Any Programmers/Developers?

[SquamishSerpents]

i've toyed with python too. the ball variety, and the human trouser snake kind.

HAH.

but really. i would love to learn something like this. web languages fascinate me even though i am really, really lost when i view coding

[Ezekiel285]

i've toyed with python too. the ball variety, and the human trouser snake kind.

HAH.

but really. i would love to learn something like this. web languages fascinate me even though i am really, really lost when i view coding

LOL

I was really lost at first too, you just have to practice a lot and do stuff on your own, that's the best way to learn. If you want to learn Java for instance, i would look up online tutorials and start making your own simple programs and progress from there. You catch on fast once you figure out a little bit of whats going on. However now that i know Java more in depth i would say a good book is also necessary because it will teach you things in a better way and also some stuff is hard to find online.

[MasonC2K]

I have a BS in Comp Sci from 99 and an MS in Applied Comp Sci from 01.

In a past life I was a web developer specializing in database driven ASP.Net.

But for the last 9 years I've been doing mostly C# windows forms and server components.

My advice is to find a professor you click with and buddy up with him. I served as a professor's assistant for 3 years and got lots of hands on that most normal students didn't get. Failing that, try to get an internship somewhere.

When the real world hits, try and stick to small IT shops if you can. Large shops have way too many policies and procedures that you end up doing more "paperwork" activities than actually coding.

[Kinra]

When the real world hits, try and stick to small IT shops if you can. Large shops have way too many policies and procedures that you end up doing more "paperwork" activities than actually coding.

I've done both and honestly I prefer the larger companies over small shops/startups. Larger companies are usually more secure and pay better. The small shop I worked in really screwed me over and completely turned me off of them. I like some sense of job security and a nice pay check, even if I have to write lots of documentation. Project planning and design documents are also a major part of being a successful shop. Most places that employ code monkeys don't seem to produce the quality of code I've seen from larger shops with procedures and more often than not the code is harder to read and only 1 or 2 people completely understand what it does and they might not work there any more.

This is just what I've seen, but I'm also the odd ball developer in that I actually like socializing with people and not hiding in my office all of the time. I don't really fit the typical stereotype.