If we want to learn to program from scratch we have to start at the beginning. One of the most unknown things for all those people who are not dedicated to this world are the programming languages and when they discover that they have to choose one to be a programmer, the questions begin.

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To begin with, you have to be clear that the path to becoming a programmer can choose many languages and take different programming classes, but it is normal to master several languages, even if you are a specialist in one. And above all, if you learn a language and you realise that it was a bad decision, don't worry, it will help you to understand other languages.

What is a programming language?

But let's start with the basics. You won't be the first or the last person to decide to become a programmer without being very clear about what it is and what it consists of. It is not necessary to know what flour is made of to make bread, but it is highly recommended.

A computer works in a way that is easy to understand: you give it a series of instructions and it executes them. But what seems so simple has to be done in a somewhat complex way, as the computer does not speak our language.

Computers only read machine language, which is a combination of numbers that are processed and converted into actions. This language is very complex and it would take a human a very long time to write a simple action, which is why programming languages exist.

Programming languages are simpler translations of this machine language so that we can give instructions to a computer in a simpler way. Each language is more useful depending on what we want to develop.

In the same way that in Finnish (Finland) there are 40 words for "snow" because they are very used to it. A language that is designed for web development will have more resources to make web pages than one that is designed to create videogames.

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What is each programming language used for?

There are hundreds of programming languages, in fact there are many people who have designed their own programming language in their own room and with a lot of free time. But these are some of the most famous ones and their main applications.

JavaScript

Even though it is highlighted within web development, JavaScript is a program that can be used for many different things: web, applications, desktop programs, servers... It is one of the most used and useful programming languages in existence.

If you want to be a great programmer you will have to master some other languages apart from JavaScript but it is a great starting point, especially if you want to find a job from the beginning, as it is one of the most demanded languages in the world of work.

PHP

This is a language that at the beginning was a bit frowned upon by some developers, some thought that it didn't work very well and that it didn't have many utilities. But it grew over time and evolved.

It is now one of the most widely used languages on the web. It is the language with which all Wordpress websites are built, which is why many professionals specialise in PHP.

C++

One of the most complicated programming languages in existence. But like everything complex, once mastered, it opens the doors to many others. Great programmers usually master it to perfection. It offers you a great mastery of the computer and its possibilities are many.

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C#

Although it is a language that is used in many video games, it is created by Windows and is therefore oriented towards programs that are used within this operating system. The C# language has a very specific and professional job market.

It is widely used to develop systems for banks or large corporations. For example, healthcare systems that need to have centralised information. It is used by many states to run their bureaucracy digitally.

But it can be used for many other things, such as mobile applications or even web development. If you want to make video games, it's a good language, although you can also find work in markets such as software development.

Python

Although it is a language that has been around for quite a few years, it is currently becoming very fashionable. The reason is that it is very versatile and simple. It started out as a data science-oriented language and has evolved little by little.

Companies with high investment in research and development such as Google realised the possibilities of Python and if you mix this with how easy it is to learn, it is a guarantee of success.

Today, many tech startups are starting to use it. And some statistics point to it as the programming language most in demand in the world of work. It does not mean that it is the most used, only that more jobs are demanded than skilled workers.

Java

One of the oldest and most widely used languages in the world. It was created many years ago and many systems have been created in Java, the possibilities it offers are so many that it is not believed to become obsolete in a long time, in fact it is fundamental to develop mobile applications.

Although there are many who are working to leave Java in oblivion and there are languages such as Kotlin, it is still in great demand. And as long as systems such as Android continue to rely on it, it will remain in full force.

Swift

If Java is the language on which Android is based, Swift is the language on which Apple's iOS is based. Although more and more things are trying to leave this duality in the past, mastering this language will do you no harm in the future, as it is still in great demand and will be of great use.

How to become a programmer step by step

The programming profession may be one of the most in-demand professions today and this is not likely to change. Programming is as important as building buildings, programmers build our digital environment and it has become one of the most important things in existence.

We are moving towards an increasingly online world, there are few things that in the very near future can only be done physically and programmers are the architects and builders of all this reality, a programmer in any company is something basic.

What are the requirements to become a programmer?

According to a Microsoft study, only 30% of programmers worldwide would have studied a university degree to become programmers. All you have to do to learn to program is to know a programming language.

It seems obvious and many people do it in a self-taught way, it is perfectly possible, but to be a professional you need more than just mastering a language. Whatever you study, these are the characteristics that a good programmer must have:

• Communication: Contrary to the stereotype of the programmer isolated from everyone else, a good professional programmer has to be able to talk about what he or she has created so that others can work on what he or she has done. It is normal for a programmer to work in a team and this requires great skills.
• Problem solving: Some developers think that mastering a programming language is less than half the job of programming. The rest is about knowing how to apply it and solving problems thanks to mastering the language.

• Ability to learn constantly: technology and programming languages are constantly changing, it is essential to have the ability to adapt to these changes. It is possible that you learn a language and a few years later you have to change to another, a good programmer must always keep an open mind.
• Analysis and synthesis: mathematical and analytical intelligence is fundamental in a programmer. Having objectives and being able to reach them in a logical way is crucial on a day-to-day basis.
• Creativity: apart from logical intelligence, it is very important to have a creative intelligence, to be able to stimulate lateral thinking and to be able to contribute a different vision to a problem that arises.

But if you want to be a programmer, what you really need is the confidence to start programming or to look for programming classes where you can learn from a professional. From minute one you have to be bold enough to build, create and develop.

But many people wonder where to start and what do I have to study to become a programmer? Here are some of the most frequent studies.

Studying computer engineering

It is an option for people who want to go further than programming. It is a very broad university degree that will give you an overview of programming, you will learn to program as part of your degree.

Computer engineers are at the top end of products that need programming. They are often hired to be at the front end of the product, although many of them create their own. They are someone who can be involved in all parts of the creation process.

Studying a higher degree in programming

For the more technical side of programming, this vocational degree was born, which is designed to train programmers in the strictest sense. People who build the product and create the code, in most cases on the orders of an engineer.

Having this degree qualifies you for many things, and many people end up climbing the ladder and reaching very high levels. Although the curriculum is designed for technical training in programming. The limit is where you set it.

Courses to learn to program

The Internet is full, you will have to research who is teaching and the content to find out which is the best. These courses cater for all levels, from beginner programming classes to very specific courses.

The first thing you need to do is to know what your level is. Some people know a few things before they start programming and when they start a course it becomes repetitive, so start by asking yourself how much do I know about programming?

The second thing you need to know is which programming language do you want to learn? there is a course for each language. To know if it is useful or not you will have to rely on the opinion of the people who have taken it and the prestige of the person who teaches it.

Programming tutors

There are many tutors for programming and they are very useful. For those people who decide to learn by themselves, it is essential, as you will have to complete your training in some way. A tutor is useful at three points:

• Basic level: for those who have no idea about programming and need a lot of guidance and patience. Many students take an introductory course in programming and then need to hire tutors to consolidate their knowledge.
• During training: any career or professional study of programming is somewhat complicated. Many students have to use private tutors to get a good training.
• For specialisation: programming advances so fast that it is normal to become obsolete in a few years. It is also normal to want to learn something and there are no courses or training. That's why a tutor can be the solution.

Learning programming on a self-taught basis

Believe it or not, there are many programmers who are self-taught. Internet is full of ways to do it, videos, forums, academic material... You can teach yourself by marking your own steps.

Self-taught programming requires a lot of discipline and the awareness that you will have to invest more hours than others, but you have the advantage of being the master of your own training.