programmatically

Programmatically means done using a computer program.

In computing, a program is a sequence of instructions (called code) that enable a computer to perform a task. Programmatically is used to refer to tasks that can be done in an automated way (using such programs), especially as opposed to tasks that have to be done manually (by a person).

Example: Instead of reading every cell in the spreadsheet to look for duplicates, you can filter them out programmatically.

The word programmatically is first recorded in English around the early 1900s, but it didn’t come to be used in its modern sense until much later (obviously), after the advent of computers. But today, it’s used almost exclusively to refer to tasks completed with software.

Performing tasks programmatically is really the whole point of computers. Instead of having to solve long, complex equations, computers were invented to crunch the numbers programmatically: instructions (the code) are programmed into the computer, specific data is put in, and then, bleep bloop, the computer does the work.

You’re most likely to hear the word being used to discuss how something can be automated, or at least simplified, so that humans don’t have to do as much work—like in the example of the spreadsheet above. But the scale and potential applications of things that can be done programmatically are limitless.

What are some other forms of programmatically?

• programmatic (adjective)
• programmatical (adjective)

What are some synonyms for programmatically?

• algorithmically
• computatively

What are some words that share a root or word element with programmatically?

 

• program
• programming
• diagrammatical

What are some words that often get used in discussing programmatically?

• code
• programmer
• developer
• algorithm
• data
• parse

Programmatically is primarily used to talk about having software do the work so we don’t have to.

Wow.

Three years ago I am a layout artist that manually creates certificates with Adobe InDesign or Illustrator.

Then 3 years later, I'm creating a script that programmatically generates certificates on-demand for our product.

Screenshot is a dynamically generated cert in PDF. pic.twitter.com/qoIS21Du5M

— Adrian Dayrit (@adrdayrit) December 25, 2019

A robot in website terms is usually a program that access web content programmatically. An under-resourced website owner may create a bot that downloads content from other websites to its websites. Most of the bots can't prove that they are human form that interactive exercise

— Тендай (@turndai) November 28, 2019

When I find myself avoiding a manual task because it sounds boring, I treat myself to writing a script to solve the problem programmatically… even if it would've actually just been faster to do it by hand.

Makes the problem a lot more fun all the sudden!

— Devon (@devonzuegel) November 21, 2019

Which of the following words is an antonym (opposite) of programmatically?

A. algorithmically
B. automatedly
C. methodically
D. manually