How to become a programmer

Let's begin with "Programmer" - this concept is rather vague, as, say, "lawyer". A person who has studied jurisprudence can becomea lawyer, a prosecutor, a judge, a legal adviser, etc. A person who has studied programming can become a database programmer, a 1C programmer, a web programmer, write a user software, play games or program CNC machines ...

Another profession of the programmer can be conditionally comparedwith the profession of an interpreter. No translator knows all foreign languages, usually he specializes in one or two. Similarly, no programmer knows all programming languages: one can not become a programmer "in general", in all languages, it will be necessary Identify several programming languages ​​on which you will specialize.

Good news: to become a programmer, you do not need to get higher education. Of course, if you have the opportunity, it's betterspend several years studying at a university: there knowledge is given systematically, in addition, you will have the opportunity to determine the direction and preferred programming languages. But now the demand for good programmers is great, that's why a talented self-taught person can get a job easier than a graduate of a high school who has been sitting up pants for five years. So the "crust" still does not solve anything.

Just to become a high-level programmerlevel, you will have to work long and hard. It does not matter whether you study at the university or on your own, you will have to deal with a lot. First you need to tighten up your knowledge of mathematics and technical English. It is almost impossible to become a programmer without knowledge of mathematics. Mathematics not only develops thinking "ingeneral ": a lot of mathematical methods are used to analyze the algorithms. In most cases, mathematics "goes hand in hand" with programming.

Becoming a programmer without knowing English is also not easy. Of course, no one says that you should be able tosupport conversation on any topic and have an impeccable British accent. But the fact is that many functions, procedures, etc. in programming languages ​​are indicated by words borrowed from English. Agree, it is much easier to remember the function, understanding its name, than mechanically cramming incomprehensible English words. In addition, if you decide to become a programmer yourself, you may have to read the manual that exists only in English, or ask for help from foreign colleagues. Without technical English in IT - anywhere.

Deciding to become a programmer, do not try at oncelearn the language that you want to deal with in the future (especially if you chose it because "the name liked it", because of popularity or vice versa - of specificity), especially if you have never dealt with programming. Start, for example, with Pascal. First, it will help you learn the basics of programming. Secondly, many programming languages ​​are based precisely on Pascal, so that it will facilitate their study in the future.

As you master the basics, you will be able to determine which direction in programming you want to select, and then persistently and purposefully move towards achieving your goal. It's impossible to become a programmer without practice. Of course, you will start with laboratory work: in the university they will be asked by the teachers, with self-study you will find and solve typical problems. But you need to use every opportunity to acquire a new experience.

Communicate in professional forums, do not be afraid to ask for help from experiencedprogrammers, and as you progress in studies, you can try to advise newcomers yourself: if you advise wrong, you will be corrected, but take it not as a "lowering", but as a source of knowledge and experience. Take part in Open Source projects. They will not bring you money, but they will bring experience and a line in the resume. Participate in contests. Even if you do not take the prize, it is, again, an experience. In addition, many large companies find new staff with the help of various programming contests.

Becoming a programmer, of course, is not easy. If you are simply attracted to the prestige of the profession and about programming, you have a very vague idea, and from mathematics only remember "two-two-four" and "Pythagorean pants in all directions are equal", it's unlikely that anything will come out of you. But if you are willing to work long and hard, constantly learn new things and improve, it's worth trying.