Programmer

Sometimes a programmer or job position is identified by the language used or target platform. For example, assembly programmer, web developer.

The job titles that include programming tasks have differing connotations across the computer industry and to different individuals. The following are notable descriptions.

A software developer primarily implements software based on specifications and fixes bugs. Other duties may include reviewing code changes and testing.

To achieve the required skills for the job, they might obtain a computer science or associate degree, attend a programming boot camp or be self-taught.

A software engineer usually is responsible for the same tasks as a developer

plus broader responsibilities of software engineering including architecting and designing new features and applications, targeting new platforms, managing the software development lifecycle (design, implementation, testing, and deployment), leading a team of programmers, communicating with customers, managers and other engineers, considering system stability and quality, and exploring software development methodologies.

Sometimes, a software engineer is required to have a degree in software engineering, computer engineering, or computer science. Some countries legally require an engineering degree to be called engineer.

{{cite web|url=https://bootcamp.ce.arizona.edu/blog/programmer-vs-software-engineer-whats-the-difference|title=Programmer vs. Software Engineer: What's the Difference?|author=|date=11 December 2020|website=ce.arizona.edu|publisher=University of Arizona|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729020138/https://bootcamp.ce.arizona.edu/blog/programmer-vs-software-engineer-whats-the-difference/|archive-date=29 July 2021|access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://builtin.com/recruiting/software-engineer-vs-programmer|title=Software Engineer Vs. Programmer: What's the Difference?|last=Heinz|first=Kate|date=23 February 2021|website=builtin.com|publisher=Built In|url-status=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729020310/https://builtin.com/recruiting/software-engineer-vs-programmer|archive-date=29 July 2021|access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://simpleprogrammer.com/differences-software-engineer-and-programmer/|title=6 Key Differences Between a Software Engineer and a Programmer|last=Jacob|first=Freya|date=16 March 2020|website=simpleprogrammer.com|publisher=The Simple Programmer|url-status=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729020139/https://simpleprogrammer.com/differences-software-engineer-and-programmer/|archive-date=29 July 2021|access-date=29 July 2021}}

File:Ada Lovelace portrait.jpg is considered by many to be the first computer programmer.]]

British countess and mathematician Ada Lovelace is often considered to be the first computer programmer.

She authored an algorithm, which was published in October 1842, for calculating Bernoulli numbers on the Charles Babbage analytical engine.{{Cite journal|last1=Fuegi|first1=J.|last2=Francis|first2=J.|date=October–December 2003|title=Lovelace & Babbage and the creation of the 1843 'notes'|journal=IEEE Annals of the History of Computing|volume=25|issue=4|pages=16–26|doi=10.1109/MAHC.2003.1253887}}

Because the machine was not completed in her lifetime, she never experienced the algorithm in action.

In 1941, German civil engineer Konrad Zuse was the first person to execute a program on a working, program-controlled, electronic computer.{{cite web|url=https://www.computer.org/profiles/konrad-zuse|title=Konrad Zuse|author=|date=2 April 2018|website=computer.org|publisher=IEEE|access-date=4 February 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926131516/https://www.computer.org/profiles/konrad-zuse|archive-date=26 September 2022}} From 1943 to 1945, per computer scientist Wolfgang K. Giloi and AI professor Raúl Rojas et al., Zuse created the first, high-level programming language, Plankalkül.{{cite journal|last1=Giloi|first1=Wolfgang K.|date=1997|title=Konrad Zuse's Plankalkül: The First High-Level 'non von Neumann' Programming Language|url=http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/85.586068|journal=IEEE Annals of the History of Computing|volume=19|issue=2|pages=17–24|doi=10.1109/85.586068|access-date=|archive-date=23 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323163140/https://www.computer.org/csdl/magazine/an/1997/02/man1997020017/13rRUIJcWqp|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250809396|title=Plankalkül: The First High-Level Programming Language and its Implementation|last1=Rojas|first1=Raúl|last2=Göktekin|first2=Cüneyt|last3=Friedland|first3=Gerald|last4=Krüger|first4=Mike|date=February 2000|website=ResearchGate |access-date=4 February 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612225444/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250809396_Plankalkul_The_First_High-Level_Programming_Language_and_its_Implementation|archive-date=12 June 2022}}

Members of the 1945 ENIAC programming team of Kay McNulty, Betty Jennings, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Fran Bilas and Ruth Lichterman have since been credited as the first professional computer programmers.{{cite web|url=http://eniacprogrammers.org/eniac-programmers-project/memorials/|title=Memorials|author=|date=16 May 2014|website=ENIAC Programmers Project |publisher=First Byte Productions|access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=1 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401075605/http://eniacprogrammers.org/eniac-programmers-project/memorials/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3951187&page=1|title= First Computer Programmers Inspire Documentary|last=Donaldson James|first=Susan|date=4 December 2007 |publisher=ABC News|access-date=13 March 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216054335/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3951187|archive-date=16 February 2013}}

{{Main|Software industry}}

The first company founded specifically to provide software products and services was the Computer Usage Company in 1955. Before that time, computers were programmed either by customers or the few commercial computer manufacturers of the time, such as Sperry Rand and IBM.{{cite journal|author=Elmer C. Kubie|date=Summer 1994|title=Recollections of the first software company|journal=Annals of the History of Computing|volume=16|issue=2|pages=65–71|doi=10.1109/85.279238|s2cid=5733812}}

The software industry expanded in the early 1960s, almost immediately after computers were first sold in mass-produced quantities. Universities, governments, and businesses created a demand for software. Many of these programs were written in-house by full-time staff programmers; some were distributed between users of a particular machine for no charge, while others were sold on a commercial basis. Other firms, such as Computer Sciences Corporation (founded in 1959), also started to grow. Computer manufacturers soon started bundling operating systems, system software and programming environments with their machines; the IBM 1620 came with the 1620 Symbolic Programming System and FORTRAN.{{Cite web|date=2003-01-23|title= 1620 Data Processing System|url=https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP1620.html|access-date=2021-03-17|website=IBM Archives |language=en-US|archive-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210205857/https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP1620.html|url-status=live}}

The industry expanded greatly with the rise of the personal computer (PC) in the mid-1970s, which brought computing to the average office worker. In the following years, the PC also helped create a constantly growing market for games, applications and utility software. This resulted in increased demand for software developers for that period of time.{{Cite web|title=Occupations in Information Technology|url=https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2016/acs/acs-35.html|access-date=2021-03-21|website=United States Census Bureau |date= August 16, 2016 |first1=Julia |last1=Beckhusen |language=EN-US|archive-date=22 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322030738/https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2016/acs/acs-35.html|url-status=live}}

Computer programmers write, test, debug, and maintain the detailed instructions, called computer programs, that computers must follow to perform their functions. Programmers also conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer. Many technical innovations in programming — advanced computing technologies and sophisticated new languages and programming tools — have redefined the role of a programmer and elevated much of the programming work done today. Job titles and descriptions may vary, depending on the organization.{{cite web|url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm|title=Computer Programmers : Occupational Outlook Handbook|publisher= U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=3 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503144645/https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm|url-status=live}}

Programmers work in many settings, including corporate information technology (IT) departments, big software companies, small service firms and government entities of all sizes. Many professional programmers also work for consulting companies at client sites as contractors. Licensing is not typically required to work as a programmer, although professional certifications are commonly held by programmers. Programming is considered a profession.{{cite web|url=https://www.coursera.org/articles/how-to-become-a-computer-programmer|title=How to Become a Computer Programmer|author=|date=30 September 2022 |publisher=Coursera Inc.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007024124/https://www.coursera.org/articles/how-to-become-a-computer-programmer|archive-date=7 October 2022|access-date=2 February 2023|quote=Computer programmers often take courses and seek certifications to enter the field and stay current in their skills in this ever-evolving profession.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/types-of-programming-jobs|title=11 Types of Programming Jobs (With Duties and Salaries)|author=|date=17 October 2022 |publisher=Indeed|access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202195236/https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/types-of-programming-jobs|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.computerscience.org/careers/computer-programmer/|title=What Is a Computer Programmer?|last=Sartore|first=Melissa|date=22 December 2022|website=computerscience.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130040334/https://www.computerscience.org/careers/computer-programmer/|archive-date=30 January 2023|access-date=2 February 2023|quote=Explore this profession and discover how you can thrive in a computer programming career.}}

Programmers' work varies widely depending on the type of business for which they are writing programs. For example, the instructions involved in updating financial records are very different from those required to duplicate conditions on an aircraft for pilots training in a flight simulator. Simple programs can be written in a few hours. More complex ones may require more than a year of work, while others are never considered 'complete' but rather are continuously improved as long as they stay in use. In most cases, several programmers work together as a team under a senior programmer's supervision.{{Cite web |title=Computer Programmers |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com#tab-2 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Bureau of Labor Statistics |language=en-us}}

Programming editors, also known as source code editors, are text editors that are specifically designed for programmers or developers to write the source code of an application or a program. Most of these editors include features useful for programmers, which may include color syntax highlighting, auto indentation, auto-complete, bracket matching, syntax check, and allows plug-ins. These features aid the users during coding, debugging and testing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zgmpr82/revision/4|title=BBC Bitesize - GCSE Computer Science - Programming software and the IDE - Revision 4|website=www.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923141830/http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zgmpr82/revision/4|url-status=live}}

{{Globalize|section|USA|2name=the United States|date=December 2010}}

According to BBC News, 17% of computer science students could not find work in their field six months after graduation in 2009 which was the highest rate of the university subjects surveyed while 0% of medical students were unemployed in the same survey.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10477551|title='One in 10' UK graduates jobless|first=Martin|last=Shankleman|work=BBC News|date=1 July 2010|access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308114340/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10477551|url-status=live}}

After the crash of the dot-com bubble (1999–2001) and the Great Recession (2008), many U.S. programmers were left without work or with lower wages.{{cite journal|last1=Mann|first1=Amar|last2=Nunes|first2=Tony|title=After the Dot-Com Bubble: Silicon Valley High-Tech Employment and Wages in 2001 and 2008|journal=Regional Report, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|date=August 2009|pages=1–8|url=https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/archive/after-the-dot-com-bubble-silicon-valley-high-tech-employment-and-wages-in-2001-and-2008.pdf|access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=18 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318063742/https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/archive/after-the-dot-com-bubble-silicon-valley-high-tech-employment-and-wages-in-2001-and-2008.pdf|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-stem-crisis-is-a-myth|url-access=subscription|title=The STEM Crisis is a Myth|last=Charette|first=Robert N.|date=30 August 2013|website=IEEE|publisher=IEEE|type=opinion|access-date=7 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807061059/https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-stem-crisis-is-a-myth|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/electrical-engineer-salary | title=Inflation-Adjusted Income for U.S. Engineers Drops - IEEE Spectrum }} In addition, enrollment in computer-related degrees and other STEM degrees (STEM attrition){{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2014001rev|title=STEM Attrition: College Students' Paths Into and Out of STEM Fields|date=26 November 2013|website=nces.ed.gov|access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=18 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318064654/https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2014001rev|url-status=live}} in the US has been dropping for years, especially for women,{{Cite web|url=https://developers.hp.com/public/blog/hp-international-womens-week-women-computer-science-dropping-1980s|title=hp's Developer Portal | HP International Women's Week: Women in Computer Science dropping since 1980s|website=developers.hp.com|access-date=13 March 2021|archive-date=26 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226000310/https://developers.hp.com/public/blog/hp-international-womens-week-women-computer-science-dropping-1980s|url-status=live}} which, according to Beaubouef and Mason,{{cite journal|last1=Beaubouef|first1=Theresa|last2=Mason|first2=John|title=Why the high attrition rate for computer science students: some thoughts and observations|journal=ACM SIGCSE Bulletin|date=June 2005|volume=37|issue=2|pages=103–106|doi=10.1145/1083431.1083474|s2cid=207157501}} could be attributed to a lack of general interest in science and mathematics and also out of an apparent fear that programming will be subject to the same pressures as manufacturing and agriculture careers. For programmers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook originally predicted a growth for programmers of 12 percent from 2010 to 2020{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915165836/http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm| archive-date=15 September 2012| title=Computer Programmers : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}} and thereafter a decline of -7 percent from 2016 to 2026, a further decline of -9 percent from 2019 to 2029, a decline of -10 percent from 2021 to 2031. and then a decline of -11 percent from 2022 to 2032.{{cite web | url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm | title=Computer Programmers : Occupational Outlook Handbook|website= U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics }} Since computer programming can be done from anywhere in the world, companies sometimes hire programmers in countries where wages are lower. If domestic demand has increased, it is mainly to replace existing programmers who have retired or switched occupations. {{Cite web |title=Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Bureau of Labor Statistics |language=en-us}} However, for software developers BLS projects current growth at 17% that is down from their prediction from 2019 to 2029 of a 22% increase in employment, from 1,469,200 to 1,785,200 jobs with a median base salary of $110,000 per year. This prediction is lower than the earlier 2010 to 2020 predicted increase of 30% for software developers.{{cite web|url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm|title=Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|website=www.bls.gov|access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514101520/https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130901135809/http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm|archive-date = 1 September 2013|title = Software Developers : Occupational Outlook Handbook|website= U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |date=July 18, 2012 }} Though the distinction is somewhat ambiguous, software developers engage in a wider array of aspects of application development and are generally higher skilled than programmers, making outsourcing less of a risk.{{cite web|url=https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/computer-programmer-vs-software-developer/ |first1=Ashley |last1=Brooks |date=2019 |title=Computer Programmer vs. Software Developer: Decoding the Differences|website=Rasmussen University |access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730055352/https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/computer-programmer-vs-software-developer/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://online.maryville.edu/blog/software-developer-vs-programmer/|title=Comparing Two Key Careers: Software Developer vs. Programmer|website=online.maryville.edu|date=31 July 2020|access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730055352/https://online.maryville.edu/blog/software-developer-vs-programmer/|url-status=live}} Another reason for the decline for programmers is their skills are being merged with other professions, such as developers, as employers increase the requirements for a position over time (i.e. Full-stack developer). Then there is the additional concern that recent advances in artificial intelligence might drastically{{cite news | last=Van Dam | first=Andrew | title=More than a quarter of computer-programming jobs just vanished. What happened? | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=2025-03-14 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/03/14/programming-jobs-lost-artificial-intelligence/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314101535/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/03/14/programming-jobs-lost-artificial-intelligence/ | archive-date=2025-03-14 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | last=Tan | first=Kwan Wei Kevin | title=Anthropic's CEO says that in 3 to 6 months, AI will be writing 90% of the code software developers were in charge of | website=Business Insider | date=2025-03-14 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/anthropic-ceo-ai-90-percent-code-3-to-6-months-2025-3 }} impact the demand for future generations of Software professions.{{Cite web|date=2023-04-06|title=Software engineer jobs in danger due to ChatGPT-like tools? Here's what Google CEO Sundar Pichai has to say|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/software-engineer-jobs-in-danger-due-to-chatgpt-like-tools-heres-what-google-ceo-sundar-pichai-has-to-say-376341-2023-04-06|access-date=2023-05-12|website=Business Today|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2023-01-25|title=ChatGPT could make these jobs obsolete|url=https://nypost.com/2023/01/25/chat-gpt-could-make-these-jobs-obsolete/|access-date=2023-05-12|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Kay|first=Grace|title=Software engineers are panicking about being replaced by AI|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/software-engineers-tech-panicking-golden-age-over-chatgpt-ai-blind-2023-4|access-date=2023-05-12|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Fowler|first=Gary|title=Council Post: How Will ChatGPT Affect Jobs?|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2023/03/16/how-will-chatgpt-affect-jobs/|access-date=2023-05-12|website=Forbes|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Ito|first=Aki|title=ChatGPT spells the end of coding as we know it|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-ai-technology-end-of-coding-software-developers-jobs-2023-4|access-date=2023-05-12|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|first1=Jacob |last1=Zinkula |first2=Aaron |last2=Mok |title=ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace.|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-jobs-at-risk-replacement-artificial-intelligence-ai-labor-trends-2023-02|access-date=2023-05-12|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Cohen|first=Mikaela|title=These are the tech jobs most threatened by ChatGPT and A.I.|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/15/these-are-the-tech-jobs-most-threatened-by-chatgpt-and-ai.html|access-date=2023-05-12|website=CNBC|date=15 April 2023 |language=en}}

As of 2024 in Japan, the demand for programmers is increasing rapidly due mainly to the aging demographics of their workforce and their low birth rate not being sufficient for replacement has led to more use of AI to help fill the gap.{{cite web | url=https://japan-dev.com/blog/programming-in-japan | title=Programming in Japan: What's It Really Like? }}{{cite web | url=https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/insights/japan-insight/ai-utilization.html | title="AI Utilization": Japan′s Unique Position to Become a World Leader | Japan Insight - Insights - Investing in Japan - Japan External Trade Organization | date=2025 }} On the other hand, despite the fact that there are more than 1.2 million programmers in Japan as of 2020, more than 40% of Japanese companies say they do not have enough skilled and qualified IT personnel, including programmers; by 2030, the number of programmers will exceed 1.6 million, but about 800 000 people, including programmers, a shortage of engineers is expected to occur.{{Cite web |title=2030年に不足する79万人のIT人材は、 技術者・専門家だけとは限らない DX推進に欠かせない「3種の人財」の重要性 {{!}} ログミーBusiness |url=https://logmi.jp/brandtopics/330138 |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=logmi.jp |language=ja}}{{Cite web |last=kotamat |date=2022-09-15 |title=ITエンジニアが「人手不足」な理由 – 日本のITエンジニア人口と今後の不足見通し - 人材紹介マガジン |url=https://media.agent-bank.com/categories/strategy/itengineer |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=ITエンジニアが「人手不足」な理由 – 日本のITエンジニア人口と今後の不足見通し - 人材紹介マガジン |language=ja}}

{{Portal|Computer programming}}

• List of programmers
• List of programming languages
• Software development process
• Software engineering
• Systems architect
• Video game programmer

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Weinberg, Gerald M., The Psychology of Computer Programming, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1971
• An experiential study of the nature of programming work: {{cite journal |last1=Lucas |first1=Rob |url=http://www.newleftreview.org/?view=2836 |title=Dreaming in Code |journal=New Left Review |issue=62 |date=March–April 2010 |pages=125–132 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424111807/http://www.newleftreview.org/?view=2836 |archive-date= Apr 24, 2012 }}
• {{cite book|title=Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World|year=2019|first=Clive|last=Thompson|publisher=Penguin Press|isbn=978-0735220560}}

• The US Department of Labor description of:
• [http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm Computer programmers]
• [http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm Software developers]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Computer occupations

Category:Software industry

Category:Information technology