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• time*treat

  

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  Dec 7, 2007, 4:31 pm

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  I'm wondering how people got to their current level of programming skill. I learned far, far more from the books I got online and studying on my own, than from the campus bookstore and the college profs.

  In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
  Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency.
• JADELottery

  

  Native American Eagle Sun

  MN
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  Dec 7, 2007, 4:42 pm

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  In response to time*treat

  Quote: Originally posted by time*treat on Dec 7, 2007

  I'm wondering how people got to their current level of programming skill. I learned far, far more from the books I got online and studying on my own, than from the campus bookstore and the college profs.

  Part School and part Self learned. The time I was in High School I learned some, then when I was in 2 year Technical College I learned some. However, most of the stuff I know is Self instruction; sources from books, software, internet and other people.

  The One Over None
  I Know...
• RJOh

  

  100

  mid-Ohio
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  Dec 7, 2007, 5:18 pm

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  I'm totally self taught.  I started out with a TI-99 and move to a Commode64.  Both used their version of Basic so later when I bought a Tandy1000(an IBM compatible), I only had to learn to the extra features in Tandy Basic which was similar to GWBasic which I started using after up from the 8088 Tandy 1000. 

  I'm still using GWBasic, but I did invest in Visual Basic a few years back but never took the time to learn it, besides I would have to rewrite all my programs.  I downloaded a trial copy of Liberty Basic a month back and used the tutorial that came with it to check it out and was impressed enough to consider buying a copy of it since it's written for Windows.   Then again I may just save $50 and dig out my copy of Visual Basic and start learning it instead.

   * you don't need to buy every combination, just the winning ones * 

         
  
• LottoMining

  

  California
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  Dec 7, 2007, 5:39 pm

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  I'm mostly self taught, though learning on the job over the last 10 or so years comes in second.  I'm still "climbing the mountain" of learning new technology/techniques and have the energy to continue with it.  Books, online content and magazines have been the most helpful since things change frequently, once you're out of school the content gets dated rather quickly.  My next door neighbor was a Computer Science major from the US Naval Academy and since she didn't use it for 5 to 7 years her education became rather obsolete, what can be remembered that is.   

  It greatly helps to have an interesting data-set to code against.
• Newb

  

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  Dec 10, 2007, 1:47 pm

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  I started with Basic on a Vic20. Then moved to an Amiga and learned Assembly language. Bought a PC and learned about visual basic. Then moved onto C++ and Java while doing a Computer Science degree. Learned a lot about data structures and algorithms which speeds up programs a lot.
• runningrooster

  

  Manila
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  Dec 11, 2007, 2:12 am

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  right now, im quite a newbie ni coding. but i trying to study through online tutorials, books, etc. :)
• time*treat

  

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  Dec 11, 2007, 5:03 am

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  I am surprised (and amused) that so many people learned by self-study.

  I had a VIC-20, too. Massive 3583 bytes of free memory.

  In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
  Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency.
• Newb

  

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  Dec 11, 2007, 7:55 am

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  In response to time*treat

  Quote: Originally posted by time*treat on Dec 11, 2007

  I am surprised (and amused) that so many people learned by self-study.

  I had a VIC-20, too. Massive 3583 bytes of free memory.

  Ah but it's not the size that matters but what you do with it.

   Remember the huge 16k ram paks that you slotted into the back of the machine. And the games use to be on rom cartridges. Remember when you could program your own games and sell them?
• justxploring

  

  Wandering Aimlessly
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  Dec 13, 2007, 3:27 pm

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  I took some computer courses years after I finished college.  I took evening courses after work at local colleges. (late 70s, early-mid 80s) I didn't understand it then, and I don't understand it now.

   

  I completed BASIC, COBOL, and dropped out of Fortran before I had a nervous breakdown.

  It's been almost 30 years, but when I start to see a lot of zeros and ones, I hide in the closet. The rest is a total blank to me now. When I hear "algorithmic language" I think of our former Vice President talking about global warming.

  I guess I'll stick to surfing the net and playing pinball.   
• time*treat

  

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  Dec 13, 2007, 3:47 pm

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  I started this thread because I was wading through a pile of ... excuses, on another topic, and I needed to get some neutral data on this particular point.

  I was also testing a theory regarding non-coders who have trouble finding someone to convert their ideas into a program. It seems some have trouble converting their ideas into coherence, too.

  In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
  Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency.
• Coin Toss

  

  Zeta Reticuli Star System
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  Dec 13, 2007, 7:21 pm

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  I was in a CIS program at a community college (Computer Information Systems, not coding) and learned some things, but then I took some Adult ed. classes and they made a lot more sense - hands on stuff, no reports to write, and no very confusing textbook tutorials to go through.

  As for the coding, I wish you all well, but we're yet to see a jackpot winner or anyone making a living off of even pick 3.  

  Personally, in re: to lotto, I'll stick to paper and pencil "coding", it's more fun to work out and you stop yourself at a couple of bucks.

  To each their own.  

  Good luck.

  PS

  Oh yeah, you ahould see the code the state lottery and MM and PB have.

  

  Those who run the lotteries love it when players look for consistency in something that's designed not to have any. So many systems, so many theories, so few jackpot winners. 

  

  There is one and only one 'proven' system, and that is to book the action. No matter the game, let the players pick their own losers.
• justxploring

  

  Wandering Aimlessly
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  Dec 13, 2007, 8:31 pm

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  In response to time*treat

  Quote: Originally posted by time*treat on Dec 13, 2007

  I started this thread because I was wading through a pile of ... excuses, on another topic, and I needed to get some neutral data on this particular point.

  I was also testing a theory regarding non-coders who have trouble finding someone to convert their ideas into a program. It seems some have trouble converting their ideas into coherence, too.

  Are you picking on me? 

   

      Order in the court!  Order in the court.

              Okay, I'll have a burger, medium rare & a side of fries.   

   

  Anyway, I thought you said computer cod.  No wonder this whole thread sounded fishy to me.
• time*treat

  

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  Dec 13, 2007, 8:44 pm

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  No, jxp, not picking on you.

  In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
  Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency.
• RJOh

  

  100

  mid-Ohio
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  Dec 13, 2007, 11:55 pm

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  In response to time*treat

  Quote: Originally posted by time*treat on Dec 13, 2007

  I started this thread because I was wading through a pile of ... excuses, on another topic, and I needed to get some neutral data on this particular point.

  I was also testing a theory regarding non-coders who have trouble finding someone to convert their ideas into a program. It seems some have trouble converting their ideas into coherence, too.

  There are plenty of people who covert ideas into programs every day, and they do it for a living.  People who whine about not finding anyone to covert their ideas into a program have not bother to contact one of these people because they probably know their ideas is not worth someones time if they expect to be paid for it.

   * you don't need to buy every combination, just the winning ones * 

         
  
• time*treat

  

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  Dec 21, 2007, 11:00 am

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  In response to runningrooster

  Quote: Originally posted by runningrooster on Dec 11, 2007

  right now, im quite a newbie ni coding. but i trying to study through online tutorials, books, etc. :)

  Looks like most of the really sharp people here have done exactly that. Wow.

  In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
  Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency.