The Role of Computer Programmer

The Role of Computer Programmer

The Role of Computer Programmer

Female computer programmer

The 21st century has brought about numerous advancements. At the center of technology sits computer programmers, who possess the skills to navigate and complete any task that comes their way. It is the job of computer programmers to take designs and turn them into instructions that computers can follow. These instructions lead to word-processing applications, networking programs, browsers, and much more that we use every day.

There is a continuous debate regarding the extent to which the writing of software is an art, a science, or a technical field. In general, programming is regarded as the application of science, to create an efficient application solution.

The field differs from many other technical professions because a computer programmer, generally speaking, does not need to be licensed or pass any standardized tests or government-controlled certification exams to call themselves a “developer” or even a “software engineer.”

However, representing oneself as a “professional software engineer” without permission from a licensed institution is illegal in many regions of the world. Since the field covers many areas, which may or may not include critical software, it is debatable whether certification is necessary for the profession as a whole. Typically, the field is not regulated.

A computer programmer figures out the process of debugging/troubleshooting, testing, writing, designing, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code consists of a programming language that the computer can understand. The code may be a modification of an existing source or something entirely new.

The goal of programming is to create a program that generates a specific desired behavior (personalization). The process of writing code requires expertise such as knowledge of logic algorithms and their application domain.

The computer programmer also features a graphical user interface (GUI) to ensure that non-technical users can use the application through simple, point-and-click menu options. The GUI acts as a bridge between the software code and the user.

Some, particularly those working on large projects that require many computer programmers, use computer-assisted software engineering (CASE) tools to automate much of the programming process. These tools allow a programmer to focus on writing the unique components of an application. A programmer working on smaller projects will often use “programmer environments,” or software that boosts productivity by combining compiling, code walk-through, code generation, test data creation, and debugging functions.

A computer programmer will use libraries of code that can be modified or customized for a specific application. This approach yields more reliable and consistent programs and increases the productivity of programmers. The computer programmer may also be responsible for maintaining the health of the software.

Some programming functions are highly automated, and as software design has continued to evolve, computer programmers have begun to assume some of the responsibilities that were once performed by engineers. As a result, many computer programmers now assist software engineers in identifying user requirements and designing specific sections of computer software, among other tasks.

 

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