Software and Applications Developers and Analysts

How to become a software developer

Official title: Software developer

Also called: Blockchain architect, Blockchain developer, Blockchain engineer, Computer software engineer, Cryptography architect, Cryptography developer, Cryptography engineer, Full stack developer, Programmers and software development professional, Software engineer, Associate Software Engineer, Back End Developer

Software developer researches, designs and develops computer and network software or specialised utility programmes. He/she analyses user needs and develops intuitive and responsive software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. He/she also updates software, enhances existing software capabilities, and develops and directs software testing and validation procedures and evaluates and addresses security vulnerabilities through security tools. He/she may work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. He/she may also gather user feedback to propose improvements to the product’s interface, support usability testing or execute specifications and features for the next iteration of the product based on user feedback.

Main tasks

Researching, analysing and evaluating requirements for software, web, multimedia and games applications
Designing and developing computer software, web, multimedia and games systems
Consulting with engineering staff to evaluate interface between hardware and software
Developing and directing software testing and validation procedures
Modifying existing software to correct errors, to adapt it to new hardware or to upgrade interfaces and improve performance
Directing software programming and development of documentation
Assessing, developing, upgrading and documenting maintenance procedures for software, web, multimedia and games applications
Assisting in analysing, specifying and developing Internet strategies, web-based methodologies and development plans

Ways in

University: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 5 universities in Singapore

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Questions people ask

How do I become a software developer?

Ways in include: Computing & IT degrees.

Will AI change the work of a software developer?

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026