How do I program like a professional?

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Hi,

I saw scope to do what I do at work significantly quicker and more accurately with the aid of some custom software, so I wrote a system in PHP/Javascript to achieve it. I enjoyed making the system, found it fun to learn about PHP and the puzzle solving that came along with it. I wont lie that what motivated me was the potential to shift my career, gain some valuable skills (£) and do something (potentially?) more enjoyable (at least mentally challenging). My boss was over the moon too!

I feel like I could be a programmer, or a developer, or whatever you want to call it. I can program, I've just proved it to myself. The next logical step seems to be to program LIKE a professional. How do I do this? Its one thing to program, but I want to program like a paid professional would. Think like a programmer, design like a programmer, write like a programmer.

I didn't really have any solid plan or model which I used to write the system. I just thought about it and did it, bit by bit, letting it evolve organically. I'm sure if a professional looked at it they would question a lot of it and do things differently. I suppose they would have had a solid plan and model laid out before they even started, too. Thats my inexperience I suppose.

I'd like some advice from the professional employed programmers here on how I can demonstrate to others that I am one of them, and in turn, be employed as they are, in the absence of a degree.

Any books or resources online that can help me morph into a professional? (Or at least resemble one) Obviously the PHP manual is a brilliant resource but it doesn't tell you when to use things or how to use them i.e. for instance, how/when/why to use classes and objects PROPERLY. (Just an example)

Thanks in advance :)
 
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