- // Posted on Jul 16, 2008 by
Danny
-
Comments (1)
Tag, I'm it. Ryan Lanciaux called me out on a recent post to continue the chain of developers writing a blog post on how they got started in development. Michael Eaton kicked this all of with this post. So here goes nothing...
How old were you when you first started programming?
I first started programming was in college (University of Mary Washington) during my freshman year when I decided pre-med was not for me.
How did you get started programming?
I took a few web design classes in high school that initially got me interested in software development. After thoroughly despising my college freshman biology class I picked up an introductory level CS class and decided it was definitely for me (even if the language it was taught in wasn't - Ada 95, yikes!).
What was your first language?
Ada 95, gross.
What was the first real program you wrote?
Hmmm, I would have to say a laptop inventory system for VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation), which replaced their wicked-effective 3x5 card "system".
What languages have you used since you started programming?
C#, VB, Java, JavaScript, C++, Motorola 68K, Assembly Language, Ada 95, Basic, Fortran - that's most of them anyway.
What was your first professional gig?
My first post-college professional gig was for a Germanna Community College where I joined on as their webmaster and performed a complete website redesign. Dynamic class schedules hooked into the VCCS (Virginia Community College System) central PeopleSoft repository was one of the more successful changes I initiated. Unfortunately they got someone in that has trashed the site since then, oh well.
If you knew then what you know no, would you have started programming?
Hands-down, Yes. I love what I do.
If there is one thing you learned along the way that you would tell new developers, what would it be?
Never stop learning. RSS Readers rock.
What's the most fun you've ever had programming?
When I first made the transition from ASP to ASP.NET I couldn't get enough of the framework.
Who are you calling out?
Troy Goode
Steve Harman