On the decline of classical programming

Summary form only given. The author puts forward the view that we are in a period of far-reaching and fundamental change in the practice of information technology. This has been a gradual though accelerating process during the 1980s and some of its effects are now becoming apparent in the changes in the structure and activities of industry. A central aspect is the increasing shift to the design of computing systems by non-specialists in IT. He looks at the general features of this new era. Then he turns to an analysis of the specific developments in computer programming and the role of the `professional programmer´. Finally, he embarks on some speculation as to the future of programming support environments and of research in the field