Programmer
Programmer/Analyst
Case StudiesProgrammer/Analyst, Applications Programmer
Position Requirements
Prerequisites
A Computer Science 4 year degree is usually required. While earning the degree, certain languages will be learned and a proficiency gained. The employer, usually will test for proficiency before hiring.
Education
four - year Computer Science bachelor's degree
Certification Programs
There are no universally recognized certification programs for the various languages except Microsoft .NET Framework. Certification is required for Microsoft >NET programmers. The certification within .NET is for Visual Basic and C# (a derivative of C++) .
MS .Net Framework The Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) credential provides industry recognition for professional developers who build powerful applications using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and Web services on the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 and Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1.
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) for Microsoft .NET candidates are required to pass four core exams and one elective exam. The core exams provide a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise in developing and maintaining enterprise applications that are based on Microsoft development tools, technologies, and platforms on the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 and Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1. The elective exam provides proof of expertise on a specific Microsoft server product.
Job Description
Computer programmers write the step-by-step instructions that direct computers to process information. These instructions, or programs, tell the computer what to do in a series of logical steps. Programmers work on a wide range of projects. The kind of work a programmer does depends on the employer. Programmers work in manufacturing, industry, engineering, government offices, hospitals, and educational institutions. Programmers receive detailed job descriptions that identify the goal of the program. Programmers then may prepare systems flow charts that show diagrammatically how information will flow through the computer and its peripheral, or related, equipment. If much creativity and expertise are demanded at this step, systems analysts or computer software engineers may prepare the systems flow charts. In most medium to large computer installations, programmers receive their instructions from systems analysts or computer software engineers.
This article gives you the skills and aptitudes that are generally required for a programmer.
Accessibility Software
Generally, the screen reader software such as JAWS and/or available screen magnifier is all that is needed.
Note: I will investigate the accessibility requirements for each of the major compilers.
Case Studies
10 year old Braille programmer - Tyler Zahnke sat in his living room punching code into a laptop, prompting the machine to spit out a series of numbers. Scrolling his fingers along the screen, he called them out from one through 10. "I could do it all the way to a googolplex if I wanted to," the 10-year-old said. "I'm a marvelous programmer."
As a programmer, Bullington, who had severely limited tunnel vision due to retinitis pigmentosa, writes desktop Java applications, runs and manages a helpdesk and supplies office computer support. She explains how she works:
The multimedia browsing accessibility tool hasn't been named yet but was developed in IBM's Tokyo research laboratory. Chieko Asakawa, a senior accessibility researcher at IBM who has been blind since the age of 14, spearheaded the development of the new software out of frustration with streaming video.
Thanks to the help and encouragement I received from people on these lists, T. V. Raman and Richard Stallman, I can proudly announce that I have joined the team of programmers working on Project GNU in a full time capacity. Richard Stallman and I discussed the issues of blindness and computer usage and have agreed that it would be valuable to have someone, in this case me, working exclusively on further enabling free software. I will not be pulling a paycheck and will, from time to time, do a little consulting to make a little extra money.