An online programmer plays an important part in the construction and maintenance of websites, and is highly skilled at writing a variety of web programs for clients. The work environment for this position can differ, with some individuals working in an office and others working from home. Some common responsibilities of an online programmer include identifying client needs, providing project cost estimates, working with a team to create online programs, making program repairs and editing programs.
Identifying client needs is usually the first thing an online programmer must do before beginning a project. This involves meeting with a client either in person or through online correspondence. He will listen carefully to the client's proposal and brainstorm some possibilities to create an effective program to meet those needs. For simple projects, it might be easy to quickly pinpoint client needs. It may take some substantial brainstorming to come up with an idea for more complex projects.
Another essential part of this job involves providing project cost estimates for clients. To prevent financial discrepancies and keep clients happy, it's important for an online programmer to come up with a realistic estimate before he starts a project. Some factors that influence an estimate include the number of individuals involved, the complexity of a program and how many hours a project with take to complete. Once an online programmer and a customer agree on a price, the real work begins.
Working with a team to create an online program is the next and most important phase. In many cases, it will require at least two or three other team members, which can include a graphic designer and content creator. During this stage, an online programmer will use a certain programming language, such as HTML or JavaScript™. Due to the complexity of problems programs must solve, he must have an in-depth knowledge of the particular programming language that he uses.
Besides creating brand new programs, an online programmer might also make repairs to existing programs. For example, if a client is experiencing glitches and overall difficulty with a particular program, he might hire an online programmer to solve the problem. This usually involves making changes to the code until the program works efficiently. Since this is relatively uninvolved, a programmer will often work alone when making repairs.
In addition, an online programmer will sometimes edit programs as well. For example, if a client likes the overall layout of a website, but isn't happy with a certain page, he may hire a programmer to edit it. This might involve changing the layout, navigation or graphics of that page.
