Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Poll: How long have you been programming?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

321–329 of 329 posts

Re: Poll: How long have you been programming?

#321

Post by wisetech »

I recall at the age of 10, I was asked my dad to install LOGO because I was facinated about the idea of instructing a computer to do something. I didn't really use it that much and I had no concept of computer programming was. By the age of 11, I discovered something at my local library, reading a book called "The Beginner's Computer Handbook - Understanding & Programming The Micro". My eyes lit up because of the fact that anyone can create a space shooter game. I was noob back then. I didn't know what a compiler/interpreter was so I thought by typing BASIC source code into notepad, rename the txt file as exe, hoping it would run. Until I found out about Qbasic(My first programming tool) was on every copy of Win95 CD.

During my middle school years, I got more interested in computers, reading fat books about programming during english class. I made a couple of prank virus programs that I installed on other people's computers. I made a friend who was also like me but he wasn't much of a programmer. I got into computer hacking afterwards when he showed me that it was possible to disable desktop restrictions on the Library's computers, free to download at T1 speeds. So I wrote a program in Qbasic to automate the exploit. I eventually de-friended him as he wasn't a good influence.

There were two other people of influence, both had their own personal websites. That got me started on webdesign, and Java applets programming.(My first java app was an online chat server).

Later on I got into game programming starting with Darkbasic, BlitzBasic and now Unity.

Now at 25, I work as a Linux Sys Admin and SaaS Backend integration. My other hobby is building electronics using PIC chips.

Kids today can have a RaspberryPi to tinker with, I happy that schools are providing them the opportunity to get interested in programming, because in my time, I didn't have that and computer classes only thought how to use Excel and typing skills.

Re: Poll: How long have you been programming?

#323

Post by dbh937 »

super_mario wrote: post #150

I started with BASIC on Commodore 16 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_16 ) and shortly after MOS 6502 assembler back in the mid 80s when I was in my early teens. Commodore 16 had a monitor program build in, all you had to do is type MONITOR and you were able to edit memory directly in machine/assembler code, save it, run it etc ( http://www.commodore16.com/php/images/books/downloads/Tedmon... ). Later, I got…

> But today's computing really can't be compared to the experience in the 80s, when you as a kid >could master your CPU and know its complete instruction set, its registers and important >memory locations and feel completely in control. I shudder when I see where general computing >is headed with kids dreaming of owning iPads.

I wish too that computers were like they were in the 80's. Growing up now, I remember when to me the System Preferences on a Mac were a place that you didn't go or else you might mess up the computer. Still, with programming knowledge and all, I always get a little bit frightened when I'm about to do something the tiniest bit dangerous that might it so my computer won't turn on, like using `dd` even though I checked the name of the disk I was trying to write at least ten times. I blame it on my generation and the "magic" about computers today that some other HNers mentioned.

Re: Poll: How long have you been programming?

#324

Post by mcartyem »

drsim wrote: post #14
ElbertF wrote: post #5

17 Years. This is the source code of the first "game" I wrote in 1997, in QBasic: http://elbertf.com/qbasic/fruit.bas/

Cool. I wish I'd kept some of the ZX Spectrum programs I wrote. I tried a few times by using my hi-fi as the tape out. But then my mom would clean my room and reset it by accidentally knocking it over. Almost as traumatic as when she dismantled my Lego Technic car with working gearbox to dust it.

Loading a program on cassette was loud enough to get one banned from using the Spectrum. Plus, there was only one TV in the living room, which you needed for the Spectrum.

Add the two, and scaling meant buying another TV and migrating often between rooms.

Traumatic was when I (think I was the one who) finally burned it by plugging in the wrong power supply, decades later.

Re: Poll: How long have you been programming?

#326

Post by marichyasana »

42 years, I took a 6 week FORTRAN class, and a 1 day BASIC class in Grad School. Started my first job doing FORTRAN on IBM mainframe and EMR-6050, and assembler language for DEC PDP-11 and EMR-6050. PDP and EMR were connected to physics equipment for real time data collection for physics experiments at a national laboratory in the Chicago area.

Re: Poll: How long have you been programming?

#329

Post by crasshopper »

epenn wrote: post #277
edw519 wrote: post #109

I was looking for something and found an old green-bar print-out of an SPS program I wrote in 1971. This was at Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pa., the same school pg went to a few years later. I imagine they upgraded to a modern language like FORTRAN, COBOL, or PL/1 by the time pg rolled up his sleeves in that data center.

Wow, I used to live in Birnam Wood, the apartment complex adjacent to Gateway High School. I didn't realize you or pg were from the area too. Living down in the city now though (Pittsburgh, for anyone else reading this).

Did it ever come to Dunsinane?
Post reply on HN