The Life of a Programmer. What do programmers do anyway?
What do Apple I creator Steve Wozniak Microsoft inventor Bill Gates and
Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg all have in common?
Before being known as visionaries entrepreneurs and even millionaires they
were known as something else, computer programmers. But you may wonder what the
life of a programmer looks like and you're not alone. The simple answer is
writing computer software, however as you'll see from what programmers are
called to the variety of tasks they perform
nothing is set in stone. But one thing is certain as Americans check the weather
play video games and like their friends posts on a wide variety of digital
devices the popularity of computer programming
has soared. According to a 2018 report by the Pew Research Center seventy-seven
percent of American adults own a smartphone, 52 percent have a tablet and
73 percent owned a desktop or laptop computer computer. Programmers are the
unsung heroes who make sure our mobile portable and wearable technology works
how we need it to smoothly and reliably. Computer programmers are responsible for
analyzing their clients needs and then designing testing and developing
software which offers those solutions. They work with designers and engineers
to plan each piece of the application or software and then determine how each
part will work together. They primarily write code using a variety of languages
including Python C++ and Java that a computer can read. To make sure
everything functions correctly computer programmers do frequent testing
maintenance and upgrades. After an application or program is debugged and
is working smoothly computer programmers update and expand existing programs. Now
that you understand more about some of the job-related tasks they perform let's
explore what kinds of things computer programmers actually help design and
build. Developing mobile apps. If you've ever visited an app store on your mobile
phone or tablet you'd know that there's an application for everything. From
boosting business productivity and tracking your run by March 2018 there
are more than 3.5 million apps in the Google Play Store and another 2.2
million apps in Apple's App Store by January 2017.
The market continues to grow. According to market research firm a App Anni apps for
iOS Android and other platforms could generate 101 billion dollars annually by
2020. Developing games. With transferable skills computer programmers can also
design video and mobile games. Each game includes millions of lines of code
complex storylines and well-developed characters. In 2018 the global gaming
market was worth an estimated one hundred thirty-seven point nine billion
dollars according to news news global game market report. Website development.
Besides using coding skills to create games computer programmers can use their
expertise to develop websites. Web developers are responsible for the
overall look and functionalities of the sites that people visit. Overseeing
design as well as technical elements including speed and how much traffic the
site can handle. Front-end developers use HTML CSS or
JavaScript to bring at the URL to life. Back end developers are less concerned
with design and more intent on making sure that all the moving pieces work as
one. Typically they use page PHP, Ruby or Python to create applications that
connect the back end of the website to the front end. Computer programmers
usually work within IT departments but they also have the flexibility to tell
communicate and do freelance work. You'll find computer programmers in a multitude
of industries. A BS in computer science focuses on computer and programming
skills rather than theory. It could be a good way to become a well rounded
programmer. Other options include a BS and game programming and development
which prepares you not only for games and simulations but also for development
of software applications. Finally there's a BS in information technologies with a
concentration in software development or web design and development. There are
graduate programs that bring those skills to a higher level with an MS and
information technology with concentrations in software application
development web design or game design and development.
With the ability to be both creative and analytical, work in a variety of
industries and get in on an exploding job market, there's never been a better
time to pursue your dream of entering the IT field as a computer programmer. By
nature computer programmers are tech savvy problem solvers who understand how
things work. As Donald Knuth a pioneer in the field and author of the art of
computer programming so eloquently sums up, "computer programming is an art
because it applies accumulated knowledge to the world because it requires skill
and ingenuity and especially because it produces objects of beauty."
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