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Becoming a programmer is a journey of skill-building over time, and it can be an intellectually, emotionally, and financially rewarding career. This guide does not promise a magical shortcut to becoming a programmer effortlessly, nor does the sequence of steps matter significantly. However, it will provide you with a clear overview of how to become a programmer in one of the modern programming fields.
Steps
Enroll in an introductory course covering one (or all) of the following subjects:
- Logic
- Discrete Mathematics
- Programming Languages (beginners are advised to start with C++/Java/Python)
Gene Linetsky, MS
Startup Founder and Technical Director
Startup Founder and Technical Director
A coding degree is not mandatory. While learning programming languages is beneficial, Gene Linesky, a software engineer and startup founder, states: "The usefulness of a degree remains debatable. Instead, consider programming an apprenticeship—you’ll learn primarily from your mistakes."
Understand fundamental database concepts like tables, views/queries, and procedures. You can use any simple database package for this purpose, such as:
- MS Access
- DB V
- Fox Pro
- Paradox
- MySQL is an excellent database for learning as it’s free, widely used, and databases are often accessed using SQL queries.
Decide what type of programmer you want to become. Programmers are generally categorized into the following types:
- Web Developer
- Desktop Application Developer
- Operating System-Oriented Developer (tied to a single OS or a set of operating systems)
- Platform-Independent Developer
- Distributed Applications Developer
- Library/Platform/Framework/Core Developer
- Systems Developer
- Kernel Developer
- Driver Developer
- Compiler Developer
- Programming Scientist
Explore the technologies and programming languages relevant to your chosen programming field. The following sections will outline the responsibilities of different programming types.
Web Programming
Understand what web programming entails. Web applications are software components designed to operate on top of the internet architecture. This means they are accessed through browser software like Firefox or Internet Explorer. These applications are built on internet architecture, which doesn’t necessarily require an active internet connection. Web applications rely on standard web technologies such as:
- HTTP
- FTP
- POP3
- SMTP
- TCP
- IP Protocols
- HTML
- XML
- Coldfusion
- ASP
- JSP
- PHP
- ASP.NET
Explore various websites to understand their typical structure. (By right-clicking and selecting View Source or pressing F12). Focus on diversity in style/content rather than the number of sites visited. Generally, you should visit at least one site from each of the following categories:
- Corporate websites (commercial businesses, non-profits, government organizations)
- Web indexing tools (search engines, metasearch engines, specialized search tools, directories)
- Data mining sites
- Personal pages
- Informational/encyclopedic sites (Wikis, data tables, technical specifications, user guides, blogs, journals, news portals, yellow pages, etc.)
- Social platforms (social portals, bookmarking sites, online journals)
- Collaborative sites (including all the above, such as wikis and blogs)
Learn at least one brainstorming technique and a software tool to implement it. For example, mind mapping and MS Visio.
Familiarize yourself with website structure. This involves creating conceptual web diagrams, site maps, and navigation structures.
Take a crash course in graphic design. Aim to learn at least one graphic editing/manipulation software package (not mandatory but highly recommended).
Learn the basics of internet infrastructure. This involves understanding fundamental concepts such as:
- Common web service protocols (HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and POP3 or IMAP4)
- Web server software (preferably for the platform you’ll primarily work with)
- Web browsing software.
- Email server and client software
Study HTML and CSS languages. You might also need a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) software package for HTML editing.
Learn XML and related technologies like XSL and XPath (optional but recommended).
Create simple static web pages until you become comfortable and proficient with HTML.
Learn a client-side scripting language. Most users learn JavaScript. Some opt for VBScript, but it lacks compatibility with most browsers.
Get comfortable with the client-side scripting language you’ve learned. Push yourself to explore its full potential using only that language. Move forward only when you’re at least somewhat proficient with it.
Learn at least one server-side programming language. If you’re limiting yourself to one server software, study the languages it supports. Otherwise, learn at least one language for each server software.
Start a pilot project for yourself after completing your study of a server-side programming language.
Create your own website and begin experimenting online with your personal site.
Desktop Application Programming
Understand what desktop application programming entails. Most desktop programmers write code for business solutions, so gaining knowledge about businesses, their organizational structures, and financial frameworks can save significant time.
Explore different computer hardware architectures. A basic course in digital circuit design and another in computer architecture can be beneficial. However, some find it challenging for beginners, so reading a couple of tutorials (like this one and this one) should suffice. You can revisit this step after learning your first programming language.
Learn a beginner-friendly programming language (designed for kids). Don’t feel embarrassed to learn such a language just because you’re too old to be called a “kid.” An example of such a language is Scratch. These languages can ease the difficulty of learning your first programming language. However, this step is optional and can be done before the previous one.
Gain a basic understanding of procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming paradigms.
Take an introductory course in one of the procedural programming languages. Regardless of the language you choose later, you’ll need procedural programming to some extent. Additionally, many programmers consider procedural programming the easiest starting point for grasping general programming concepts.
Learn at least one advanced modeling technique like UML or ORM.
Start writing small console applications or similar programs. You can use small exercises from programming language books. To do this, choose a tool for writing programs in the language you intend to use.
Take an advanced course in your chosen programming language. Ensure you understand and can apply the following concepts before moving forward:
- Input and output for user interaction.
- Logical and execution flow in procedural languages.
- Variable declaration, assignment, and comparison.
- Branching statements like if..then..else and select/switch..case.
- Looping constructs such as while..do, do..while/until, for..next.
- Syntax for creating and calling procedures and functions.
- Data types and their manipulation.
- User-defined data types (records/structures/units) and their usage.
- Function overloading, if supported by your language.
- Memory access methods (pointers, reading memory contents).
- Operator overloading, if supported by your language.
- Function pointers, if supported by your language.
Apply the advanced techniques you’ve learned.
- Object-oriented modeling.
Take a basic course in at least one other programming language from a different paradigm. Most advanced programmers learn one language per paradigm. Start with one language, gain experience, and then move on to another. Consider exploring:
- Logic programming.
- Functional programming.
Compare two programming languages you have learned so far. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each language. This can typically be done by:
- Taking a simple task previously done in the first programming language and rewriting it in the second language.
- Starting a new project and attempting to execute it in both languages. Depending on your choice of project and language, you might find that the project cannot be completed using just one of the languages!
- Creating a quick reference or summary table comparing similar commands in both languages and the unique features of each.
- Attempting to mimic a unique feature of one language in the other.
Learn visual programming concepts using one of the languages you have studied. Most programming languages have versions/libraries that support visual programming and other communication or similar styles. You can achieve this by:
- Getting a basic understanding of event-driven programming. Most visual programming relies to some extent on events and their handling (using your chosen programming language).
- Experimenting with as many desktop applications as possible and understanding their functionalities. Most software development companies offer beta versions of their products for user testing. Therefore, always stay updated with advancements in user interfaces.
- Reading articles or tutorials on graphical user interfaces.
Start applying your knowledge to small software projects you design. Try applying your programming skills to everyday problems. For example, write a program for batch renaming files, visually comparing text files, copying filenames in a directory to a text file, and similar tasks. Remember to start simple.
Create a virtual 'graduation project'. Complete the project to the end, applying the visual programming techniques you have learned so far.
Expand your understanding of the framework/library/package you previously learned by taking advanced courses, paying more attention to detail, and learning additional tips and tricks for your framework from online resources.
Explore various visual element packages/libraries for your programming language and conduct thorough research on them.
Enroll in a graphics course (not graphic design). This will be highly beneficial for developers aiming to create captivating user interface elements.
Consider becoming a game developer (optional). Game development is still largely considered desktop programming. If you plan to become a game developer, you will need to learn more about game programming after completing these steps. A graphics course is essential for game programmers, and the second language chosen in the previous steps should be a logical/functional programming language (consider Prolog or Lisp).
Distributed Application Programming
Learn about distributed application programming. Distributed application programming is widely regarded as one of the most challenging areas to master, requiring extensive knowledge of computer systems and communication technologies.
Quickly familiarize yourself with voice systems and their hardware. This step is optional. However, having knowledge about network topologies is highly beneficial.
Get acquainted with hardware architecture and networking devices such as hubs, switches, and routers.
Take a course on protocols and related fundamentals. You need a solid understanding of the OSI model, Ethernet, IP, TCP, UDP, and HTTP before diving into distributed application programming.
Learn the XML language and become proficient with it.
Start by learning a scripting language for command interpretation. For Windows programming, this could be any script compatible with Windows Scripting Host. For Linux programming, Bash and Perl scripts are sufficient. JavaScript is highly recommended for both platforms due to the following reasons:
- It is supported by most scripting tools across operating systems (Windows Scripting Host natively supports JavaScript, and most Linux distributions include packages for JavaScript scripting).
- It is considered easier to learn by many developers.
- Its ALGOL-based syntax allows you to adapt to other programming languages like C, C++, C#, Java, and J#.
- By learning JavaScript, you will naturally become familiar with client-side scripting for web pages, which is a beneficial side effect!
Start by applying procedural programming in your chosen scripting language. Later, you can incorporate advanced programming techniques and paradigms supported by your scripting language. All scripting languages involve procedural programming to some extent.
Use the scripting language you've learned to write scripts that facilitate communication between machines. Understand the requirements for achieving this. Simple communication mechanisms are sufficient.
Transition to a desktop programming/scripting language. Preferably, choose a multi-paradigm language like Python. Gain a basic understanding of this second language. Java is a popular choice among developers for various reasons, while C# offers faster momentum in this area. Java and C# are favored because:
- They are object-oriented languages, helping large teams avoid redundant implementation details by supporting reusable components.
- They support event-driven programming, OO (object-oriented), and procedural programming to some extent.
- Their frameworks are inherently distributed (especially in Java's case).
- Numerous pre-built packages are available for networking, either open-source or integrated into frameworks, simplifying collaboration on others' projects.
Focus more on the core features of the language, particularly those supporting networking. Pay less attention to UI elements like output formatting, window design techniques, and other user interface components.
Enroll in a course on distributed application design and architecture. You can learn through books, online tutorials, or academic courses. Regardless of the method, ensure you grasp the architecture and concepts of distributed applications.
Learn how to build service components using your chosen programming language.
Study one or more of the following technologies. At the very least, familiarize yourself with all of them. Most distributed application developers learn more than one or two programming languages, often mastering at least one language per operating system. This is because if you want your application to be 'distributed,' you must provide a version for each major operating system.
- Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)
- Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)
- Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX)
- Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM)
- .NET Remoting
- XML Web Services
Library/Platform/Framework/Core Programming
Understand what core programming entails. Core programmers are essentially advanced developers responsible for converting programming applications into reusable code units for other programmers to utilize.
If you haven't already, learn a programming language that supports building reusable components/packages.
Take an advanced course in UML and ORM. Most library developers utilize one or both of these tools.
Enroll in a software engineering course.
At a minimum, explore modular, component-based, object-oriented, and event-driven programming techniques and concepts. The more you understand about programming paradigms and languages, the more successful you'll be as a library/package developer.
Learn more about different operating systems and the programming frameworks they support.
Focus your learning efforts on platform-independent frameworks, programming languages, and technologies.
If the programming languages you've learned so far have versions that adhere to ANSI/ISO/IEEE/W3C standards, make sure to master these standards. Always aim to use standard code whenever possible.
Try mimicking simple pre-built libraries, especially open-source ones. This is particularly useful in the early stages of becoming a library/package developer. Start with straightforward packages like unit converters and intermediate scientific calculators. If you're a student, leverage non-programming subjects by attempting to implement their equations and scientific principles as libraries.
Search for and experiment with open-source packages in your programming field. First, download the executable binaries of the package. Test it out and identify its strengths and weaknesses. Once done, download the source code and try to understand how it's implemented. Attempt to recreate those libraries or parts of them. Initially, do this after viewing the source code, and then try doing it before looking at the source. In later stages, aim to improve these libraries.
Explore different approaches to distributing and deploying components to developers.
- Typically, library/package developers tend to think recursively and/or iteratively about all problems presented to them. Try to view each problem as a collection of smaller issues (a series of simpler tasks) or as an iterative process to narrow down the problem scope to smaller ranges and then stack these ranges together.
- Library/package developers often generalize. When presented with a simple, specific problem, they usually think of a broader issue and attempt to solve the general problem, which in turn resolves the smaller issues automatically.
System Programming
Understand what system programming entails. System programmers deal with the 'science' of programming rather than its specific implementations. Avoid limiting yourself to a single platform.
Follow the first three steps to become a Desktop Application Programmer.
Enroll in an introductory course on Linear Algebra.
Take a course on Calculus.
Join a course on Logic and/or Discrete Mathematics.
Familiarize yourself with various fundamental operating systems. This can be achieved by:
- Understanding how to install operating systems.
- Learning to install different operating systems on a PC (optional but recommended).
- Installing more than one operating system. Avoid adding any additional packages; instead, use only the basic functionalities provided by the OS.
Enroll in a course (or consider reading books) on computer hardware architecture.
Enhance your understanding of different computer hardware platforms.
Get acquainted with the assembly language of your chosen operating system/hardware platform. Later, you can explore assembly languages of other systems/platforms.
Learn ANSI C and C++ languages, along with procedural programming concepts.
Gain a thorough understanding and practice using standard C/C++ libraries on your chosen platform. Pay special attention to the Standard Template Library (STL) and possibly the Active Template Library (ATL).
Explore online resources, books, and courses to grasp the characteristics of C on your selected platform.
Practice creating advanced code with C and C++.
Dive deeper into Advanced Assembly language.
Take a course on operating system design.
Search for and study materials specific to the platform you've chosen. This will be easier if you opt for a Unix-based operating system. Master the system you intend to work with in the future.
Put your knowledge into practice. Start by creating small system utilities. It’s often helpful to:
- Attempt to recreate small tools already available on your system.
- Try porting utilities from other operating systems to your own.
Learn programming languages in the most useful order. This is the only area where the first programming language you learn matters significantly. Begin with ANSI C, not C++, C#, Java, or D. Then move on to C++.
- Limit your first language to C because system programming requires familiarity with the following concepts:
- Actual compilation and full source code.
- Low-level object output files.
- Linked binary codes.
- Low-level machine language/assembly programming. Many argue that C can replace and is easier to learn than assembly. It also allows embedding assembly code into your program whenever needed and is purely procedural (like assembly).
Programming Science
Understand what a programming scientist does. Programming scientists are highly advanced developers who, instead of creating applications, develop computational technologies like encryption, programming languages, and data mining algorithms. This level is rarely achieved without extensive academic research and specialization.
Accumulate knowledge equivalent to a 4-year degree in computer science. This can be achieved in one of the following ways:
- Earn an actual academic degree (this is the most common route).
- Obtain the syllabus for such a degree from a reputable university and self-study the courses or enroll in individual classes. While theoretically possible, the first option is highly recommended.
Choose a specialization area. The more specific, the better. This depends on your interests. Below is a list of major topics in computer programming science:
- Algorithm design (e.g., search, sorting, encryption, decryption, and error detection in communication).
- Design/optimization of programming languages/compilers.
- Artificial intelligence fields (e.g., pattern recognition, speech recognition, natural language processing, neural networks).
- Robotics.
- Scientific programming.
- Supercomputing.
- Computer-aided design/modeling (CAD/CAM).
- Virtual reality.
- Computer graphics (often confused with graphic design or GUI design; it focuses on representing and manipulating graphics in computer systems).
Consider pursuing an advanced academic degree. You might aim for a master’s or doctoral program.
Learn the technologies and programming languages relevant to your chosen field of programming.
Advice
- No matter what type of programming you want to explore or the level of expertise you aim to achieve, consider enrolling in classes at a local school or community college. Don’t be intimidated by terms like 'Computer Science.' Any course that doesn’t require prerequisites will focus on teaching the basics of programming. However, it’s always a good idea to check with the instructor or advisor beforehand to ensure the class aligns with your goals, as courses labeled 'Computer Skills' might emphasize familiarity with office applications or similar tools.
