I don't remember. (That option is not there)
Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
11–20 of 53 posts
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#12When I was 15, I had to get a TI-83 for school. There was a fairly lively program trading scene, so I got a handful from friends. The 'EDIT' menu proved too tempting for me to resist and, TI-BASIC being what it is, everything went downhill from there.
Now, I don't think I could write anything in TI-BASIC to save my life. Thank goodness.
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#13As a sophomore in high school (1971), I had the good fortune to take part in an NSF-sponsored seminar that taught BASIC and the elements of numerical analysis. Afterwards, not having computer access, I started up a notebook that I wrote BASIC programs in. I wish I still had it.
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#14When you were 12 or younger how did you learn how to program? I was 16 when I started programming as a hobby and I had a programming class. I wish I started programming when I was 12.
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#15Almost every hacker I know started between the ages of 11 and 14. That seems to be the sweet spot; the time when brains are malleable enough to be able to adapt to strange new concepts but have enough knowledge to be able to put those concepts in some context.
I think that compsci programs should be like art schools where your portfolio is what's considered first when you apply for admission.
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#1612. I was coding JavaScript for ProBoards. I shudder just thinking about it.
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#17If HTML counts, 11 or 12. If Javascript is the minimum, 12 or 13. I'll vote for <= 12 then.
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#1811. Saved money from my paper route and bought a Commodore Vic20!
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#19When you were 12 or younger how did you learn how to program? I was 16 when I started programming as a hobby and I had a programming class. I wish I started programming when I was 12.
I learned from my father, by looking at code, and by reading books/manuals.
Re: Poll: When did you start programming in your free time?
#20When you were 12 or younger how did you learn how to program? I was 16 when I started programming as a hobby and I had a programming class. I wish I started programming when I was 12.
I started in the mmorpg server-emu "scene". Stuff like World of Warcraft servers, etc. At that point I knew just basic HTML before jumping in. There were some people offering to make login, registration scripts, etc. for server websites. Along with a handful of people throwing around python in IRC rooms, IRC bots, etc.
It was a pretty natural process, from looking at some of their scripts and wondering "wtf" all the way to downloading the mysterious PHP interpreter and asking for help on rather trivial problems.
When I got to high school the BASIC class disgusted me. The teacher had zero experience and no style. Every assignment or lesson was out of a book that must have been 10 years old.
Edit: I've never used any books. It's really amazing how much is out there with a single internet connection.