What is programming | Introduction | How to begin?

What is Programming?

In admiration to this statement “Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think.” is very well said by the most influential entrepreneur on this planet Steve Jobs.

Programming actually teaches you how to think. Consider this way in order to find a smart solution to a complex problem, we need to first dive deep into the core root of the problem. Only then we will be able to fully analyze it and after that we can fix it using the best possible solution.

For a better understanding look around yourself, the chances of finding a smartphone are much higher than a simple to do list note. Why? because smartphones and technology have made our lives much much easier than ever before. Have you ever wondered how these smartphones work? How are we able to chat with a person sitting on a different geographical location of this planet? and how can we access our bank accounts using banking apps? or perform tons of daily tasks just in a fraction of seconds?

Well, all this is done by programming. Yes, programming is simply a technique to tell your system to perform the desired task for you.

According to Definition:- Programming is the implementation of logic to facilitate specified computing operations and functionality. It occurs in one or more languages, which differ by application, domain and programming model.”

If you are still not getting this, here is a quick example for you. John was hired to perform data manipulation (Manually) in large excel sheet and was paid to do this 8 hours a day – 5 days a week. John and his fellow colleagues were able to perform this work with 90% accuracy. They had to work on hundreds of sheets every single day.

John was familiar with some of the programming languages and that’s why he made a script of code to get his task done automatically by the system itself. Later he was able to achieve 70% of more work with 99.7% of accuracy. So this clearly shows the effect of coding and smart thinking as suggested by Steve Jobs above.

Uses of Programming

What is programming | Introduction | How to begin

 

  • Allows building new apps which later makes our life much easier.
  • Important in speeding up the input and output process in a machine.
  • Programming also helps us to innovate and create eco-friendly solutions for global problems.
  • With the help of programming, we can invent and solve big problems with technology.
  • Helps to enhance the power of computers and the internet.

Who is a Programmer?

What is programming | Introduction | How to begin

The machines you see around yourself such as tv, washing machines,  your smartwatch or even your car is programmed by someone. That person is known as a programmer aka Software developer or Software Engineer.

A programmer is a person who is capable of getting things done by a computer system, by simply using some languages which is understandable by the system only.

In simple words programmer talks with a computer through a medium called programming languages. Now there are actually tons of programming languages out there which of course can be used for different purposes. Languages like c,c++,java,python etc.

How to Begin?

If you think you have what it takes to be a computer programmer, follow the guide mentioned below:

  1. Build your interest in programming: If you want to start smoothly so that it can be beneficial in long run then you must start as soon as possible, or the best time is from high school days. Computer programming requires skills that come from a wide array of knowledge. So investing in that knowledge demands time.
  2. Get a Bachelor’s Degree: Yes it’s true that some programmers got a job without any college degree, but this doesn’t applicable to everyone. Even the richest programmer in the world (Bill Gates ) had no degree before. Programmers usually have a degree in B.E (Bachelors of engineering) in computer science, B.C.A (Bachelors in Computer Application), mathematics or Information Technology. So make sure to have that in your belt.
  3. Find your niche: Programming is a very vast field and you must be familiar with what type of development you want to perform such as choosing between iOS or android. Considering these you can set your path in learning particularly required languages. For instance, if you want to make apps for android then you must have c,c++ and java under your belt or if iOS then try to get hands-on swift and c#.
  4. Master at least 2 or 3 Programming Languages: As discussed above there are tons of programming languages, and it will be difficult to learn all of them at once. So try to master at least 2 or 3 in order to get a job. It’s also a fact that you can work on more than that but at the initial level, you must focus only for few of them.
  5. Obtain some Certification: Try to learn from online as well as from offline courses as they offer great certifications. These certifications can be later added to your Resume which provides an edge to you. Various product vendors, software firms, and professional computing societies offer training and courses. So try to get it done for better exposure.
  6. Online sources: Yes, if you are a bit lazy to go out and learn, then there is an option for you. The Internet is full of online courses which provide all the required information and tools which you can try out on your own. Websites like udemy, code academy, and w3schools offer many free courses.
  7. Stay Updated: I.T  and programming is a very demanding field. Every day lots and lots of inventions are done. Many tools hit the market which can be used while coding. So try to keep yourself updated as much as possible. You can update yourself by following some of the best tech websites on the internet in order to get the insight of this industry.

Future Scope?

Well, there is no doubt that Information & technology (I.T) is going to be more vast field in the future. According to some reports, the demand for software developers has increased to almost 67% and expected to gain more in near future.

It is also observed that programming languages like Java, Python, and Swift are evergreen as many products require them. At last, you must follow your interest as it will pay you the most out of it. Stay tuned for more such content.

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