Programmer’s Day: Why is it celebrated today, September 12?

Today we pay tribute to programmers, essential in the fourth industrial revolution (ISIL / WeRemote)

September 12th has a special meaning for programmers and those linked to software development. This date represents a tribute to their essential work in the technological world. Today, tribute is paid to the professionals behind mobile applications, social networks, operating systems and the technology used every day.

This recognition is not only about thanking those who, with their work, make it possible to navigate the digital world, but also about highlighting their role in the fourth industrial revolution, where technology is the main driver of change.

From artificial intelligence to blockchain to the Internet of Things (IoT), programmers are at the heart of all these innovations that transform the way we live, work and interact.

Programmer’s Day is celebrated on the 256th important day of the year in computing (credit Hill & Knowlton)

Although Programmer’s Day is usually celebrated on September 13, this year, due to being a leap year, the commemoration is brought forward to September 12. This small adjustment has great significance, since the date is directly linked to a numerical concept that is crucial to the world of computing. But why exactly is this day celebrated? Below, we explain the origin of this date and other curiosities about programmers and their special day.

Programmer’s Day is celebrated on the 256th day of the year, a number that was not chosen at random. This number has a special meaning in programming and computing. 256 is the maximum number of distinct values ​​that can be represented by a byte, the basic unit of information storage in computing. In other words, it is the highest power of 2 that can be reached without exceeding the 365 days of a regular year.

Normally, this day falls on September 13, but in leap years, such as 2024, it is moved forward to September 12. This adjustment is due to the structure of leap years, which add an extra day to the calendar, making day 256 fall on September 12 instead of September 13.

In leap years, the date of Programmer’s Day is brought forward to September 12 (Continental University)

The idea of ​​establishing this date to honour programmers was proposed by Russian Valentin Balt at the beginning of the 21st century. Balt, a programmer working at a software company, took his proposal to the Russian Ministry of Communications, and in 2009, the Russian government officially established Programmer’s Day. Since then, the celebration has spread to the rest of the world, consolidating itself as a day to recognise the silent but vital work of these professionals.

The history of programming is marked by key figures who revolutionized the technological world. One of the most recognized is Ada Lovelace, who is considered the first programmer in history. In the 19th century, Lovelace worked with Charles Babbage on what would become the first analytical machine, and wrote the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine, laying the foundations for what we know today as programming.

Another key pioneer is Alan Turing, known as the father of modern computing. Turing developed concepts that would be fundamental to the creation of the first computers and his work was instrumental during World War II, when he led the decoding of Nazi encrypted messages.

Proposed by Valentin Balt, this celebration was made official in Russia in 2009.

We must also mention the creators of programming languages ​​that are essential in software development today. Dennis Ritchie, the creator of the C language, and Bjarne Stroustrup, the person responsible for C++, were essential figures in the existence of operating systems such as Unix and applications that we use every day. Another of the big names is Guido van Rossum, who in the 90s created Python, a programming language that has gained immense popularity for its versatility and ease of use, being fundamental in fields such as artificial intelligence and big data.

On such a special day, recognition for programmers cannot be missed. If you have friends or colleagues dedicated to software development, here are some phrases to congratulate them and recognize their valuable work:

• “Happy Programmer’s Day, because without you, the digital world wouldn’t turn the way it does today.”
• “Thank you for every line of code that makes our lives easier. Happy Programmer’s Day!”
• “There is no problem that you cannot solve with an algorithm. Happy 256 days of the year to you!”
• “In the universe of code, you are the brightest star. Happy Programmer’s Day!”
• “In a world full of variables, you are the constant that makes technology possible. Thank you for your work!”