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Name: gimmpy224
Well, in guy's post it says that you either like programming or you dont.
I was just wondering what you guys enjoy so much about it?
Cause I like just the whole you have a problem and this is what I need to make, and then the time tinkering with the code and watching the program come to life.That what you guys like to or are there other things in this that people love ?
Just curious as always :)
GIMPS
i like having total control over the program so that the end product is working just the way i want it - sometimes you use a program that someone else wrote but it doesn't work the way you want it to, by writing my own stuff, that is no longer an issue
i also really like exercising my logical skills in writing the code so that it works the way it should - it a person is not logical, i doubt that they would be able to program and debug
serge
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For me it is a strange marriage. As a young teen (when personal computers first hit the scene) I was facinated by the fact that you could DO things with static electricity (other than shock your friends) and as I grew (and computers as well) I found myself building elaborate game systems and algorithms and feeling like I was doing something other-worldly, like I was tapping into some hidden world, something that was exciting and scary and beyond most people's understanding. Very similar to the feelings you get when meditating or dropping acid. (not that I condone dropping acid...since I am am a parent now)
Knowing my passion for computers and programming, it might seem strange (and indeed foolish) to note that I did not go to college for programming or computers, but rather Psychology because I thought that if I were programming for a living, I would not enjoy it as much.
Well, I did not enjoy Psychology AT ALL when I was working in the field (maybe I should have been a research Psychologist...but alas I decided to work with Mental Patients) and quickly burned out.
Then, the DotCom boom happened...YEAH FOR ME, no professional experience but still got high paying job.Now I own my own company for extra cash and work for a Public Safety System development firm to pay the bills.
Everyday I am inundated with issues that I could avoid if I stayed home...but MAN I LOVE PROGRAMMING and logic and its a high...it is my drug of choice (since I don't do any others...ok maybe beer and gin and tonic on occasion)
Hmmm... did that answer the question? Don't know...but it is 5:30AM and I have been up since 4 with my new son (and my laptop)
Chi
"They mostly come at night...mostly"
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geez, I hate to post 3 times in a row...but what an idiot. I read my first post as mediating and decided to clear that up...but it wasn't spelled wrong. hmmm...maybe need coffee.
Chi
"They mostly come at night...mostly"
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The best part of programming isn't the actual coding...It's the design. Nothing beats sitting down and figuring out an awesome way to model the data you're working with, trying to minimize the amount of code you'll have to write, and make something that you'll be proud of a year down the road when you have to maintain it.
Programming is one of the only professions in which you are (almost) always challenged. This makes it much easier to wake up in the morning and go to work.
-SN
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Gimps:
What gives me satisfaction is when people say "cool!" with a look in their eyes that they really mean it. I've done a simple GPA and progress tracking program with C++ and .NET to give it a nice look (NO VB FOR ME!). When the user is satisfied, I know that I nailed it. But that isn't always the case with software development. What keeps me interested is trying to make it better, evolving the product and maintaining it.
In the life cycle of a software product, there's always room for improvement, even long after it's been in use. It keeps me interested and it keeps my friends interested in it as well. All in all, everyone's happy, and you feed off of this sense of satisfaction. But you as the programmer will always have a greater sense of satisfaction because only you know how much time, effort and sweat you poured into making such a great piece of software -- large or small.
- Rolos
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Of course the program I mentioned is a small scale example. My software engineering project at the moment sucks _____________. Fill in the blank with worst remark your mind could possibly conceive, it's really that bad. But anyway, you'll come across good and bad projects eventually, but finding something to keep you interested is the key.
- Rolos
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When I first started making money at this (early '70s), almost no one had any formal education in CS/programming.
At that time it was common to believe that ex auto mechanics made very good programmers - because the problem solving skills required were quite similar.
So yes, I think a love of problem solving has a lot to do with it .... but that is not the only reason.
Guy
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Guy - in my first job after college, I worked with a ex auto mechanic. He did make a very good programmer.
SN description comes closest to describing my feelings, tho I probably love the thrill of coding the design. I enjoy doing the design work, figuring out the best way to store and access the data etc. But when I have a nice exciting design, nothing beats the thrill of doing the code to make it work.
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I like SN's: "minimal code" comment.
It is in line with the XP and pragmattic programmer philosophies: do the most simple thing that can work.
Guy
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Yeah, do you guys know that when i started in the industry Microsoft was still evaluating programmer's merit on the NUMBER of lines written?
I guess they figured that the less macros or helper functions you used, the faster the app was going to be (and at that time, they may have been correct, since we had like 256k memory and 10meg HDs which spun slowly)
But now we are all trying to make cleaner more readable code and know that unless we do something completely off base, you are not going to have a program act like a dog (or snail would be better analogy)
Chi
"They mostly come at night...mostly"
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gimmpy224,
That's a great question to ask at this time in some of our careers. I actually began my formal education with my eye on a career in accounting and retail merchandising. My intro to computer science class really caught my attention...the jargon scared the...well...it scared me! But, I was fascinated. Little did I know that within one and one-half semesters I would be deciding that data processing would be my career field.
I had been working for a law firm in the accounting department. One day, after my not showing up for work for a couple of days, the office manager decided that I should seek other employment. She was right of course. Although I did enjoy the people the work was mundane and monotonous. The employment agency that I used to find new employement - the office manager gave me two weeks to look for a job, she really did like my work - found a position as an RJE operator. Can anyone guess what RJE stands for? Well, when I found out it had something to do with computers I almost backed out of the interview. I don't know anything about computers is what I told the agency. But, I was told that the company wanted someone with thiry credit hours and that I satisfied that criterion and the department manager liked the fact that I already had nine credit hours in accounting.
After two weeks on the job I ask my co-worker that was charged with my training a question that would change my life forever. She always used the term "he" when referring to the system...now "he" is doing thus and thus...when "he" does this it means...which had "me" going completely out of my mind till finally I ask...who is he? that you are referring to? She look perplexed and then started laughing...I mean the system! she said...LIGHT BULB!!
I never looked backed. I changed my major that fall, wrote a complete inventory sytem - batch - in March of the falling year (1981).
Logic...I love it!
Oh, I would like one day (I'm 50 now) to get my degree, but in accounting.
thanks gimmpy224!
if were easy anybody could do it.
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I started out as a Business Admin major with a minor in Accounting. In my 2nd or 3rd semester I took a COBOL class for Business Majors and switched majors the next semester.
I can't imagine doing anything else.
Those of us who love this, are lucky that it pays well. I knew many people, as far back as college, who appeared to be in the field just because it was a good job, but they really didn't enjoy it.
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