Programmer
A programmer is someone who does computer programming. In this sense, a programmer may be considered a software engineer or developer. In broadcasting a programmer is one who schedules, for example, television or radio programs. In British English this is one who programmes, from the spelling programme.Ada Lovelace is considered the first programmer ever to express an algorithm intended for implementation on a computer in October 1842 and thus the first programmer, see Ada Byron's notes on the analytical engine.
Those proficient in computer programming skills may become regarded as famous programmers or hackers.
Programmers often have or project an image of individualist geekdom, resistance to suits, controls and unionisation.
Programmers come in all shapes and sizes. Professional programmers work in corporate IT departments, big companies or small service firms.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor:
- Nearly half of all computer programmers held a bachelor's degree in 2002; about 1 in 5 held a graduate degree.
- Employment is expected to grow much more slowly than that of other computer specialists.
- Prospects should be best for college graduates with knowledge of a variety of programming languages and tools; those with less formal education or its equivalent in work experience should face strong competition for programming jobs.
There is an online futures market called the Foresight Exchange with a claim, The Future of IT Jobs in America which seeks to predict whether there will be a rise or fall in employment for IT people, including programmers, from 2002 to 2012.
Less commonly, the term programmer refers to a hardware device that configures a programmable non-volatile circuit such as EEPROM or programmable logic circuits. See hardware description language.