Technology is ever-changing, and what was new and hot yesterday might be old and boring tomorrow. If you have listened to the small talk in the streets, you’ve probably heard some people saying that they can hardly keep up with every emerging software.

As a developer, it is vital that you keep your skills up-to-date, in order to stay relevant in your profession. This not only means that you have to work with new technologies, but also learn the concepts behind them and the problems that they are designed to solve. By taking the initiative to become and stay relevant using the tips discussed below, you put yourself in a position to maintain a successful career.

Follow industry news and trends

Every time there is a major trend, everyone keeps talking and writing about it. Set aside a few minutes every day to read up on the huge things happening in the industry. By doing so, you will always be aware of larger trends and shifting paradigms in software development. Besides, these trends will serve as a gateway for you to test “hot” software and decide if it is worth investing your time in it.

Join forums, communities, and social groups

Most of the technology that we use today is developed in user-driven communities and forums. In these communities, developers share the problems that they are facing, troubleshoot solutions, and keep in tabs with what is happening in real-time. Joining programmer specific communities is the best way to connect with and learn from peers. Even if you do not participate in discussions, browsing through them will keep you in the know. Do not forget to use VPN monitoring software to help you collect information in a standardized way across a variety of software types.

Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to keep up to speed with industry developments when commuting to work or jogging in the morning. There are lots of software development podcast experts who cover new technologies in-depth. By listening to them, you can learn how to handle new software and prevent your skills from becoming archaic.

Attending events and meet-ups

If you are not always working, you can set apart a few hours to participate in local software development meetings or attend international conferences. Events that aim to discuss open source technologies, or design and usability are incredibly enlightening. You get to make new friends with similar interests, who can alert you whenever something “hot” comes out.

Staying up to speed with new software requires you to dedicate several hours of your leisure time to learn what’s new. Make sure that you find a good work-life balance so that you have extra time to learn new skills. Come up with a robust learning plan, code as often as you can to prevent your skills from becoming rusty, and use the skills discussed in this article to keep up with changes in the industry.