What is needed to become a software developer?

Being a software developer is more about problem solving than it is about writing code. Software developers should focus on writing optimal code to solve problems. The code should be understandable by other humans also. Software developers need to have the programming foundation strong so that they can easily learn and pickup other languages and frameworks when needed. For that, they need to have clear understanding of Data Structures and Algorithms. They need to be proficient in any one major languages be it Java, Python, JavaScript, C++, C#, Ruby on Rails etc. Companies expect that a developer should write clean and easy to read code and work in teams to develop a great product for the end user. Ability to learn and improve is also a must have quality for a software developer. New and better languages and frameworks always come in the market and companies need to use them for more efficient product and technology. A developer is expected to be a self-motivated person because bug is a part of every developer's life and they should be able to live with it.
Good communication skills is also must have skills of a software developer. As a developer, you are expected to be able to communicate the technical problems, challenges and solutions effectively. Writing big programs is not a one man's job, it is a team work and you are expected to be able to work in a big team and collaborate with others.