> Communications mechanisms and so forth were different at the time but I can't imagine starting out without physical proximity to co-workers. I started progra

> Communications mechanisms and so forth were different at the time but I can't imagine starting out without physical proximity to co-workers. I started programming without co-workers, or instruction, or related experience. I did get a lot of use out of IRC for a while, but I don't really see what difference having someone physically proximate might have made.