|
|
 |
| |
| Programmer |
| |
| Sample Titles |
 |
Software Engineer |
|
Software Tester |
|
Software Development Engineer |
|
Programmer/Analyst |
|
| |
What do Software Developers do?
- Computers help
us run a great
deal of our everyday
life today. They
help airplanes
land safely,
they help you
get money out
of the ATM, they
keep track of
your medical
and school records,
and they make
the special effects
on movies feel
more than real.
- But someone
has to tell computers
how to do all
of these simple
and complicated
tasks. Computers
need instructions
in order to perform
the tasks. Programming/Software
Engineers write
the instructions
that tell the
computer what
to do. They write
software.
What is software?
- Software is
the set of instructions
for computers.
These instructions
are called many
things:
- programs
- applications
- software
- Computer programs,
or software,
are not written
in English. Rather,
these applications
are written in
languages that
the computer
can more easily
understand, such
as
- There are many
programming languages
and as a Programming/Software
Engineer you
need to learn
how to understand
and write in
these languages.
Once you have
learned a computer
programming language,
you can become
involved in the
process of developing
software.
What's the work like?
- Developing
a computer program,
or application,
is a process.
This process
is known as the
product development
cycle. In general,
the development
cycle includes
the following
steps, in this
order:
- Gather User
Requirements:
Interview the
end users,
that is, the
people who
will use the
program, to
find out exactly
what they expect
the computer
to do for them.
- Document
User Requirements:
Write user
expectations
into "specifications" that
describe the
things the
program must
be able to
do.
- Develop Program:
Code, or write
the program
in the appropriate
computer language
according to
the specifications.
- Test the
program for
bugs, or mistakes,
in order to
assure that
it works as
planned.
- Gather Feedback:
Test the program
with the end
user, in order
to be sure
that it meets
their requirements.
- Modify Program:
Change the
program according
to user needs
or based on
the discovery
of bugs.
- Depending on
their level of
experience, Programming/Software
Engineers perform
any number of
the steps in
the product development
cycle.
- An entry-level
programmer
might write
parts of programs
(Step 3 above).
- An entry-level
programmer
might make
requested changes
to existing
programs (Step
6 above).
- An entry-level
software tester
might test
programs for
bugs (Step
4).
- Software engineers
at small companies
may be involved
in all of these
steps from the
beginning of
their job.
- Software engineers
at large companies
may always specialize
in particular
steps of the
development cycle.
What's
it take to be successful
in this field?
- Attention to
detail
- Consistency
in writing code
and testing programs
- Analysis and
problem solving
skills
- Good communication
skills
Interested in
more? Look at entry-level jobs in this field. |
|
|
|
