larisoft:
So many new guys are getting into programming in Nigeria these days. Problem is; programming is a very wide field and it is shameful that people lump it all into one field that fits their prejudice depending on whom they are. Job descriptions are not helpful either. You see people demanding for 5 in one ALL THE TIME! This article, tries to discuss the different paths available to programmers, (as I perceive it) so that beginners can identify early on, which suits them, pursue it, and become good at it. Rather than stretching themselves thin, trying to master everything.

GUI Guy:
A graphics User interface programmer is important in every software team. Without him/her, your software will always look incomplete. Not only do they know how to use graphics tools like photoshop dexteriously, they also know where to put images, understand the process of making 9 patch images, and once you describe a software to them, they visualize how it will look…and visualize something beautiful too
Graphics programmers know html and css in and out. You may think you know these languages too, till you meet a graphics programmer. I once met a guy that wrote a page solely with HTML and css. The things this page was doing! No one would have believed javascript was absent on that page. Javascript and jquery are usually under their belt too.
Aside from the web, they have GUI technologies like Swing, Windows Forms/WPF, android xml e.t.c under their belt. All you need do is visualize it and they will bring it to pass.
The interview process for a graphics programmer should be VERY VERY DIFFERENT from other types of programmers. The competitions for graphics programmers are different too.

Hardware Guy:
This guy programs microcrontrollers and they dare not disobey. His toolset includes C and assembly and raspberry spi etc. This guy knows his platforms in and out. He knows the tiny differences between Windows machines and Linux machines. He shies away from high level langauges and stops at C++.

The interview questions for this guy should be clearly different too as he will be best suited for server administration duties..

Technology Guru:
I see a lot of them on nairaland programming section. They know about 13 languages, know enough graphics design to get by with templates, know and code on several platforms. This type of programmer is very productive.

They know several ready-made technologies. That is their strength. Once you ask them to foray into virgin fields, they flop. For instance, they know how to use the internal sort function in their languages of choice. But can they implement it? They understand arraylists well but can they create one on their own?

The technology guy has too keep learning as his relevance is tied to his toolset which is always changing.

There is nothing wrong with being a technology guy. In fact, most business will do great with just these category of programmers. But this is the reason why many African coders will never get employed at google. They are great coders. But core-tech companies like google do not need technology-conversant guys. They need guys that will define the next generation of technologies which brings us to the next category.

Competitions for this category of programmers should be different than that of other types of programmers.

Algorithms Guy:
This guy’s way of thinking is greatly different from every other person’s way of thinking. Given a set of problems, they examine them, run through them in their computer brain, and churn out answers that work, then they go on to recreate the process using code.

These guys are usually very good with mathematics too. Their skills are language agnostic. They may even work with only one language.

Algorithm guys are never out of employment. All they have to do is head out to topcoder.com, establish a reputation, and WALAA! top notch tech companies are after them!

Algorithm guys do not need to be constantly under fire to learn new languages. Many coding competitions are based only on determining who is best at algorithms but this is not fair. You cannot expect a GUI guy to beat an algorithms guy at his own game. No one ever compares the GUI of an algorithm’s guy to the UI of a GUI guy.

Most software designed exclusively by algorithm guy’s are usually console based, or have shitty GUIs.


Games Guy: For some reason, everybody seems to understand that these guys are different from other programmers. No one ever mentions it, but the demarcation is there. I wonder why?
Anyway, these guys do what their name suggest:…make games. They work with Unity and other game engines. The advanced ones amongst them know a lot of math and can inplement their own game engines.

A Games Guy will beat you hands down any time the competition is about fluid graphics or simulation.

In conclusion, these groups of programmers are all talented and respectable. Lets stop mixing them up and making some people feel deficient while they are actually good at what they do.

Have i excluded or mixed up certain categories? I will love to know what senior devs in here think via comments please!

source : http://larisoftng..com.ng/2016/05/categories-of-programmers-by-areas-of.html

I'm always in awe of these guys. When I grow up I want to be like Larisoft

I truly wish I could be a programmer. I look forward to it someday

Jengbetiele:
How do you write effective, fast and efficient code without having a sound idea of the background logic and mathematics(Algorithm) I just wanna know

Writing code is easy, which is why you have the phrase "code monkey." Writing code just means that you understand the syntax.

I'm not saying that an algorithm developer will be completely clueless when it comes to writing but most of their writing is done in Matlab or Mathematica because it's way easier to debug and see the results without having to worry about a compile error.

To answer your question, the engineers and the brainiacs develop the algorithm in the form of pseudocode and a "code monkey" translates it into whatever desired language. A typical code monkey will have a computer science background and they'd understand very little about the intricacies of the algorithm. For example, how many programmers understand this topic:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIMO

I'll give you more examples when I get on a desktop.

Here's another example: I'm trying to develop a machine learning algorithm that can be used to predict prices of items based on past prices. You can think of it as being able to predict future stock values based on past values.

This has almost nothing to do with programming per se except it will need to be coded in some language ultimately.

Here's some Python code implementing something similar http://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2015/08/common-machine-learning-algorithms/

I understand your point very well. But if you do not know what an algorithm does coding will not be easy. And even if you find your way through you are likely going to write an expensive code with respect to storage and speed of execution. This is where having a good knowledge of algorithm in general does the magic.

Wallie:


Writing code is easy, which is why you have the phrase "code monkey." Writing code just means that you understand the syntax.

I'm not saying that an algorithm developer will be completely clueless when it comes to writing but most of their writing is done in Matlab or Mathematica because it's way easier to debug and see the results without having to worry about a compile error.

To answer your question, the engineers and the brainiacs develop the algorithm in the form of pseudocode and a "code monkey" translates it into whatever desired language. A typical code monkey will have a computer science background and they'd understand very little about the intricacies of the algorithm. For example, how many programmers understand this topic:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIMO

I'll give you more examples when I get on a desktop.

I wonder what this thread is doing on FP after so many years? The nairaland moderators funny gan o. They are no better than wailers as far as this board is concerned.

AntiWailer:

U missed out the point where I referred to his definition and explanation.
Ur last paragraph says it all so no point arguing any further.
The context is clear and referencing mathematicians who solve problems like Fermat's Last Theorem, and Ant Algorithm will only complicate the discussion the more.

Wallie:
Here's another example: I'm trying to develop a machine learning algorithm that can be used to predict prices of items based on past prices. You can think of it as being able to predict future stock values based on past values.

This has almost nothing to do with programming per se except it will need to be coded in some language ultimately.

Here's some Python code implementing something similar http://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2015/08/common-machine-learning-algorithms/

Jengbetiele:
How do you write effective, fast and efficient code without having a sound idea of the background logic and mathematics(Algorithm) I just wanna know

so Sirs, what are the categories of programmers and how do they rank in terms of spearheading technological innovation?

So many categories missing from your list boss ... especially in a gaming company.

Jengbetiele:
How do you write effective, fast and efficient code without having a sound idea of the background logic and mathematics(Algorithm) I just wanna know

I still dnt understand too.

nams77:
I truly wish I could be a programmer. I look forward to it someday

The best time to start is NOW.

Let me give it one last try: I don't mean to suggest that algorithm developers do not know how to code. I'm only trying to say that "coding" is a tool that is used to implement the developed algorithm. Their expertise primarily lies in whatever subject matter that they're trying to develop an algorithm for.

Further, that's not to say that some programmers do not know how to develop some algorithms, especially, textbook based ones. I'm only suggesting that different skill sets are usually needed. Algorithm development is more theoretical because you're trying to find the best solution (algorithm) to a problem.

Here's another everyday example: students write papers using Microsoft Word but that does not necessarily mean that they're typing experts (typists) or even that proficient using Word. Word is just a tool that they use to get their paper across. The very subject of the paper may be where their expertise lies.

AntiWailer:


No I av not.

( guess decade sounds like 2 months to u.)

If you care to know, I manage a team of over 13 programmers and mentor several others still in school.

I recruit programmers and if you give me this rubbish categorization and definition, I will not allow you answer the next question

That is the end of the interview.

What nonsense huge project will make u separate 'algorithm guy' from 'technology guy'. What nonsense !!

If look at his post really well, you will see that it is aimed at web development. So he is right. You can do much web development without any knowledge of algorithms because they have already been implemented as tools, technologies, frameworks, libraries etc. Even at that, abstraction introduces a new range of complexities... so there would still be more work to do and one man can't do them all

WhyAmISoQuiet:
If look at his post really well, you will see that it is aimed at web development. So he is right. You can do much web development with any knowledge of algorithms because they have already been implemented as tools, technologies, frameworks, libraries etc. Even at that, abstraction introduces a new range of complexities... so there would still be more work to do and one man can't do them all

What is algorithm ?

After answering that question, then think about the possibility of solving a maths question without any step consciously or unconsciously.

1 + 1 = 2.


that you know it is 2 without blinking does not mean your brain did not follow any step to arrive at the answer. It only did it very fast.

So you can not perform any programming task without understanding the solution steps.

AntiWailer:


What is algorithm ?

After answering that question, then think about the possibility of solving a maths question without any step consciously or unconsciously.

1 + 1 = 2.


that you know it is 2 without blinking does not mean your brain did not follow any step to arrive at the answer. It only did it very fast.

So you can not perform any programming task without understanding the solution steps.

Ok... I agree but that is not what I meant. I was talking about algorithms in "Data Structures and Algorithms"

WhyAmISoQuiet:
Ok... I agree but that is not what I meant. I was talking about algorithms in "Data Structures and Algorithms"

When u get to that realm, there is nothing like "Algorithm Guy"

They are mathematicians , experts who use more than "if then else" or "go to" to achieve the solution.

When they get the solution, as a programmer, you still have to break it down into how you understand it before you can teach the computer to do the same (Code)

Fermat's Theorem, Shortest Distance Problems , Network logic etc.

Well what Larisoft is trying to convey is rooted in the Topic. "Areas of Expertise". Any thing that involves programming requires algorithm. He his separating out Algorithm because of Expertise. The same way he separated GUI. As U know that in Game programming U will need UI, algorithm and so on..... He is separating these areas out based on interest and what some pple are good at.

Like the case of Algorithm. Some pple can easily look for solution to a problem and quickly figure out the procedural steps to solving the problem and when they want to implement..... most of them implement using console based tools. To me most guys like these are good in solving programming questions. But when it comes to developing an App like enterprise App... It becomes a problem. Also many Algorithm guys are good in working in collaboration with an app producing programmer so that the two can work togeda and achieve a common goal. U will agree with me that even when u av developed an algorithm for a particular problem like how to calculate a GP..... U will still av to develop another algorithm for how U will turn it into a GP calculator App. And this time around ur algorithm will no more b GP based but User based. U will start considering how to accept input, what input not to accept, database necessary or not, user friendliness, intuitiveness, security........ and so on.
From the way I understand Larisoft, Most Algorithm guys solve Programming challenges and provide solutions to It and are not bothered abt the implementation into an app that users will use and that is why the decision making of an algorithm guy is low compare to an App producing programmer who code apps for users to use.

Note that it is possible to be good In algorithm and also real world implemention (App). I don't believe the OP mentioned anything like it's not possible to have more than one area of Expertise.

The only area I am not comfortable with the categorization is that Technology Guy. That technology guy needs to be clear and straight forward.... It's somehow looking like a developer.... And a developer is different from a programmer.

Thanks so much guys. I've been exposed to perspectives I didnt think of while writing this. Thanks Olumyco, Jagbantiele, e.t.c.

Algorithms as referred to in the article is not the basic kind of algorithm where the steps are obvious (i.e. collect user name and print it). Am talking about steps that are game changing, and efficient as hell. Many 'technology guys' do not know it. If I ask an algorithm question on this board, it may be unanswered for a day at least while there are many great programmers on this board.

And yes! You can code enterprise applications today without being good at algorithms. No one implements sort anymore. No one implements search anymore. No one implements encryption. All these have been provided in libraries, and stackoverflow. All you need to do is familiarize yourself with the technologies so you can copy and paste or import as the case maybe. But you should know that using the algorithms of others doesnt make you an algorithm guru. You will become dumb once you meet a problem no one has attempted before. Hence, the algorithm guys are different from the guys who are great at learning new technologies.

One painfully missing category here would be security experts.

privatetisa:
ello.
Please, I need to build a mobile app that is capable of mining out a few information/data from a database of regularly updated numerical entries. The app does some random selections, generate some sets or lists or arrays as the case may be. It then does some intersections and some iterations and countings. And that's all.
It's indeed a very simple programme, an Android application.
Is there anyone inhere who can do this for me at a very minimal price? If there is such, please respond by quoting this message here. I'll then tell you how to contact me.
Thanks.

boss I can help

larisoft:
....No one implements sort anymore. No one implements search anymore. No one implements encryption. All these have been provided in libraries, and stackoverflow. All you need to do is familiarize yourself with the technologies so you can copy and paste or import as the case maybe. But you should know that using the algorithms of others doesnt make you an algorithm guru. You will become dumb once you meet a problem no one has attempted before. Hence, the algorithm guys are different from the guys who are great at learning new technologies.
....

This is the very point I was trying to make! Jobs strictly dealing with algorithm development are far and few between but they do exist. There are a lot of instances where generic libraries will be insufficient to do what you want. In those instances, you will need someone with core knowledge and/or ability to dissect the needed algorithm.

Here's another anecdote: I worked on an invention where the guy modified a Merkle Hash Tree to reduce the number of computations needed when athenticating digital signatures. The original Merkle Tree was invented in 1979 and here we are in 2016 with an improvement. It took an inordinate amount of time to figure out what the hell was going on!

Algorithms are continually being improved because we are trying to do more with less and, even though processors are now more powerful than ever, manufacturers are trying to extend the usable time of the batteries in our mobile devices. Every single native function in your smartphone is being optimized. No matter how good a function like GPS is, nobody will want it if it kills your fully charged phone in 30 mins.

Olumyco:
The only area I am not comfortable with the categorization is that Technology Guy. That technology guy needs to be clear and straight forward.... It's somehow looking like a developer.... And a developer is different from a programmer.

Whats the different between Developer and Programming.
I wrote an algorithm for solar energy calculation before programming it to make an app. Would you say i am a developer or programmer?

Jengbetiele:
How do you write effective, fast and efficient code without having a sound idea of the background logic and mathematics(Algorithm) I just wanna know

Def they apply it unknowingly.

AntiWailer:


I still dnt understand too.

Pls, Can I pm you?

Need some mentoring and have some questions to ask.

I have been reading most of the comments on this thread and, for me , the OP , although quite simplistic, is on the right track. There are NOW many more 'specializations' in IT than be qualified in 6-9 categories but for the most part, the OP is right ( He is a lot more 'righter' in the Nigerian Context than he is in a Global technology context)

And for the AntiWailer person, please don't spread false information on a public fora. A LOT of UI/UX Engineers DO NOT know about Algorithms just as much as Algorithms people don't need to know how Font design and Psychology of Human Mind to keep users engaged for a Public facing application. People require specialization and while some fields allow for Skills Mixing ( Site Reliability/DevOps), majority of the classic fields at the Top IT organizations require people who are simply the best in their fields and not Jack-of-some-trades.

kanirip:
I have been reading most of the comments on this thread and, for me , the OP , although quite simplistic, is on the right track. There are NOW many more 'specializations' in IT than be qualified in 6-9 categories but for the most part, the OP is right ( He is a lot more 'righter' in the Nigerian Context than he is in a Global technology context)

And for the AntiWailer person, please don't spread false information on a public fora. A LOT of UI/UX Engineers DO NOT know about Algorithms just as much as Algorithms people don't need to know how Font design and Psychology of Human Mind to keep users engaged for a Public facing application. People require specialization and while some fields allow for Skills Mixing ( Site Reliability/DevOps), majority of the classic fields at the Top IT organizations require people who are simply the best in their fields and not Jack-of-some-trades.

No be only UI/UX engineer. Go and read the content of what he posted and contextualize it.

It is not an argument of specialization. That is a no brainer. Even when you go deeper, programmers specializes on languages.

It is about his categorization and definition of such category.

If u want to assemble a development team look for a Technology Guru and an algorithm guy differently.

Best Of Luck.

Charpell:

Whats the different between Developer and Programming.
I wrote an algorithm for solar energy calculation before programming it to make an app. Would you say i am a developer or programmer?

To me programming and development go together and one preceeds the other which is programming. So one shud first be a programmer and move into development to be a PROGRAMMER-DEVELOPER. In a case where u find someone building a website or any app without the knowledge of programming what do U call such a person?

In Web development there are many What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) software that someone who does not know jack of programming can use to develop UI of website. The person can further start looking for another tool/script to integrate for backend services. Get me: the person starts looking for tools or script or online platform to use to achieve backend services. This quite different from someone looking for libraries or frameworks or runtime to use to achieve a big task because when u get a library or framework or runtime U will still write some codes based on the APIs exposed by the libraries/frameworks/runtimes.

So the idea is that an ordinary developer make use of already made software, online tools, written scripts etc to achieve development.
A programmer who is also a developer write codes, make use of libraries, frameworks etc to achieve his goal.

An ordinary developer does not have freedom to go beyond the capability of the tools he Is using. Meaning he limited to the capacity of what he is using.

A programmer who develops apps has freedom, flexibility etc to achieve whatever he wants to achieve.

An ordinary developer sticks to only one way of developing something. He cannot switch easily from tools to tools because of cost of learning. Hence he is rigid and static.

A programmer-developer can switch to anything within the language of his choice. Thus he is dynamic


......and so on..

I believe U must av heard or seen adverts like "learn how to develop a website or app without writing code"... Those that go for dat are ordinary developers.

Thanks

Olumyco:



To me programming and development go together and one preceeds the other which is programming. So one shud first be a programmer and move into development to be a PROGRAMMER-DEVELOPER. In a case where u find someone building a website or any app without the knowledge of programming what do U call such a person?

In Web development there are many What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) software that someone who does not know jack of programming can use to develop UI of website. The person can further start looking for another tool/script to integrate for backend services. Get me: the person starts looking for tools or script or online platform to use to achieve backend services. This quite different from someone looking for libraries or frameworks or runtime to use to achieve a big task because when u get a library or framework or runtime U will still write some codes based on the APIs exposed by the libraries/frameworks/runtimes.

So the idea is that an ordinary developer make use of already made software, online tools, written scripts etc to achieve development.
A programmer who is also a developer write codes, make use of libraries, frameworks etc to achieve his goal.

An ordinary developer does not have freedom to go beyond the capability of the tools he Is using. Meaning he limited to the capacity of what he is using.

A programmer who develops apps has freedom, flexibility etc to achieve whatever he wants to achieve.

An ordinary developer sticks to only one way of developing something. He cannot switch easily from tools to tools because of cost of learning. Hence he is rigid and static.

A programmer-developer can switch to anything within the language of his choice. Thus he is dynamic


......and so on..

I believe U must av heard or seen adverts like "learn how to develop a website or app without writing code"... Those that go for dat are ordinary developers.

Thanks

Oga what are you saying? What the hell is a Programmer-Developer?

Nigerians just make theories from thin air. Maybe in the world of Olumyco, such is acceptable but in the actual world of IT no such thing exists. You want to confirm? Go to stackoverflow jobs and search for that position.

And please, please, please stop saying that 'programmer-developer ' are restricted within their language. I have never seen a Java Engineer who couldn't figure out python in a day or 2.

Someone that designs websites using html and basic javascript is a website designer, not a programmer in any ramification of the word.

A lot of Nigerians think like you but I am sure All these things and more you will learn once your company goes live!

kanirip:


Oga what are you saying? What the hell is a Programmer-Developer?

Nigerians just make theories from thin air. Maybe in the world of Olumyco, such is acceptable but in the actual world of IT no such thing exists. You want to confirm? Go to stackoverflow jobs and search for that position.

And please, please, please stop saying that 'programmer-developer ' are restricted within their language. I have never seen a Java Engineer who couldn't figure out python in a day or 2.

Someone that designs websites using html and basic javascript is a website designer, not a programmer in any ramification of the word.

A lot of Nigerians think like you but I am sure All these things and more you will learn once your company goes live!

Those that understand, understand what I am saying. Don't be bothered too much about that nomenclature of Programmer - developer.... many pple here already know what I am saying.

I actually started as a developer and I know my limitations. It was when I ventured into real core programming that I know the difference. So don't worry U will understand as time goes on.

Thanks for ur concern.