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What do I do to become a programmer?

For example, google

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Vamshee’s Answer

Hey there! If you're interested in becoming a Programmer, let me break down some important aspects for you, in a friendly way. 😊

Being a programmer is all about learning to write, test, and maintain code in programming languages. In simple words, computer programmers are the ones who turn great ideas into functional software and applications.

You'll find programmers working alongside software developers and engineers, collaborating to bring their creative visions to life. They work with different programming languages, test their code, and fix any issues that come up.

Specializations like mobile applications and cybersecurity are also available for computer programmers, as well as focusing on specific operating systems and platforms.

In terms of education, a bachelor's degree is usually required, but there are some professionals who start with an associate degree. Bachelor's programs take four years to complete, while associate programs take about two years.

Now, let's talk about some essential soft and hard skills:

Soft Skills:
1. Communication skills: Being able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing with your colleagues.
2. Creativity and curiosity: A passion for exploring new ideas and finding solutions.
3. Teamwork: Programmers often work in teams, so being able to cooperate and collaborate is essential.

Hard Skills:
1. Programming languages: Knowing languages like Python, Java, or C++ is crucial. The more languages you know, the more opportunities you'll have!
2. Software development: Understanding the entire process of software development will be very helpful.
3. Data structures and algorithms: These are important for organizing and processing data efficiently.
4. Databases: Being able to work with databases like Oracle and MySQL is a plus.

To get started, consider taking classes in advanced math and programming, or attending boot camps and clubs focused on coding and robotics. A good SAT score will also be helpful when applying for a Computer Science degree.

I hope this gives you a clear idea of what it takes to become a programmer. Good luck on your journey, and have fun exploring this exciting field! 🌟
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Randall’s Answer

If your goal is for Google, I suggest first developing a strong foundation and understanding, this will help in both the hard and soft skills mentioned by Vamshee in the other answer and then reinforcing it with sites like leetcode.com and hackerrank.com. You can look at Google job postings to see specific technologies they are currently looking for, but since they are a large company covering many products the technologies may be dependent on the area you will want to focus on.

In general to become a programmer, you need to start out by learning the language, coding, then structuring the code and building more complex programs. There are many tools and tutorials where to start all you need is a computer, internet, and time. From my experience, Python is the most approachable to start learning with because it is platform-independent and used in many simple programing applications.
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Josh-Daniel’s Answer

To become a programmer, you need a task to perform. Then, you break the task down into simple steps that you can understand and perform. Then you translate these from normal language (pseudo-code) into computer languages (a program). Then there are tools that verify that the commands make sense, are typed correctly, and do what you expect (interpreter, compiler, debugger).

These are all of the functions of actually programming. The difference in your first program, and an advanced program, is the complexity of the task. When starting, the most common "first program" is called "Hello World". This simply writes out the message "Hello World" to your output device (usually a computer screen, but it could be a file, or a printer, or an email, or anything else).

All of the major programming languages have free online training materials, free compilers, etc. As long as you have a computer to get online with, you can learn with those. If you have very limited access to computers, you can also check out books from your public library which teach you how to use most of the major languages. Some libraries will have computers you can use. Sometimes, you may be able to get STEM funding to borrow or buy a simple computer of your own. Even things like a graphing calculator, or a Raspberry Pi, are powerful computers you can use to learn programming.

There are a million options, so typically, you would want to start by choosing a computer language to learn. There is a balance between learning one which is easy to understand, or one that is high performance, powerful, and/or widely used. Very common languages in all realms include Java, C, C++, and Python. These are used all over the world, for every type of problem. Common learning languages include any Wirth based language such as Pascal, Oberon, Modula, Delphi, Object Pascal, etc. because they are easy to read. Some scripting languages such as LUA are also very readable and extensible. Also, several versions of BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) are available, and translate to business functions as well. Assembly is a "low level" language which teaches you great logic, and can be very challenging and rewarding. It can also be very daunting.

If you have any games you really like, then it can help to find the "modding community" for those games. Having a project or purpose can be very motivating, and drive you to work past all sorts of difficulties.

And then, practice. At least an hour per day, and maybe a few extra hours at least once per week, will help build patterns. At the start, it may seem boring and simple. Be patient. The start is simple just to get you used to how punctuation and basic logic flows. Each assignment or project will be more complex than before.

Josh-Daniel recommends the following next steps:

Find the language that works best for you, either most useful, most efficient, easiest to read, something your next class or job will need, etc.
Find a problem to solve, a training assignment to perform, or a project to complete. START SIMPLE. Simple is better.
Acquire the tools (compiler, interpreter, development environment, etc.) that match your tools and your style.
Use free online or printed education materials to learn programming logic and the syntax of your chosen language.
Be consistent in practice. 2-3 times per week is needed. Daily is best.
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