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> As someone who first started programming in 1979 I absolutely love that there are seasoned experts like you on HN. Would you mind sharing with us what you'r

> As someone who first started programming in 1979 I absolutely love that there are seasoned experts like you on HN. Would you mind sharing with us what you're working on these days? Compared to you I'm relatively young (I've been programming around 26 years) and in my circles I don't get to mix with too many older programmers. Would love to hear your thoughts on career trajectories. For me personally, I'm gradually spending less time on pursuing commercial interests, and more time on pro bono projects - and I love the idea of working on open source software indefinitely once I retire. Cheers from South Africa.

datavirtue 6y ago
Same here, 31 years. I'm 43 and started in around 1989-1990 at age 12. I didn't know anyone who had ever even attempted to program a computer, so I was completely on my own. I have a good grasp now but remain humbled by the craft (coding every day). Nearly everyone I know now is either where I was twenty years ago or insanely elitist. Still on my own. I have many authors to thank.
- eitland 6y ago
  Another relatively young programmer here: born in 80 started but started programming somewhere between 92 and 94 on Commodore 64. I've been extremely lucky to mostly have worked with mostly ordinary programmers with some extremely good[1] thrown in and luckily even with the brilliant ones all except two of them were also down to earth and nice as well. [1]: "master of all trades", all-knowing teacher types with "saintly" patience, learns-anything-in-two-hours-and-proceeds-to-fix-hard-bugs-after-lunch
orionblastar 6y ago
I am 52, I started in BASIC programming in 1979. I am currently disabled and unable to work. I am trying to get better so I can become healthier and get back to work. Programming became a lot easier when Visual BASIC and Delphi came out. Just drag and drop controls. Due to ageism I am sure I don't fit the culture of a startup or relate to 20 somethings. They hire them young anyway not old. So I do tech support for family and friends to get by.
- hedberg10 6y ago
  >Due to ageism I am sure I don't fit the culture of a startup or relate to 20 somethings. Whatever you believe, your brain, like a sentry, will find confirmation for. Be careful with that.
  - cutemonster 6y ago
    And can slightly change how one does and says things, which others can notice, -- to some small extent, can become a self fulfilling prophecy. (And this can work on in a good way too -- if you say to yourself maybe: I like these people, I like most people, what matters is not age, but if the others are curious and want to learn new things) Now, of course I do believe that ageism is a thing, still, I'd think there're somewhat many good workplaces that aren't much affected by it
    - orionblastar 6y ago
      I'll keep that in mind. Hope it doesn't end up like The Interns movie.
- rikroots 6y ago
  While there is a degree of ageism in the industry - avoid companies that advertise their ethos as "work hard and play hard" because having to do most of your office politics half-drunk in the bars after work is not much fun - there are also a lot of people in the industry who genuinely care more about a person's ability to learn and adapt than the date on a birth certificate. Believe in your abilities. Wishing you good health for the future!
  - orionblastar 6y ago
    Thank you, I learned 27 different languages since 1979, most are so old that there are no jobs for them anymore. I used to be a master at Visual BASIC until Dotnet came out. I can learn any language on the market if I wanted to. I am a quick learner as I have the theories of computer science in my head as I learn.

datavirtue 6y ago

Same here, 31 years. I'm 43 and started in around 1989-1990 at age 12. I didn't know anyone who had ever even attempted to program a computer, so I was completely on my own. I have a good grasp now but remain humbled by the craft (coding every day). Nearly everyone I know now is either where I was twenty years ago or insanely elitist. Still on my own. I have many authors to thank.

eitland 6y ago
Another relatively young programmer here: born in 80 started but started programming somewhere between 92 and 94 on Commodore 64. I've been extremely lucky to mostly have worked with mostly ordinary programmers with some extremely good[1] thrown in and luckily even with the brilliant ones all except two of them were also down to earth and nice as well. [1]: "master of all trades", all-knowing teacher types with "saintly" patience, learns-anything-in-two-hours-and-proceeds-to-fix-hard-bugs-after-lunch

orionblastar 6y ago

I am 52, I started in BASIC programming in 1979. I am currently disabled and unable to work. I am trying to get better so I can become healthier and get back to work. Programming became a lot easier when Visual BASIC and Delphi came out. Just drag and drop controls. Due to ageism I am sure I don't fit the culture of a startup or relate to 20 somethings. They hire them young anyway not old. So I do tech support for family and friends to get by.

hedberg10 6y ago
>Due to ageism I am sure I don't fit the culture of a startup or relate to 20 somethings. Whatever you believe, your brain, like a sentry, will find confirmation for. Be careful with that.
- cutemonster 6y ago
  And can slightly change how one does and says things, which others can notice, -- to some small extent, can become a self fulfilling prophecy. (And this can work on in a good way too -- if you say to yourself maybe: I like these people, I like most people, what matters is not age, but if the others are curious and want to learn new things) Now, of course I do believe that ageism is a thing, still, I'd think there're somewhat many good workplaces that aren't much affected by it
  - orionblastar 6y ago
    I'll keep that in mind. Hope it doesn't end up like The Interns movie.
rikroots 6y ago
While there is a degree of ageism in the industry - avoid companies that advertise their ethos as "work hard and play hard" because having to do most of your office politics half-drunk in the bars after work is not much fun - there are also a lot of people in the industry who genuinely care more about a person's ability to learn and adapt than the date on a birth certificate. Believe in your abilities. Wishing you good health for the future!
- orionblastar 6y ago
  Thank you, I learned 27 different languages since 1979, most are so old that there are no jobs for them anymore. I used to be a master at Visual BASIC until Dotnet came out. I can learn any language on the market if I wanted to. I am a quick learner as I have the theories of computer science in my head as I learn.