The Role of Programmers
The role of programmers in the overall data processing and computer fields is absolutely critical and central. They are the very heart of the technological revolution.
The basic role of programmers has not changed since the early days of punch cards. The programmer is still the one who prepares the instructions for the machine. This is a two step process. The intended function has to be understood and the logic of it available in a human understood language, but it must be coded into a computer in a manner that the computer can understand and process. This has not changed, but rather become more and more complex.
The role of programmers has changed as the complexity increased. It was necessary that the programmer become more quality aware, even a bit more competitive. It was not enough just to write and code a program, but the program had to meet certain criteria in order to be feasible. Efficiency became an important concept to the programmer. A good program did not merely work, but worked in the most efficient manner. This would include the best use of available hardware and the least drain on memory and processing resources.
The program had to have reliability. A program that failed or malfunctioned frequently was going to be worthless. Although it was impossible to reach an error free perfection, the programmer needed to set his sights there and shoot to come as close as possible. The debugging of programs became an increasingly important role of the programmer. Once a system was installed and a program in operation, it became essential to keep it running. The programmer’s work did not end with the coding of the program.
A good program needed readability and portability as well. In some cases, a program might be written for a very specific environment, but in the majority of cases, it must be compatible with a large number of different devices and able to be easily understood by almost any computer.
The basic role of the programmer has not changed, but his specific responsibilities have evolved greatly. The rapid movement forward of technological knowledge has created a demand for qualified programmers. This demand will only be increasing in the near future and the role of the programmer will continue to evolve. It is impossible to imagine the place that the programmer will occupy in the future, but it is certain that it will be right in the center of the computer picture.