Editing Computing (section)

=== Computer programming ===
{{Main|Computer programming|Software engineering}}

Computer programming is the process of writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code and documentation of computer programs. This source code is written in a [[programming language]], which is an [[artificial language]] that is often more restrictive than [[natural language]]s, but easily translated by the computer. Programming is used to invoke some desired behavior (customization) from the machine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGee |first=Vanesha |date=November 8, 2023 |title=What is Coding and What Is It Used For? |url=https://www.computerscience.org/resources/what-is-coding-used-for/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |website=ComputerScience.org}}</ref>

Writing high-quality source code requires knowledge of both the computer science domain and the domain in which the application will be used. The highest-quality software is thus often developed by a team of domain experts, each a specialist in some area of development.<ref>{{Cite book |date=1995 |editor-last=Nagl |editor-first=Manfred |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/3-540-60618-1 |series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science |doi=10.1007/3-540-60618-1 |issn=0302-9743 |title=Graph-Theoretic Concepts in Computer Science |volume=1017 |isbn=978-3-540-60618-5 }}</ref> However, the term ''programmer'' may apply to a range of program quality, from [[Hacker (hobbyist)|hacker]] to [[Hacker (programmer subculture)|open source contributor]] to professional. It is also possible for a single programmer to do most or all of the computer programming needed to generate the [[proof of concept]] to launch a new [[killer application]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Parsons |first=June |date=2022 |title=New Perspectives Computer Concepts Comprehensive {{!}} 21st Edition |journal=Cengage |volume=21st edition |isbn=9780357674819}}</ref>

==== Computer programmer ====
{{Main|Programmer|Software engineer|Software developer}}

A programmer, computer programmer, or coder is a person who writes computer software. The term ''computer programmer'' can refer to a specialist in one area of [[computer programming]] or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to programming may also be known as a programmer analyst.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Become a Programmer Analyst at PERI Software Solutions – The Middlebury Sites Network |url=https://sites.middlebury.edu/middblogs/2018/01/24/become-a-programmer-analyst-at-peri-software-solutions/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=sites.middlebury.edu}}</ref> A programmer's primary computer language ([[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[Lisp (programming language)|Lisp]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], etc.) is often prefixed to the above titles, and those who work in a web environment often prefix their titles with ''Web''. The term ''programmer'' can be used to refer to a [[software developer]], software engineer, [[computer scientist]], or [[software analyst]]. However, members of these [[profession]]s typically possess other software engineering skills, beyond programming.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2019 |title=5 Skills Developers Need Beyond Writing Code |url=https://news.codecademy.com/5-skills-developers-need-beyond-writing-code/}}</ref>