You'd think Julie Lerman was too busy writing her book on Programming Entity Framework to do anything else, but apparently she has time to respond to memes.. ;-) Her response was posted to DevLife and she tagged me as one of 5 developers to go next.
How old were you when you first started programming?
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 22, I think. I always thought of myself as a late bloomer as far as geekdom is concerned (well, with a lot of things actually).
How did you get started in programming?
The first programming I did was through an electronics course I was taking as part of my pursuit of an Associate Arts in Electronics. We had CPU chips plugged into breadboards and used LED displays, 555 timers and other discrete components to create simple circuits. It was very low level programming, using registers to do simple math and display the results.
What was your first language?
I guess it must have been assembly, using those CPU chips. My first professional programming gig had me working on an IBM mainframe, programming in PL/1.
What was the first real program you wrote?
I started out as a maintenance programmer, doing simple enhancements and bug fixes to PL/1 programs written by others. My first original program was in C++, I think, and for the life of me I can't remember what it did. Something very simple I'm sure. I wrote it for my employer, and also got college computer science credit for that project.
What languages have you used since you started programming?
Assembly, PL/1, VB, C++, C, Java, SQL, VB.NET, C#, Javascript, VBScript.
What was your first professional programming gig?
I worked for a division of the Washington State Library called WLN: the Washington Library Network. This division handled dataprocessing and created software for managing a consortium of Washington libraries under the State Library. We soon became a non-profit and started working with consortiums and individual libraries in other states.
As I said above, my first programming job was as a maintenance programmer but I started at WLN as a temporary wordprocessor. I showed enough technical aptitude to attract the attention of programmers and other technical folks who soon found me spending my break time hanging out in their cubicles, interrogating them on their jobs.
If you knew then what you know now, would you have started programming?
Absolutely, only sooner. It's a very good match for my native inclination to problem solve, to find patterns and my undying curiosity about how things work.
If there is one thing you learned along the way that you would tell new developers, what would it be?
Pay attention. Pay attention to what the customer is saying, you work for them, they know their business. Pay attention to the developers around you, you'll learn more from them than from any class you attend. Pay attention to your gut, if the approach you're taking to solve a problem doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
What's the most fun you've ever had ... programming?
Don't have a specific example, but I really enjoy problem solving. It's especially fun to solve a problem using a technique or technology I wasn't completely familiar with but was able to figure out quickly. Clean solutions are fun. Some programming situations are fun, as when I'm working with a fun team of smart, quick-witted developers who have team spirit and don't need their egos stroked. Then you get true cooperation and shared learning all around. That's a lot of fun.
So Who's Next?
Chris Bilson
Jason Mauer
Erik Mork
and Stuart Celarier
... tag, you're it guys.