The system programmer installs, customizes, and maintains the operating system, and also installs or upgrades products that run on the system.

The system programmer might be presented with the latest version of the operating system to upgrade the existing systems. Alternatively, the installation might be as simple as upgrading a single program.

The system programmer must be skilled at debugging problems with system software. These problems are often capturedin a copy of the computer’s memory contents called a dump, which the system produces in response to a failing software product, user job, or transaction. Armed with a dump and specialized debugging tools, the system programmer can determine where the components have failed. When the error has occurred in a software product, the system programmer works directly with the software vendor’s support representatives to discover whether the problem’s cause is known and whether a patch is available.

Internet: <www-304.ibm.com> (adapted).

Systems developers maintain, audit and improve organisational support systems by working on the internal operations of computers, using existing systems or incorporating new technologies to meet particular needs, often as advised by a systems analyst or architect. They test both hard and software systems, and diagnose and resolve system faults.
Their role also covers writing diagnostic programs, designing, and writing code for operating systems and software to ensure efficiency. When required, they make recommendations for future developments. Depending on the type of organisation, developers can become either systems or applications specialists.
The work undertaken by systems developers is generally of a highly complex and technical nature, and involves the application of computer science and mathematics in an environment which is constantly evolving due to technological advances and the strategic direction of their organisation.

Internet: (adapted).