2010/05/17 15:58:18

Day of the programmer

Day of the programmer - on September 13 every year is celebrated as day of the programmer. The relevant decree was signed by the president Dmitry Medvedev on September 11, 2009 (256 day of year). Number 256 (28) is selected from quality "the most programmer" because this quantity of integer numbers which can be expressed using one eight-bit byte. Besides, 256 is the maximum degree of number 2 which less than 365. At last, 256 in a hexadecimal number system registers as "100".

The decree on celebration of Day of the programmer was prepared the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and entered to the government in July of this year. However, at the end of May did not doubt the ministry that the official holiday of programmers will be approved this year.

The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications moved towards wishes of domestic programmers, "considering the state importance of a software development sphere in quality improvement of life of the population, ensuring high rates of sustained economic growth". Within preparation of the draft of the decree by specialists of the ministry consultations with the all-Russian consolidation of labor unions and also with the AP WHALE and "Russoft" industry associations were held.

Programmers are in many respects obliged by official recognition of the professional holiday Valentina Balta, heading the organizing committee in support of Day of the programmer — #256. Let's remind that in 2002. The Balt made the appeal to the government and organized an initiative collecting signatures in support. Besides, in October of last year domestic programmers addressed with a similar request and in Presidential Administration. The request was readdressed in the profile ministry which as a result and prepared the draft of the decree.

Two years ago the President of Russia was utrezhden a new official professional holiday — Day of the programmer. Day of the programmer is celebrated in Russia for the 256th day of year — on September 13, in a leap-year — on September 12. Number 256 is selected because this quantity of integer numbers which can be expressed using one eight-bit byte and also are the maximum degree of number 2 which less number of days in a year — 365.

Unofficial days of celebration

Still due to the lack of exact date of a holiday in the calendar approved by legislators in different circles the Day of the programmer was celebrated in different days. Who — on July 19 when the first programmer and George Byron Augustus's daughter Ada Lovelace wrote the first program, who — on December 10, on a birthday August, and in Ukraine since FidoNet on Friday of the 13th at all. In the afternoon of web programmers, in turn, it is considered to be on April (4.04) 4, by analogy with error 404 ("this page is not found"). As one more date for Day of the programmer it was offered on July 26 — in honor of presentation of the first in the history of charge to the creator of a computer virus. And from now on the holiday officially will become uniform for all.

Day of the programmer

Unofficial days of celebration

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