What is SharePoint?

SharePoint is a web based collaboration platform provided by Microsoft to achieve flexibility and freedom to work together in teams. We can create sites in SharePoint and enable team to work simultaneously and concurrently. SharePoint is a big platform with tons of services. Teams can perform document management, data sharing, information collaboration and effective search on one secure place within the organization.

Different Variants/Versions/Editions of SharePoint

SharePoint comes up with majorly three variants.

1. SharePoint Server (On-premise and Licensed)

2. SharePoint Foundation (On-premise and Free)

3. SharePoint Online

SharePoint Server is licensed which means you will have to pay to get the license and on the other hand SharePoint Foundation is free. SharePoint Server provides extensive features such as Business Intelligence, Audience Targeting, Improved Governance, Secure Store Service, Web Analytics and etc. You will have to install on-premise versions on windows server with high capacity of RAM and storage. For SharePoint online, you will have to buy the license and create your own tenant using supported browser.

Now, the big question is WHAT DO REALY SHAREPOINT DEVELOPERS DO???

Well, the answer to this question is pretty simple. When SharePoint with its vast variety of services and features cannot solve the business process needs on its own then the developers design, develop and deploy the custom solution according to the business needs.

What do you need to know when you want to become a SharePoint Developer/Consultant/Architect/Administrator?

SharePoint sits on top of ASP.NET. One should be familiar with .NET technologies like WPF, MVC, Web Forms, WCF, Web API and SOAP services.

Hands on practice on either C# or VB.

Learn about SharePoint development tools like Visual Studio, SharePoint Designer, U2U Caml Query Builder , InfoPath and PowerShell cmdlet.

SharePoint Administrators are responsible for managing SharePoint servers, implementing security, train employees to learn how to use SharePoint and monitoring system usages and health reports. Administrators should have advanced technological skills in SqlServer, IIS and PowerShell cmdlet.  

What are the resources available to learn SharePoint Development and where to find them?

There are tons of articles on the internet available to learn SharePoint from basic to advanced. Microsoft have its own learning platform Pluralsight.com where you can find different courses related to it. You can find SharePoint Development courses on Udemy.com too. 

Piece of advice: To become a good SharePoint developer all you need is a SharePoint environment where you can directly jump into it and start doing practice...practice...and practice!!!

All the best for starting a career as a SharePoint developer/administrator.

About the Author:

I am Abdullah Ansari, working as a SharePoint developer having 2+ years of experience who is still exploring the mighty SharePoint, seeking not to earn money but to become future Microsoft MVP. Small steps to bring the betterment in the society is my ultimate goal. Thank you All and please leave a comment, I will be very happy to reply each one of you as per my best! Happy SharePointing! Bye Folks!