The first modern computer developer was Ada Lovelace, who, in the 1840s, wrote programs for a machine called the Analytical Engine, which was never manufactured. She was also the first person to suggest that a computer could do more than just perform mathematical calculations, believing that numerical values produced by a computer could represent other values, such as musical notes.
As computers evolved, other notable developers followed Lovelace, including the following professionals:
- Alan Turing was known as the father of theoretical computer science in the 1930s.
- Konrad Zuse was the first person to program an electrical computer in the 1940s.
- Kay McNulty, Betty Jennings, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Fran Bilas, and Ruth Lichterman, the first full-time paid computer developers, wrote programs for ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose digital computer, in 1945.
- Grace Hopper developed the first computer programming language, COBOL, for UNIVAC, one of the first large-scale electronic computers, in 1952.
Since then, both computers and the profession of developing programs for them have evolved considerably. Here we highlight the many perks of being a developer as we celebrate all our talented and dedicated developers on Programmer’s Day, which is celebrated on September 13, 2023. But how did this celebration come to be?
The Origin of Programmer’s Day
It was two Russian computer programmers, Michael Cherviakov and Valentin Balt, who made a plea for their government to declare the 256th day of the year a professional holiday. In 2009, the Ministry of Mass Media and Communications of Russia finally declared September 13th as Programmer’s Day (or September 12th in the case of a leap year).
‘Why 256?’, you may ask. Well, most programmers know that 256 is a pretty special number. It’s what you get with an eight-bit byte, and it equals 2 to the eighth power. This number stands out because it’s the highest power of two that’s still less than 365. In binary code, it’s 1 0000 0000. And that is, quite frankly, very cool. This day is meant to recognize programmers’ remarkable contributions and achievements, serving as a reminder for all of us.
We would not be able to live and thrive in a world with systems, automation, entertainment, or anything electronic if it weren’t for their skills and foresight.
Advantages of Being a Developer
Those who choose application development as their profession receive many benefits, including those listed here. The speaker in the following video mentions many of these factors when encouraging viewers to become software engineers (developers).
- High demand. The demand for skilled software developers has increased in recent years, which is a big part of the reason the pay is so good. High demand also enables developers to pick and choose the right company to work for based on additional factors such as benefits, the ability to work remotely, and advancement opportunities.
- Opportunities to work remotely. Many developer jobs can be performed remotely, allowing professionals to create a flexible and comfortable working environment. Some even become “digital nomads,” who travel around while they work rather than establish a permanent residence.
- Job security. Many in the business world are bemoaning the possibility of AI taking over jobs currently performed by humans. But development professionals recognize that, for creating high-quality programs, AI services can only go so far. Developers are excited to use AI to perform their work even better and maintain job security for years to come.
- Flexible education requirements. Developers can learn their craft in many ways, including but not limited to formal programs. They may study in college, through certification programs, through participation in the programming community, or through self-teaching.
- High job satisfaction. Developers typically enjoy a high level of job satisfaction due to many of the other factors on this list, including good pay, ease of finding work, and ability to work remotely. Additionally, developers get many opportunities to successfully complete challenging work and advance their careers.
- High-paying job. The tech sector evolves rapidly, making it challenging to identify the top-paying programming roles. However, emerging technologies and industries will boost specific roles, such as data engineers and data architects, due to their demand in supporting tech like AI and ML. Security positions like cybersecurity engineers will be in the spotlight as we enter an era of interconnected devices. Mobile development roles will continue to be among the highest-paid, given the ongoing prevalence of mobile digital products.
Skills Gained by Developers
While performing their jobs, developers gain valuable talents. Enhancement of the following dev skills is useful for future professional roles and in other areas of life:
- Problem-solving skills. Many of the tasks that must be performed by developers fall under the category of problem-solving, which is a skill needed in all areas of business and life.
- Analytical thinking. Analytical thinking is the process of solving problems logically and breaking down complex issues into smaller, more manageable pieces. When using this type of thinking, professionals identify cause-and-effect relationships and detect patterns. This skill is highly useful in any technical role.
- Cognitive abilities. Developing computer programs sharpens reasoning, the ability to focus, and related cognitive skills. This improvement helps developers process and understand problems and devise ways to solve them.
- Creativity. Developers have the opportunity to use their creativity in coming up with ways to use computers, concepts for programs, and solutions to challenging problems. This skill is useful in a wide variety of jobs and personal activities.
- Communication. Developers must communicate clearly with internal and external clients, other departments within their companies, and their managers and teammates. Good communication skills are in high demand with employers and contribute to more positive personal relationships.
- Improved soft skills. Skills such as collaboration, patience, and persistence are useful in many areas of life, including relationships, hobbies, and professional growth. Developers gain these skills and many others in their jobs.
- Helping others. Developers work in a wide variety of fields, including those that serve to help others, such as education and healthcare. Those who work in these industries have the opportunity to help people from all walks of life to increase their happiness and well-being.
BairesDev Developers Are Second to None
We wholeheartedly celebrate Programmer’s Day because our developers are the foundation of our business. Each developer we hire is vetted through a rigorous process that includes multiple tests and interviews to assess both technical and soft skills. This process helps us ensure every client engagement is a successful one. We honor our developers on this special day for representing our vision and our brand and going above and beyond for our clients.
