by Himanshu Mehra, digital marketing manager at Competenza Innovare
Microsoft’s .NET Framework delivers great value to clients as well as programmers, even after 20 years of its release (released in 2002). It has the distinction of being the most commonly used framework in developing software applications.
.NET is used for developing various types of applications for mobile, desktop, and web. With the help of ASP.NET MVC, developers can simplify the creation of dynamic web pages in .NET.
Initially, there was no MVC (Model-View-Controller) in ASP.NET, it was introduced in December 2007. Since the introduction of MVC, 29 different MVC versions have been released by Microsoft. The latest version ASP.NET MVC 5.2 was released in May 2022.
The skills required for MVC development have also changed with the launch of different MVC versions.
Before jumping on to the skills that .NET developers must have, let’s see a quick introduction to ASP.NET.
ASP.NET – A Quick Intro
ASP.NET is an open-source framework used to create a wide range of software applications for small businesses to large enterprises. There are plenty of benefits of ASP.NET like requiring less coding, easily supporting cross-platforms and many more. The software architecture developed by Microsoft has different libraries, languages, and APIs. It aids in building the following applications:
- iOS mobile applications
- Web applications
- Android mobile application
- Azure microservices
- 3D games
- Enterprise applications
History of ASP.NET MVC Versions
Initially, ASP.NET MVC was introduced in .NET 3.5 by Microsoft. Then according to time, they added more new features and launch updated versions.
ASP.NET MVC 1.0 – Released on March 13, 2009, in .NET 3.5
ASP.NET MVC 2.0 – Released on March 10, 2010, in .NET 3.5/4.0
ASP.NET MVC 3.0 – Released on January 13, 2011, in .NET 4.0
ASP.NET MVC 4.0 – Released on August 15, 2012, in .NET 4.0/4.5
ASP.NET MVC 5.0 – Released on October 17, 2013, in .NET 4.5
ASP.NET MVC 5.2 – Released on August 28, 2014, in .NET 4.5
ASP.NET MVC 5.2 is the last updated version, that is currently used.
Let’s dive into the top 10 skills required that .NET developers must have.
The Most Important .NET Developer Skills to Be Aware Of
To become a professional .NET developer and attract job opportunities, you need certain skills to help you complete the occupational duties.
Here is a comprehensive list of skills:-
1. Understanding of ASP.NET MVC.
It is obvious. You must know the operation of ASP.NET MVC to become an ASP.NET MVC developer. Good knowledge helps a developer control all the functions of an application.
Some operations of ASP .NET MVC are:-
- Creating a connection string,
- Adding a controller, view, and model
- Knowing and working with SQL Server LocalDB
Also, understanding the latest ASP.NET MVC versions can help you gain better knowledge. When you master the software and keep yourself updated, you can build software applications in minimum time with efficiency.
2. Be an Effective Coder.
Code,Code,Code
The software development process works around only codes, in fact, it’s the first step to getting into the development field. If you don’t have knowledge of coding or programming then you can’t move on to your next step.
.NET developers must master the skill of coding and produce quality code. You need to write effective code that allows applications to function as desired.
To write code, you must understand the purpose of the code. It will help you come up with new code ideas. It can also help you to use existing code efficiently to save time and resources.
As you progress with the prototype, you need to assess the code, and its performance, and make changes as required.
3. Knowledge of Programming Languages and Concepts.
Knowledge of multiple programming languages and programming concepts is a must to develop cutting-edge applications in this digital age. A skilled .NET developer should have sound knowledge of database technologies such as MySQL, and Microsoft Cosmos DB.
To master the .NET development you must keep a good understanding of the following:
- C#
- VB.NET
- F#
- Razor
- Entity Classes
- Web API 2
- Algorithmic complexity
- SQL Server
- Oracle
4. Good Sense of Client-Side Technology.
Having a strong hand in client-side technology is always advantageous for a .NET developer. A dedicated .NET developer must have the skill to create interactive web applications using advanced technologies. Great work increases your demand and value in the market.
Following are the technologies that you should know:-
- JavaScript
- HTML
- CSS
- Bootstrap
- jQuery
5. Budget & Cost Management (Most Overlooked Skill).
Many software developers overlook this skill and suffer in the latter part of their careers.
Why? Because they have no idea of how and how much money to allocate for resources required for project development.
No company or client would like to waste money on unnecessary resources. So, a developer has to find cost-effective options while developing new software. In such a scenario, budget management helps to reduce the cost and resource allocation.
Wrong budgeting can lead to a ‘waste of money’, nobody would want that, right? Thus you should have a clear idea of the budget needed for the project.
6. Learn Time Management.
Stop wasting, start managing…!
Time management is another skill that every .NET developer should possess. No client wants delayed project development, so it becomes necessary for an MVC software developer to deliver the result within the time frame.
That happens only when the developer understands the value of time and manages it well.
For better management of time, developers must be organized and follow a certain schedule. Doing so will help them produce outcomes within the deadline set by the client. Time is precious when it comes to development, so developers should stop wasting time.
7. Develop a brain that solves a problem like a pro.
Be a more innovative thinker…!
It is a universal skill required for .NET development, Angular development, mobile app development, and others.
A developer with poor problem-solving skills will always struggle in his career. While a software programmer with great problem-solving skills will thrive.
.Net developer has to build prototypes, modules, and many other things to achieve the project goal. For this, you need to solve many problems & refine existing solutions that come in between.
You also need to create a solution that is cost-friendly, user-friendly as well as practical.
8. Should have good communication skills.
Not extraordinary but you should have good communication skills to deal with clients. In the development field, you have to communicate with clients all over the world. So, decent communication skills will help you to understand your client’s requirements and pass the day-to-day messages to each other.
Plus, you can interact well with clients who are not technically strong or don’t have technical knowledge.
9. Should provide quality customer service.
Quality customer service = Increase customer retention rate
To retain clientele and attract new ones, you need to provide high-quality service. Every customer expects good service after you deliver the project. So, the .Net developer must build strong customer service skills. Here are the ways .Net developers can quality customer services to clients:
Before, during, and after!
Before starting a project, the .Net developer should understand all the requirements of the clients. A good developer has to be prepared in advance for a client meeting and be ready with advanced research about the client project.
So, you can suggest improvements or changes for the project in the meeting. Also, during the meeting, you must guide the client regarding the development process, duration, and the result they can achieve. The developer must answer all questions of the customers.
During the project, .Net developers must talk openly with their clients. It will aid in discussing the milestones you have achieved and what’s the next big thing you are going to do for clients in the next phase.
Provide complete transparency to clients so they can trust you. During this phase, it becomes significant to maintain transparency regarding the progress of the projects.
After completing the project, don’t ignore your clients. Being a good .NET developer you should evaluate the project’s success. If clients face any minor technical issues, then you have to solve them without any cost. These gestures will represent you as a professional and show your great side to the client.
It helps you in two ways, one, clients will hire you again for their next projects, and second, they recommend your name to others.
10. Willingness To Collaborate With Other Professionals.
A skilled .Net developer understands the significance of collaboration to finish the projects within the given deadline. It allows developers to open their minds to fellow IT professionals and understand their perspectives. It helps you learn new concepts and give you the ability to think from different angles. It aids in the better delegation of tasks to the team members.
Conclusion
.NET developers are in demand nowadays. Large to small scale companies, looking for professional and experienced developers for their projects. Brands and businesses are in search of the best developers who can get the desired results for them.
Now it’s mandatory for .NET developers to enhance their skills to survive in the competitive world and give the best outputs for clients. Also, you should have both practical skills and theoretical knowledge to increase your value.
With my experience and research, I created this list of skills that a .NET developer must have. This blog will help companies and clients to hire the best talent. Also, for developers, it will help them to understand the required skills.
Himanshu Mehra is the digital marketing manager and technical content writer at Competenza Innovare. With 10 years of content writing, inbound marketing, and lead generation experience, Himanshu has helped SaaS companies and small-to-large size tech businesses to grow their brand & revenue. His specialized areas are technical research, content creation, and PPC which empowers him to deliver quality and excellence.
