit from the university’s reputation as one of the world’s leading research institutions.

Link: http://www.iiis.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/
Cost: ¥33,000 – ¥40,000
Reviews: https://www.iagora.com/studies/uni/Tsinghua_University

Key Takeaway: Students who value a strong research background will benefit most from an education at Tsinghua University, as the school possesses a reputation as one of the most prominent research and training institutions in the world.

31. University of California – Berkeley

Overview: Known for its outstanding faculty and its endless contributions to teaching and research, UC-Berkeley’s electrical engineering and computer science program has cultivated an academic culture in which innovation is the constant emphasis.

Link: https://cs.berkeley.edu
Cost: $13,510 per year
Reviews: http://www.studentsreview.com/undergraduate.php3?UID=199&PID=12&MAJOR_NAME=Computer+Science

Key Takeaway: A collaborative environment in which team-driven projects are exceptionally common, UC-Berkeley’s computer science program preaches a cross-disciplinary approach to instruction and research.

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