DEV Community: Kiran Iyer

Well-crafted post for beginners to understand the point about 'systems thinking' over 'prompt craft' is the most important takeaway.

Kiran Iyer — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:28:59 +0000

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Mar 31

How AI Tools talk to Each Other

#ai #beginners

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5 min read

Beginners Guide to Software Engineering Part 1

Kiran Iyer — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 18:53:27 +0000

I am very excited to have the opportunity to write this guide to help beginners navigate their way through the tech industry. I applaud you for taking the initiative and making such a strong decision because it can be a long and difficult process. I myself started out in the same boat not long ago and it has been an interesting, challenging journey so far!

Over the course of my studying, I've met many wonderful developers, mentors, and communities who have been really helpful, as well as a large number of friends from all over the world who are all on the same journey. I can't express my gratitude to them enough.

via GIPHY

Finding a new career that you enjoy can be difficult, whether you are new to the workforce or are in a job you dislike. Today's digital world has created a plethora of tech careers, making it difficult to choose which one is best for you. With so many career options available today, it can be a rather confusing and difficult process to choose the right one.

While the upskilling process requires strong commitment and patience, the career rewards it provides are well worth the effort.

What is Software Engineering?

Software engineering is the process of evaluating user needs and then designing, developing, and testing software to meet those requirements.

In simple terms, Software is a program that executes some code to serve a computational purpose. It's a collection of these executable codes, different libraries, and a whole lot of documentation.

Engineering is more about the development of such products, using well-defined methods.

How to Get Started as a Software Engineer?

There are a few things you should think about before embarking on your software engineer journey. The information provided here is intended to provide you with the fundamentals of getting started, as well as a simple guide providing you a direction on how to learn to become a software engineer.

First and foremost, learn about the various software engineering disciplines such as Frontend, Backend, DevOps, and so on. Once you've done your homework and have a good understanding of how these departments operate and what is expected of them, look at the various technologies utilized, for example - HTML, CSS & JavaScript in the Frontend, and how to get there.

The best approach to get started is to choose a discipline that you are passionate about. When people initially consider a profession in software engineering, they may be inclined to study everything and really fast. However, coming from personal experience, I can assure you that this is counterproductive. You must be aware of, and constantly remind yourself of, the fact that you are embarking on a lifetime of technological learning. It requires consistency, perseverance, and solid determination, suffice to say take it slow and know that everyone learns at their own pace.

Rome was not built in a day, but they worked on it every day

What Skills Do You Need to Succeed as a Software Engineer?

Note: I'm only giving an overview of the required skills, saving lengthy details for another day or article maybe 😉

Coding

A software engineer needs a lot of different skill sets in order to maximize the effectiveness of their work. Knowledgeable coding skills are an integral part of a software engineer's toolkit as coding is the backbone of any work that they do.

Problem solving

Using creativity and critical thinking to break complex problems down and finding solutions. Analyzing data to identify the scope of problems and isolate invalid data models. Software engineers with strong problem-solving abilities are well-positioned to advance in their careers.

Attention to detail

Coders must be able to concentrate on minute details for extended periods of time. Noticing patterns, memorizing commands, and identifying flaws can all help create a successful application. When programmers build something, they frequently document their process.

Team work

When team members collaborate effectively to work towards a single goal—building a product that provides the best possible experience for end consumers—they can significantly increase their efficiency. As a result, time to market is shortened, coding and other development errors are avoided, and the team is more cohesive. In addition to having a passion for software programming, software engineers must also be able to work well in a team.

Leadership

A good leadership skill set will help software engineers work themselves out of a tight spot when they have to deal with both customers and other departments. When it comes to getting a promotion, showing these leadership skills is essential. As you make your way up the ladder of success at work, you'll need to be able to delegate responsibilities and keep close tabs on budgets. This will become increasingly important as your projects evolve into more complex affairs.

Conclusion

Now that we've covered the basics of what Software Engineering entails and what to expect, it's time to roll up your sleeves, fire up your computer, open your editor, and start writing code - Whatcha lookin at? That is to say, start writing code or maybe build an app by tomorrow 😂

Look at you! You Just Got Got! 😆 I only wish it were that simple.

It's time to explore all possibilities in tech and see what really sparks your interest! Give yourself the time to process it and more importantly "Know Your Why", knowing your purpose helps you find your true passion, and the passion becomes an important driver for you to achieve something extraordinary, the passion will push you to reach your goals.

Here's a link to software engineering roadmap

In the following parts of this series, we'll go over how to prepare for and plan your journey, as well as the challenges you'll face and how to overcome them while staying focused, healthy, and making progress.

Stay tuned!

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How did I get interested in writing?

Kiran Iyer — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 20:35:27 +0000

How I got interested in writing and why I chose to pursue this

This question is a common one which is usually asked by the ones who are thinking of becoming a writer in the future. There are many many different paths to becoming a writer, being an author by writing fiction and non-fiction books, a journalist writing for magazines and newspapers, and a screenwriter who writes scripts for movies, television shows, and newspapers.

I can't claim to have any of the above, but my path has been inspired by articles that I've read on DEV Community and Hashnode. I read many articles from many people over time and they were all speaking to my experience - "If they can, I can."

Why I decided to write and the writing style that suits me

I had always wanted to write, but I had never felt like I did it well. It was not until last year that I decided to participate in Hashnode Writing Bootcamp, and I loved it. There were plenty of takeaways from amazing and experienced writers that helped me get past my writer's block. I even managed to publish my first article, and then got busy coding away but here I am taking a stab at it again.

I am not a fast writer by any stretch of the imagination so it made sense to me when the presenters in this workshop said that we would be taking our time with the process of taking notes, jotting down ideas, creating outlines, and not feel pressured to write quickly.

I love writing in freestyle because it allows me to keep a casual tone and be creative when needed (when I can) in my work and explore new topics!

How writing can influence your life

Although it may appear at first that writers, journalists, or keynote speakers stand to benefit the most from writing, this could not be further from the truth. Every one of us can benefit from developing and honing our writing skills, even if it's just the simple practice of keeping a journal.

Writing can be a powerful tool for self-exploration and personal growth. It helps you to work through thoughts and emotions, express them to others or just let it all out. It has an impact on the way you feel about yourself and your life. It can help you discover new possibilities, ideas, and perspectives. It can help you to meet people who share your interests and it can help you find your purpose too. If you haven't already, join this workshop - Hashnode Bootcamp, to learn how to write about what you know best- yourself.

Writing can influence your life or your life can influence your writing

I didn’t know this but writing even activates a number of different cognitive processes, and unleashes your creativity. It showed up as the top result in google search (and yes I googled it 😝)

It is a powerful, creative process that not only activates a wide range of cognitive processes in the brain but also helps release creative energy. The focus and attention needed to write stimulate the areas of the brain that are responsible for deep thinking, problem-solving, and analysis. And when we write about things we care about, it taps into our emotional intelligence and helps us understand ourselves better.

All of this will keep your brain sharp and active, and it can even act as a preventative measure against some mental illnesses, such as Alzheimer's or dementia.

Conclusion

This post is meant as a springboard for you to get started writing, whether it’s about your life, your family, or your favorite topic. It may also help someone else. Writing and publishing are not easy, but it is something you can do with practice. Maybe you will become a successful writer, maybe you won’t. For now, though, you’ll have fun exploring the possibilities of the story and the possibilities of yourself. Who knows what you might learn along the way?

I’ve learned so much from writing since I started and with all the advice and information I’ve received from my friends in the writing community on a regular basis, is completely enriching. Personal fulfillment. In the time I’ve been writing, I’ve really enjoyed the process. It feels like an accomplishment to see something completed and published. The actual writing has brought me such joy, I’m finding myself wanting to write more.

Maybe you’re someone who has always wanted to write, but you’ve never actually written anything. You aspire to become an author, but you haven’t yet taken the plunge. Getting started is the most important part. There is magic in just getting the wheels moving. Ideas are worth nothing until they’re turned into action. You must turn your thoughts into words.

What's Next for Me as a Writer?

I'll keep reading and writing. The beauty of reading is that you don't even realize how many benefits you're getting from it. Subconsciously, you notice sentence structures, grammar, and word choices used by the authors throughout the text. When you start writing, anything out of the ordinary will feel like an Itch in your head, triggered by the subconscious library of information you've accumulated from reading.

I'm just getting started so keep an eye out for more, rest assured. Peace 🙂

My first contribution to open-source

Kiran Iyer — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 06:11:55 +0000

DEV Community: Kiran Iyer

Well-crafted post for beginners to understand the point about 'systems thinking' over 'prompt craft' is the most important takeaway.

How AI Tools talk to Each Other

Beginners Guide to Software Engineering Part 1

What is Software Engineering?

How to Get Started as a Software Engineer?

What Skills Do You Need to Succeed as a Software Engineer?

Coding

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Team work

Leadership

Conclusion

How did I get interested in writing?

How I got interested in writing and why I chose to pursue this

Why I decided to write and the writing style that suits me

How writing can influence your life

Conclusion

What's Next for Me as a Writer?

My first contribution to open-source

It was a great experience!