How to become a programmer

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Profession Programmer — Facts

Who is a programmer?

A programmer is a specialist who writes and tests code for software. A more general term is a computer scientist, but still the term «programmer» can be used to refer to a software developer, software engineer, computer specialist, software analyst, etc.

The responsibilities of a programmer usually include: developing software and applications using various computer languages ​​(such as C++, Java, Python etc.), creating and improving operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows, Linux), developing websites, updating and expanding existing software, checking programs for bugs and fixing corrupt lines of computer code, creating and testing code in an integrated development environment (IDE), maintenance, network architecture.

When looking for a job, you can find vacancies by languages ​​that programmers work with (C++ programmer, Java programmer PHP programmer), by type of task (web-programmer, front-end / back-end developer), and by the level of experience/position (intern, junior, medium, senior).

Data in this chart is a rough approximation

Advantages of the profession

Disadvantages of the profession

IT specializations

Among the promising areas for the future are computer security and artificial intelligence.

How to become a programmer?

You don’t necessarily need an education to become a programmer, especially when you consider the fact that the IT sphere is developing at the speed of light and traditional universities and colleges struggle to keep up with the innovations of science. However, experienced specialists still insist on obtaining higher or at least secondary vocational education. It will take much more time and effort to master the IT field on your own than in a university that already has a developed curriculum, a training system, incentives in the form of grades and mentors who know their subject. If, after all, your choice is a self-study, then you need to be patient and persistent. It is important to read professional literature, attend courses, and practice a lot. However, one should not hope for high engineering and research positions — they require higher education. After school or college, it is quite possible to start from the position of a simple developer, keep learning, and subsequently become a good specialist.

Secondary vocational education in programming

Studying in colleges has the following advantages:

Specialties in colleges are different, for example, computer networks, network and system administration, information systems, and programming. The admission happens on a competition basis. Students are trained during their studies and after graduation can immediately find a job. Further, much depends on the specialist himself: continuous self-education will provide a professional with good job offers and high earnings.

Depending on the country of study you can have a variety of options when it comes to vocational education. For example, community colleges in the US have programs in computer science, data management, and more, as well as short courses. After graduating from a college in the United States, you can go to university to obtain a bachelor’s degree or start working. TAFE colleges in Australia offer many different IT programs. For example, website/software development, digital media technology, web technology, information networking technology, programming. Generally, post-college qualifications are a certificate and an associate’s degree. Similar programs can be found in vocational schools and institutes in Germany and France.

University studies for a programmer

Universities provide students with a better knowledge base than colleges. University programs are more extensive, and the number of experienced teachers in universities is greater. Programs offered by universities are applied mathematics, computer science, fundamental computer science and information technology, computer science and computing, applied computer science, software engineering.

The subjects taught are, as a rule, the following: the basics of programming, computer networks, computer graphics, programming languages, information theory and machine learning, mathematical analysis, algebra and geometry, software engineering, intelligent systems, modern information systems, etc. Also, students undergo practical training during their studies.

Requirements for admission to IT programs

Admission requirements may vary depending on the country, university, and a program. Usually, the following is required:

IT programs of the top world universities in 2020

All data must be verified at universities.

What qualities does a programmer need?

Programming is suitable for people who enjoy finding solutions to problems. This is probably the key element of IT. Here, a specialist needs a share of creativity, an extraordinary mind, and a desire to constantly learn. Patience and perseverance in the face of difficulties, when the code does not work or you need to find a small bug, will not hurt. Future programmers should also have good analytical skills and developed logic.

At school, those wishing to become an IT specialist should pay attention to computer science, logic, mathematics, physics, and English. However, this is not set in stone, because, for example, knowledge of mathematics is not required for simple problems. However, for full growth and success in the profession you will need mathematics as it can direct the thinking to the right track.

This profession is characterized by a high concentration on one problem at a time and long-term mental activity, therefore restlessness and absent-mindedness can become an obstacle in becoming a good programmer. In addition to technical skills that will be taught in universities and colleges, an IT specialist additionally will need soft skills like quick reading and understanding of written instructions, problem identification, independence, curiosity, critical thinking, listening skills (for teamwork), and attention to detail.

Tip: start coding and practice as early as possible in order to understand whether this profession is right for you or not.

Where do programmers work?

Programmers can work in any industry that uses applications, software, sites, and the Internet. Many seek to get into large tech companies, for example, Google, Apple, Samsung, Yandex, Amazon, Microsoft.

Most IT professionals work in a traditional office. However, their work can often be done remotely, which is why some employers allow their programmers to work from home.

In many developing countries, programmers tend to go to work abroad. This is largely due to low salaries, a stagnant corporate culture, and limited free space, namely, the unwillingness to create something new and adherence to familiar techniques. Programming is a promising and growing industry in which the field for discovery and innovation is endless. However, not all companies create favorable and comfortable conditions for employees, as a result of which they not only lose talented personnel and stop improving their product but also impede the development of the industry in the country as a whole.

Famous programmers

Dorian Nakamoto — one of the suspects. Denies any connection to Bitcoin

Satoshi Nakamoto is a mysterious figure in the programming world. It is still unknown who is hiding under this name: a person or a group of people. It is only known that Nakamoto wrote the Bitcoin White Paper and created the first blockchain database. Nakamoto was also the first to solve the double-spending problem for digital currency with a peer-to-peer network. The mysterious programmer was actively involved in bitcoin development until mid-2010, but no longer works on it.

There are various theories about who Nakamoto is or was. Experts find Easter eggs in his messages and study Nakamoto’s speech from a linguistic point of view to understand if the developer is Japanese or not, but they still cannot come to a definitive answer. What is clear is that Nakamoto has forever influenced financial transactions, and bitcoin itself continues to be the world’s leading digital currency.

Ada Lovelace Ada Lovelace is an English mathematician, writer, and the world’s first computer programmer. The daughter of the famous poet Byron was born in 1815 in London. Lovelace created a description of a computing machine and wrote the world’s first program. The «mother of all programmers» coined terms like «loop» and «work cell». She was many years ahead of her time and had a huge impact on the history of computers.

Evelyn Boyd Granville Evelyn Boyd Granville was the second African American to earn a PhD in mathematics from the American University. She later also received her PhD from Yale University in 1949. Granville began her career as a teaching position at Fisk University, and then joined the American Space Technology Laboratories, where she assisted in US space missions, studying rocket trajectories and orbit calculations. While working at IBM she developed software that analyzed satellite orbits for NASA programs. In 1967 she returned to teaching and kept pushing the interest of women studying technology for the rest of her career.

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Как стать программистом: инструкция по «горячим следам» вчерашнего новичка

Рассказывает Игорь Филипенко, Java-разработчик

Сразу оговорюсь: я — новичок в области IT, и эта статья — не истина в последней инстанции, а моё личное видение тех или иных аспектов программирования, подкреплённое какими-то источниками информации.

«Для чайников»

Если вы совсем уж новичок и знаете лишь, что кто-то как-то создаёт сайты, игры, мобильные приложения и пр., но хотя бы приблизительного понимания того, как это делается, у вас нет, то посмотрите запись вводной лекции «Первые шаги по построению карьеры в IT». После просмотра у вас появится понимание, что и где примерно применяется (в видео освещаются не все вопросы, конечно, но если нужной информации там нет, то вы можете найти её самостоятельно).

Дальше нужно познакомиться с базовыми понятиями и основными принципами программирования. Вам следует прочитать в сети, что такое процедурное и объектно-ориентированное программирование. У Tproger, кстати, есть серия материалов по ООП. Второе без первого не существует, и начинать нужно с «процедурки». Поэтому записываемся на курс «Основы программирования» GeekBrains и проходим. Прошли? Если да, то теперь у вас есть понимание того, что такое переменная, условный оператор, цикл и массивы.

Понравилось? Не тошнит? Хорошо, двигаемся дальше!

А дальше нужно закрепить изученное и получить ещё знаний по процедурному программированию. Для дальнейшего развития я бы рекомендовал С++. Можно выбрать Python, который покажется более простым, можно продолжить с JavaScript. Тем не менее, для отработки основных понятий С++ будет полезнее. Во-первых, многие языки Си-подобны. Во-вторых, это мощный инструмент в умелых руках и при его изучении вы «поковыряете» указатели, а также узнаете много интересных вещей, связанных с памятью и работой с ней. В той же Java прямого доступа к памяти нет, С++ же позволяет извращаться над железом, как вам захочется.

Есть 3 хорошие книги:

Кстати, есть еще список книг для изучения C++, которые рекомендует сам создатель этого языка программирования — Бьерн Страуструп.

Ваша задача пройтись по основам программирования и хорошенько разобраться, что же такое переменные, условные конструкции и тернарный оператор, циклы и особенно вложенные циклы, массивы и многомерные массивы, функции, передача данных в функцию по ссылке и значению, структуры, указатели и пр. Прочитав теорию, обязательно практикуйтесь. Берите задачи из книги Дейтелов. В качестве IDE я рекомендую Visual Studio или CodeBlocks. Но есть и другие популярные варианты.

Теперь вы ознакомились с базовыми операторами и конструкциями программирования, дальше имеем 2 варианта:

И по одному и по другому вопросу мы вновь должны поработать. Заходим на Sololearn и проходим нужные нам курсы.

Если вы выбрали язык программирования, то проходите все курсы, связанные с ним. Например, для веб-разработки однозначно надо изучить PHP, Python, HTML, JavaScript, CSS и SQL. Эти знания потребуются дальше в ваших проектах. Выбрали С или Java? Вместе с С++ учите SQL, с Java учите SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript. Наверное у вас невольно возникает вопрос: «Почему с Java нужно учить веб-технологии?» Отвечаю: «Эти технологии активно используются в проектах, где живёт этот язык программирования». Вы делаете что-то на серверной части: сервлеты и прочее? Возможно, вам придётся хотя бы немного коснуться фронтенда. Вы пишете под Android? Android-приложения тоже верстаются, но там за основу взят не HTML, а XML, однако общие принципы у них похожи, поэтому лучше сейчас потратить лишние пару часов и изучить HTML. Выбрали C#? Набор технологий будет таким же, как в Java. Про Swift я знаю мало, но думаю, что и для него вам понадобятся элементарные знания технологии вёрстки.

Тут стоит обратить внимание на то, что автор рассказывает о 6 парадигмах ООП. Скажу честно: в двух местах я пытался интервьюерам рассказать, что их 6 и какие они. К сожалению, к этому они отнеслись скептически, потому что в мире все обсуждают в большей степени 4 парадигмы, но обмен сообщениями и повторное использование объектов никто не отменял, поэтому этому материалу стоит уделить внимание.

Дорогой читатель, к этому моменту ты должен уже был определиться с той областью программирования, в которой ты хотел бы трудиться. К сожалению, я всего не знаю и дальше речь пойдет о технологиях, связанных с Java и JavaScript. Другими вещами я просто не занимался, но дальше я поделюсь ресурсами, где обозревается куча разных других технологий.

DWiki — это список всякого разного. Со многими порталами я познакомился и могу сказать, что подборка очень хорошая, особенно для начинающих программистов. Если у вас плохо с английским, то посмотрите на Интуит, Hexlet и ITVDN, ну и конечно же, на GeekBrains. Для тех, кто чувствует себя увереннее в английском языке, подойдут академия Хана, Udacity, Lynda и т.д.

Английский язык

В заключении этой первой части я хочу коснуться ещё одной важной для айтишника темы — английского языка. Английский язык нужен программисту по нескольким причинам:

Более развернутые ответы дали несколько экспертов Tproger.

В IT-компаниях всегда спрашивают про английский, на собеседовании даже предложат пообщаться с HR на английском. В основном это простой диалог, в котором вы расскажете, какой вы молодец.

Подытожим вышесказанное. Какой уровень владения языком нужен? Обычно требуется Intermediate. Но не пугайтесь, во многих компаниях всё не настолько строго, с вас будет достаточно:

Причём работать нужно следующим образом. Там есть теория, есть упражнения на грамматику, перевод и т.п., и есть тексты. В конце каждой главы вы должны сделать хотя бы 2-3 упражнения. Желательно найти человека, который их проверит. Я бы поискал какой-нибудь форум по изучению английского и попросил бы там помощи. Уверен, кто-то знающий откликнется и согласится проверить ваши задания. В каждой главе вы должны пересказать текст, причём использовать новые слова, которые идут после текста. Если вы подойдёте к делу сознательно, то уже после первого тома вы сможете вполне неплохо понимать и использовать английский. Что касается технических терминов, поверьте, их усвоить будет легко. Когда начнёте изучать туториалы на английском, впитаете нужные термины автоматически. Поэтому не бойтесь учить язык и не влезайте в крайности. HR’ы в компаниях будут запугивать и скажут, что нужно быть ну просто англичанином. Это не совсем так, но и знать элементарные вещи необходимо.

В итоге

Это была первая часть моего материала с ссылками и советами начинающему программисту. Я очень надеюсь, что мой труд не пропадёт даром, и эта информация кому-то будет полезной. В следующих выпусках я расскажу о материалах по Java, Android и некоторым вещам, связанным с JavaScript. Ещё раз подчеркну, что цикл этих материалов — моя личная точка зрения, которая не является истиной, и за вами всегда остается право прислушаться к ней или пройти мимо. Успехов вам в изучении программирования, до скорых встреч!

How to Become a Programmer

Some will say, watch YouTube tutorials. Others might say, read those books. Someone else may say, read blogs on that website.

I say, there is no perfect way to learn. Whatever anyone recommends, check it out. If you like it, continue. If you don’t like it, Google it or search on YouTube or any mobile app store and find other ways to learn. Once you have tried out multiple ways for a few weeks, you will find out your own way to learn. So, don’t try to fit hard on other’s way, instead, build your own way to learn. That way, you will learn better!

(If you like the first tip, press the clap icon 👏 and hold it until it hits 50.)

Must-2: Don’t listen to most of the people

Everyone will have a different opinion. Some people will try to discourage you. Don’t get frustrated or demotivated with that. Instead, take the positive advice, trash the negative one and move forward. Keep doing what you should do. Keep learning. Keep trying. I know you can do it. So, let’s do it.

Must-3: Select a programming language, but don’t stick to it

In my journey, I started with PHP. After a few weeks, a friend of mine convinced me to switch to Java. Then, a teacher told to learn C#. After using C# in my first job for six months, I switched to Javascript. I used Javascript for 6 years, and then, last year I moved to Python.

Must-4: Your plan and timeline will not work

It doesn’t matter how robust your plan is, it will not work. Things will not get done according to your plan. So, don’t get frustrated. Just make sure that you are learning something new every day. Invest at least 2 to 4 hours every day. So, don’t go for plan, go for persuasion, patience and punctuality. If you can do it, no one can stop you.

Must-5: Don’t just read or watch. Try it. Code it

Just reading blogs or books and watching video tutorials will not make you a programmer. Watching Karate movies, will not make you Jackie Chan. Instead, you have to practice. If you can’t install a code editor in your computer, search online code editor and use that. If you don’t have a laptop, use a mobile app like Programming Hero, SoloLearn or AIDE to practice coding. If you got stuck one way, there are nine other ways! 😊

Must-6: Code small things first

Don’t try to change the world or make a billion-dollar company with your code in a short span of time. Nobody could. Just practice coding with 5 lines, or 10–20 lines. Build a calculator or a simple tic-tac-toe game (Bill Gates started with that!). Or, just try reversing string, joining arrays, finding elements, and code them again and again to become good at it!

Must-7. Don’t rely on others, rely on google

If you find someone else as your mentor or learning buddy, it’s great. However, don’t wait for them to guide you. Don’t wait for your learning buddy to explain you something. Instead, use Google. Google knows everything. If you don’t understand anything, Google it. If you are bored on one tutorial, search google for another…there are hundreds of them out there.

Google Everything: Googling makes you wiser. So, whenever you have any doubt, concern, or curiosity — just google it. Ask Google 10 times, before asking anyone else. If needed, change the search query and search again. The better you are googling anything, the better programmer you are. Then, you will discover sites like stackoverflow, quora, etc. which will open up a new world of helping friends.

Must-8: It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible

However, it’s not impossible, millions of people have done this. Not everyone is smarter than you. Honestly, some less smart people also made it. If they can do it, you can do it as well.

Don’t forget to press the clap icon 👏 and hold it until it hits 50.

Take Action
If you are a brand new programmer or at the intermediate level, try out this android app named Programming Hero. This is the best app to learn programming in a fun and interactive way.

How To Become A Programmer: Basic Tips

Wondering how to become a programmer and how to learn programming? Follow this complete guide and get to know how to become a computer programmer.

Last Updated: November 03, 2021

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Are you sick of your current career? In a dead-end job that isn’t taking you anywhere? Have you been researching how to become a programmer or how to learn programming with Python, or a different language? If so, then this article is for you!

We will look at a variety of different topics that are directly related to programming, and by the end, you should be able to answer questions like:

We will cover some of the different types of programmers, the main languages you should focus on learning according to what sort of programmer you want to become, and what the best way to learn these languages is.

Table of Contents

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. A programmer is someone who writes code that tells a computer or some other device what to do.

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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, some programmers design their 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!

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.

By the way, one of the best things about learning programming is that there are so many ways to do it. You can enroll in an IT degree program, or start on your own with online courses, exercises, and peer help.

Step 1: Understand Why You Want To Start Programming

The first and one of the most important steps on how to become a programmer is identifying your reasons for starting. Sit down and have a good hard think about the following questions, as your answers will help you decide exactly which 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 from the skills you need to make a few changes to the layout of your blog.

Are you serious about learning to program?

This a very important question to ask. Are you serious about learning how to become a programmer and in getting a job in the field, or is it just a fad? If you are serious, then you need to be able to allocate as much time as possible to learning programming skills so that you can start working ASAP!

What sort of programming do you want to do?

More on this in Step 2, but you need to think closely about what sort of programming you want to do and what field you want to go into.

Do you want to become a back-end web developer? A software engineer? Or do you want to work on something like artificial intelligence (AI) or another emerging technology? The answer to this question will help shape the learning pathway that you take, so be honest with yourself.

Once you have answered these questions honestly and recorded your answers, it’s time to move onto step two: choosing what sort of programming you want to do and then we’ll move on to the question on how to become a programmer.

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 that provide the framework for the website to run on.

Software programmers

Data scientists

Data scientists usually work in research or academia, where they use Python almost exclusively to analyze and manipulate scientific data.

To become a data scientist it is first most important to know how to become a programmer. These specialists are often researchers in their own right, and they often use code to make their job easier.

Database Administrator

Database administrators have several roles. They are mainly responsible for taking large amounts of company data and securing, organizing, and analyzing it. If you love statistics and consumer data analysis, you should take a closer look at what a database administrator does.

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.

Other Roles

Learning how to become a programmer opens many more opportunities. The above are just some of the most common programming jobs. If none of them appeal to you, do some more research and discover what other jobs are out there.

New job titles and roles are being created all the time as technology evolves, so make sure that you follow the latest industry news and network with your fellow programmers.

Step 3: Learn a Programming Language (or Three)

Once you have settled on a programming field, you need to learn the languages that are relevant to that field. For example, you will need SQL to become a database administrator, CSS, and JavaScript to become a front-end web developer, and something like Java or Swift if you want to start building mobile apps.

Below are some of the most popular programming languages and their uses. Make sure that you do your research to ensure that you are learning the right languages for the field that you are hoping to get into.

Python

Learning how to become a programmer in Python is crucial for a modern-day coder.

One of the most versatile and widespread programming languages in the world, Python is a great choice for people who want to work in data science, software development, or pretty much any other programming field. Python is also used in some emerging technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Learning Python has never been easier than it is now. If you want to learn about the basics of Python syntax, how to write codes and other useful things just take a course online!

CSS/HTML

If you want to get into any sort of front-end web development, then HTML and CSS are an absolute must. Although they are two separate languages, they are almost exclusively used together to create engaging, cleverly designed web pages.

Learn HTML and CSS together with the HTML and CSS course, or learn them separately from our instructors.

JavaScript

JavaScript is another versatile programming language that is used for many things. If you want to learn how to become a programmer, JavaScript could be a good place to start. It is used for interactive front-end web design, back-end web app development, game development, and even in robotics!

You can learn JavaScript easily online. All you have to do is sign up for a course! If you already have prior knowledge but want to deepen your understanding of JavaScript, take this intermediate JavaScript course.

Java

If you want to learn how to become a programmer quickly, learn Java. Java is up there with Python as one of the most versatile languages in the world.

It is quite simple to learn, it reads like English, and it is a favorite among beginners. It is used for everything from Android mobile app development to back-end web app development, and you can learn it via the Learn Java course.

Swift

If you want to learn how to be a program for iOS apps, learn Swift! Learn Swift Programming course is a great choice to get you started.

Solidity

If you’re wondering how to become a programmer that works with blockchain technologies, then Solidity is your answer. Solidity is probably the least well-known and the least popular programming language on this list.

It is used to develop smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. The rise of cryptocurrencies and blockchain has led to an increase in the demand for Solidity developers, which is why we have included it here. Learn how to be a good programmer with Solidity by taking either of our two offered courses on it.

Ruby

The last language on our list, Ruby, has become popular due to its uses as a full-stack web development language.

Originally designed in Japan for building games, Ruby is another versatile language with several use cases, and it’s worth considering if you want to get into web or game development. Have a look at the Learn Ruby on Rails course if you’re interested.

Step 4: Practice, Practice & Practice Some More

So you want to know how to become a programmer right? Well, here’s a little secret for you:

You have to practice. You have to practice a lot!

That’s right (surprise surprise), the key to becoming a good programmer is practice! Practice writing code from the moment you start learning. Download a code editor in your browser and write your little programs.

Share them and ask other people to critique your code. Try and learn something new every single day, and practice until you are completely fluent in all aspects of your chosen languages.

Step 5: Start Building A Portfolio Of Work

While you are practicing, you need to start building a portfolio. Want to know how to become a computer programmer? Well, one of the keys is having a decent portfolio that you can show to prospective employers.

When you go to apply for a job as an entry-level programmer, remember that there are probably at least a few other people who are applying for the same job. You need to do something that makes you stand out above and ahead of the crowd. A portfolio is a great way to do this.

Step 6: Apply For Jobs

By now you’re well on the way to learning how to be a good programmer.

You have picked a programming field, you have started to learn the skills and programming languages that you will need, and you have started practicing writing your code. You have put together a portfolio that showcases all of your work, and you have (hopefully) crafted a new resume.

You may have guessed it already, but it’s time to start applying for jobs! Search for entry-level programming jobs that are related to the languages that you have learned and the type of programming that you want to do.

Send your resume and any other information that the potential employers want, and cross your fingers while you wait for a reply.

Even if you don’t hear back from any job applications for a while, the simple act of applying is good practice. A big part of how to become a programmer is learning how to present your skills to the employers.

In the same way, don’t expect to land a job from your first interview. If you haven’t interviewed for a serious job before, you will probably be nervous and you might make mistakes.

Consider your first few interviews practice. Keep on applying, and you will eventually get offered your first job as a professional programmer!

In the meantime, consider taking freelance jobs to keep honing your skills and to make sure that your programming skills don’t get rusty.

Step 7: Never Stop Learning!

As you can imagine, programming is a rapidly developing field. Learning how to become a programmer today won’t necessarily give you the skills that you need to remain a good programmer for the next few decades. You need to keep learning new skills and new languages.

I find it a good practice to try and learn something new every day. This could be a new piece of syntax, a new tool that you can use with your favorite language, or a new way of writing a program. It doesn’t matter, as long as you continue to learn!

How Do You Become a Programmer in 2022? A Step-by-Step Guide

In this article

Programmers are revered in the technical world with programming being a respected profession. Are you one of those who have wondered how to become a programmer? With the world of data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence offering lucrative and fulfilling programming jobs, many young folks are pondering over this question. This blog shows you how to make a career in programming and the skills are yours if you follow some simple steps—consistently.

How To Become a Programmer?

The best way to learning programming is to play around with small code snippets like “Hello World.” This particular code snippet, in many coding languages, has been many a programmer’s first coding experience. When you run this code, Hello World gets printed on your computer screen. How long would writing such a small code snippet take—probably 15 minutes. Such code snippets may not do much for humanity. However, the question “ how to become a computer programmer?” is not so scary any more when you start writing these simple code blocks. On the other hand, writing larger sets of code for practical applications could take about a month. Nevertheless, here’s the good news! Larger sets of code are usually built with small snippets of code that communicate with each other.

In the above video, Deep Sukhwani, Senior Software Engineer at Springboard (see here what software engineers do) explains how to become a computer programmer along with the prerequisites and skills required to become a programmer.

Let’s dive into the stepwise guide to becoming a programmer-

1. The right mindset

While mastering a language to get a job is important, this thinking may not be a strong motivation for you to gain programming proficiency. Think of what coding skills can do for you. “It’s the closest thing we have to a superpower,” says Drew Hudson, Dropbox CEO. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, shares his programming experience as follows:

To have a set of people who haven’t built a company before come together and build something that a billion people use.

Think of programming skills as your personal superpower to change the world in some constructive way.

2. What would you like to do

Determine the type of work you would like to engage in—build websites, become a data scientist, automate business processes, become an artificial intelligence expert?

3. Choose a language

Once you hone in on the type of work you want to do, choosing a language to learn becomes easy. Each programming language has a typical set of applications. This will help you stay focused on learning one language that really matters in your chosen field. As a result, you won’t be bogged down by having to learn several languages. Please read the section “Which language do I choose” of this blog for more information.

4. Start small

Gabe Newell, the founder of the gaming company Valve, says, “The first time I actually had something come up and say ‘Hello World’ …made a computer do that, was astonishing.” Small achievements can motivate you to continue learning.

5. Use the Internet

Websites like Code.org have experience in designing coding courses for beginners. Online sites, such as Springboard.com, emphasize both ease of learning and skills proficiency. Such sites offer mentors who solve every learning problem and coach you towards success.

6. Stay on the Course

When the going gets tough, the wise get going. Are you not getting your code right? Is it throwing up errors that you are clueless about? Take a step back. Are you biting off more than you can chew? Choose a program complexity you can handle. Research the Internet for similar problems and how fellow learners handled them. Importantly, being a part of a community of learners goes a long way in staying the course and mastering a programming language.

“To master a new technology, you have to play with it,” says Jordan Peterson, the well-known Canadian Psychiatrist.

Coding vs Programming: Are coding and programming different terms for the same activity?

Although a professional may smile at this question, and professionals use these terms interchangeably, coding refers to the literal act of writing code whereas programming includes several other computer inputs. For instance, if your inputs to a mobile device are through gestures, you are programming, not coding. Voice inputs to devices like Alexa, Siri, and google assistant are instances of programming. But don’t sweat over the small stuff. You can use one term for the other in most situations.

Get To Know Other Software Engineering Students

Software Engineer at FloQast

Software Engineering Career Track Student at Springboard

Software Engineer at Progyny

Which Programming Language to Choose?

With so many languages to learn out there, this is a valid question. However, the first question to answer has to do with where you would like to use your programming skills eventually—the Web, telecom, electronic devices, data analytics, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or banking?

Python is becoming an increasingly popular programming language for data science. Another programming language for data science is R, given its features for quantitative analysis and statistics. Python can also be used for web applications because it supports Django as a web development framework. Moreover, Python is used extensively in artificial intelligence and machine learning. R is also used extensively in data analytics.

C and C++ are very popular in the telecom industry; these languages are used for embedding code in electronic and electromechanical devices to control their behavior. These techniques are called embedded programming.

Java is a highly sort after language as well. It has wide applications because it has evolved over a much longer time. Spring, Struts, and Java Server Faces are only a few of the several web frameworks that Java supports. Java is used for mobile applications, embedded systems, and digitizing large enterprises. It’s used in some scientific applications, too.

Ruby on rails is another popular programming for the Web. Ruby works on Rails, which is a web development framework. Therefore, your end goals define your coding requirements. How to become a computer programmer need not be an unnerving question

Top 5 myths around how to become a programmer

Myth 1: You have to be good at mathematics. Not true. Those with average math skills have done exceedingly well as programmers.

Myth 2: Programming is for geniuses. Again, false. You can become good at programming, as at other skills, with the required amount of study and practice. Programming is not an innate talent; it’s learnable.

Myth 3: Women don’t make good programmers. Also a rumor. Some of the top managers in the industry driving large programming teams are women. Women can program as well as men do, or better.

Myth 4: You need a degree to become a programmer. Not essential. There are numerous resources and courses available on the Web to simplify programming for everyone. The designers of these resources and courses have seen struggling programmers before. At Springboard, our courses are not only comprehensive but easy to learn as well.

Myth 5: Programming is boring. Not at all. When you see the results of your work, especially when it benefits people’s lives, you will find yourself motivated to learn and program more.

How to Become a Computer Programmer Doesn’t Need to be Complicated

To sum up, as with other skills, take many baby steps to familiarise yourself with the basic programming concepts. Then, move on to real-life programming examples with some hand-holding. A well-crafted course that is designed taking into account the challenges of first-time programmers will be a great advantage as you learn to program.

Learning programming and upskilling is even better in the long run and we have just the solution for you – one that you can access from the comfort of your home! Right from mentorship programmes, specially curated material to receiving the right feedback – Springboard has a wide variety of digital learning certified courses on Data Analytics, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning that come with a 1:1 mentoring-led, project-driven approach along with career services and a job guarantee. These courses are designed to help you succeed. Ultimately, everyone’s in it together to drive innovative solutions worldwide.

Since you’re here…
Considering a career in software engineering? We’ll help you build a CV that rivals experienced software engineers in 9 months flat with our Software Engineering Bootcamp. If you’re still mulling, try our free software engineering learning path and check out our salary guide to see what you could be making.

About Sakshi Gupta

Sakshi is a Senior Associate Editor at Springboard. She is a technology enthusiast who loves to read and write about emerging tech. She is a content marketer and has experience working in the Indian and US markets.

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