[johndallman]

Computer Operation, Computer Programming and Computer Hacking are the skills for getting computers to do things via software. They are IQ/E, IQ/H and IQ/VH (cinematic) respectively. On a conventional technology path, they appear at TL7 and Computer Operation becomes a very common skill at TL8. Alternate-tech paths might make Computer Programming very widespread too; several attempts were made in that direction during the historical TL7, but they were unsuccessful.

Computer Programming doesn't actually have Computer Operation as a prerequisite: until the middle of TL7, it was common to do programming entirely on paper. Computer Hacking does require Computer Operation. Electronics Repair (Computers) defaults to Computer Operation-5. At TL8+, Computer Operation is a prerequisite for Research, and provides many people's default for Typing.

Computer Operation is a "use" skill in the design/repair/use triads of B.190, and Computer Programming is a "design" skill. High-Tech and Ultra-Tech have Operation as the repair skill, which works for installation and configuration problems, but not always for actual bugs. Fixing those is going to be Programming, with a large penalty if you lack the source and appropriate tools. Spaceships has Programming as a repair skill.

Computer Programming uses the Inventions rules, and often requires knowledge of the field the program is about. This is realistic; Mathematics is often useful, but not always. "Systems programming", writing operating systems, device drivers, and similar code within complex application programs is based on Mathematics (Computer Science), which often isn't terribly mathematical in the conventional sense. High-Tech reminds us of the importance of TL modifiers and has a table of program prices vs. Complexity. Software Tools, described in High-Tech and Ultra-Tech, are very necessary for programming.

Computer Programming (Artificial Intelligence) is written up as a variant skill, with no default in either direction to ordinary programming, which allows you to use social skills on AIs. I suspect this only works if you can modify the AI, which definitely isn't the case for end-users in most ultra-tech settings. This is supported by the description of Digital Mind.

Realistic "Computer Hacking" is a combination of skills, described along with the cinematic skill. The latter is described in Action, for the present day and near future.

Equipment for computer skills is described in High-Tech and Ultra-Tech, with more detail for the present day in Action.

Computer Operation and Computer Programming appear on templates in just about every high-tech setting book. Madness Dossier's Brain Hacking requires Computer Hacking. Magic has Awaken Computer, which can bestow all three skills under the wrong circumstances, and allows Hacking as a core skill for Ritual Magic in the right campaign (as does Thaumatology, and RPM). Powers has weird ways to use Hacking, and Psi-Tech deals with teaching computers to use psionics via Programming. Reign of Steel: Will to Live has plenty of uses for Programming vs. robots. Social Engineering describes the uses of Operation and Hacking in verifying and falsifying documents, and "social engineering" ways of getting through computer security. PU3 and PU7 have examples that include all three skills.

I don't think I've ever used Computer Programming in a game (that's the day job), and Computer Operation has mostly been in Transhuman Space games, although we've usually had an AI around who did most of it. What have you done with these skills in GURPS?