Thread: Understanding Lives of Programmers

  1. #1
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    Understanding Lives of Programmers

    Hi.

    I design and implement Windows applications using C++. For the last 15 months, I begin to spend more time designing small applications, implementing, debugging, and maintaining C++ source code. The bottomline is I find myself spending hours at school during breaks, after school, and on weekends programming. Heck, I sometimes spend close to 8 hours on a Saturday programming and design applications.

    The irony is I have no job experience, i.e. I have never worked as a programmer. I am a year away from a CS degree.

    I would like some feedbacks on the life of a programmer be it real-world (employee, consultant, etc) or one who enjoys software design and implemention and does so while in college (like me).

    - How much free time do you have on a weekly basis. How about during weekends?

    - When you are away from the developer studio, do you think about the problems you are currently working on (I do)?

    I think my main concern is how to setup a life such that I can program, but still have time to do other stuff. I love software design and implemention. However, sometimes it stresses me out and takes up so much time that my life is Visual C++!

    Thanks,
    Kuphryn

  2. #2
    Just one more wrong move. -KEN-'s Avatar
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    Do you even know how many threads like this there have been...? Maybe 2 per week.

  3. #3
    CIS and business major
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    kuphryn, I worry about the same things you do. I'm about two months from going into the real world as a programmer, and I'm worried about how much free time I'll have to spend, and live life.

    I love programming, and I spend close to 20 hours just on weekends programming, but I don't know how it'll be when I hit the real world.

    I'm currently getting my second master's certificate in programming, and a lot of my classmates were programmers before this course and have told me that they did spend quite a few hours working. I'm not going to say specifically, and the number of hours you work now would probably be more than typical due to the economy and all the job layoffs in the tech industry.

    Don't sweat it though, you'll get more flexible work hours than most people, and you'll do something you enjoy. If you're worried about not having a lot of free time after college, maybe you could take some certificate courses, and broaden your skills. C++ is one the most time demanding languages(if that's what language you want to code in), so maybe you could make the switch to another language like java that may give you more free time in the workforce (although I don't know how much time java programmers spend working).

    Anyways, I wouldn't worry about this now, just enjoy yourself while you're still in college, and let eveything else fall into place later

  4. #4
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    Point noted!

    C++ produces such robust applications given a good software design, it will be my primary programming tool for many years.

    Kuphryn

  5. #5
    CS Author and Instructor
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    Cool

    Ever thought about teaching...
    Mr. C: Author and Instructor

  6. #6
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    No. I am not a good teacher at all. I prefer solving problems over showing people tools.

    Kuphryn

  7. #7
    KingoftheWorld
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    My programming life was same as you before. Besides hours of design and programming, I keep thinking to come up solution of some problems of the day or thinking to making of new software.
    Lately, I have change my mindset. I usually spent my evenings to play goft or tennis with my co-workers or friends and sometime discuss about things related with technicals, programming, technologies....
    I feel my programming life much relax recently. You can do things similar like this to stay out the hectic programming life.
    Go get a life, Amigo!

    KingoftheWorld.

  8. #8
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    I often hear and read that a career as programmer is at its best when you are a consultant and/or working at home? Other then the obvious above average salary package, what are some advantages?

    Kuphryn

  9. #9
    the hat of redundancy hat nvoigt's Avatar
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    Back to the topic please !
    hth
    -nv

    She was so Blonde, she spent 20 minutes looking at the orange juice can because it said "Concentrate."

    When in doubt, read the FAQ.
    Then ask a smart question.

  10. #10
    Registered User lostai's Avatar
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    Working hard...

    Working hard is good but, don't forget to live your life. You probaly know the story about Greek philosopher (I think it was Aristotel) he got idea about solution to his problem while he was having a bath.

  11. #11
    Funniest man in this seat minesweeper's Avatar
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    >>I think it was Aristotel<<

    Archimedes

  12. #12
    Seven years? civix's Avatar
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    Freelance is my programming thing. I dont want to be a professional programmer when i'm older. I just design an application of my choice and put it out there. If people buy it, they buy it. If they dont, they dont.
    .

  13. #13
    CIS and business major
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    Talking

    I'm going to work for Fidelity Investment. My teacher has friends who work there, and says it's a 9-5 job for programmers.

    Can't wait, I'll be a programmer, and I'll have a life
    Last edited by Terrance; 02-13-2003 at 08:37 PM.

  14. #14
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    >>I'll be a programmer, and I'll have a life

    were allowed to have a life.....no $$$$ man.....i need to get me one of those!

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