2010-12-06, 02:42 PM
1. How did you get interested in computer programming?
I never programmed until I got to college and took my first course in C. I thought it was pretty cool, but I really didn't dive deep into it until I found Lambda's WZ unpacker in 2007. I used that script to create the 4th job skill tables. Then once I figured out how to configure his script for my own wants, I quickly became a python programmer and now have extensively developed my own scripts.
2. How many years have you been computer programming? (Regardless of degree)
About 4 years.
3. What type of programmer are you, specifically? What do you specialize in?
I can program in anything, but I tend to focus on Java, Python, C, and PHP. I also focus on usability design (see "Don't Make Me Think!" by Steve Krug), very clean programming, encryption and obfuscation, and permanent storage solutions.
4. What skills are typically involved in your profession? What things do you have to know and learn?
The absolute necessity for being a computer programmer is to learn to think about abstraction. So instead of thinking about "scruffy the dog barking" you think of "an animal speaking". Instead of thinking "I know Java" just think "The only difference between languages is syntax". Learning to think about abstraction is absolutely pivotal in computer programming.
Other than abstraction, being able to use logic is also required. After programming for a while, you should be able to envision the program in your head - all the ifs, whiles, and for loops - and imagine how all of the different functions, classes, and methods work together to design the best program for your requirements and use cases.
When people think about computer programming, they all tend to focus on sitting down and writing code. In reality, this only consumes about 10% of your time. The other 90% is figuring out what the customer wants your code to do, developing use cases and unit testing, talking with a team about implementation, then doing the actual coding. To see an example of this, do a google search for Agile and XP methods of programming. You'll notice that although there is a lot of focus on the code, very little time is actually spent programming compared to other procedures. You have to be able to learn to talk to people who know jack squat about computers and turn that into a program that works exactly as they want it.
5. What level of math skills are needed in doing your profession?
Very little. Learning basic trigonometry could be useful in programming 2D applications and linear algebra is necessary for 3D applications, but learning basic boolean logic and bitwise operators is much more important.
6. Do you use math on a regular basis? How about higher level math?
I do use math, but it's not the kind of math that they would teach you using algebra. Learning hexadecimal (base 16 numbering) is completely essential for me since I work in binary (base 2) a lot. I rarely use higher level math. Advanced forms of encryption (AES) also uses simple bitwise operators.
7. Do you feel a college degree is necessary to be a computer programmer? How about when trying to find a job?
A college degree is not necessary to become a computer programmer. Anyone can do it. But companies won't even take a second glance at you unless you have a bachelor's degree. You might be able to get by with an associates, but having a bachelors is better.
8. If you are employed in this field, how much work do you have to do? Are the hours satisfactory?
The work I have to do is dependent on how much is required of me. Since most of the work I do is journalism, there's very little work when there are no stories going on. That gives me more time to develop new scripts that I can use. There is always something to do. I can never code enough to satisfy me. This is what keeps me going.
9. How much are you payed annually in this field?
I only make $2000 - 3000/year, but that's because I only do the work in my spare time. Real computer programmers make 15x - 20x that.
10. Does your profession cause you any stress? How often do you encounter problems?
It does cause stress, but it's the good kind of stress. Encountering problems is daily. The whole job of working as a computer programmer is learning about problems in your code and rectifying it and learning about problems and solutions that the customer wants and correcting your code for that. It can be stressful when there's miscommunication, especially when there's a bug in my scripts that causes me to spew out bad information!
I never programmed until I got to college and took my first course in C. I thought it was pretty cool, but I really didn't dive deep into it until I found Lambda's WZ unpacker in 2007. I used that script to create the 4th job skill tables. Then once I figured out how to configure his script for my own wants, I quickly became a python programmer and now have extensively developed my own scripts.
2. How many years have you been computer programming? (Regardless of degree)
About 4 years.
3. What type of programmer are you, specifically? What do you specialize in?
I can program in anything, but I tend to focus on Java, Python, C, and PHP. I also focus on usability design (see "Don't Make Me Think!" by Steve Krug), very clean programming, encryption and obfuscation, and permanent storage solutions.
4. What skills are typically involved in your profession? What things do you have to know and learn?
The absolute necessity for being a computer programmer is to learn to think about abstraction. So instead of thinking about "scruffy the dog barking" you think of "an animal speaking". Instead of thinking "I know Java" just think "The only difference between languages is syntax". Learning to think about abstraction is absolutely pivotal in computer programming.
Other than abstraction, being able to use logic is also required. After programming for a while, you should be able to envision the program in your head - all the ifs, whiles, and for loops - and imagine how all of the different functions, classes, and methods work together to design the best program for your requirements and use cases.
When people think about computer programming, they all tend to focus on sitting down and writing code. In reality, this only consumes about 10% of your time. The other 90% is figuring out what the customer wants your code to do, developing use cases and unit testing, talking with a team about implementation, then doing the actual coding. To see an example of this, do a google search for Agile and XP methods of programming. You'll notice that although there is a lot of focus on the code, very little time is actually spent programming compared to other procedures. You have to be able to learn to talk to people who know jack squat about computers and turn that into a program that works exactly as they want it.
5. What level of math skills are needed in doing your profession?
Very little. Learning basic trigonometry could be useful in programming 2D applications and linear algebra is necessary for 3D applications, but learning basic boolean logic and bitwise operators is much more important.
6. Do you use math on a regular basis? How about higher level math?
I do use math, but it's not the kind of math that they would teach you using algebra. Learning hexadecimal (base 16 numbering) is completely essential for me since I work in binary (base 2) a lot. I rarely use higher level math. Advanced forms of encryption (AES) also uses simple bitwise operators.
7. Do you feel a college degree is necessary to be a computer programmer? How about when trying to find a job?
A college degree is not necessary to become a computer programmer. Anyone can do it. But companies won't even take a second glance at you unless you have a bachelor's degree. You might be able to get by with an associates, but having a bachelors is better.
8. If you are employed in this field, how much work do you have to do? Are the hours satisfactory?
The work I have to do is dependent on how much is required of me. Since most of the work I do is journalism, there's very little work when there are no stories going on. That gives me more time to develop new scripts that I can use. There is always something to do. I can never code enough to satisfy me. This is what keeps me going.
9. How much are you payed annually in this field?
I only make $2000 - 3000/year, but that's because I only do the work in my spare time. Real computer programmers make 15x - 20x that.
10. Does your profession cause you any stress? How often do you encounter problems?
It does cause stress, but it's the good kind of stress. Encountering problems is daily. The whole job of working as a computer programmer is learning about problems in your code and rectifying it and learning about problems and solutions that the customer wants and correcting your code for that. It can be stressful when there's miscommunication, especially when there's a bug in my scripts that causes me to spew out bad information!