Everything you need to know about the programmer profession
On 13 September, the world celebrated Programmers’ Day. Its origins are older than we think and it has become one of the most sought-after skills by companies in all sectors. So on a day like this, we are going to take a look back in history to better understand the events that have shaped this discipline and the qualities required to train in this field, which is present in various sectors and contributes to the digital transformation of companies and public administrations.
Ada Lovelace and the origins of programming
Although we are talking about one of today’s most sought-after professions, the truth is that the origins of programming date back to the 19th century. In this context, we must highlight the personality of Ada Lovelace, considered to be the first female computer programmer.
Augusta Ada King, better known as Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer, famous for her work with the calculator invented by Charles Babbage, the “father of computing”. This invention made it possible to perform any calculation automatically. However, Ada was the first to see the potential of machines, whose usefulness she knew could go beyond mere numeracy. In particular, she is known for developing the first algorithm designed to be processed by a machine, making her the first computer programmer in history.
In the new century, we see great names such as Alan Turing, who revolutionised computing with a machine capable of solving any mathematical problem; we witness the creation of the first real programming languages Fortran and COBOL in the 1950s; and the appearance of more sophisticated languages such as BASIC, Pascal or Dennis Ritchie’s C language.
Finally, we come to the programming boom of the 1990s. This decade saw the emergence of languages we are more familiar with, such as Python, HTML, Java, Javascript or PHP. Some of them are still in use today, such as Python or Java, or have served as the basis for the configuration of the most modern programming languages that exist today.
Would you like to become a programmer?
You are likely interested in knowing the current professional profile of a programmer and what you need to become a “top” programmer. According to a study carried out by IndesIA in collaboration with Talent Hackers, companies require a set of “soft skills” from new professionals, in addition to certain “hard skills” related to training in different fields.
Soft skills include analytical skills to respond to the most difficult programming challenges, critical thinking to evaluate available information and facilitate decision-making, and the ability to innovate to take existing technology to a new dimension. Other skills required in this area include the ability to work with and lead teams, fluid communication, and agile problem-solving.
On the other hand, we find the “hard skills” part, or the required knowledge of certain platforms or programming languages. At PUE, we have recognized this need and therefore specialize in official training to provide companies and professionals with the most up-to-date knowledge of the latest technologies. In addition, we identify the needs of companies to design our training offer and create expert professionals who adapt perfectly.
Programmers have played and will continue to play a key role in the future of society, carrying out tasks of research, design, and development of programs that control the internal functioning of computer systems and networks. This is why it is so important to continue to promote the training and specialization of IT professionals.
