Re: Tony seeks direction (sigh)

JP May (jpm@TWEB.COM)
Wed, 3 Jan 1996 12:07:40 -0600

>Nope, I'm not a computer programmer, although my current job
>(medical library paraprofessional) has lots of computer operations
>types of tasks, & I consider myself a quick learner. So, I hope
>you're wrong about CIS being a "start as a teen" thing,
>although I've wondered the same thing myself.

I dont know the asnwer Tony. I would think that 'real' (so to speak <; )
programming, that is, using C to write things like compilers or games, and
totally understanding recursion, mapping and symbolic structures, is
actually very hard. Like say being a musician, I suppose, if you don't get
it young I dunno really know if you can.

On the other hand, there are any number of computer-systems-related tasks,
for instance

- making up web pages
- running quark and photoshop type platforms
- doing what the peopl behind thedesk at Kinko's do (surprisingly well
paid, I hear!)
- being expert in various databases and the like

which, I imagine, are reasonably easy to pick up and can make good money.

I think Evan mentioned something about this recently -- being a WP expert,
a decade (or whatever) ago was enough to make a lot of money. Similarly if
you can hack around in SQL or whatever, maybe that's the sort of thing you
are looking for.

But I think being a 'programmer' per se, ie going to work for Adobe to
write the next photshop, starting from scratch, would really a 5 - 7 year
intensive effort undertaking to reach even a basic level opf proficiency.

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