Programming

Don't get me wrong. It's not like I sit at a computer for hours and program, and think it's a load of fun. Rather, I occasionally run into a need (or desire) for some small program, can't easily find one that does what I want, and set about writing one myself. This is usually some trivial little text filter, or highly specialized support routine for my BBS. Of course, since I program (or rather, engineer software, but I do like to participate in the actual coding part) for a living, I like/need to keep my skills sharp....

I first taught myself a little about computers in my senior year of high school (at The George School), when the school got several TRS-80 Model I computers. (Don't puke! They replaced one 300 baud dialup timeshare teletype, using paper tape! Now you can puke!) I taught myself BASIC, and tutored the kids who were actually taking the class.

College gave me my first taste of real computers (first at Carnegie-Mellon University, and later at Beaver College). There, I taught myself Pascal and C, and learned many more languages (including SQL, LISP, Ada, APL, COBOL, FORTRAN, SNOBOL, and assorted Assemblers). Of course, I have forgotten most of most of them except Pascal, C, and SQL (which I used a lot at R&K Engineering and somewhat at Telemet America), but still have my old textbooks Just In Case. (Except LISP, which I lent to someone who didn't return it. Kathy Hobson, where are you?) Of course, I also learned about software engineering, artificial intelligence, compiler and parser design, operating system internals, etc. etc. etc.

Since then, of course, I have used and expanded this knowledge, via the assorted experience you can see on my resume. (Warning: no links from there back to here!)

Recently, I discovered DigitalThink, a company that produces and runs training courses over the Web. Of course, like most training, it is rather expensive, but every once in a while, they need beta testers. Through their beta testing program, I have learned C++, Java, and HTML. I have also signed up to test future courses in XML and Unix Administration and Networking. Plus, by being a good tester, I have won $200 and some free non-beta courses; I am currently enrolled in non-beta Design Patterns. They no longer give prizes for the top three testers, but at least all qualified ones (complete the course and submit at least one valid bug report) get into a drawing for prizes.

A tiny sampling of programs I've written other than for hire (i.e., that I can put here!), and still have source code to, and that aren't specialized to the point where they'd be useless to anyone else, are on my portfolio page. (Warning: There are no links from there back to here!) You may also wish to see the Coding Standards I have been developing (IN PROGRESS).

Also, anybody who fancies himself a programmer, software engineer, or anything else of that ilk, is strongly encouraged to read at least the User Interface Hall of Shame at Isys Information Architects. No, I have no affiliation with them; I just hate using programs with crappy user interfaces!

The Programmer's Guild Webring
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