From small laptops capable of simple word processing and spreadsheet tasks to highly complicated supercomputers capable of processing millions of financial transactions each day and overseeing the infrastructure that allows contemporary life to exist, computers can accomplish remarkable things. However, no computer can accomplish anything until a computer programmer instructs it to do so. That is the essence of computer programming.
Computer programming is, at its most basic level, nothing more than a set of instructions for doing specified tasks. Computer programming can be as basic as adding two numbers, depending on the requirements or aims of these instructions. If you're receiving data from temperature sensors to control a thermostat, or sorting data to complete elaborate schedules or crucial reports, or bringing players through multi-layered landscapes and challenges in games, it's all possible.
At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), Cheryl Frederick, the university's executive director of STEM, explains that computer programming is an iterative process in which many different programmers work together to create software. It can take decades for some of that development to occur. In the case of Microsoft Word, which was released in 1983, programmers have been adjusting and improving it ever since.
According to Frederick, "the expectation is that the computer software would become such a widely used system that it will require long-term upkeep, particularly to expand its current capacity." Aside from the size of the software, the two phrases "software" and "programming" are interchangeable.
Professionals use computer programming to write code that guides how a computer, application, or software program operates. Computer programming is, at its most basic level, a set of instructions for facilitating specified operations. If you're unfamiliar with the term "computer programmer," it refers to a professional who writes and tests code that enables applications and software programs to run correctly.
Man programming computer with multiple PC monitors in front of him
A career in computer programming might be rewarding if you have an interest in technology and enjoy solving issues. However, if you're thinking about a career in computer programming, you might be concerned that it will be too challenging. To acquire a computer programming degree, you don't need any prior coding or programming experience. You'll learn everything you need to know, from the basics to the more complex concepts, as you progress through the degree program. Read more on how you can learn computer programming by clicking here.
Is Coding For Me? Is Programming For Me? Here's Some Things To Consider
Yes, in a nutshell. Learning to program computers is all about languages. It is not simple to learn a foreign language rapidly, but it is possible to make significant progress in a short time.
Every time a coder sits down to work, they learn. There is an endless list of things a computer programmer must know, but many of them have been documented. The beautiful thing about computer programming is that it is always evolving. It's not uncommon for programmers to learn new things and then share them with the world so that others can do the same.
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
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