The very first question arises here why should I learn programming language since I am a writer? Well, it is not mandatory. For example, if you are writing end-user documentation, you may not need to know any programming language. But what if you are writing API documentation? Isn’t a fair knowledge of programming language help you a lot? 

Now there are many languages, and learning all is not a feasible solution for all. Usually, technical writers limit themselves with web programming languages such as HTML, XML, and CSS. Or, if you are doing some open-source documentation, then lightweight markup languages such as Markdown, ReStructuredText may work for you. Another reason why technical writers should have some coding knowledge nowadays as tools are getting more sophisticated, so it is inevitable that technical writers must have some knowledge of programming language. 

How well do you need to code as a writer?

There is an argument that knowing the programming language is really essential if you are a technical writer. This is partially true because when you are making technical documentation, you need to express complex ideas in a simple way. Knowing a programming language helps you to express it in a correct way. For coding, you require objective, logical and binary thinking that involves different parts of your brain. Now learning how to express it qualitatively comes at a cost to the quality of your writing. So, as a technical writer, you don’t need an advanced level of proficiency in a programming language. Instead, your ability to read the code sample and explanatory power is enough.

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Which programming skills should you have?

Front end web development

When in technical writing, you need to be pretty much conscious about web pages and how they work. Today’s Web is mainly built on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, so as a technical writer, you should know how browsers render these three languages into web pages. If you’re starting from scratch, then beginning with HTML will really help you a lot. Other languages seem to be easier to learn once you know this.

Text Editor

If you’re going to be writing in HTML or other markup languages, you must be used to working in plain text editors. Mac’s default editor is TextEdit, Windows is Notepad, there is Sublime Text, Atom, and there are lots out there!. There’s also Vim, which is a command line-based text editor but which is a little difficult to learn.

Command-line interfaces

At some point in time, you need to face those dreaded screens with a blinking cursor and get ready for getting screwed up. So, not be embarrassed and get yourself ready to face command line commands, be it simple Windows or Linux commands or Git commands. The interface that lets you type commands that tell the computer to do certain things is called CLI or command-line interface. The program behind this interface is called a shell or command-line interpreter. The app for typing in commands (Terminal in Mac and Command Prompt in Windows) gives you access to the core of the operating software you’re using.

Git Commands

For Git commands, you can use GUIs like SourceTree. But if you want to walk with our crutch, then better get hold of some Git commands using the command line. Because these GUIs are not always well-behaving and you need to know how to troubleshoot.

Lightweight Markup Languages

When we talk about Git commands, then working with Git probably ask you to learn another lightweight markup language, Markdown. Fortunately, it is easiest to learn Markdown. Also, you can easily convert it into HTML. reStructuredText or RST is another language in this category while it is a little bit more sophisticated and aims technical documentation. So if you want to write a simple no-fuss web page, then Markdown will do. But if you’re after something more robust, maybe API documentation, then you will want RST. There’s more to unpack here—RST uses mechanisms (called directives and roles) that make it more powerful (and verbose), but more on this in another post.

Programming languages

As a technical writer of today, get started with Python. There are other languages in the pipeline, too, like Java, Ruby, etc. But Python is mostly recommended by many at the moment, along with web programming languages.

How learning a programming language helps the technical writer in the career?

Helps in working in Agile environment

Learning the programming language or code can help. In an agile environment, there is the possibility of continuous changes to documentation. This means regular communication between developers and technical writers to stay on top of documentation changes. However, it is not unlikely that technical writers struggle to understand developers’ explanations. This is due to developers’ explain in a complex and granular way.

On the contrary, if technical writers understand the basics of programming, they can extract the most useful information. In particular, changes to the code that impact the GUI necessitating changes to the end-user instructions, including images. This saves you both time. It also increases the self-sufficiency of technical writers.

Increase your Earnings and Career Options

Being a technical writer, if you can also add programming skills to your profile, you can typically expect higher salaries. Knowing to program, even at a basic level, means you can apply for a wider range of technical writing jobs, including ones that require end-user and developer-facing documentation skills. You can also apply for roles that blur the boundaries between technical and non-technical. Such roles have titles like Technical Writer or Engineer, Technical Writer/QA, Developer Advocate, Cybersecurity Writer, and Information Assurance.

Conclusion

We have mentioned some of the essential skills that a technical writer should have. However, you don’t have to know all of this! Knowing one or two just opens up doors. In addition to that, if you do invest the time to pick up some basic developer skills, it increases your confidence as you start doing stuff on the command line. Above all, today’s technology has made it easier than ever before to learn to program. Learning with a potential possibility of increasing earnings and greater job satisfaction means technical writers should prioritize learning at least one programming language.