One of the most asked questions by beginner web developers is "How do I stay in the lead when it comes to knowledge of the industry beyond coding the project in hand?"

Skill-development is an ongoing process that takes time and effort, yet sets you apart within the team when you pay it attention. Whether you are preparing yourself for a web development job, or have some time on your hands, if you are wondering what you can invest your time in learning, here is a list of skills every web developer should be familiar with.

Brush on UX Design Skills

Seeing the world from a UX designer’s perspective will show in your work as a developer. Even if you don’t do the UX design for the website or web application you’re working on, understanding the basics of UX design makes your job easier and the work flow better.

You can begin learning UX design basics through UXP in free eBooks and this UX Crash Course by Joel Marsh.

Learn Version Control Software 

Version control software helps you keep track of your work. The more you know about it, the more organized your working life will be. Even if you’re working with hundreds of developers and collaborators on the same project, you can keep track of versions and updates through VCS.

Git/GitHub is one way to do that, or you can read up on the grandfather of version control software SVN.

Explore Cross-browser Compatibility Options

Checking how your site functions on different browsers is something you are already doing. However, there are easier and more efficient ways to perfect the performance of your website.

Using the right tools will make this task a lot easier, examples are BrowserShots, Browserling, and Browsera.

Read on Responsive Web Design

One thing to keep in mind is that, as a developer, you are not working on an island. Reading about different project aspects will make sure the project goes smoothly from planning to execution to testing and revising.

Some responsive design elements are very useful to know. There is a Google Developer guide on the basics and patterns of responsive design and its element which you can access here.

Developing these skills, and doing a quick research on new industry trends every now and then will take your work to other levels. It will also make you a valuable addition to a team to know something about everything, in addition to becoming a better developer with the help of many available online tools.