Computer program needs attention to be published (6)
I believe the answer is:
appear
'be published' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'computer program needs attention' is the wordplay.
'computer program' becomes 'app'.
'needs' says to put letters next to each other.
'attention' becomes 'ear' (ear is a kind of attention).
'app'+'ear'='APPEAR'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for appear that I've seen before include "Show up, become visible" , "Present oneself" , "Come on the market" , "Look - materialise" , "Make an entrance as ghost may" .)