How to Become a Computer Programmer

Where do you start, if you want to become a computer programmer? Here are some of the first steps you will need to take.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. First off, you need to be able to work a computer. How to use the mouse, keyboard, move files, get around explorer and so on. You also need to have a reasonable ability in math. (You can learn it as you go along as well.)

2. Then you need to decide what type of programmes you would like to write - financial, games, operating systems, machine controllers, etc - because each type of programming has a particular type of programming language that is particularly suited to it. For instance, Delphi is fine tuned for Databases, C++ is good for operating systems, Visual Basic works well in web applications.
   Then you need to select the programming language that you would like to use. eg. Delphi, C++, Visual Basic, etc, etc.
   You will have to buy yourself a Compiler, the software package that you use to write your programs. (Or use one at your school or library, or borrow a friends computer if he's got it installed. But eventually you will have to buy your own.)

3. Then you need to either go on a course that offers tuition in this language, or start teaching yourself; in which case you will need books to refer to. Courses are available via correspondence, at technikons or at universities.

4. Then you need a couple of years (part time) to do all this studying. Maybe after a month or two you will be able to turn out programmes that are kinda useful.

5. Be prepared to work hard, and do a lot of study, and spend a lot of time learning to programme. It's hard at the beginning, but over time you get familiar with the syntax and thinking behind the languages, and then it becomes a lot easier. So never give up. The light comes on eventually!

Tips & Warnings

• Programming is a bunch of commands written in a "language" that is normal english words, but a small finite set of them, together with symbols and punctuation that all has a particular function. For example: Procedure WriteSomething ; begin form1.edit1.text := 'Hi there guys" ; form1.edit1.visible := true ; Application.Processmessages ; end ; This little bit of programming would put the text "Hi there guys" into a little box on the screen; but note: This is only part of a larger programme, and won't work by itself. If you leave out one of the semi-colons or a full stop, the program won't work! So you have to write this "english" in a particular format, so that the compiler can "interpret" it, and convert it into machine code so that the computer can "understand" it and execute it. A compiler is the software that takes your programme, written in this pseudo english, and converts it into a computer readable and executable form.
• Be prepared to work hard, and do a lot of study, and spend a lot of time learning to programme. It's hard at the beginning, but over time you get familiar with the syntax and thinking behind the languages, and then it becomes a lot easier. So never give up. The light comes on eventually!

Resources

• More info