Thread: Where and How did you learn to program?

  1. #16
    Registered User lpaulgib's Avatar
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    I've been teaching myself for a while now. I started out learning C++, but after finding it difficult to understand some of the more "advanced" C++ ideas without any real coding experience I didn't actually grasp WHY I was doing some things. So I went back and learned Perl, which is completely different, but being able to actually write useful scripts quickly peaked my interest and got me to understand concepts enough to go back to C++.

    The only thing C++ has taught me is how little I know about C++.

  2. #17
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    Started programming in Basic around age 11-12 and C / C++ around 13. Had a bunch of books, but this was the early '90s so don't really recall which ones they were. Wasn't till around '98 that I really started to get serious and became good at programming.
    You ever try a pink golf ball, Wally? Why, the wind shear on a pink ball alone can take the head clean off a 90 pound midget at 300 yards.

  3. #18
    That weird Java guy xniinja's Avatar
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    first youtube with thenewboston. He stops at tutorial #15 so after that it was just random places all over the web.

  4. #19
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Seems like a bit of a bragging thread.

    What matters is what you're doing now, not when you started. I work with some incredible programmers who were herding cows until they were 26 (no kidding). I started way, way before that, but we're peers.

    At any rate, started in 1985 on a C64, bumped up to a PC, then assembly language, then C and C++ followed sometime around 1993. I went through a period of about 8 years where I wanted to be a Buddhist priest, then somehow came back to programming and here I am. At any rate, don't worry about it.
    Code:
    //try
    //{
    	if (a) do { f( b); } while(1);
    	else   do { f(!b); } while(1);
    //}

  5. #20
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by brewbuck View Post
    I went through a period of about 8 years where I wanted to be a Buddhist priest, then somehow came back to programming
    I'm currently seriously contemplating leaving professional programming life for good. I'm honestly tired of it. And I never did really enjoyed it much since after a few years into the business, sometime around the mid 90s.

    When I pursued my lifelong dream of owning my own family-friendly bookstore and that crashed not long after 1 year later, I got back to this life -- renewed; trying to get into the high spirits of my early days. But it's clear to me now that I just can't cope with the corporate environment or the assembly-line type of programming that the industry turned itself into.

    I love programming though. That will always stay with me and will always do it in a personal capacity, if I can and while I can. Who knows, maybe I'm not entirely an has-been. I feel I have a lot more to give outside this crappy environment we currently work on. I strongly feel retirement or a quieter and more modest life as a lighthouse keeper, or a librarian, will make me a happier and more productive person.

    Hearing you, reminds me of this.

    As for the thread, I started in the mid 80s on a ZX Spectrum and ever since I want out.

    EDIT:
    I'm also very interested in child or elderly care (I love both children and the elderly). Last time I checked, though, nursing courses put you on one of the highest unemployments lists in the country
    Last edited by Mario F.; 08-18-2010 at 07:32 PM.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  6. #21
    Programming Wraith GReaper's Avatar
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    All started when in senior high school i asked my teacher how could i make a program.
    Here in Greece a translated "language" is taught, for educational purposes ( It's identical to Pascal ) . She showed me the way and from that moment i became "in love" with programming!!
    Started with "Just Basic", after that i looked a little into "Pascal". But since i started "C++" i couldn't think of anything else. I downloaded tons of tutorials, e-books, exercises and even some very advansed tutorials on efficiency and algorithm construction, later of course.
    Its been only 2,5 years since i started programming, but i feel like i don't even need to get to a college for this! But i will in a few weeks, because i can understand that you never know enough...

    Of course, this forums has helped me A LOT in the process!! So thank you guys!!!

    I'm currently learning assembly, MASM and FASM, and trying to understand the exe formats!
    Last edited by GReaper; 08-19-2010 at 01:08 PM. Reason: Forgot again!
    Devoted my life to programming...

  7. #22
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    I too don't see the point. It's like asking "Where and How did you learn to program?". Programming is only a very small piece of solving problems, and solving them well.

  8. #23
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    Lets see, how did I learn programming...

    I guess I did it like I most other things that interested me... Climb in, start blundering around, do a lot of reading and (hopefully) come out the other end just a little bit smarter than when I went in...

    Been at this a long time... Started in Basic, moved on to Pascal, now C... Still haven't found the nerve (or a good reason) to try OOP based coding.

  9. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by RialnisMada View Post
    The title says it all, but I would like to know this so I can get a good start on programming so I won't waste time and money.

    Of course C++ is the most popular language, but if you started with something else please let me know. I am just wondering how you got from Point A to Point B!
    I learned how to program in college. However, the professor had little to do with my knowledge. To be honest, getting good comes from a lot of practice and hours of trial and error. You will need a C programming textbook for reference, but ones you get past remembering the different code, it all comes down to logic and trial and error, or if your good.... trial WITHOUT error

    Good luck.

  10. #25
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
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    You need a C programming textbook for reference? In 1950 perhaps, but not today.
    All you need is Internet and a proper reference manual for your language of choice. C will not get you very far in the modern world.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  11. #26
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    I wish this thread would RIP.

  12. #27
    Master Apprentice phantomotap's Avatar
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    I wish this thread would RIP.
    O_o

    And now it never will...

    Soma

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