Page 3 - How old are you?

19.

Hmmm, I'll be 52 Saturday. If I can learn .NET, get certified, and get a job developing with .NET at 50, you young guys/gals ought to be able to keep up....

Wonder if I'm the oldest contributer here? 16 is the youngest I've seen posted (congratulations, there were no personal computers when I was 16).

Actually rclark, JimmyGosling is 68. He learned how to program at the tender age of 11 using a Turing machine, some sewing needles, and his father's old golashes.


In all reality - you might be the oldest, I'm not sure -- we should get some more ppl to speak up and tell their age!

I'm sure the devshedders would like this thread!

Roger - that's quite cool to start programming in such age... probably better than just sit home. so far you're the oldest among those who posted here, unless medianox wasn't joking.....

I was j/k, Gosling's like late thirties or something - who knows.


Why? Is it because it has nothing to do with programming/computers/this board whatsoever? yeah I guess you're right



Yeah Rog - that's awesome. You should start teaching classes to displaced factory workers or something - get them started in IT. We really need to figure out what to do with that sector of the workforce (which has since dropped out of the workforce and off the unemployment charts due to the fact that they are no longer *looking* for jobs. Kudos on diving in at a time when many are preparing to hang up the towel -- you are an inspiration.

Well, thanks for the accolades, but I've been programming since I was 20, just re-inventing myself from time to time. CP/M to DOS, DOS to Windows, Windows to Better Windows (3.1 it became somewhat stable), Win95, 98, 2K, XP. Many different languages and 4GLs along the way. I was doing web development in ASP at my last job, so the transition to .NET was not impossible though it's certainly a different mindset than traditional ASP. The market was very bad when I lost my last job and I knew I'd be looking for a while (7 Months in the end). As I scanned the market, I kept seeing .NET programmers needed so I bought some books and learned the .NET framework and C# from the ground up, took the exam and got my MCP. I've since switched to VB.NET and I'm quite happy in my current position as IT Director at an Automotive Parts seller (we buy parts for German cars from Germany and re-sell to the shops that fix them here). I do the entire e-commerce system including the web, backend services, and backend database (MS-SQL).

I use the web for resources when I run into a road block and I try to give back some of my expertise in return which is why I'm here.

It's funny, when I started programming 32 years ago, everyone was older than me. Now, everyone is younger. No problem, I'm keeping up just fine

Wow, do I feel like a major terd - I just assumed from reading shadow wizard's comment. Y'know what happens when we assume? That's right. Kudos anyway - I hope to be as shrewd with my technologies in 30 years or so. Yoiu are still an inspiration!


Oh BTW - you were programming when I didn't exist and any way, shape, form, or thought.... that's creepy

lol, indeed, who does know. I like your back story though. Makes me look like invented the original transistor radio. In fact, I'm 25, the birthdate I give in my profile however is the production date of my mustang. The older woman as I like to call her.

Ahhh yes... I see. So then we are partners in Ford. For some reason I placed you in your thirties based on your avatar and posting style. 25 though - I woulda never guessed it. crazy world we live in - crazy world.

well, so I meant "start programming in .NET at such age"...
that's lots of experience Roger... very neat! what brought you into this forum, though? I can't imagine you having problem, you always just help others.

It's true I haven't posted many problems of my own here, but I have certainly had some. Also, by reading other's solutions, I have learned (or re-learned) how to do some things more efficiantly than the way I was doing them before. Also, I tend to code up a solution for someone before posting it, so I learn what works and what doesn't for a variety of situations I may someday find myself in (also, I don't look like an idiot by posting something that doesn't work....)

As someone else said, this is a very friendly place to hang out too!

I can't see myself doing anything else as I really enjoy programming and the challenges of building the boss' ideas into working applications.

Mustang huh? My current ride is a 2004 Mach1 with a mod or two...