Definition of Computer Programming (History, Guides, Programming Languages, and Programmer)

Updated on Jan 31, 2024 · 6 min read

Introduction

In this article, we will disclose everything you need to know about computer programming.
We will also talk about computer programs as well as programmers.
Without wasting our time let's dive right in.

What is computer programming?

Computer programming is the process of designing and creating computer instructions so it can perform a specific task, or produce the desired result. These instructions are designed or coded by a Computer Programmer in his/her desired programming language. While the code/instruction created to be executed by a computer is called a Computer Program.
You can easily say that computer programming is the act of writing and executing computer programs.
This programming could involve tasks such as analysis, generating algorithms, profiling algorithm accuracy, and resource consumption, machine learning, AI automation, and the implementation of algorithms with a given programming language.
Programmers will start by using a code editor or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) to write what is called source code. This is a collection of code written in a programming language that can perform a particular task.
Source code needs to be converted into machine language so machines can understand the instructions and execute the program. This process of converting source code into machine language is known as compiling.
Examples of compiled programming languages are C and C++, Erlang, Haskell, Rust, Go, etc.
Other languages do not use compilers. Instead, these languages will use an interpreter that will read and execute the code. Examples of interpreted programming languages would be JavaScript and PHP. Once the code is executed, then the computer program can run. The different types of computer programs include Word processors, Database systems, video games, and websites.
These computer programs allow us to interact with different software devices and services like phones, websites, and the computers themselves.

History of computer Programming

In the mid-19th century, historians believe that a woman named Ada Lovelace was the first person to create a published computer program. She was a mathematician who translated Luigi Federico Menabrea's writings on the Analytical Engine.
In this translation, Ada added her extensive notes and created a method for calculating Bernoulli numbers for the Analytical Engine.
The works of American mathematician Alonzo Church as well as the Turing machine were the first introductions of computer codes.
In the 1920s, computers were created which was followed by the earliest programming languages. For the next century, as machines and technology continued to evolve, so did the number of programming languages keep incrementing.

Types of programming languages

There are numerous programming languages in existence.
But as a developer, you must not work with all the programming languages, you only need to consider the type of application you are building and make a relevant choice.
We list some of the popular programming languages.
Popular programming languages:

Python
JavaScript
C/C++
Java
C#
Ruby
PHP
Kotlin
Swift

Note: Some of these languages are primarily used in one field of development while others are more general-purpose programming languages (meaning they can be used for any field). JavaScript is primarily used in web development and is usually the first programming language to learn as a beginner. JavaScript can also be used for mobile and game development.
Python can be used in a variety of areas including data analysis, machine learning, and web development. Programming languages are grouped into a variety of categories. Here is a list of some of the categories.

Machine language: is a low-level language that consists of 0's and 1's (binary). High-level languages are compiled into machine code so the code can be executed by the computer.

Assembly language: is a low-level language that is compiled by an assembler. Assemblers translate human code to machine code.

Scripting languages: These languages oftentimes don't need to be compiled but rather interpreted. Interpreted means an interpreter will read and execute the code instead of being compiled into machine code. (Examples are: JavaScript and PHP)

Procedural languages: This approach goes through a series of procedures before a program is executed on the computer. Example of languages that uses this procedure is (Go and Julia).

Object-oriented languages: This works with the idea of building programs around collections of objects. (Examples are: Java and Python)

Functional languages: This works with the idea of building complex programs through a collection of smaller functions. (Examples are: Haskell and Scala)
While there are numerous programming languages and software options beyond the ones discussed here, this introduction provides a solid foundation in various programming languages.
Note that most programming languages patterns and structures share similarities.
Whether it's data types, methods, functions, statements, or other fundamental elements, the commonalities across languages make it relatively easy for a skilled programmer to adapt quickly when switching between them.

Careers and jobs in programming

Various job opportunities await you, and this paragraph will outline several of them.

Web Development
Computer Systems Engineering
Database administrator
Mobile development
Data scientist
Software developer
Programmer analyst
Systems analyst
Game Development

As computer programming keeps evolving, new jobs are been created day by day. In our next article, we will dive deeper into careers in computer programming. Also note that most of these careers can be achieved without a formal education, but it takes a certain level of dedication and determination to become a self-taught computer programmer.

Qualities programmers should have

A professional programmer will have many required skills and qualities when it comes to building computer programs. We may not list all the qualities or the ones you may be thinking of, but we will list the ones we think are most required.
Here are some of the important skills needed in programming.
1: Writing simple, clean, and efficient code
2: Ability of solving critical Problem
3: Testing applications
4: Very vast in reasoning
5: Ability to fix bugs (errors) in the code
6: Good communication and listening skills
7: Ability to work well within a team
8: Patience and perseverance
9: Very focused and determined
10: Not giving up so easily

This list is not all the qualities and skills, but one skill will always give birth to another.
As a developer you will spend much of your time researching, building, fixing, and testing your code.
After your application is released to a production level, you will spend time maintaining the product and working to improve it. As things and programs keep being updated from one version to another, you will keep updating your code to the latest version.

CONCLUSION
No doubt that computer programming is a very rewarding and wonderful career both intellectually and financially.
But you have to also understand you need to be focused, willing to learn, consistent, passionate, and make solving complex problems your hobby.

You also need to understand that there are no magical ways of making money in computer programming, you need to work it out. Some people choose computer programming so they can be employed by other companies, while others want to be their boss, or want to solve a problem.
There are many fields in computer programming to explore, for example, Web development, Mobile app development, Game development, DevOps, Systems engineering, Server management, and many more. You can choose any of them, and if you are focused you can make a name for yourself even without any formal education.
I hope you enjoyed this article and best of luck on your programming journey.