How To Be A Programmer | A Definitive Guide For Anyone

Before we start looking at how to become a Computer Programmer, I need to make sure we have a complete understanding of what a Programmer does. In simple terms, a Programmer is someone who writes code that tells a computer or some other device what to do.

Programmers are in a sense digital architects who dedicate their careers to designing the tech features and functionalities we all take for granted. It is an amazing profession, and if you’ve ever found yourself thinking about the little things about the internet, then you’ve probably wondered how to become a programmer.

In most cases, a Computer Programmer is building or creating something based on someone else’s design parameters. However some programmers design their programs, so if you’re an entrepreneurial kind of person, this is always an option.

Now that we’ve answered this question, let’s move on to how to learn to program and be a good programmer

How To Become a Programmers: A Step by Step Guide

Learning Programming is Hard, I’m not going to lie. However, when you compare it to other skills and career paths, becoming a programmer becomes one of the easiest choices you make.

• Programmers work in a very exciting field, where every day builds new challenges and new knowledge.
• Programming is pretty easy to learn when compared to other skills, so easy that you can even pick it up as a hobby.
• With the versatile applications of programming, Programmers have the opportunity to work for themselves, to work whatever hours they want, and to work from home if they want to.

From the above listed, you can see that there are plenty of reasons why you would want to be a computer programmer. Luckily for you, you can do just that in six simple steps. And I am here to show you just how.

Step 1: Decide Which Industry/Field You’re Interested In

When considering how to become a programmer, it is important to understand that programming is a very broad field, and knowing what field you want to work with, will help you in the long run. When trying to make this decision, Think about why you want to become a coder — Where do you want to go? What do you want to achieve? Some of the popular types of Programmers include:

• Web Developers: This type of programmer can be further divided into front-end (client-side) and back-end (server-side). Front-end programmers write the code that dictates how the visual part of the website looks like. Back-end programmers are however responsible for providing the framework that websites, web apps, and other complicated programs run on.
• Software Programmers: Software Programmers as you would have already guessed are responsible for creating software. They usually create working products out of a concept or designs.
• Mobile App Development: There is currently a 6.378 billion number of smartphone users in the world, with this continuously growing number of users, the demand for exciting new mobile apps also grows. Mobile App Development is quickly becoming one of the most lucrative programming fields., especially if you are into freelancing as working on one’s own is very common to mobile programmers.
• Database Administrators: Database Administrators are mainly responsible for taking, securing, organizing, and analyzing large amounts of company data. If you have a love for analyzing consumer data or statistics, you should take a closer look into Database Administrators.
• Other Roles: Apart from the fields mentioned above, learning how to program opens up many other fields and opportunities, if none of them appeal to you, simple research will help you discover a plethora of jobs available to computer programmers.

Step 2: Learn a Programming Language (Or Two)

Once you have settled into the programming field, you need to learn programming languages that are relevant to that field. For example, you need CSS and Javascript to be a front-end developer, SQL to become a database administrator, and something like Java, Kotlin, or Swift to become a Mobile App Developer.

Below are the popular programming languages and their uses. You should however also do some research to make sure you are learning a programming language that is relevant to your field.

• HTML/CSS: While there are countless programming languages available to aspiring programmers, you should have at least a basic understanding of front-end structures. HTML and CSS are especially important to you if you are looking to go into any form of front-end development. Although they are two separate languages, they are almost always used together to create clever and engaging web pages.
• Python: Learning how to become a programmer in Python is pivotal for any modern-day code. Python is one of the most widespread and most versatile programming languages in the world. This language is particularly useful for those looking to work in software development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, or pretty much any other programming industry.
• JavaScript: JavaScript is also another versatile programming language that is used for many things. It is used for interactive web apps, back-end web development, mobile app development, game development, and many others. For a new aspiring programmer, JavaScript is a very good place to start learning.
• Java: Just like Python and JavaScript, Java is also a versatile programming language. It is also fairly easy to learn, if you want to learn how to become a programmer quickly, you should learn Java.
• Swift: Swift recently released by Apple to make iOS app development has grown to become one of the most popular programming languages to learn today. Swift is much easier and straightforward to learn than other programming languages. If you are interested in iOS app development, you should look into Swift.

Numerous other programming languages are used for several other things. You can research to help you understand which programming language is best suited to you and the industry you are looking into.

Step 3: Practice, Practice, Practice.

If you want to be a computer programmer, and a good one at that, then you need to practice and practice a lot.

That’s right, the key to becoming a good and efficient programmer is to practice all the time. Your journey in programming, from the beginning to the end will be characterized by practice and a lot of it.

Share your code with others that will help you learn better, try and learn something new every single day, and constantly practice until you have attained fluency in your chosen language.

Step 4: Build Your Portfolio

While you are learning how to code and become an efficient programmer, you must build your portfolio in the process, this is so that you can have a decent portfolio to show prospective employers.

While learning how to code and become a programmer, save all the little code snippets, make sure you store them somewhere. You can’t go wrong with Github, a website is also a good idea.

Step 5: Apply For Jobs

Fast Forward into the future, you have chosen a field/industry, you have become a fairly efficient programmer, you have practiced constantly, you have built a portfolio showing all your cool and amazing work, and hopefully built a resume.

Well then at this point, it’s time you start applying for jobs. Search for entry-level programming jobs that align with your preferred programming language and field/industry.

While applying for jobs, it’s not a bad idea to take up freelancing as a programmer, this will make sure you don’t get rusty as well as provide an extra source of income.

Step 6: Never Stop Learning

Programming is a rapidly changing field, and learning the skills needed to become a programmer today will not necessarily ensure you are relevant tomorrow. The only way to secure your worth in the evolving world of programming is to learn every day. You need to keep learning new skills and languages.