3.2 Developers

Developers are also called coders and programmers. They primary responsibility is to convert the specification from SAs into actual programs written in one or more computer programming languages.

Why don't the SAs write their own programs?

Programming (software development) is a process that requires some special talents and skills. Although a SA may understand the logic of a program from a high level, it does not necessarily mean that the same person can develop a program.

There are several major challenges in program development.

• Programming language syntax (grammar). Although most high level programming languages are designed to be easy, they are still very specialized. Most programming languages do not resemble natural languages (for good reasons, however), which makes them difficult to learn for some people. In addition, the syntax of most programming languages must be exact. Any deviation causes a program not to function.
• Programming logic. A SA works with high level logic that can easily be represented by diagrams. However, at a program level, a developer needs to pay close attention to details, lots of them. Programming requires extended periods of highly focused attention to logic. This requirement often conflicts with the ``other duties'' of a SA. In addition, not everyone has the ability to stay focused for hours at a time.
• Debugging. Most programs do not work right the first time. Software development is an iterative (repetitive) process that involves thinking, coding, testing, debugging (and back to thinking). Diagnosing faulty programs can take up much of the work hours of a developer. The task of diagnosing faulty code requires long periods of focus, an analytical mind, and a temperament that stays calm after repeated failure to locate problems. This ``debugging'' task is what separates developers from non-developers.