SurprisedBloke
SurprisedBloke
Freelancer

My boss wants me (Test Engineer) to switch to development

Hey everyone, So, I'm currently a Test Engineer/Test Lead and have around 10 years of total IT experience (mix of Mainframes Application Development/Technical Business Analysis/QA), and my boss recently asked if I'm up for switching to development. One of our company's new product is built on Django, and they need someone who is good with Python and JavaScript. I'm not exactly starting from scratch, but I've never really done web development in a professional setting. Anyway, I have a few months to get up to speed.

  1. Any suggestions on Django, Python, and JavaScript online courses or tutorials to get a deep understanding? I have already done a lot of tutorials earlier and know the basics. Also, not sure if it's worth doing it again.

  2. Any cool projects that I should do to get the hang of these languages?

  3. If any of you have switched from testing to development, what were the big challenges you faced? How did you deal with them?

  4. Any tips on how to speed up this learning process?

I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks!

7mo ago
everyone
everyone
Student7mo

On a more personal note I think you should switch to development because obviously better money and you'll make a better dev then most of the devs and you'll be loved by the QA team cause you already know where most of the bugs lie. Use that and kill it. I think it's the right decision. Your growth will take a hike and money 🤑💰

SurprisedBloke
SurprisedBloke
Freelancer7mo

@Reddington Haha yeah, at least for now money is not a concern. I was sort of bored with my current job and was planning to upskill by attending a backend dev bootcamp. I had already been researching few bootcamps. Anyway it looks like I'm lucky and got this opportunity without much effort. And by the way, thanks a ton for the detailed advice. I appreciate your time. I will definitely check out the courses you mentioned and start building something to get up to speed.

everyone
everyone
Student7mo

Congratulations on the opportunity to switch roles! Here are some suggestions to help you transition smoothly:

  1. Online Courses and Tutorials

Given your experience, you might want to skip the beginner courses and focus on more advanced topics:

  1. Cool Projects

Building projects is one of the best ways to learn. Here are some project ideas for each language:

  • Django & Python:
    • Blogging platform
    • E-commerce website
    • Social media clone (e.g., Twitter)
  • JavaScript:
    • To-Do list application
    • Weather app using an API
    • Interactive portfolio website
  1. Challenges Faced and Solutions

Switching from testing to development can be challenging, but your testing experience will give you a unique perspective. Some common challenges and solutions include:

  • Impostor Syndrome: Feeling like you don't belong or aren't good enough.
    • Solution:Remember that everyone starts somewhere.
everyone
everyone
Student7mo

Focus on what you know and build on that.

  • Learning Curve: Web development has its own set of challenges compared to testing.
    • Solution: Be patient and take your time to understand the concepts deeply.
  • Communication: Developers often need to explain their work to non-technical stakeholders.
    • Solution: Use your testing experience to your advantage and explain technical concepts in a way that is easy to understand.
  1. Tips to Speed Up Learning
  • Consistent Practice: Dedicate time each day to practice coding.
  • Work on Real Projects: Building real projects will help you apply what you've learned.
  • Join Coding Communities: Join online forums and communities to ask questions and learn from others.
  • Pair Programming: Pairing with a more experienced developer can help you learn faster and gain new insights.

Good luck with your transition to development!

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