Youngest and oldest user?

[nano511]

this may seem a bit personal but i dont think it matters since I dont know and probably never will but how much money can you expect a year?

[AppDevTrainee]

hmm i will definitely take that into consideration CodeMonkey....its really something i love doing. But i would like to take my programming knowledge and apply it into much larger projects. applications....maybe even OS development one day

[andywestken]

nano - I don't know where you're based, but according to the following site, the median salary for a programmer in the US is $54k

http://www1.salary.com/Programmer-I-salary.html

I live in the UK, so I keep an eye on ITJobWatch, which gives stats for different skillsets.

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/

You could also check out the various job sites, like JobServe:

http://www.jobserve.us
http://www.jobserve.co.uk

[anonymous23323124]

I'm 16. I did HTML/JavaScript crap at 11, but it primarily involved copying code for sparkling cursor trails and screen 'earthquakes' from the internet.

I did BBC BASIC and QuickBasic at school from then on, because it was there. I started C++ books probably about a year later, but I got stuck on pointers. I'm guessing I first made it through my large C++ book at 13/14. However, I learnt a lot of technicalities after I joined this site (16).

[Cheraphy]

As difficult as I'm aware it could be, I want to get into A.I. research with my computer science degree. Where inside that field of research I go wouldn't matter really, I'd be happy anywhere in that field.

[Uranium238]

I'm 16 and plan to major in computer science. In college, my plan is to meet a couple smart guys and we all start a company. I hope for it to one day become as high ranking as Google/Microsoft. But that it just a dream.

[nano511]

Dream hard Uranium. Sounds like a good plan actaully.

[Cheraphy]

Uranium. Never give up on that dream. EVER.

[ModShop]

xander337 wrote:

Uranium. Never give up on that dream. EVER.

Unless a Zombie Apocalypse occurs... Then, the better plan would be to kill the military and any other uninfected fortification so your the only one with defense against the zombies, then, charge people an arm and a leg to get in. When sending out invites to your Last-safe-anti-zombie-fortification-because-of-some-asshole fort, be sure to invite people like Bill Gates first :)

If that doesn't happen, there's always the possibility of [insert limited resource we need here]-eating dragons disguised as Spiderman... oh wait, that already happened ([MY-CANDY] eating little brother on Halloween...)

Besides that, go for it ;)
good luck!

[xander333]

I'm 16 and plan to major in computer science. In college, my plan is to meet a couple smart guys and we all start a company. I hope for it to one day become as high ranking as Google/Microsoft. But that it just a dream.

Exact same here :D
16 and planning on majoring CS!

[ModShop]

[qoute=xander333]Exact same here :D
16 and planning on majoring CS![/quote]

I'm *almost* 16, and planning on Majoring in CS as well. Perhaps we can be Uraniums "smart guys" :)

[D80DSL3A]

I've been programming as a hobbyist since finishing college in 1986. Am I the old guy here? I'm 48 years old.

[nano511]

Unless someone cant beat the ages, i think this is it. pretty wide range of ages!

[anonymous23323124]

Maybe I'll get my 1 year old cousin to sign up... I don't think she'll ever learn C++ though :(

[Sputnik]

Graduate Engineer here. 24 years old. I started programming 2 years ago then had long ass break now Im back to it.

I dont know why but programming is the only venture in my life that I dont stop.
If I learn to play guitar, I drop it and lose interest. If I read books I lose interest, but with programming I keep going.

I plan to become an expert in C within 5/6 years time and begin to move onto C++ at the same time. Also at the same time I wish to learn Visual Basic and how to make useful GUI's. A little OpenGL wouldn't hurt either.

My goal is to make engineering software and set up my own company.

One can only dream. But I will endure, I will keep coding and learning!

[Computergeek01]

So are we focusing on just how old people are? I remember when we've done this in the past it was much more interesting to see peoples skill relative to their age. IMO I see a winner so far but I don't think that many of you are considering this aspect of it. That's only counting the people who have posted on this thread so far, there are still 3 or 4 more regulars who I think would shock the hell out of most of you to see how old they are relative to their skill.

I'm 24 and an intermediate level programmer at best, so the winner sure as hell isn't me.

[acorn]

computers are introduced at a younger age these days where years ago having a computer was quit the privilege. if you did have one usually it was ancient. Most households didnt have one at all. this is why many older programmers have a later start. they did not grow up in households that had 3 quad core computers and internet. the exposure to it and the internet is so young now it would be a little odd for someone with access to so many resources wouldnt start sooner.


starting programming at 15 now is a hell of alot different then starting programming at 15 20 years ago

[andywestken]

I think the access to loads of technology and the internet is a mixed blessing.

To really get to grips with something you've got to be pretty focused. Which is harder when there so many other cool distractions.

It might sound a bit perverse, but I now appreciate fighting against the limited reources of the BBC and the 6502. It gave me a real appreciation of resources which it appears many younger programmers lack. It's too easy to ignore memory and performance issues with modern computers.

I'm not saying all younger programmers are bad. Just that it's easier to get away with some things these days, which means some people will!

[MottMan]

Uranium wrote:

I'm 16 and plan to major in computer science. In college, my plan is to meet a couple smart guys and we all start a company. I hope for it to one day become as high ranking as Google/Microsoft. But that it just a dream.

I have had that same dream for quite some time now. I never imagined to build a company up to that size but to develop a company from new talent (including myself) and to be sustainable.

Applying to University this year. Here's hoping.