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The main problem with programming is that it is seemingly useless as a hobby. I have been programming for many years and am quite experienced, yet I never manag

The main problem with programming is that it is seemingly useless as a hobby. I have been programming for many years and am quite experienced, yet I never managed to keep it up consistently because programming project ideas were either way too complicated requiring hours of research, or really boring. The main issue with programming as a hobby is coming up with realistic and non-tedious projects to do.

Cthulhu_ 9y ago
My first experience with programming was with ZZT, where we could use it to make our own levels and interactive thingies in said levels - basically, gamification. Of sorts.
Clubber 9y ago
The thing that got me into coding was running a BBS in the 80s and early 90s. The ones I ran came with source code, so I modified the BBS to add features, or make it look unique like someone would do to a car. The changes were directly seen and used by the users, so it was easy to see the impact. We would share our code by releasing "mods," so other people could use them. It was a lot of fun. I relate to Woz saying he did the stuff he did to show (off) to his friends. With the BBS, it was the same thing. We had a whole community, but since it was mostly local, it was closer. We of course had trolls back then too. Computers before modems were quite boring, especially with limited resources. You had the manual that came with your computer and maybe another book or two, or a magazine subscription. Getting a modem really opened up a much larger world of socialization with other computer people. FWIW, I started using computers in earnest in 3rd grade. The local school got a new computer lab of TRS80s and offered after school computer classes; one for kids and one for adults. I had been fascinated with them before, but I don't remember when exactly.
- joeberon 9y ago
  I caught the end of the brief period where people were more interested in programming itself, whereas now programming discord, even in hobby circles, seems to revolve around entrepreneurship and capitalism.

Cthulhu_ 9y ago

My first experience with programming was with ZZT, where we could use it to make our own levels and interactive thingies in said levels - basically, gamification. Of sorts.

Clubber 9y ago

The thing that got me into coding was running a BBS in the 80s and early 90s. The ones I ran came with source code, so I modified the BBS to add features, or make it look unique like someone would do to a car. The changes were directly seen and used by the users, so it was easy to see the impact. We would share our code by releasing "mods," so other people could use them. It was a lot of fun. I relate to Woz saying he did the stuff he did to show (off) to his friends. With the BBS, it was the same thing. We had a whole community, but since it was mostly local, it was closer. We of course had trolls back then too. Computers before modems were quite boring, especially with limited resources. You had the manual that came with your computer and maybe another book or two, or a magazine subscription. Getting a modem really opened up a much larger world of socialization with other computer people. FWIW, I started using computers in earnest in 3rd grade. The local school got a new computer lab of TRS80s and offered after school computer classes; one for kids and one for adults. I had been fascinated with them before, but I don't remember when exactly.

joeberon 9y ago
I caught the end of the brief period where people were more interested in programming itself, whereas now programming discord, even in hobby circles, seems to revolve around entrepreneurship and capitalism.