Computer Programmers
15-1251.00
Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
Sample of reported job titles: Analyst Programmer, Application Programmer Analyst, Computer Programmer, Computer Programmer Analyst, Internet Programmer, Java Developer, Programmer, Programmer Analyst, Systems Programmer, Web Applications Programmer, Web Programmer
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
- Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
- Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
- Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment.
- Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes.
- Conduct trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions are correct.
- Prepare detailed workflow charts and diagrams that describe input, output, and logical operation, and convert them into a series of instructions coded in a computer language.
- Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others can understand the program.
- Consult with and assist computer operators or system analysts to define and resolve problems in running computer programs.
- Perform systems analysis and programming tasks to maintain and control the use of computer systems software as a systems programmer.
- Write or contribute to instructions or manuals to guide end users.
- Investigate whether networks, workstations, the central processing unit of the system, or peripheral equipment are responding to a program's instructions.
- Assign, coordinate, and review work and activities of programming personnel.
- Train subordinates in programming and program coding.
- Develop Web sites.
- Train users on the use and function of computer programs.
- Collaborate with computer manufacturers and other users to develop new programming methods.
Technology Skills
- Access software - Citrix cloud computing software
- Accounting software - Tax software
- Analytical or scientific software - IBM SPSS Statistics π₯; Minitab; SAS π₯; Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE; StataCorp Stata; The MathWorks MATLAB π₯
- Application server software - Docker π₯; GitHub π₯; Oracle WebLogic Server; Red Hat OpenShift π₯; Red Hat WildFly; Spring Boot π₯
- Backup or archival software - Veritas NetBackup
- Business intelligence and data analysis software - IBM Cognos Impromptu; MicroStrategy; Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition; Qlik Tech QlikView; Tableau π₯
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software - Microsoft SharePoint π₯
- Cloud-based management software - Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation π₯; IBM WebSphere; Splunk Enterprise π₯
- Clustering software - VMware
- Communications server software - IBM Domino
- Compiler and decompiler software - Code generator software; Command interpreters; Compilers; Decompilers; Incremental compiler software; Inline code expander software; Interpreter software; Just-in-time compiler; Mixed code generator; One pass compiler software; Partial class generator software; Retargetable compiler; Threaded code compiler
- Computer aided design CAD software - Bentley MicroStation π₯; Computer aided design and drafting CADD software; Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Configuration management software - Chef π₯; IBM Rational ClearCase; Perforce Helix software; Puppet π₯; Revision control software
- Content workflow software - Atlassian JIRA π₯; Emerald Software Group Emerald Green Office; Workflow software
- Data base management system software - Amazon DynamoDB π₯; Amazon Kinesis; Apache Cassandra π₯; Apache Hadoop π₯; Apache Pig; Apache Solr; CAST SQL Builder; Computer Associates integrated data management system CA-IDMS; Data definition language DDL; Data manipulation language DML; Elasticsearch π₯; MongoDB π₯; MySQL π₯; NoSQL π₯; Oracle PL/SQL π₯; Relational database management software; SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise; Structured Query Report SQR; Teradata Database π₯
- Data base reporting software - Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS π₯; ReCrystallize Crystal Reports; SAP Crystal Reports
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Data base user interface and query software -
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 π₯; Amazon Redshift π₯; Amazon Web Services AWS software
; Apache Hive π₯; dBASE Plus; FileMaker Pro; IBM DB2 π₯; IEA Software Emerald; Microsoft Access π₯; Microsoft SQL Server π₯; Oracle Database π₯; Oracle JDBC; Structured query language SQL ; Transact-SQL π₯
- Data mining software - Google Analytics π₯
- Desktop publishing software - Microsoft Publisher
- Development environment software - A programming language APL; ABC Compiler; Ada; Adobe ActionScript; Adobe PostScript; Algorithmic language ALGOL; American National Standards Institute ANSI C; Apache Ant; Apache Kafka π₯; Apache Maven π₯; AWK; B-Method; Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code BASIC; Bigloo Scheme; C π₯; Call-processing language CPL; Canu; Clipper; Code munger software; Common business oriented language COBOL; Computer On-line Real-time Applications Language CORAL 66; Eclipse IDE π₯; Event-driven State-machines Programming; Formula translation/translator FORTRAN; Forth; Gambit Scheme; Go π₯; Haskell; ICON programming language; Integrated development environment IDE software; Interface definition language IDL; Interstate connection ICON; J; List processing language LISP; Logo design software; Microsoft .NET Framework π₯; Microsoft Azure software π₯; Microsoft ESP SDK; Microsoft Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML); Microsoft PowerShell π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript; Microsoft Visual Studio π₯; MUMPS M; National Instruments LabVIEW; OpenAI ChatGPT; Pascal; Programming language one PL/I; Progress OpenEdge ABL; Prolog; Restructured extended executor REXX; Ruby π₯; Scheme; Source code migration software; String oriented symbolic language SNOBOL; Symantec Visual Cafe; Tier generator software; Verilog; Web service definition language WDSL; Xerces2 Java Parser
- Document management software - Adobe Acrobat π₯; Virage VS Archive
- Electronic mail software - IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange
- Enterprise application integration software - Atlassian Bamboo π₯; Extensible markup language XML π₯; Extensible stylesheet language XSL; IBM InfoSphere DataStage; Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSIS π₯; Oracle Fusion Middleware; Progress Sonic ESB; SAP BusinessObjects Data Integrator; SAP NetWeaver BW
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Microsoft Dynamics π₯; Microsoft Dynamics GP; NetSuite ERP; Oracle Fusion Applications; Oracle Hyperion; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft π₯; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP Business Objects; SAP software π₯
- Enterprise system management software - IBM Power Systems software; Microsoft Systems Management Server
- Expert system software - Ansible software π₯
-
File versioning software -
Apache Subversion SVN π₯; Git
- Financial analysis software - Delphi Technology; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Geographic information system - ESRI ArcGIS software π₯; Geographic information system GIS software
- Graphical user interface development software - Basis BBx VisualPRO/5; Graphical user interface GUI design software; Salesforce Visualforce
- Graphics or photo imaging software - Adobe Illustrator π₯; Adobe Photoshop π₯; Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
- Human resources software - Human resource management software HRMS
- Industrial control software - Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Medical software - Epic Systems π₯
- Metadata management software - Quest Erwin Data Modeler
- Network monitoring software - Nagios; Network intrusion prevention systems NIPS; Snort; Wireshark
- Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software - Virtual private networking VPN software
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Object or component oriented development software -
ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ; Advanced business application programming ABAP; Apache Groovy; Apache Spark π₯; C# ; C++ π₯; Collaborative Application Markup Language CAML; Common Lisp Object System CLOS; E++ pattern language; Eiffel; Embarcadero Delphi; Greatis Object Inspector; jQuery π₯; Jupyter Notebook; Microsoft ActiveX; Microsoft Visual Basic.NET; Microsoft Visual C# .NET; Modula; Oberon; Objective C π₯; Objective Caml; Oracle Java ; Perl π₯; PowerSoft PowerBuilder; Python ; R π₯; Scala π₯; Smalltalk; Swift π₯
- Object oriented data base management software - Hibernate ORM π₯; Microsoft Visual FoxPro; PostgreSQL π₯
-
Office suite software -
Microsoft Office software
- Operating system software - Bash π₯; Bourne Shell; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux π₯; Microsoft Windows π₯; Microsoft Windows Server π₯; Operating system software; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script π₯; Ubuntu; UNIX π₯; UNIX Shell π₯
- Portal server software - Apache HTTP Server
- Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint π₯
- Process mapping and design software - Microsoft Visio π₯
- Program testing software - Debugging software; Hewlett Packard LoadRunner; JUnit π₯; Low-level debugger software; Selenium π₯; Source code editor software; Symbolic debugger software
- Project management software - Atlassian Confluence π₯; Microsoft Project π₯
- Requirements analysis and system architecture software - Unified modeling language UML
-
Spreadsheet software -
Microsoft Excel
- Storage networking software - Amazon Simple Storage Service S3 π₯
- Transaction security and virus protection software - McAfee
- Transaction server software - Customer information control system CICS
- Web page creation and editing software - Adobe Dreamweaver; CoffeeCup The HTML Editor; Microsoft FrontPage
-
Web platform development software -
Adobe ColdFusion; Adobe Flex; AJAX π₯; Apache Struts; Apache Tomcat π₯; Backbone.js; Cascading style sheets CSS ; Django π₯; Drupal π₯; Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML; Enterprise JavaBeans; Ext JS; Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML; Google Angular π₯; Hypertext markup language HTML ; JavaScript ; JavaScript Object Notation JSON π₯; LAMP Stack; Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC; Microsoft Silverlight; Node.js π₯; Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP π₯; PHP π₯; Progress WebSpeed Workshop; React π₯; Ruby on Rails π₯; Spring Framework π₯
- Word processing software - Microsoft Word π₯
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Detailed Work Activities
- Modify software programs to improve performance.
- Write computer programming code.
- Test software performance.
- Resolve computer software problems.
- Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
- Develop diagrams or flow charts of system operation.
- Develop models of information or communications systems.
- Document design or development procedures.
- Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.
- Prepare instruction manuals.
- Supervise information technology personnel.
- Manage information technology projects or system activities.
- Assign duties or work schedules to employees.
- Train others in computer interface or software use.
- Develop computer or online applications.
- Design websites or web applications.
- Teach others to use computer equipment or hardware.
- Coordinate project activities with other personnel or departments.