If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

posted Monday, November 22, 2004 12:53 PM

Years ago many of us made the decision to go into "computers". Everyone has different reasons, and different motivators. As you look back on your decision would you do it all over again? With the "threat" of outsourcing, and all the other cicrumstances that are a part of our world would "computers" still be your choice?

Last night I was talking with my wife about one of her brothers that is looking to get into something which he can make into a career. He has interest in computers and mentioned it as one of the options he's considering. Since I'm "in the know" my wife asked me if I thought it was a good idea. After a long pause I answered with a revolutionary response....I don't know. My brother in law is thinking about going to CHUBB or some similar school.

The first question I asked was "What does he want to do?". I'm guessing he'd be more of a network admin type then a programmer type but I don't really have any basis for thinking that. Anyway it made me think about whether I would go into "computers" if I had to do it all over again...I would.

8 Comments

# re: If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

Monday, November 22, 2004 5:42 AM by Larry Wanzer    
I would definitely get into computers again if I had it to do all over again. I got into computers at the age of 13 (I'm almost 33 now) and I'm glad I got into a career that's something I really enjoy. I didn't get into computers for the money (although it is a nice side benefit). I got into it because I loved writing a program to perform a task. I've had many chances to move into the manager role, but I've always decided to stay in the coding role due to the fact that it's the coding I enjoy.

# re: If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

Monday, November 22, 2004 6:25 AM by David Hayden    
No way. I would rather be a buff action movie actor voted as the sexiest bachelor in Hollywood who does all his own stunts, makes 20 million dollars a movie, and dates all the sexy leading ladies.

Let's get serious. Computers are way down on the list :)

# re: If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

Monday, November 22, 2004 2:45 PM by Dennis v/d Stelt    
You can be the sexiest bachelor, I'll be the sexiest married one. Girls dig married man, as they're hard to get! ;)

I would do it all again, but make some other choices different. Not get a girlfriend again that early. I love here, but she has taken SO MUCH time of my life I could spent coding. I'd visit her again ten years later or so! ;)

I got into computers at the age of 10 or 11, when my parents got me an MSX-1 home computer from Philips, with a tape-deck and Konami Tennis in a cartridge. First I played a LOT of tennis, then I started digging through MSX-BASIC and coded a LOT of if-then-else routines with just a survey and stuff. Never saved my source as I didn't know how to, on my tapedeck. So when my mother turned of the MSX accidentally, weeks of work was lost! ;)

Then I got my MSX-2 and got into graphical development, years later I got my first PC, a 486SX 25Mhz, later upgraded to a whopping DX4-100Mhz! Got into the demoscene a bit (www.scene.org) but because of my girlfriend I never took on assembler the way I wanted to.

Now I'm a C# .NET developer wanting to get into architecture way more then I'm currently active in. Too bad my current employee doesn't give me the opportunity. Just shifting people around instead of letting me work on my career, placing me on jobs that will give me the opportunity to do so... :(

That's my current life! So I'm looking for another change. I live in The Netherlands, near Rotterdam. Make me an offer! ;)

# re: If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

Monday, November 22, 2004 7:56 PM by Mitch Denny    
If he has the programmer nature, no matter what IT field he goes into - he'll end up coding.

# RE: If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

Tuesday, November 23, 2004 12:59 AM by Eric Wise    
I don't think I would. I think I would still code here and there as a hobbyist, but I've found that my deeper interest goes towards business / project management. That's why I'm in process of getting my MBA.

I enjoy programming, I feel pretty confident of my skills in it, but I honestly can't see myself being a coder as a career 20 years from now. I figure I will start looking to go management after longhorn.

In other news, if you live in, or are willing to relocate to cleveland or chicago. The company I'm working for, Risetime is DESPARATELY seeking some .NET Developers.

3-5 years experience in programming, doesn't have to be .NET but you should have good OO fundamentals.

Have a personality, we're consultants and do some face time with clients.

Risetime is a good company to work for, else I wouldn't post it.

# re: If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

Monday, November 29, 2004 1:29 AM by Steve Hebert    
I'd have to say, it depends. Where we're at today, I'd have to say no. Where we'll be in a couple years - it could easily be worth it.

"The next 20 years" is an interesting point. I've been working with computers long enough to see the workload go from decentralized (pre pc) to decentralized (pc) and now back (web).

I think there are a couple points today that are interesting. (1) The most compelling web apps are not browser based. (2) The browser as a "platform" sucks. (3) Software distribution and maintainability are currently king. I figure we're stuck in roughly 1986 right now.

It'll be interesting to see the next decentralized wave. Will we learn from the errors of the last wave? If so, the next run at desktop apps could be a lot of fun!

# re: If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 7:04 AM by Bored Programmer    
Absolutely not! I only got into programming because I thought I wanted the easy life - I got it and I hate it! I started hating programming right around the same time I realised I wanted more from life than just going to work, and then coming home and sitting around listening to Steely Dan and smoking controlled substances all night. I think I must have mixed up Fritz the Cat's life plans with my own when I was a teenager. I'd like a time machine to go back and kick myself in the nuts!

# re: If you had it to do all over again would you go into "computers"?

Thursday, December 30, 2004 12:55 AM by Brad Wood    
Not only would I, but I would have earlier, although I definitely wouldn't say that I wish I'd met my wife later so I could have coded more (now that's extreme!).

The first 12 years of my professional life were spent doing the most opposite thing from programming. I only started taking classes in "computers" because I had G.I. bill funds. As I progressed I discovered that this is what I was wired for.

People usually end up doing what they're wired for in due time after an optional period of bubble sorting.

Tell your wife's brother to proceed; if he's not wired for it, the bubble sort will filter him out. If he is, there isn't anything that could drag him away from it.

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