by Julius Albert Custodio

Created on: November 01, 2009

Everyday, more and more companies are seeking people who can use their programming skill and technological savvy to aid them in achieving their goals. Through the nifty programs that they create, these programmers are quickly becoming the go-to guys in improving the lives of billions of people around the world.

How exactly does a programmer create a program for real world applications?

*Assessment of the Problem

Like everything else, it all starts with a problem. As the world population continues to grow, nearly every branch of society develops a certain need for enhancement or automation. This need is quickly becoming a necessity, be it in the field of business, government, military, medicine, or education. Of course, each branch has its own unique specifications and it's up to the programmer to assess these specific problems in order to maximize the resources he/she may need.

*Working with the Clients

As professional as most programmers are, it's not surprising that they're abused by some of their clients. There are times when clients would demand a complex program to be finished in a short period. To prevent this from happening, one should draw a line before taking an assignment. The programmer must also help the clients understand, what he/she is capable of doing and what can be accomplished in a limited time frame. Constant communication between the client and programmer is crucial to the success of any project.

*Deployment of the Program

Finished programs, especially those which are commercially viable, are usually subjected to the scrutiny of the clients before they get deployed to the rest of the world. A programmer must be ready for anything, whether it's a simple live demonstration or a board presentation. You will be facing a mixture of people who may or may not know the technicalities behind your program. Don't ever assume that you can bluff your way out of a board presentation. Even if you single-handedly finished the program, you will still be representing your clients. At the end of the day, you still need their stamp of approval.

*Improvement and Maintenance

If you find yourself releasing patches and fixed versions of your program after a few weeks of deployment, this does not necessarily make it inferior. Supposing you're not satisfied with the outcome of your final program, you always have the liberty to tweak it and make it better (unless of course, your contract binds you not to alter parts of the program).

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