As a household name for both those in the development community and amateur computer enthusiasts at home, the use of Windows is a daily occurrence for many. However, just a few years ago, developers considered Windows as a doomed platform and quickly made the migration to working with alternative systems. Thankfully for many die-hard Windows fans, Microsoft took the hint and revamped Windows to make it more attractive and helpful for developers.
Desktop application development previously dominated the software development world and held the title for many years. However, the power of the internet took web apps to another world at a much more rapid pace while taking over the top spot. While many companies made this move to cloud or web-based applications as their main focus, many chose to continue to put out or update Windows desktop apps.
Some of the most popular applications and programs still considered as “desktop” apps include Microsoft Excel, Word, and other popular Microsoft programs, the Chrome browser, and Adobe products, among others.
Windows Developers Hiring Guide
Windows developers are software engineers with experience working on and creating products to run specifically on Windows-based products. There is not really a career path or certification to take to become an official “Windows developer” but it’s instead a culmination of hands-on experience while learning about building products optimized for the Windows technology first.
Under the massive umbrella of Windows products, professionals specializing in these technologies are typically responsible for a rather wide range of tasks unless making a specific field their only focus. This includes the entirety of the Software Development Life Cycle from design, building, and coding to testing and even ethical hacking for the sake of security testing.
The goal of these developers is to deliver world-renowned products to clients and end users alike. One key to success within Windows development is knowing how to work with the new Windows Terminal. Designed to replace more outdated development terminals, it’s either delivered as a Microsoft Store app or from GitHub.
Being that Windows is closely related to Microsoft in many ways, it’s generally a good idea for those pursuing this path professionally to get their certifications in the Microsoft Certified Technology Expert and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer programs. These certifications help ensure that devs understand how to use a wide variety of information technology tools and Microsoft products.
In addition to these certifications, those pursuing a Windows development career must also have a robust knowledge of the .NET framework so that they have the ability to build, debug, and add to apps running on it. Experience with C# p is also a must-have skill for a successful Windows developer. C# is one of the top choices for languages when it comes to building Windows-specific products and apps.
Today’s modern world of working online and with cloud computing platforms means that the need for Windows-specific applications is not nearly what it used to be. This means that the need for Windows developers is not as high as it was even 5 to 10 years ago. However, the industry is still relevant and in use by many end users and companies alike.
Windows Developers Interview Questions
What’s the difference between a thread and a computer process?
A computer process is an instance of computer programs executed sequentially, meaning they are run one by one by a computer system. This helps the system run several programs at the same time or in parallel. Acting as a single process, a thread is a set of executable programs working together.
For example, a single thread has the ability to send an error message to a user while another handles signals for an error. A third thread could even continue executing the original program action at the same time.
Why do developers choose to deploy local DNS servers?
A local DNS server provides developers with fully qualified domain names as well as local mapping to respective IP addresses. It also allows them to resolve remote requests related to the domains on a network while providing record information to remote servers.
What’s an active directory?
Developed by Microsoft, an active directory is a directory used to store objects and effectively manage a computer network with multiple domain controllers in various locations. These objects include computer, printer, and network information as well as user data.
The active directory databases have the ability to manage and change active directories from any domain controller, which is then replicated to all other domain controllers and centralized admin locations, all while authenticating users and computers within a Windows domain.
What’s the main purpose of child header files?
The header file includes the child header files with dependencies and functionalities required for running programs. Generally, the files are smaller files that provide the inclusion of the header files. Child header files consist of the definition of some macros and libraries required to write the program at hand. They also include the libraries and functions that aren’t included in a project by default along with many complex file relations.
What do you understand about configuration management?
Configuration management is a process that regulates and reports any changes that happen in the system over time. It’s a way to manage changes that occur over time to ensure they don’t negatively affect the efficiency and performance of the system.
We are searching for an experienced software engineer specializing in Windows development. The right candidate will not only have Microsoft certifications but also extensive experience with developing desktop apps specific to the Windows platform. They will be responsible for the design, development, implementation, and testing of Windows-based applications and products for end users.
Windows Developer Responsibilities
- Maintain and develop Windows applications for reliability, availability, data integrity, and recovery.
- Design, install, setup, configure and update Windows desktop applications.
- Develop code for the .NET framework.
- Work in parallel with Microsoft products.
Windows Developer Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or similar field.
- 5+ years of experience specializing in Windows desktop application development.
- Microsoft Certified Technology Expert and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer certified.
- Experience in .NET framework development.
