What do you do in the real world?

[Molly]

I started as a webdesigner, but I got a job at forfront.net and I'm forced to learn just about everything so I can be useful wehn their is not designing to do, a present I'm building coffee tables!!

[Red Sentinel]

Originally Posted by sde

the idea is for this site to be a programming community for everyone, and people new to programming don't have to worry about getting flamed when asking simple questions.

That's especially comforting to me, since I've had to flat out stop going to most forums because the elitism was so overwhelming. I got sick of "lawl do we have 2 sticky a link 2 g00gle or sumthing? ," when I asked for opinions I couldn't get from general info sites on google.

So, what do I do when I'm not knee-deep in computer? Well, it's hard not ot be knee-deep in computer. I write, design websites, attend college for computer science, and play tabletop RPGs and TCGs.

I'm in Laura Calhoun's C++ class at SMCC, and I live in constant anxiety over the possibility randomly finding a classmate online.

[sde]

hey sentinal, nice to have ya on the board. is the SM in SMCC for santa monica? we have a few southern ca users around here.

[Red Sentinel]

Originally Posted by sde

hey sentinal, nice to have ya on the board. is the SM in SMCC for santa monica? we have a few southern ca users around here.

Nah, southwest Mississippi. I'm up to my armpits in rednecks down here. I've got some pallies in southern Cali, though.

[sde]

knee deep in computers and up to yor armpits in rednecks. sounds like fun!

[Red Sentinel]

Originally Posted by sde

knee deep in computers and up to yor armpits in rednecks. sounds like fun!

And up to my eyeballs in homework!

I do believe that's enough of the silly turns of phrase for now. Hopefully.

[superaly]

i'm an IT Auditor. unfortunately i don't get to do a lot of programming on the job, but i still enjoy messing around in my spare time.

[rdove]

Originally Posted by rdove

Right now I am an Application Developer. I mainly am working with ASP and SQL Server most of the day. I also am in the middle of rearchitecting our systems and converting them to a .NET platform.

My education background is I have a BS in Computer & Information Technology from Purdue University. I have a MCP in ASP.NET/VB.NET. I am currently working towards my MCSD. and in the spring I am looking to possibly start an MBA program with the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University.

When I'm not at work i'm pretty much just trying to have fun and party, which is what ever single guy is trying to do.

Probably time to update my position (been REALLY busy for a while)

I was promoted to Senior Application Developer about 6 months ago and I have had my MCSD for the better part fo a year now. Working on the upgrade exam to the MCPD in entreprise solutions.

[sde]

awsome, Ryan is back

[AssKoala]

University student at Georgiatech studying for BS in Computer Science and BS in Mechanical Engineering.

I'll be working at Electronic Arts over the summer

[ChefFrank]

Stating the obvious, when I'm not at home, I'm the banquet chef at a resort in Western Connecticut.

However, my IT background is long and varied. I started in the operations of a Fortune 5 company (at that time, that is) in 1978, and got into the Operating Systems group from there. I moved to the 2nd largest US bank in 1980, and was one of the designers of the first home banking systems. My management there was really into building new technology, and while I was there designed one of the first practical RSA-based public key encryption systems for email. I also designed the computer center and developed one of the first concentrated operations center for all systems in our network (spread out over many states). I jumped ship after 4 years and went to a large financial information provider and earned a couple of patents on some innovative network testing hardware. After that, I consulted for about 15 years, working on some leading edge projects, including the first real-time stock trade clearing system for NASDAQ, and a fully automated AI-based COW (Cash On Wire) and accounting system for a major brokerage. I ended up going back to the bank where I started and managed a development group maintaining the same homebanking system I designed some 20 years earlier (my name was still in a lot of comments in the code). I retired in mid 2001 and started doing something that I really liked.

I worked in many languages, and on many platforms - some of which are actually in museums now - LOL!! Let's see - BASIC, COBOL, JOVIAL,FORTRAN, PASCAL, C, LISP, and several ALGOL derivatives and most recently (2000), JAVA. I designed several languages myself, including something called "Jaberwok" which was a scripting language for system testing.

I actually own and understand the "Red Dragon" book.

I learned HTML about 1999, and now is starting to learn PHP and Javascript (which has no relationship to JAVA, so I found out).

Any questions?

Frank

[redhead]

Let's see - BASIC, COBOL, JOVIAL,FORTRAN, PASCAL, C, LISP, and several ALGOL derivatives

Hmmm... come to think of it, I dont think of any of those as beeing museums materials, but more as an excelent starting point to actualy learn the basics of programming cultural as well as programming structures.

I actually own and understand the "Red Dragon" book.

LOL, me too, not to mention the red book, green book, blue book, white book, orange book, purple book, silver book, yellow book, aluminium book... I own too many computer related books...

[teknomage1]

I dig the compiler design book as well. I hear they're releasing an update this year. No word on the color of the dragon though.

[Belisarius]

I barely remember my compiler course. It's neat you're from CT - my family originally hails from New Canaan. No one still lives there as of a few years ago - cost of living is too high there. Great part of the country though. Just wish the roads weren't so congested - paved cow paths just aren't meant to handle that level of traffic.

[ChefFrank]

Originally Posted by teknomage1

I dig the compiler design book as well. I hear they're releasing an update this year. No word on the color of the dragon though.

It will be the Purple Dragon Book. Honest!

Frank