The path to becoming a computer programmer is typically not the same from one individual to the next. You might decide to begin studies in computer programming long before you even reach high school. Or you might get to college and imagine that a major in computer programming is your ticket to a decent career. The path you choose to take will often depend on your reasons for wanting to become a computer programmer.
What Is Computer Programming?
Computer programming is a process of writing a set of instructions called "code," which the computer evaluates and compiles before executing that code. Because computers operate on an extremely logical basis, the code has to be written in such a way that the computer can easily process and execute it. Where humans typically use and make sense of elaborate verbal languages, computer programs are by comparison far more stripped down to accommodate a rigorous step-by-step approach to conveying ideas. Computer programming can involve writing code in computer languages with numerous commands and structural components, or it can be as simple as writing strings of ones and zeros.
Getting an Early Start
There is nothing wrong with beginning your studies in computer programming at a young age. With literally thousands of books on the subject, children everywhere pick up on basic programming skills in grade school, reading about how to not only code instructions from within a given computer language, but also how to apply that code in various applications. It is not necessary to wait until college to get a handle on programming and terminology central to the field. In fact, learning to program from an early age is likely going to make it easier for you to pick up on things faster than others who come into the field later. Because younger people are getting started early in life, this makes competition in the field of programming fierce to say the least.
What Skills Do Programmers Need?
To become a decent programmer, you must have a solid grasp on subjects like math and logic. Much of what a computer does is based either in mathematical computations or in carrying out the steps of a procedure in the proper order. If you do not have a grasp on how to carry out mathematical operations or properly arrange steps of a program in a precise logical order, the computer is going to spit back error after error until you fix your code. This means that being able to read, interpret, and troubleshoot code is a huge part of the job as well.
What Sort Of Formal Education Do Programmers Need?
If you intend to pursue a professional career in programming, then a self-guided bedroom education will not get you hired. Programmers need a minimum of a bachelor's degree in computer science, just to get their foot in the door, but a master’s degree or doctorate is preferred by many employers whose companies require their employees to specialize in very technical areas of programming expertise. Aside from a college education, there are also many additional certificate programs that you can take to help to improve your list of credentials on your resume, making you appear more valuable as an employee to prospective employers. Typically, it is a good idea to have a handle on more than a single platform or programming language also. Many jobs require programmers to be fluent in different computer platforms and languages at the same time, just to be able to perform all the tasks their employers need them to complete.
