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DNN Blog
Aug
6
Posted by:
Mitchel Sellers
2008-08-06 08:30:50Z
After seeing this on Michael Washington's blog, I thought it would be interesting to put this out here as well, as a personal element to my blogging here on DotNetNuke.com
How old were you when you first started programming?
It really depends on what you count as started programming. I know I started at a very young age, sitting at my dads office playing around with gqbasic and qbasic. I'm guessing I was 9-10 years old at that time. I think I created my first webpage when I was 12-13 years old. I have been working with computers almost all of my life.
How did you get started in programming?
My dad ran his own computer consulting business for a good portion of my childhood, so when at his office I started looking at some books that he had and got hooked. Programming was something that I have always wanted to do.
What was your first language?
Basic, different flavors of basic but it was still basic, on my old 386! There wasn't much to some of the programs, but they did something!
What was the first real program you wrote?
A lot of my first programs were games, simple text based games on the 386, basically kids games that you would play on paper and pencil, I wanted to make the computer do it.
What languages have you used since you started programming?
It depends on what you call a language, I'll leave out some of the common items related to web development. C++, Java, VB6, VBA, VB.NET, C#.NET.
What was your first professional programming gig?
My first day job gig was creating a custom web application to store confidential internal company information
If you knew then what you know now, would you have started programming?
I wouldn't really change much, except for potentially trying to push a bit harder on getting started a bit earlier, but for where I'm at in my life, there are no complaints, and no regrets!
If there is one thing you learned along the way that you would tell new developers, what would it be?
Google and MSDN are your friends. As a college instructor, and developer by day, I find it amazing that many people don't realize that googling for something, or looking up API information on MSDN is a PERFECTLY valid solution. Thousands of people maintain personal blogs, techical article sites, MSDN and other resources. These resources are out there, leverage others experience to help grow your knowledge.
I would also highly recommend that new developers get involved in online communities. I know that with my experience with DotNetNuke and other online communities I have gained experiences, contacts, and other helpful bits with the contributions that I have made.
What's the most fun you ever had programming?
Right now the most fun thing with programming is either time spent mentoring/training others, or seeing the successful end result. I enjoy writing my blog articles, training new people, writing the DotNetNuke Module Programming book, those types of things. I also take a great amount of joy from setting my applications reach production environments and succeed!
What's the most fun you've ever had... programming?
I'll be the first to admit that programming is soemthing that I do for fun, but it isn't the most fun I've ever had. It is very hard to say what is the most fun, but I'll say that my motorcycle works as a great fun vehicle!
5 comment(s) so far...
Re: Software Development Meme
I had my first computer programing class in 1961 at the age of 17 at an IBM training facility in Cleveland OH. 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 10 weeks during the summer. The advanced math class from my high school was invited. I was not, but they couldn't get there without more students with cars, so I was added to the list if I would drive 3 other students.
That is how my career with computers started. Over the next 42 years I serviced computers, designed computer hardware and software for US Navy, Digital Equipment Corp, Compaq, and Hewlett Packard. The last few years I managed software development groups.
A 42 year computer career because I was the kid with the car - It was a fun ride for 42 years.
/DaveS
By DavidWSnow on
2008-08-06 23:10:04Z
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Re: Software Development Meme
David - you have me beat by 9 years - my first was DEC PDP-10 assembly language/Dartmouth Basic in 1970 then in 1975 wrote quite a bit of 8008 microprocessor machine code back when 16 K RAM was considered a luxury. Been programming ever since!
By imagemaker on
2008-08-07 20:04:12Z
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Re: Software Development Meme
You guys are way head of me, I only started in 1997 with C++!
I posted mine on my blog here too.
By smcculloch on
2008-08-25 13:34:45Z
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Re: Software Development Meme
I and a friend of mine started together at the age of 13 with mobile applications ...
he works for Mobile Software Development and i freelance ...
people who start at a very early age are more apt to developing advanced applications later...
@ David
That's a very long and impressive career .. i am 19 now and wish i end up with a career profile like yours .. you know u worked in the golden age of computers .. now its just laying bricks on the top increasing the height of thE building ....
By ashar on
2010-06-28 10:55:01Z
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Re: Software Development Meme
@ Mitchell
your career started of with BASIC ... its the ultimate classic language ...
By ashar on
2010-06-28 10:55:09Z
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