Programmers' Day (September 13) is an observance established to recognize the vital role and achievements of programmers in the fields of information technology and software development. This day was first officially designated in the Gregorian calendar in 2009, following a decree by the Russian government, to highlight the importance of programmers in technological progress and computer science. The date, September 13, was chosen because, in leap years, it is the 256th day of the year—a number of special significance to programmers as it is the highest power of two less than 365 (the number of days in a year) and is widely used in computer science. On this day, technology companies and organizations hold various events and ceremonies to honor their programmers, and in some countries, programming competitions and educational workshops are organized. The inclusion of this day in the Gregorian calendar was the result of efforts by the information technology community and the official support of the Russian government. Since 2009, Programmers' Day has been recognized internationally and is observed annually on September 13.
