The new wave of web integrators..
It always used to be about the web developer. The hardcore coder with a technical background who could apply those skills to coding up any clever web site backend and getting things to work - wow what a guy. That is still such a highly respectable skillset for someone who is really really good at that job. But also, I really feel that now is the time of the modern web integrator.
This is someone who has the server-side or nerd background capable of coding up a storm, but who has the foresight to not jump straight in and use it wastefully. I mean why would you code up a mini content management system, when you can simply bang out a copy of wordpress for a client and it does everything and more for a basic content-driven site - everyone wins. The site owner can ever-so-simply publish new and maintain existing content without needing to know HTML, you as the creator gets off with less upfront development time and that’s also passed on via reduced costs to the customer.
The web integrator also has the ability to knock up some reasonable graphics files in a range of formats using any of the main programs. They are a mix between a web-specific graphic artist, nerd coder, general logical thinker and people person. They also understand hosting, security and any other internet related issues.
This kind of web integrator can be smart at their job and for the most common web development tasks thesedays select existing off-the-shelf systems to plugin to suit the customers’ needs. Again, take wordpress as an example. When some new buzzword technology comes out like the next RSS, you just go grab the Wordpress plugin for it. You aren’t coding anything yourself, you’re just integrating. If you had’ve coded up the main site from scratch, you wouldn’t be downloading any nifty plugins - you would be Neville stand-alone.
Really, I know your coding skills are just top knotch, but your time is so much more well spent “integrating” rather than re-inventing the wheel like some big gun developer. Its been the same case with any form of software development for a very long time. You won’t make money unless you are re-using existing stuff. Otherwise, no customer is willing to pay for the time spent, and actually, its the dumb way of doing things. Of course there are always the exceptions, such as coding up a custom radar system for the Australian Navy - however on the web, we’re all basically just publishing information and collecting input aren’t we..?
Its getting to the point where if you were some kid applying for a web developer role, its becoming better to say “Hey, I know 20 freely available web systems that I can easily integrate and customise with minimal effort because of my coding skills in a couple of languages” rather than saying “Hey I know ASP absolutely backwards and can code anything in it”.
Time better spent.
Tags: Web development