Become a Programmer

I agree with the majority of the programmers here. If it is something that you love, it can be one of the the most rewarding aspects in life. However, if you get in early and find out you don’t like it as much as you thought you would, you’re in trouble.

There are so many languages out there, it is hard to find a starting point. I wouldn’t mind helping a few beginners here out, if you need it. I’ve helped many of my friends in college, so I have some experience with helping others.

Happy Coding!

Hubby says I’d be an awesome programmer, and considering that he is one, I’m guessing he’d know all the makings!

want to b a programmer in 21 days

HI

I don’t have any clue how to start this. I really want to learn how to programme, because every company needs people who can do that, especially nowadays. at school we used to work with delphi, but I still don’t have a clue about it.

Sure, being a programmer these days is nowhere as glamorous or financially rewarding as it was in the dotcom days. I was lucky that I started developing software for a living in 1997, so I had the chance to enjoy the dotcom perks before the bubble burst. After that, a lot of my fellow programmers left programming and started doing other things, from becoming an insurance agent, a housewife, to a lecturer. Some of us stayed, because deep inside our hearts, we love being a programmer.

In short, if you’re in this because you like it, it’s worth every moment you invest in it. You’ll get exposed to some of the greatest minds mankind has to offer (Von Neumann, Alan Turing, Alonzo Church, and many others). You’re paid to do something you like. The field never stops moving, you have something new to learn everyday. Last time it was Object-Oriented Programming. Then it was Aspect-Oriented Programming. Then dynamic languages started gaining popularity. Then AJAX came along. Then… we can be sure that there’ll be no shortage of new things to understand and built upon.

On the other hand, if you don’t like programming, your life will probably be miserable. Not miserable financially, since a programming job usually pays pretty well, and if you’re smart you can get good at programming even if you don’t like it. But miserable because you’d rather be doing something else, which may not pay as much as a programming job. So treat this as a stepping stone to accumulate enough money that you can start doing something else. Who knows, along the way you may learn to love it after all.

Ok, I’m sick of this dead-end job (psuedo database guy at megacorp). I want a career writing professional grade software and working on lots of different projects with medium to large teams. Here’s my plan to accomplish such:

1. Finish bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. (about 18 months of courses left). Taking a course in servlets/jsp now. Pretty cool stuff. Not that hard either. Love the Head First Servlets and JSP book by Kathy Sierra et al.

2. Learn Java very well. I know some now but only because we use it at school. I need to get much more familiar with the j2se api and some j2ee things like servlets and JSP. I’m going to start from scratch with “Head First Java” and also “Big Java”. Two good books I think. Waiting on HFJ to arrive from Amazon. That should get me firmly grounded in the syntax and some exposure to the most common APIs.

3. Start using Java and other programs to automate as much of my job duties as I can. I need to get experience writing programs and putting them to use in the real world. Should be able to come up with some simple ones and some challenging ones.

4. Get certified in Java. Planning on getting the SCJP and SCJD for starters. I’ve got the Kathy Sierra book now. Going to wait until after I finish step 2 to read it.

5. Get a real programming job writing quality software. With degree and certs this can’t be TOO hard. Lots of Java job postings here in Cbus. May have to take a pay cut though.

Hi:

I have been a computer programmer for the majority of the last ten years of my life and it is totally worth it.

1.) You have a skill and a service to offer. Trying working and getting paid in the real world without a skill.

2.) It is a low entry field. Contrary to all the noise, there are more jobs than skilled professionals in the field. Let anyone who is a programmer and who thinks he or she is underpaid contact me.

3.) You get to use your mind, your brains and your head. If you want a mindless, monotonius, boring job then computer programmng is not for you.

4.) Computer programmers are in very high demand.

Read my most recent article on how computer programmers are in the top most in-demand professions at
[ http://www.it-career-coach.com/blogs/programmers/archive/2006/08/20/.NET-Developers-In-Top-5-Careers-With-Big-Pay-And-Big-Demand.aspx ]

well, im really working for this goal. im learning as fast as i can. reading code like books. still got a ways to go, but ill get there. this is what i want to do with my life.