By Seth Hahn | Writer
November 1, 2020
Have you ever wondered how the programs you use every day are created? With just a few simple clicks, people can easily download all sorts of apps from the app store: social media, entertainment, games, and utility-based applications. Most are made by skilled, professional programmers, but many are created by people with just a spark of creativity and basic knowledge of coding.
Programming requires proficiency in many different programming languages. These languages may vary in difficulty, but the general structure of them is similar. The computer reads and transforms them into a set of instructions for the computer to process. This runs everything: from the applications on our phones, to the websites we visit, to even the games we play. So why is programming important?
Technology is everywhere.
In this modern, constantly evolving world, technology is around every corner, and programmers are the ones who create what we interact with. By learning how to program, you can help improve the online community and add your own perspectives and knowledge of the topic. Moreover, you will become aware of how you can efficiently use the technology available to you. Since programming exists in all forms of modern technology, having programming skills will help in many situations you never would have imagined.
Creativity
“Programming provides you a new way of thinking about the world. It allows you to think more conditionally while also forcing you to think outside the box,” senior Caden Burton said.
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of learning how to code is the creative freedom you get. “If you are a hands on person, you can do robotics. If you like video games, you can make them. If you are into software and nitty gritty stuff, you can get into things like Youtube and Instagram.” junior Robert Schumacher said. “There are also the new advances of machine learning and artificial intelligence, which is really interesting.”
With programming, the mind is your limit—if you can imagine it, it is possible. Programming is one of the few arts where you can create anything without limit, without being restricted to the bounds of our physical world.
Imagine this: you have an issue and can’t find any program that solves it. You get really frustrated and have no clue what to do. Well, that is no longer an issue because if you learn how to program, then you can effectively do anything you want. Have a game idea that you think is going to be the next major hit? Have the next major social media idea? Or maybe you just want to make a mod for a game to play with friends? By learning the basics, you can expand your knowledge and program to your heart’s content.
Develop problem-solving skills
Programming is about creating programs that solve an issue or fulfill a desire. Inevitably, you will come across many problems that need to be resolved. Some issues in programming that you have probably never thought about include creating 3D environments for games, displaying web pages in proper sizes, and making graphics display on a screen. Numerous programmers spend countless hours trying to figure out how to make this work, and the results are incredible: amazing-almost realistic-looking games, beautiful dynamic web pages, and access to the culmination of human knowledge.
But programming seems so complicated!
“Programming seems very difficult to learn because of how many steps it involves and the amount of basic technology knowledge required,” senior Jenna Johnson said. It may require many steps, but as you grow accustomed to programming, you learn strategies to minimize the amount of code you have to write. The only technological requirement you need is to be able to type in a text editor!
Whatever the reason you may be interested in programming, give it a shot! When you start, it may seem awkward or weird, but it only gets easier.
“Everyone should program because not only is it an outlet to create literally anything,” senior Caden Burton said, “but it also builds the mind in a way no other activity, sport, or study can.” By programming, you can enhance your critical thinking, problem solving, problem analysis, and logical thinking abilities. If you enjoy a rewarding challenge, there is no reason to give it a try at least once.
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