System Programmers

Programming scientists deal with the science of programming not the specific implementations of it. Do not tie yourself to a specific platform.

Follow the first three steps for Desktop Applications Programmers.

Take an introductory course in Linear Algebra.

Take a course in Calculus.

Take a course in Logic and/or Discrete Mathematics.

Introduce yourself to different bare operating systems. This can be done by:

Getting an idea on how operating systems are installed.

Learning how to install different operating systems on one PC(This is optional but recommended).

Installing more than one operating system. Do not install any helping packages on the systems, use the bare functionalities provided by the operating systems.

Take a course(or alternatively read books) on computer hardware architecture.

Develop an understanding of the different computer hardware platforms.

Get an introductory familiarization with the assembly language of the hardware platform/operating system of choice (you will later learn the assembly of other platforms/systems)

Learn the ANSI C and C++ languages, along with the concepts of procedural programming.

Understand and practice C/C++ standard libraries on the platform of choice especially Standard Template Library (STL) and maybe Active Template Library (ATL).

Search online resources, books and courses to get an understanding of the C-flavor of your specific platform.

Practice creating advanced code with C and C++.

Learn more advanced Assembly

Take a course in operating systems design

Find and read documentations of your specific platform of choice(this will be easier if you choose a Unix-based operating system). Understand the system you will be working with later very well.

Practice your acquired knowledge. First create small system utilities. It is usually useful to:

Trying to recreate small tools that are already there on your system.

Trying to port utilities available in other operating systems to yours.

This is the only place were the first programming language matters. Learn ANSI C first, not C++, not C#, not Java and not D. Then learn C++.

Restricting the first language to C and C alone is because systems programming requires that the programmer be familiar with the following concepts:

Real and full compilation of source code.

Low level object output files.

Linking binaries.

Low level machine-language/assembly programming. The C language is said to be a disguised/easier to learn assembly by some. It also supports inserting assembly language code in code whenever you please and it is only procedural (like assembly).

http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Programmer