New Year's Resolutions for Developers — Ideas to Level Up Your Skills in 2024

A new year presents the perfect opportunity for self-improvement. As developers, there's always more to learn and ways to grow our technical skills. Here are some resolutions specifically focused on leveling up as a programmer in 2024.

Contribute to an Open Source Project

Making an impact on an open source project is a great way to both learn and give back to the developer community. In the new year, pick an active open source repo relevant to your interests and skills. Read through existing issues to find one you can tackle, or propose your own feature.

Getting involved opens doors to collaborate with other developers, helps build your resume, and you'll pick up valuable skills like teamwork and code reviews. Don't feel intimidated, either — projects welcome all types of contributions, from documentation to bug fixes. Check out sites like GitHub Trending or First Timers Only for project ideas to get started.

Master a New Language

There's always room to expand your toolbox. Pick a new programming language you've been curious about and commit to learning it in 2024. Some popular options to consider include Rust for systems programming, Swift/Kotlin for mobile development, or Go for backend infrastructure.

Focus on completing a beginner tutorial or course, then build a small personal project to cement your skills. Participate in hackathons or code challenges involving the language to stay motivated. Following language communities on 𝕏 (Formerly known as Twitter) or joining subreddits is also a great way to continue learning beyond initial tutorials.

Get Certified

Earning an industry-recognized certification demonstrates your capabilities to potential employers. Choose a technology in high demand that you already feel comfortable with, then resolve to study and pass the exam this year. Popular options include AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer, and CompTIA Security+.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses with practice tests early on. Carve out regular study sessions and treat it like any other commitment. The certification verifies your skills on your resume and LinkedIn — a smart boost for your career.

Apply to Speaking Opportunities

Public speaking forces you to crystallize your knowledge. Why not give a lightning talk, conference session, or lead a local meetup this year? Start by organizing informal lightning talks at your company or user group. Submit talks on topics you're passionate about to local conferences and events.

Giving a talk drives you to fully understand a subject to teach others. It's also great networking and an impressive resume/profile builder. Don't wait until you feel “ready” — just propose an idea and refine it with feedback. Many organizers prioritize newcomers for diversity. Go for it!

Consistent Coding Practice

Committing to regular coding challenges, side projects or tutorials keeps your skills sharp. Make time daily or weekly to practice via sites like Codewars, LeetCode, Exercism or coding interview prep kits.

Or spin up a project idea you've been thinking about on the side using modern tools/languages. Having something to work on regularly keeps you engaged with the latest developer trends. Set small, achievable goals you don't want to break to maintain momentum.

Expand Your Developer Toolbox

Developers rely on plenty of tools beyond just languages. Use 2024 to expand your proficiency. Learn version control, containerization, devops or security testing — these skills drastically improve workflow and employment prospects.

Dedicate time each week to learn a new feature of Git, practice Docker scenarios, or attend tutorial meetups on AWS/Kubernetes. Dig into documentation and online courses on Lynda or Udemy. Or simply challenge yourself to try a new development program, editor plugin or debugger.

Reverse Engineer Existing Apps

Curious how others approach common problems? Take apart popular apps piece by piece to learn. Choose well-established apps relevant to your field and clone their functionality step-by-step, following the documentation.

Projects like building a Pinterest clone teach the fundamentals of databases, user auth systems and responsive design. Don't plan to submit clones to app stores — just focus on replicating core workflows to enhance your skills. Give yourself permission to fail fast as you learn.

Record a Developer Learning Journal

Documenting obstacles and “a-ha!” moments enhances retention and builds self-awareness. Set up a journal — digital or paper — to log your successes with tried-and-true practices, struggles conquered, and ideas generated each week. Review entries regularly to spot areas for improvement.

Reflecting on your progress keeps you accountable while providing inspiration on tough days. It's also a treasure trove of technical knowledge for reference down the line as your skills evolve.

How will you commit to growing as a programmer this year? Pick one resolution to focus your energy — you've got this! Let's make 2024 the best one yet for leveling up.