Computer science, research, management, and other aspects of the computers trade are far better in terms of intellectual challenge, social interaction, prestige, travel, and simply getting outside the office. These also correlate with what is scientifically known to be healthy (e.g. those who get more social interaction tend to be happier).

There are definitely high prestige jobs in computers. For example, the research labs, the top Universities, the cushy companies (Google, Microsoft, Apple) that have a reputation for good pay and a good working environment.

But if you don’t like it, try something else! No worries, eh :-)

“……Actual coding is only 10% of the technical side of software development. The other 90% is knowing the the libraries and the idiosyncrasies of the tools. It really takes months working with a new tool to get proficient with it…….”

is a very serious problem and is worth reflecting…..more……

this is what he said.

I don’t think that a civil engineer who “does not know how to use a cell phone” will be “penalized” as you said.
My dear friend, civil engineering is a broad field, a very very broad field, as are all branches of engineering.

I have worked up into a management position (without an IT degree) and have spent plenty of time on both sides of the interview table. From what I have seen there are two types of people in the field: smart, creative individuals who posess a genuine talent for programming and hacks who have the tech degrees and the alphabet soup of technical acronyms on their resumes but no real aptitute or love for the work. For the former, a world of opportunity awaits them if they are willing to pay some dues and keep learning. The latter will find a bitter and unsatisfying job with long, hard hours – which is pretty much the penalty for anyone who chooses a career that doesn’t suit them. Same job, different perception.

Yes, you will most likely find more money and prestige in society as a doctor, lawyer, stockbroker, or accountant. No arguing that point. However, I have watched PLENTY of people get churned and burned from all of those fields because they got into them for the wrong reasons (usually money and prestige), often blowing huge amounts of money on an expensive education that never gets used. Eventually, one realizes that true happiness in life has very little to do with what others think about you and much more with spending most of your waking hours doing something that you find truly satisfying. Sounds cliche, but it’s a true cliche.

Obviously a bit of luck is involved, but there will be plenty of opportunities in programming for the forseeable future for those who truly enjoy writing code, are good at problem solving, can handle stress, and (this is a big one) live in an area where there is a high demand for IT workers. And yes, from what I have seen there are still plenty of opportunities here onshore.

I love my Career in Programming, I almost always stay way past my ‘home time’ because I’m usually focused on what I’m doing I forget the time.

Yes a lot of it is debugging and maintaining other peoples code, but for me debugging is like breathing; majority of the time I can pick out the error using ‘Zen programming’ I need but put at most two break points, to fix a bug.

Reading others code *can* be a difficult at first, but for me once I’ve seen one project/ module by someone, readings becomes pretty easy, in fact at times it makes me a better programmer because I get to see how others take different routes/methods and it becomes a ‘ahh’ moment, sometimes there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Of course there are some ‘bad’ days, they do happen say for example some strange issue pops and no one can seem to resolve it, but that only challenges me to find a solution. The greatest part is once a solution is found it becomes an excellent experience, which only goes to expand the knowledge further.

As for customers, I find it takes around two to three ’rounds’ of software development/release/debug/release cycles before ‘nailing it’. I have some applications that I’ve built in 2005 and they are still in everyday use, working with no bugs, just the occasional request for ADDITIONAL functions now and then.

I usually go home and continue on personal programming projects/ and or more freelance work. And on weekends I do what I call project weekends where I try to learn completely new things.

It has always taken me no more than two weeks to pick up an new language or technology.

Once you know how to program, then language is totally irrelevant, if you can’t pick up a language in less than two weeks (OK some may take longer) then your not a programmer your a code monkey.

As for social life, I have plenty. Becoming ‘Popular’ in class from School to Uni to work is easy. Once you learn about human behaviour you understand how to read body language. Its easy to become popular. I have my own formulae.Give me about three weeks on any course, in any Uni/College/School;/Work place and I guarantee I’ll leave with everyone wanting me to be their ‘best’ friend (I’ve done it many times over that’s why I’m confident I can do it again). I’m not being arrogant, BUT anyone can become the ‘Man’ or ‘Popular’ having all the girls wanting to hang with them, if they just put their mind to it.

And no programmers are not skinny/fat Nerds, I’m muscular and fit, and train in (multiple) martial arts, I know many other developers who don’t look like ‘programmers’. So get that stereo type out of your head now.

And yes having a background in CS it very very advantageous, I have a Master in advanced CS, which I did out of the passion to expand my knowledge.

Bottom Line, there are REAL programmers and then there are CODERS.

Please leave the real programming to REAL programmers.

The best part is companies paying me for what I love doing!

Good Night People.

Sigma clearly is an arrogant a$$. The easiest example is his explanation of older programmers not having the ability to learn new technologies. Does he even stop to think that we programmers are stepping on the shoulders of COBOL/Assembly programmers before us? It was them that paved the way for this industry. They were the flagship.

Likewise, does he even stop to think that those people who have programmed for 20 years are just tired of programming and want a career change and that is why they choose management? I am 32 and have been programming for 10 years and I’m bored. Not because of ability but because I know I can do it and well. Thus, I would like to pursue something else that will challenge me. I don’t know what that is right now but I will find out.

As far as people’s comments about the ease of migrating from one language to another, I have this question, “Why is it that several companies in my region who are looking for ASP.Net developers with 5-10 years of experience are shying away from my resume when I have 10 years of Delphi experience and two years of ASP.Net?”

It’s quite frustrating trying to find a job with ASP.Net or .Net. Many companies are adamant that they want 5-10 years. Who actually has this much experience in .Net? Am I really being beat out by foreigners?

Thank you.