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Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

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Re: Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

#21

Post by chegra »

RiderOfGiraffes wrote: post #14

It depends on a combination of factors: background education, personal inclinations, innate abilities, and so on. I'd say it's not too late, but it takes time. You can trade your existing experience against the native wit/speed of the youngsters, but it still takes time to learn to program. Especially to learn to program for someone else, by which I mean robust and comprehensive enough to be used by people you don't…

Doesn't pg recommends all technical co-founders?

Re: Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

#22

Post by terrapinbear »

Not if you love the act of programming. You will know when you've programmed for a couple of months. You can teach yourself but in the end you really have to enjoy the process of programming. Helps to find out which concentration in programming you are good at: databases, games, engineering, etc...

Re: Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

#23

Post by _chap »

It's not too late.

A new free online school for learning Ruby is just getting started, Ruby Mendicant University: http://blog.majesticseacreature.com/quick-rmu-status-update

Get your entrance exam in by Sunday and you've got a shot at being a part of the first round of sessions.

Re: Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

#26

Post by shadow »

It's never too late. Since you have interest in implementing ideas on the web, you are already on to an easier path with the many frameworks available.

Get started with building your mockups and slowly get the functionalities in when you are finding your way with the programming framework.

Re: Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

#27

Post by mmaunder »

No it's not. It's never too late. Pick up a book, write your first "Hello World!" program, and go from there. Never feel insecure about your age. Never try to convince yourself you have knowledge you don't. Take it one day at a time and one step at a time. Don't leap ahead. Always move from the known to the unknown. Do what you love. Love what you do. If you love programming, it doesn't matter how old you are, you'll get good at it and be able to deliver value to someone who will pay you. Best of luck!!

Re: Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

#28

Post by ippisl »

Both partnering with an experienced developer , and outsourcing to a low cost country can offer a better route for development (if done well), and could really help your ideas to succeed.

If you want to build businesses out of your ideas , you'll have enough to do and learn.

Re: Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

#29

Post by cturner »

I admire you for getting in late, and knowing what life is like without it. Do it. You might have a good experience if you do this: get python, and follow some tutorials to set up a web server using SimpleHTTPServer. I don't know what project you have in mind, but as general advice I'd recommend that you avoid any and all javascript until you've got a good feel for crafting sites on a page-by-page basis.

Re: Ask HN: Is 36 too late to start into programming?

#30

Post by mattchew »

No. I have a friend who discovered programming at around age 40. He is now ~45 and doing Ruby on Rails programming instead of his old blue collar job.

That said, I think you probably won't succeed as a programmer unless programming seems fun and interesting to you. If you've worked with programmers, but never tried programming before now, that might be a warning sign.

Still, best way to find out is to try. Start with something small and simple and see if you enjoy the process. Good luck.

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