8 skills you need to be a

good Python developer

Python developers are in high demand - not only because
the language is so popular and widely used but mostly due
to the fact that Python became a solution in many different
areas. From web applications to data science and
machine learning. However, it is not enough to just master
the language itself. Surprisingly, that might be the easiest
step in becoming a Python developer. What else should
you know to become a really good one?

backendcareerpython

Luiza | team member

January 7, 2019
6 minutes read

About Python programming - why it

is a good choice?
Python is not the mostly used language in the web, however, it is constantly growing -
especially in a startup environment where time and budget are usually limited. As a
language, it is aspect-oriented which means there are modules with different
functionality. So first the developer has to create the modules and afterwards, based on
the “if then” action, depending on the user’s action, the algorithm triggers a particular
block and brings the result. The Python developer is usually dealing with backend
components, apps connection with third-party web services and giving support to
frontend developers in web applications. Of course, you might create applications with
use of different languages but pretty often Python is the language chosen for it - and
there are reasons for that! You can read more about what is Python used for and how
does stack up against PHP.
Let’s talk about skills now! What are the necessary technical abilities and soft skills for a
Python developer?

Python
Quite obvious, Python is the main language which you are going to use at work to finish
the project. Fortunately, if you are a developer but focused on other languages, the
language switch might come with ease. Python is the general-purpose programming
language with constantly increasing demand for. Due to relatively easy learning path, it
is beginner-friendly and definitely experienced-developer-friendly as well! There is no
need to know each module but at least, regardless of basic syntax and semantics, the
differences between Python 2 and 3. A good Python dev can smoothly adjust to those,
however, it is not a big deal because the distinction is rarely required. It is also advisable
to know python’s data structures. While you do not have to learn by heart how to
implement a b-tree, knowing what lies under the hood of a set, dict or list will come in
handy both in small and big projects.

Python frameworks
Knowing Python frameworks is a must, however, it doesn’t mean that a Python
developer has to know them all. Depending on the project you may be asked to know
one or another, but mostly used are Django, Flask, and CherryPy. Undoubtedly, if you
already know Python, you had a chance to work with at least one of the most popular
frameworks! The basic and well-defined structure offered by the frameworks is usually
appreciated by devs while figuring out the core logic of the application.

Familiarity with ORM libraries

Using and connecting application through an ORM (Object Relational Mapper) like
SQLAlchemy, Django ORM and so on is easier, faster and more efficient than writing
SQL - which means, more likely it is preferred by the team. Good to have it in your
skillset!

Basic understanding of front-end

technologies (HTML5, CSS3,
JavaScript)
Very often a Python developer has to cooperate with frontend team to make match the
server-side with the client-side. Thus, it is important that you understand how the
frontend works, what is possible and what is not, how the application is going to appear.
Of course, in proper agile software houses, there is also a UX team, project/product
manager and SCRUM master to coordinate the workflow. It doesn’t mean that a
frontend is a must-know for a Python dev but definitely, in some projects, this kind of
knowledge and experience is more than welcome.

Python libraries
Libraries make a developer’s life easier, the team’s workflow more efficient and task’s
execution way faster. Depending on the projects nature, it is better to know the libraries
which are going to help you in everyday work. Python, as a community-based
programming language, has an answer to almost any possible request - check the list of
just 20th commonly used Python libraries and you will know exactly what are we talking
about!

Version control
Keeping track of every change made to the file to later on source the code is a must-
know for each developer! In most of the job offers you can see this as a requirement -
thankfully it is not difficult to get familiar with and if you have been coding since a
while, you have properly set your GitHub and terms like “push, fork, pull, commit” are
not random words for you.

AI and Machine Learning

This will be a huge plus for you if you know what is it about! AI and Machine Learning
(as well as deep learning) are constantly growing as a field - Python is a perfect
programming language for that. If you are into data science, then definitely digging in
the Machine Learning topic would be a great idea.

Communication skills
Let’s not forget that a developer’s work is not only typing the lines of code! In best
software development firms the teams are made out of amazing programmers which
work together to achieve the final goal - no matter if it means to finish the project, to
create a new app or maybe to help a startup skyrocket. However, working in a team
means that a developer has to communicate well - not only to get the stuff done but also
to keep the documentation clear so others can easily read and follow the thinking path
to fully understand the idea.

How to become Python developer, a

really good one
First of all, your skillset is your weapon - you might land a better project, a better
position, and obviously a better salary. Moreover, in programming, you can always learn
more thus gaining additional skills is not only beneficial but also makes a developer’s
career path challenging and interesting. Regardless of learning new libraries or taking
part in must-attend Python conferences, there are many ways in which you can improve.
Basically coding in your free time is a way to go - for that you need a lot of persistence.
Secondly, taking part in additional courses (like Udemy courses) and webinars, teaching
others, being active in the programming community to finally find your thing, particular
niche in which you want to become a master.