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Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting?

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Re: Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting?

#521

Post by holtalanm »

elwell wrote: post #514
geophile wrote: post #325

Being 63, I don't get to say this very often: I am one of the youngest people in this conversation. Delighted to read these stories about even-older-than-me old-timers. Even though I am a relative spring chicken, I'll list my old-timey computing experiences: - Started programming on programmable Wang and Monroe calculators. - PDP-8m in high school. 12k 12-bit words for four terminals running Basic. By special arrange…

> Picked up Emacs in 1985 and now it's in my fingertips. I don't think this means the dreaded 'emacs pinky'...

man, I didn't know emacs pinky was a thing until now.

Re: Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting?

#523

Post by recursive »

jackcosgrove wrote: post #434
Cyph0n wrote: post #433

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Dr Dr Firstname Never seen that one before!

Who knew that Thompson Twins song was really about a highly educated Austrian.

And Robert Palmer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQdaSpEeBvQ

Re: Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting?

#525

Post by kenbolton »

purplezooey wrote: post #473
ecpottinger wrote: post #372

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AAARRHHH! A friend has been telling me about her dad, he was full of life and when he came up to my cabin he was a whirlwind of activity. But after they sold the house (he loved gardening) and moved into a condo where there is little to do she can see him going downhill month by month. Before he had a purpose in his life (gardening and house maintenance), now he just has the sit around or go on bike trips. It is a sh…

Bike trips are more exercise than gardening, though..

I regularly kayak long distances in rough conditions, backpack, jump rope, practice yoga, play hockey aggressively with people half my age, and engage in calisthenics, and have been for ~20 years. Currently in my mid-40s, I am never more sore than after a few hours of pulling weeds in my garden.

Re: Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting?

#526

Post by skykooler »

kmill wrote: post #360
SonOfLilit wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh, what do you know. Still, this is unforgivable in my book: [] + {} == "[object Object]" {} + [] == 0

For the first, I frequently (for my own projects) change the Array prototype to have Array.prototype.toString = function () { return '[' + this.join(', ') + ']'; }; It would be convenient if Object.prototype.toString by default threw an exception, since the default breaks the embedding rule I described. The second example is misleading, and it has nothing to do with the rules for addition: the {} at the beginning of…

Thanks, I never realized that the second one was parsed as a code block rather than an object!

Re: Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting?

#527

Post by jki275 »

pensatoio wrote: post #477
gcoladon wrote: post #461

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you considered https://omscs.gatech.edu/ ? Disclosure: I am taking my 6th course of 10 as a current student in that program

What do you like and dislike about the program? It’s been on my wish list for several years now, but I’m hesitant to commit.

It's 7k for the whole program. That alone makes it worth it.

Re: Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting?

#528

Post by wan23 »

pensatoio wrote: post #477
gcoladon wrote: post #461

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you considered https://omscs.gatech.edu/ ? Disclosure: I am taking my 6th course of 10 as a current student in that program

What do you like and dislike about the program? It’s been on my wish list for several years now, but I’m hesitant to commit.

I'm also a student in OMSCS, on my fifth class of ten.

Likes:

- It's very affordable. My company's education reimbursement is able to cover the whole program.

- The courses are rigorous and I don't feel like I'm retreading very much from my undergrad.

- I'm going to end up with a degree from a top program that is exactly the same as is granted to students who attended on campus.

Dislikes:

- The course selection is a bit limited. Some of the classes that I want the most are only available on campus.

- Slack and Reddit are active, but I feel like I'm missing the social aspect of being a student.

- Some people are skeptical of the online format, which is frustrating sometimes.

Re: Ask HN: Am I the longest-serving programmer – 57 years and counting?

#529

Post by robaato »

giardini wrote: post #435
SiVal wrote: post #394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds as though your friend urgently needs to investigate service opportunities for her dad. Sometimes when people discover how unexpectedly useful they are to others, it's like a psychological vitamin that was missing.

This. Many retired people need help with what others consider everyday (monthly, yearly) tasks: changing filters, fixing a door, light bulbs, or minor electrical fixture/switch/appliance repair, stopping ants entering the building, a leak in the ceiling, etc. Fixing PC problems counts too. Anyone who has owned and maintained a home is capable of doing these things provided they're in good health. I'm always happy to…

My aunt went to a great retirement community outside Boston. In her 80's she was Chair of the Computer club, and helped lots of newcomers find their feet. She also edited the newsletter etc. She wasn't alone in that community in being active. She lasted til 94 and was pretty healthy til last few months - and had no regrets and didn't particularly want to live on. Great example...
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