Programming vs. Testing: Which IT Role Suits Your Strengths?

Introduction

It is so exciting and overwhelming for a beginner to make a choice between programming or testing. In fact, both areas have their own opportunities, challenges, and career ways. So today we are going to spill the tea on some features of software development and testing to help you decide which way to go.

Understand the Basics

Programming, or software development, basically, refers to the applications and systems that solve specific needs. It ranges from writing code to the deployment of software products. Developers build up a set of platforms ranging from web applications to mobile applications.

Testing software focuses on the validation and verification of the software that meets set criteria. Testing bugs, functionality, and reliability checks that the software behaves as specified under various conditions. It can be either manual or automated depending on the needs of the project.

Each Path's Pros

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Advantages of Programming

This field requires enormous technical expertise; but, it is rewarding for people who are fond of problem-solving. Besides, programming is a very creative job, and they should think out of the box to meet a solution. The financial rewards are also great, with junior programmers making about $1,000 and team leads around $5,320 or more. Additionally, there are several areas of specialization that also make it easier to find a niche which fits your interest the best.

It can also be very complicated, because  it requires a certain understanding of algorithms, data structures, and numerous programming languages. The pressure will also drive you to feel stressed, especially about not meeting the set deadlines, which may impact the entire project's success if it is not delivered on time. Long-term projects are very usual for developers, which further can lead to burnout if it is not managed appropriately.

Benefits of Testing

Testing also has its own list of benefits. Testing, in general, should give quicker results compared to the entire development process, as a tester is able to identify issues and report them without waiting for the whole development process. This requires less technical knowledge compared to programming. A tester interacts more with end users, and may have a better understanding of user experiences and behaviors, which is very rewarding. Besides, the complexity of the software is growing, and companies have to invest more into quality assurance, which calls for qualified testers. Disadvantages: Testing can be perceived as a routine because  there are fewer creative tasks in comparison with development. Usually, testers have lower salaries compared to programmers: Junior positions from $800, senior positions-up to $3,600. Many testing tasks are repetitive. 

Which one is easier for a beginner to get into?

First of all, choose between programming and testing according to your personal strong points and interests. Maybe you find the programming job more suitable for you if you enjoy creating and building something new, have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and are interested in learning a variety of programming languages and technologies. On the other hand, testing might suit you best if you get the hang of details, like catching bugs, prefer a position that deals more with users, and would like to get into the IT sphere with less starting technical knowledge.

Time to Skill Up

The time for be good in either of these areas would, of course, vary. In the case of programming, dedicated study of 4 to 6 months normally brings you to a junior level, depending on the chosen programming language and field of specialization. As for testing, some basic software courses take from several weeks to a few months, while some certification courses, such as the ISTQB, take about 3 to 4 months to get ready for.

Job Market Insights

Both testers and programmers are in stable demand right now. For developers, especially for front-end and back-end positions, it is easier to get jobs because of market demand.

However, with more software products released to the market, the need for skilled testers also grows.

Conclusion

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The choice between focusing on either programming or testing is ultimately an interest-, skill-, or career-goal-based decision. Indeed, both can be rewarding paths. But any path will be successful if  you will learn and adapt continuously. Work on projects; do internships if possible. Take extra courses if possible. Whichever direction you go, develop software or check its quality-both are fundamental to tech field nowadays.