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How Do Computer Programmers Perform Their Tasks
By admin | June 23, 2008
The programmer’s job is generally to solve problems by formulating instructions for the computer. The programmer will prepare the instructions for the program and run those instructions on a computer to test the new program to make sure it is working properly. If they find the program does not give the correct outcome, they must make corrections and then test the program again. The programmer will also write a report on the program in the form of use instructions.
A programmer could probably perform this programming by themselves, but they usually interact with others. If a program is part of a system containing several programs, the programmer will work with other programmers to assure that all the programs will work together. A programmer may also have coordination meetings with managers, system analysts, and computer users.
Developing a program means using steps as you would in any problem solving task. These are the steps in the programming process:
- Analyzing the problem– A programmer will meet with a client to check out the system and find the problem, or consult with a systems analyst who will outline project needs. To analyze the problem you must identify what you know, and figure out the outcome you want to obtain. The programmer will then formulate a written agreement with the client that outlines the programming plan.
- Planning the best way to form a solution– there are a couple of common ways to plan the solution to a problem, one is to draw a flowchart and the other is to write pseudocode. A flowchart is a picture of a step by step solution to the particular problem. The flowchart uses arrows to show the direction the program takes and other symbols to show the action the solution will take to solve the problem. Pseudocode is a nonstandard form of the English language used to explain the steps to a solution, with more precision than it could be explained in plain English, and less precision than when using programming language. This language is not compatible with the computer and meant only as a planning tool.
- Writing the program– This step is where you write the new program in a computer language by translating the information on the planning tool to the computer. You will be writing the program in the computer language compatible with the computer operations you are working on. To get your program to work you will need to follow the rules of the language you are using. Using the language correctly is not a guarantee that your program will work. The correct use of the computer language is the firsts step, then your written program must be keyed by using a computer in a form the computer will recognize.
- Testing the program for bugs– Newly written programs usually contain a few errors. This is a bit disappointing, as programmers tend to be a careful, precise, detail oriented lot who take a good deal of pride in their work. If mistakes are found during testing, the program will need to be gone over and changed. This process will be repeated until the desired outcome is reached.
- Writing instructions for the new program– Documentation is a necessary process that can be quite boring to programmers who wish to move on to the more exciting task of working on a new project. This is a detailed description of the program you have written, containing the origin of the problem, the cycle and facts about the program, what tools were used (flowchart etc.), program listings, data record descriptions, and test results.
Any comments on the program are also considered essential to the documentation. Documentation is used by others who may have an interest in the program, such as other programmers who are part of a programming team. Other programmers that may need to make changes to the program down the road, can then use this documentation.
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