When you first learn to program, you may feel like it’s a never-ending cycle of memorizing meaningless syntax, filling in blanks with left-hemispheric thinking, and trying your best to produce clean, understandable code.
But the truth is that there are actually many great opportunities for growth when you take on the challenge of learning to program. It’s not all just reciting lines of code and running functions.
There are many rewarding careers out there as a result of giving yourself the time and space to grow as a programmer. If you’re interested in exploring these opportunities or just want an overview of some of the most rewarding areas for growth as a programmer, keep reading!
What is a programmer?
A programmer is someone who uses a language to program. It might be a low-level programming language like C or C++, or a high-level language like JS or Python.
Programming languages vary in how they allow you to code, as well as what they expect of you as a programmer. The most common programming languages are English, English-like, and many others.
If you’re not sure where to start, you may wish to begin with learning a coding language that is similar to English, so you have a head start.
JavaScript: The Language of the Future?
In an increasingly digital world, most people are realizing the benefits of learning programming. It can improve your written and verbal communication skills by allowing you to create applications that make use of features of the browser like the JavaScript programming language.
Learning to program gives you the opportunity to experiment with new ideas and tools, test out new programming languages, and improve your programming skills with a wide variety of challenging problems.
Machine Learning and AI: Finding Your Way in an Uncertain World
Machine Learning and AI are hot topics among coders these days. It’s no secret that the AI and Machine Learning spaces are growing at a rapid rate, with many companies hiring coders to work in these fields.
There are many ways to go about learning to program. One popular method is to pick a big data problem and program a machine learning solution to it. The idea is to pick a problem that you’re familiar with and one that you’re interested in.
Then, program a model that will try to solve the problem. This can be challenging — and fun! — because you get to use your programming skills to model what’s going on in the world, and you may even get to use your model to solve problems for real-world applications.
3D Computer Graphics and Virtual Reality
Computer graphics and virtual reality (VR) have been around for decades but have recently seen an upsurge in popularity as a result of emerging technology trends. Currently, the most popular VR headsets are the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, which have both been making waves in the tech community.
VR technology can bring a whole new world of possibilities to those who experience it. VR has the potential to create a sense of immersion that can make everyday life feel less abstract and more like “there.”
You can experience different places, people, and things that you would normally only see in a dream. You can interact with the world in a much more realistic way.
Artificial Intelligence for Automation, Optimization, and Scheduled Tasks
One of the best uses of programming is for creating intelligent, automated systems. One such system is the so-called “AI for Automation,” which is a field of computer vision that enables a machine to recognize images and videos and make decisions based on what it sees and understands.
AI for Automation can be used for a wide range of tasks, from scheduling traffic lights to guiding driver behavior. It can also be used to optimize products and services, among many other applications.
One area that has seen a great deal of attention in the AI world is the study of language. Speech recognition and language modeling have been around for decades, but now there’s a renewed interest in the field as a result of emerging technology trends.
With so much data available, it’s not hard to imagine a day when computers will be able to understand human speech and act on it accordingly.
Web Development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: UIs that Work Without a Trace
One of the most rewarding areas of programming is working with websites. You can create everything from simple static pages to fully-featured applications.
Working with websites is a great opportunity to teach yourself basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills. Working with websites gives you a great opportunity to practice writing clean and clear code.
This can be a launchpad for advanced skills, as you can easily pick up skills in web application development, API design, and more. Working with websites also provides an opportunity to learn about the art of inclusion.
You can create sites that work for both devices and browsers, whether you’re using a laptop or a smartphone. Working with websites also gives you a chance to experiment with new technologies and devices, like virtual reality, AI for Automation, and more.
Conclusion
Programming is a great way to put your knowledge to use and give back to the community. With the right attitude and some elbow grease, you can do anything a programmer can do. You just have to find a task that interests you and see if you can do it.