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Advice From An Old Programmer

learnpythonthehardway.org

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Re: Advice From An Old Programmer

#3

Post by mattdeboard »

>Finally, I will say that learning to create software changes you and makes you different.

This is so very true in my experience. The way I think has fundamentally changed since programming became the primary professional/pastime activity in my life about two years ago. I'm 32, and everything from my politics to my decisions about where to live has been effected. (Whether I'm using the proper choice between 'effect'/'affect' is still a challenge...)

Programming has taught me more about critical thinking in two years than I learned in the previous 30. I can't stand many of the things I used to because of it, but thoroughly love many of the things I used to find painfully boring.

Re: Advice From An Old Programmer

#6

Post by chashaz »

jeggers5 wrote: post #2

This is a fantastic piece of writing. Was actually very inspired by it.

I totally agree, it's quite an inspiring article.

My dad suggests that I take over his business which I might but I'm still sticking to programming as a career. May be I won't be earning a lot of $$$ but atleast I'll be doing something that I totally enjoy.

Re: Advice From An Old Programmer

#7

Post by rdouble »

People who can code in the world of technology companies are a dime a dozen and get no respect. People who can code in biology, medicine, government, sociology, physics, history, and mathematics are respected and can do amazing things to advance those disciplines.

This is a nice sentiment but as someone who has been a programmer for biology and medical research, it's not true. It's just like any other mediocre programming job, but your office is a folding table under a decommissioned fume hood. Physicists and mathematicians who program are so underpaid they dream about the glamour and glitz of working in a cube on Wall Street. There are bad jobs with technology firms, but by far the programming jobs with the most "respect", most fun and usually highest pay are with tech firms and well funded startups.

Re: Advice From An Old Programmer

#8

Post by losethos »

patronizing FBI shrinks.

God says... spectator Euodius retard Texas defers wazz_up_with_that wanderings acceptable teachest theirs nominally costs year's middle division raisedst comprehended equalled unsuitably inchoate

In complete denial on God. God said 640x480 16 color.

God says... shadows charge depending Michael ensues pupils

LoseThos is a 2ndary OS for recreational programming.

God says... honour Preacher crucifixion rashly musing monastery toiled stealing affections despairing straying sex Christian wings exorbitant misery OTHERWISE their Orestes Vacation why_is_it proffering resulting willed sparrows styled I vexed conferring tv applied affliction steer confiding stored Whatever shoutedst putrefied generation exuberance Supreme relax processing Wisdom's bride secretly Vacation cloud legal reply conservative flows sorry trials mainly limits roused punish studious precedest taste wisdom preventing severally ships hooah tenet unallowed applauses seldomness disembowelled discourses thickets intermitted whereupon qualified purified sin Knowing shrinking distrusted expressions discovers transitory thousand plants recollection alteration Thagaste dishonour commender dispenser conformably

Re: Advice From An Old Programmer

#9

Post by zwieback »

Some good points buried among juvenile posturing, I guess the "old" part must be irony. Would you take programming language advice from someone who has learned the language in "a day or a week"? I realize the point is the language doesn't really matter but statements like that and the general tenor of the post don't inspire me.
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