Is Your Profession Programming?

[Lster]

Hi!

Myself, I program just for fun and hope to get a job someday. I was wondering how many of you program for a living?

[amingv]

I wish I had a job that involved programming, and not the mediocre thing I get paid for... Well, it's better than nothing.

So I just do it for fun...

[OoooMatron]

I work as a full time programmer. I have my dream(ish) job just now. I program on Linux servers with what ever I want to use. I also program in php and run all our servers on Debian.

I program our connecting application with Visual Studio Net (VB) and for that I use virtualbox with XP installed.

Life is good to get paid a good salary for doing everything I want to.

[hod139]

I'm a grad student in computer science, so I said yes, even though technically student is not a profession :)

[sloggerkhan]

I think there should be a 'maybe someday' option for those still in school.

[amingv]

I work as a full time programmer. I have my dream(ish) job just now. I program on Linux servers with what ever I want to use. I also program in php and run all our servers on Debian.

I program our connecting application with Visual Studio Net (VB) and for that I use virtualbox with XP installed.

Life is good to get paid a good salary for doing everything I want to.

Rub it in, won't ya? :)

[Lster]

I think there should be a 'maybe someday' option for those still in school.

I agree actually. If moderators think it's appropriate, they are welcome to add that option. :)

I'm a grad student in computer science, so I said yes, even though technically student is not a profession

In two or three years time I'll be heading to university too. I hope to do computer science and maths together if possible.

[Fbot1]

In two or three years time I'll be heading to university too. I hope to do computer science and maths together if possible.

As in having both as majors? I don't see why not.

[Lster]

Well I'm not American so I not quite sure what majors are. Are they like your first subject? But math and programming are my two favorite subjects.

On a very tangential note, I realized as I typed "favorite", that I'm using the American spelling. Same for "realized". No wonder I got a "D" in English! :)

[scruff]

I also have my dream job as a Linux Admin that involves programming. My previous job that I held for 3 years was with an awesome company that produced a Linux based product and I was able to do quite a bit of programming to automate certain test tasks.

There's nothing like getting paid lots of money to do what you love :)

[Fbot1]

Well I'm not American so I not quite sure what majors are. Are they like your first subject? But math and programming are my two favorite subjects.


I see, in that case you can't. Majors are like your first subject but some what different.

[Lster]

There's nothing like getting paid lots of money to do what you love :)

Life is good to get paid a good salary for doing everything I want to.

Indeed, I would love to get to that position. :)

I wish I had a job that involved programming, and not the mediocre thing I get paid for... Well, it's better than nothing.

So I just do it for fun...

Hoping for the best for you. :)

[fwre01]

I think im the only person who doesnt program, but im a Cisco engineer, id like to do some programming in the future, but im able to at least add my 2 cents in the network section of the forum! :-)

[amingv]

Hoping for the best for you. :)

Thank you :). I do believe that someday I will get a programming related job, but I need to get cracking first. Even if I don't get it there will always be Open Source to fall back on.

Best for you too :).

[Lster]

I think im the only person who doesnt program, but im a Cisco engineer, id like to do some programming in the future, but im able to at least add my 2 cents in the network section of the forum!

That is, along with graphics, my least experienced part of programming. I've done a few client/ server applications but haven't ventured too far!

[themusicwave]

I'm a Software Engineer/ programmer for a living. I graduated with my B.S. in Software Engineering last May and have been working ever since.

I develop supervisory control systems for the plastics industry. Basically remote controls for factories. Currently this is done in a mixture of VBScript and C#. I despise VBScript.

I am slowly moving them toward alternate technologies. I just got approval to do a Linux system using Java which I am excited about.

I have also managed to work in some python for build scripts and such.

My current project is a Java system to monitor devices, log the data to Postgresql and then generate reports using Open Office.

Not my dream job, but some experience!

[Zeotronic]

I program for fun. I am straight out of Highschool, and am yet unemployed. I had a programming course my Jr and Sr year but the instructor didn't know programming, the school has assigned the task to a Networking instructor and hoped for the best, so I am largely self educated. I hope to find a job programming, but only because it would be relatively secure... I would much rather make a living programming Open Source games, but of course that would be quite the difficult reality to fulfill.

[Joeb454]

I'm one of the Students :)

Though I'm doing BSc Computer Science at University, so we do some programming in that, and I'm forever doing it outside of Uni too ;)

[Borbus]

At the moment I just program for fun, but I intend to make a living out of it when I finish Uni.

[supirman]

I'm an embedded systems engineer. I spend my days jumping back and forth between 'large' embedded systems running linux and your more traditional 'super-loop' style embedded systems. I spend a lot of time doing low level hardware-software interfacing and low level communications protocols which means I have my oscilloscope fired up watching signals and timing. Being able to switch back and forth gives me the best of both worlds and keeps me enjoying this type of work for now.

Edit:
I guess I should add that I have a B.E in Electrical/Computer Engineering and a M.S. in Electrical/Computer Engineering. Also, for anybody who likes the low level details of how things work, quality embedded systems engineers are in increasingly high demand with a limited current supply -- hence salaries are _very_ good :)

[ghostdog74]

@moderators. How about moving this thread to somewhere else.

[yabbadabbadont]

How about an option on the poll for us unemployed programmers?

[Zeotronic]

How about an option on the poll for us unemployed programmers?
While that would be interesting, I don't feel particularly left out. But I can only speak for myself.

[Joeb454]

@moderators. How about moving this thread to somewhere else.

I think you're hinting at the cafe...I can see why it would be moved there...but at the same time, this is still Programming Talk

Just not programming talk in the way you expect (problems - answers)

:)

[Wybiral]

I think you're hinting at the cafe...I can see why it would be moved there...but at the same time, this is still Programming Talk

Just not programming talk in the way you expect (problems - answers)

:)

But, it's not called "programming Q&A" or "programming help" it's "programming talk". So all programming related topics should be welcome.

[yabbadabbadont]

My understanding is that this forum is for support related requests. As are most of the main forums. All other conversations belong in either the Cafe or the Backyard.

[Wybiral]

My understanding is that this forum is for support related requests. As are most of the main forums. All other conversations belong in either the Cafe or the Backyard.

The topic says "This forum is for all programming questions." and the OP is a question related to programming. It seems to fit, IMO. I personally never really thought of this as strictly a programming Q&A forum.

[slavik]

I am forced to do Windows administration and write vbs/batch scripts ... :(

[Zwack]

Background...

I have a degree (BSc) in Applied Physics which included all sorts of Fortran77 and 8086 assembly bits...

I have a degree (MSc) in Software Technology which is basically Computer Science/Software Engineering...

I worked as a Software Engineer for several years and gradually moved into Unix Systems Administration (Sun Solaris, Hp-UX, IBM AIX and Linux)...

So I put down "sometimes" as I write both compiled programs and interpreted scripts for work...


Oh, and given the discussion of Schools, Sex and pointers I don't think that this is an unacceptable topic for here.

Z.

[vishzilla]

I have completed my engineering degree in Computer Science, I am currently looking for a job in software development. I've special interest in Open Source too.

[stevescripts]

I am a toolmaker by trade (read that, machinist with a fancy toolbox).

Our small family business is involved in designing/building special machinery/special tooling for manufacturing.

I occasionally write programs to test/interact with the PLCs that
run some of these machines.

I also run a small network at the business, and have written several
programs that we use on a daily basis.

I pick up the occasional programming pay-gig, other than that,
programming is a hobby that I truly enjoy.

Thread seems topical to me, (but, what do I know?) ;)

Steve

[mridkash]

Is university education in Computer science "really" required for understanding programming from core, or you can do it with books?
I'm a lot confused at that, as I love programming but not as much as physics. And I want to merge them, so I'm going for a physics degree.
Any suggestions?

[popch]

Is university education in Computer science "really" required for understanding programming from core, or you can do it with books?
I'm a lot confused at that, as I love programming but not as much as physics. And I want to merge them, so I'm going for a physics degree.
Any suggestions?

Take courses, by all means, if you can do so at all. But select courses which teach 'programming' (in general) and not those teaching a particular language.

[Zwack]

Is university education in Computer science "really" required for understanding programming from core, or you can do it with books?
I'm a lot confused at that, as I love programming but not as much as physics. And I want to merge them, so I'm going for a physics degree.
Any suggestions?

Books work, courses work... Interest is most important.

I have a degree in Physics and another in Computer Science/Software Engineering...

If you're interested in both then study both.

Z.

[Siph0n]

I write some python scripts at work to help me work more efficiently. I'm also applying actively for a developer position, so I can program full time! :)

[Mithrilhall]

I do some occasional web development (asp/php).

[jcwmoore]

Still a student, but in May I'll be a full time programmer. Although I will be working for a MS shop, but I guess I can't have everything...

[Lster]

I write some python scripts at work to help me work more efficiently. I'm also applying actively for a developer position, so I can program full time! :)

Good luck with that. :)

[mustang]

I'm an embedded systems engineer. I spend my days jumping back and forth between 'large' embedded systems running linux and your more traditional 'super-loop' style embedded systems. I spend a lot of time doing low level hardware-software interfacing and low level communications protocols which means I have my oscilloscope fired up watching signals and timing. Being able to switch back and forth gives me the best of both worlds and keeps me enjoying this type of work for now.

Edit:
I guess I should add that I have a B.E in Electrical/Computer Engineering and a M.S. in Electrical/Computer Engineering. Also, for anybody who likes the low level details of how things work, quality embedded systems engineers are in increasingly high demand with a limited current supply -- hence salaries are _very_ good :)

That's really good to know :)

I want to be an embedded programmer one day and my dream job would be working on the ECU & control systems inside cars.

Just about to finish my BS and then off for my MS in the fall...

[supirman]

That's really good to know :)

I want to be an embedded programmer one day and my dream job would be working on the ECU & control systems inside cars.

Just about to finish my BS and then off for my MS in the fall...

Most embedded folks that I know have a background as electrical engineering, so hopefully you're going down that path. A substantial part of being an embedded engineer typically involves reading schematics and working directly with the hardware.

I'd suggest spending time learning and playing with some of the more common communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, CAN bus, etc. From my experience, these are essential. Also learn to configure microcontrollers and their built-in peripherals by reading/writing registers, etc.

For a cheap price, you can get an 8051 development board for really cheap from www.silabs.com. They have usb toolstick modules for about $25 (http://www.silabs.com/tgwWebApp/public/web_content/products/Microcontrollers/en/USBToolStick.htm) and it contains the debugger, processor, etc - very cool. I believe the software tools require windows.

[kaens]

I am currently making a living doing freelance programming work, mostly off of rentacoder, with a few repeat clients.

I'm hoping to get something a bit more stable soon, as rentacoder is a bit . . . annoying.

[mustang]

Most embedded folks that I know have a background as electrical engineering, so hopefully you're going down that path. A substantial part of being an embedded engineer typically involves reading schematics and working directly with the hardware.

I'd suggest spending time learning and playing with some of the more common communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, CAN bus, etc. From my experience, these are essential. Also learn to configure microcontrollers and their built-in peripherals by reading/writing registers, etc.

For a cheap price, you can get an 8051 development board for really cheap from www.silabs.com. They have usb toolstick modules for about $25 (http://www.silabs.com/tgwWebApp/public/web_content/products/Microcontrollers/en/USBToolStick.htm) and it contains the debugger, processor, etc - very cool. I believe the software tools require windows.

Thanks for the advice. I probably need more practice with the protocols. I have will have completed my BS in CSE and I'll be going for a MS in CS so my path might be slightly different than most.

Here's my senior design project blog in case you're interested: http://abstc.blogspot.com/

(my name is Manish on there)

[rendon]

I have my first full-time programming/development job now, I started it about half a year ago. Before that I frequently found freelance work making webpage applications and setting up websites for people.

If you are eager to do this work and don't have any experience, I can encourage you to continue programming, learning, and "making things" as much as you can. Also, become involved with the programming community (as you seem to be doing already), and try to get answers to all of the questions you have.

After time your skills will develop and people will start to hear about it. They'll refer to you with a lot of questions, probably questions you don't know the answers to at first, but you will learn, and maybe get a reputation for being "that computer guy", and you will also learn more this way.

I still get random phone calls from people who want to set up a website, do some design work, fix a computer, etc. Some of which I'm willing to do as a favor for a friend, but most of which I would expect to get paid for because I have a lot of experience and not much freetime.

The more work you do, the more you can add to your resume or "portfolio" so to speak, and this is good too, because being a programmer is kind of like being an artist. People want to see what you've done before, and they can assess your talent by looking at your previous projects. So, also, you should always take pride in your work and make every project your last one, meaning: do your best job on everything.

Remeber that people are suckers for "pretty graphix" (unfortunately they care more about this more than they care about the quality of the pogramming). So you will benifit from spending a lot of time on the visual aspect of your work.

I won't go into the importance of security ;)

I'm not a seasoned pro or anything, but this is my experience with the work world. I have a friend who would tell you that you need certificates and the like, and he may be right about that too, but these words are just my personal experience. He would gear you up to go work in a big company and to be an expert. You can do that too, but I think these days a lot of small and medium sized companies are looking for personal programmers, and freelance work is all over the place. So that is another avenue for you to consider.

I create web applications with flash and ajax, user interfaces, online company tools, server side databases, etc...

Interesting thread!

[supirman]

Thanks for the advice. I probably need more practice with the protocols. I have will have completed my BS in CSE and I'll be going for a MS in CS so my path might be slightly different than most.

Here's my senior design project blog in case you're interested: http://abstc.blogspot.com/

(my name is Manish on there)

Looks like a neat project. Most of your entry-level embedded systems jobs would likely want you to at least have some familiarity with the different communications protocols, but certainly you wouldn't have to be an expert. Best of luck to you!

[HuBaghdadi]

Yes, I'm a Java application developer (playing around Python and Erlang from time to time).