25/06/2019
What Does A Computer Programmer Do?
Before we start looking at how to become a programmer, I need to make sure that you have a complete understanding of what a computer programmer does. Basically, a programmer is someone who writes code that tells a computer or some other device what to do.
In the case of a software developer, they take a concept or design and write the code that tells the computer how to execute this concept. In the case of someone like a web developer, they take a proposed website design and build it by writing the necessary code. In most situations, a computer programmer is building or creating something based on someone else’s design parameters. However, there are some programmers who design their own programs, so this is always an option if you’re an entrepreneurial kind of person!
Now that we have answered the question ‘What does a computer programmer do?’, let’s move onto how to learn programming and become a good programmer.
How To Become A Programmer: Step By Step Guide
Learning programming is hard, I’m not going to lie. However, when you compare it to other skills and career paths, becoming a programmer will be one of the easiest choices you make!
Programmers work in a very exciting field where every day brings new challenges and new knowledge.
Programmers have the opportunity to work for themselves, to work whatever hours they want, and to work from home if they want to.
Programming is very easy to learn when compared to other skills that can take three or more years at university. Sure, you could waste a few years of your life and learn programming at uni, but why would you when you can learn it in a few months online?
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why you would want to become a programmer. Luckily for you, I’m here to show you exactly how to do just that in seven simple steps. Read on to learn more!
Step 1: Understand Why You Want To Start Programming
The first, and definitely one of the most important steps to becoming a decent programmer is identifying your reasons for starting to program. Sit down and have a good hard think about the following questions, as your answers will help you decide exactly what path to take:
Why do you want to learn programming?
This is a very important question that you absolutely must ask yourself before you go any further. Do you want to turn it into a career? Do you have a project or concept that you want to turn into a reality on your own? Or do you simply want to learn how to be a programmer because it’s something that’s ‘cool’ at the moment? Answer honestly, because the language that you choose to learn will depend on your answer to this question.
What do you hope to do with your new knowledge?
Again, you need to identify exactly what you want to do with your new programming knowledge. For example, the courses you need to take and the languages you need to learn if you want to become a software developer or systems engineer will be a lot different to the skills you need to make a few changes to the layout of your personal blog.
Step 2: Decide What Field You Want To Go Into
There are a variety of different types of programming. When you are figuring out how to learn programming, you need to think very carefully about what field you are planning on looking for work in. Some of the most popular types of programmers include:
Web developers
Web developers can be further separated into front-end (client-side) and back-end (server-side) developers. Front-end programmers are responsible for writing the code that dictates what a website looks like and how its content is presented. Back-end programmers are required to write web apps and other complicated programs which provide the framework for the website to run on.
Software programmers
Software programmers are – as you can probably guess – responsible for creating software. They usually take a design or a concept that someone else has come up with and write the code to turn it into a working product.
Data scientists
Data scientists usually work in research or academia, where they use Python almost exclusively to analyse and manipulate scientific data. Data scientists are often researchers in their own right, and they often use code to make their job easier.
Mobile app development
As the number of smartphone users grows, the demand for exciting new mobile apps also grows. Mobile app development is quickly becoming one of the most lucrative programming fields, especially if you are good at working on your own. Freelance work is very common for mobile programmers.
