Programming, explained simply
The word “programming” can sound like a foreign language if it isn’t your world. You might think only tech companies need to understand the many technical terms and acronyms used to describe programming and code concepts. Not really. While you don’t have to be a coder yourself, you still need to know enough about programming concepts to understand what you are paying for and why it’s important.
At Sunneo, we worry about the technology side of building and maintaining websites so you don’t have to. But we like to make sure our clients understand our services and what they’re paying for, so we have written this and other guides.
Programming in a Nutshell
Programming is the writing of instructions that allow a computer or a website to follow a set of instructions. We make a “Buy Now” button actually add something to the cart and make a “contact us” form email us. Programming is what makes a blank website actually usable.
Programming is what gives a website life. Without programming, a website would just be a static page with a bunch of text and pictures. Programming is what brings it to life.
Why Small Business Owners Should Care (a Little)
You don’t have to learn everything about programming, but a small amount of programming knowledge helps you make informed decisions and ask the right questions.
We recommend at least reading this guide and the following guides. Our guides will help you communicate more confidently with any developer or agency you work with, including us. You will gain the following skills: * Understand approximately what you pay for * See when a “quick fix” is really a big job * Know how to ask appropriate questions when you get a quote * Feel more comfortable with your website We handle the technical, behind-the-scenes work so your website runs smoothly, securely, and reliably. That includes everything from the code that powers your site's features to keeping it safe from security threats and connecting it with othertools you use every day. It also includes the daily operation and maintenance of your site. Don't be afraid to ask us to explain things to you in plain English. We prefer to take a few extra minutes explaining to you than to have you feel confused about your website. We have guides for common topics in programming that come up with our small business clients: * [Front-End vs Back-End Development Explained](/programming/front-end-vs-back-end) * [No-Code vs Custom Build](/programming/no-code-vs-custom-build) * [Website Maintenance & Security Basics](/programming/maintenance-security) * [Website Integrations Explained](/programming/integrations) We handle the technical work so you can confidently run your business. It doesn’t matter how appealing your website may be if the infrastructure is weak. Users will eventually find out due to poor site loading, security concerns, or timed out features. We take care of your website’s back end on day one and every day after that by providing maintenance and support. It gives you more time to manage the day to day operations of your business. Finding the right mix for each client requires a combination of experience, critical thinking, and programming skills. While it is important to find simplicity in your solutions, it is important to avoid oversimplification. We suggest you watch out for overly ambitious programmers who are inclined to build the most complex version of a system even without it being required. We avoid the ‘programming bias’ that promotes building something just because it is the latest trend. We aim for more structure in our solutions to make sure your site is reliable and less susceptible to breakage. Most small businesses use operations management platforms to run their daily business. Some of these apps might be accounting, booking, email campaigns, or a combination of some or all. Sometimes programming tasks involve interfacing your website with these apps so they integrate automatically and save you the hassle of data input. We welcome you to tell us about any platforms you have that you rely on. We can connect them to your website and cut back on admin time for you. Plain English, always A developer should be able to communicate in front of a non-technical audience. You shouldn’t feel bad for not knowing a term and should feel comfortable enough to ask. This is something we take pride in at Sunneo. For security updates, new features, and anything else that may prolong the process, we make sure our clients are updated with the status and reason of everything that may happen on their website. A team you can turn to as you grow As your business expands so will your programming related needs. You may have a basic website, but eventually, you may need a booking system or an online store as well as a client portal. It would be best to work with a team that is flexible enough to grow with you, rather than having to work with different teams for each change in needs. If you want to know more or get a quote, contact us today.