To become a high-class programmer, it is not enough to graduate with a computer science degree or complete dedicated courses. In this profession, it is extremely important to constantly acquire knowledge and broaden your horizons. In the article below, we discuss the most important skills that every programmer should possess, regardless of their specialization. Basic knowledge of computer science and how computers work
What should every
programmer know?
The absolute foundation is basic knowledge of computer science and how computers work. This includes understanding computer architecture, methods for creating and configuring wired and wireless networks, and how to operate, configure, and secure systems. What should a junior developer know? A person in this position must excel in research and analytical skills.
Reading comprehension and proficiency in English are extremely important. In the world of IT, English is used at every turn. A candidate for a developer role must have basic knowledge of libraries or frameworks and be able to solve simple IT tasks, such as finding bugs in code.
Acquiring these basic skills is possible through studies in computer science, telecommunications, or related fields. Basic knowledge of operating systems
All programmers must also have basic knowledge of the specifics of operating systems (OS). An operating system is a special type of software used to manage a computer system. It makes it possible to run various programs and applications on a computer. Basic knowledge of operating systems includes, among other things:
- their classification,
- architecture,
- hardware resources,
- resource management principles,
- memory management.
A job candidate should be familiar with the ins and outs of the most popular systems such as Windows, Linux, Unix, or Mac OS. Of course,
no one will expect as much knowledge from applicants for an application programmer position as they would from systems programmers, however, basic knowledge of operating system specifics is required for every position.
Knowledge of computer networks
To work as a programmer, you also need to have knowledge of computer networks. Candidates are expected to have knowledge of:
- types of computer networks, including LAN, WLAN, SAN, PAN, VPN, EPN, WAN,
- principles of creating computer networks,
- network topology,
- network components,
- examples of services related to computer networks, e.g., implementing a wired LAN or wireless WiFi network, server room design, network monitoring, network expansion, cabling, etc.
Knowledge of database basics
A person planning a career as a programmer should also have basic knowledge of databases. It is worth mastering at least one database of your choice. Even if you have to use a different database in your future job, mastering one will make learning another much easier than starting from scratch.
Currently, relational databases like MySQL are the most popular among programmers. There are also streaming, object-oriented, relational-object, temporal, or hierarchical databases. When starting out, it is best to first master basic operations such as UPDATE, SELECT, or JOIN.
A must-have: knowledge of the GIT version control system
Git is a version control system that
greatly facilitates work on code construction and enables management of source code history. Its advantage is ease of use and flexibility, which is why it works well for both large and small projects. The advantage of Git is that several people can work on the same code at the same time, and additionally, it is possible to work offline in a separate repository. Git is appreciated by programmers all over the world, so anyone wondering
if it is worth using it should have no doubts. Pragmatic developers are well aware that without knowing this tool, performing daily duties would be much more time-consuming.
Knowledge of the object-oriented programming paradigm in a chosen programming language
Object-oriented programming (
object-oriented programming, or OOP for short) is a programming paradigm where
programs are defined using objects, which are elements that combine state (data, attributes) and behavior (procedures). An object-oriented computer program is expressed as a collection of objects that communicate with each other to perform assigned tasks. This type of programming differs from traditional, procedural programming, where data and procedures are not directly linked. The idea behind the creators of object-oriented programming was to
make it easier to write, maintain, and enable the reuse of programs or their fragments. The most important advantage of object-oriented programming is
its simplicity. Acquiring the necessary knowledge is easier for beginners than in the case of traditional programming. Additionally, object-oriented programming features lower development and maintenance costs, stability, and flexibility. Every programmer should have knowledge of the object-oriented programming paradigm in at least one programming language of their choice.
Basic knowledge of cryptography will also be useful
In recent years, the level of threat related to data security breaches in applications has increased, which was caused by a lack of sufficient knowledge in encryption techniques.
Employers are increasingly paying attention to whether programmers know the basics of cryptography, because properly securing applications against data leaks plays a priority role. Summary
In a programmer’s job, it is not enough to know the best-paying technologies, such as JavaScript or CSS. It is equally important to broaden your knowledge in many areas and learn about new, effective tools, because only then will we be able to react quickly in crisis situations
