The Future of Computer Programming

When it comes to the world of computer programming, it is safe to say that the future is bright. And why is that so? Gone are the days when only the rich and powerful had the tools to educate themselves. Nowadays, almost every household possesses at least one computer. There are many brilliant minds out there who are constantly working to bring about the latest developments in computer programming.

To make their dreams a reality, it is necessary to begin where all computer programmers begin - at grade school. Computer programming is now being introduced to the youngest minds. Educational materials that target programming languages and development tools are now being introduced in most school curricula.

But this is still an ongoing vision. Somewhere shortly, computer programming (not just computer usage) will be just another ordinary subject, such as writing, reading, or arithmetic. A study shows that this vision is slowly unfolding as teenagers are responding positively to programming exercises and are even able to control several virtual worlds in just a few days.

Mass computer programming literacy is a work in progress. When even the simplest citizen can explain software designs with ease, then creativity will abound, as will productivity. But what is computer programming in the future? Is it more of an art or engineering? Or both?

One renowned computer architect named Gordon Morrison states that computer programming is currently in the form of art. When this is the case, it means that the current knowledge of programming is disorganized and changeable. He further proposes that by changing programming into engineering (which is a more precise form), the future of programming will become more stable.

Perhaps, one good way to predict the future of programming is by looking at the available jobs for computer programmers these days. Consider these career options: a single system programmer can install and maintain mainframe operations systems, management software for databases, and networks for communications. They can also become compilers or utility programmers.

Another good way to predict what is in store for computer programming is to look at the television and some science fiction films that are being produced lately. In the past, the TV series called "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman" showed talking computers and robots, which were causes of awe. Today, those are not impossibilities.

The use of hardware has progressed tremendously over the past years, and software development is trailing behind. Software processes are still in the if-and-then phase, and users are wondering whether this will really change. Although there are predictions that programming languages would soon be in their fifth generation (where the recent languages would become obsolete), this visualization has not yet come to fruition. This leads others to ask, has software development reached its peak? Will there be no more developments? Is this as far as it could go?

Sure, there are modernizations here and there when it comes to new languages, but they remain at a certain phase. They don't go a notch higher. Perhaps, the software would be the technological limit that would cap computer programming advancement. But only perhaps.

There are always minds out there that constantly grind to provide the latest in programming innovation. We can only watch and predict for now. And yes, we can only wonder.