The basic role of a Computer Programer is to create and modify the software programs that provide the instructions that tell a computer how to accomplish a specific task. They write these programs in special languages known as programming languages (such as C++) that allow computers to understand and accomplish the desired goals of the program.
In addition to writing and creating computer software Computer Programers also are responsible for the maintenance and repair of existing software, as well as modifying programs to meet the specific needs and desires of the end-users of the programs. To effectively understand and obtain the desired results from their software programers work collaborate closely with both end-users and the systems administrators of the networks running the software. When issues arise with their software, programmers in conjunction with Network Administrators and Help Desk Support Techs, troubleshoot the problems and develop fixes for the specific problem.
For software intended for used by a large customer base or in an enterprise environment Computer Programers very often work on development teams with Software and Hardware Engineers to write software programs that avoid potential issues caused by known hardware/software conflicts. The ability to brainstorm ideas, collaborate with others and troubleshoot work process are the basic traits of successful Computer Programers.
Once Computer Programers have written their software they work very closely with the individuals who will write the actually documentation that will provided instructions to the end-users of the software. In some cases the end-user documentation may be written by the Computer Programer who actually wrote the software.
As Computer Programers gain experience and knowledge they ofter progress on to becoming Software Engineers, a role requiring more experience and technical education.
Computer Programmer Tasks
- Write, modify, and debug software for web sites.
- Test and document software for client applications.
- Use source debuggers and visual development environments.
- Test and document software for web sites.
- Work with with designers and content producers.