So what sort of jobs do you have?

[Mythios]

Hey guys, just wondering what sort of work some of you guys do for a job. In the terms of: Game Programmer, GUI Programmer, Debugger etc.

I'm still studying myself but just wondering what use do and if use actually enjoy your jobs?

[QWERTYman]

In the words of a wise man who isn't me, "Programming a game isn't a game." However, we nerdz (such as mahself) enjoy it. Mostly for our meager restitution which I don't get because I don't do this for a living, but partly because it's something to do other than the humdrums of life.

I blow off steam by entering a really large number in short variables...then I yell out that "I'M NOT A WEIRDO!" Programming helps blow off steam, so yeah, I enjoy my job--er, hobby.

[Mythios]

Very nice. I enjoy my Hobby/Study and can't wait to make a career out of it :)

[jsmith]

I provide infrastructure in the form of libraries and processes to a development team of about 100 engineers. The infrastructure is common across all of the varied products we make, which means backwards compatibility is a requirement.

[Mythios]

Thats pretty cool. Must take a whole head a knowledge to do something like that well :)

[jsmith]

It's not until you have 50 people asking you questions simultaneously about how to use various pieces of your code until you realize that
there is no such thing as "simple enough" in programming.

[Zaita]

Scientific Programmer mostly. I enjoy my job as I get to develop 1 off applications that have neither been done before. Helping scientists push the boundaries etc.

[helios]

Zaita: How did you get a job like that?

[Mythios]

Damn - thats awesome. I think you'll have to answer helios' question now. I'm curious as well :)

[Return 0]

Sr. Business Systems Analyst - I get to tell the programmers what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and do it for them if they don't :). Typically focused on large scale ERP systems and attempting to automate everything possible. I'm not focused on any specific technology. I just finished a C# change management/help desk system, .net portal, Oracle 10g claim system, and a perl file processing project, among others. That's really the only thing I enjoy about my job is the vast exposure to different technology, the skies the limits really. Unfortunately I'm the single point of failure on every project and deal with all the crap... no one appreciates the analyst until their gone! Zaita, you have a great job. I'm hoping to switch full time to programming in the next year, hopefully C++ with some graphics API for simulation programming/game programming, I'm sick of corporate systems...

[seymore15074]

I typically just fix stuff. I work on large distributed systems in C and C++, that are single-threaded and do not use exceptions. I fix anything from bugs to design flaws. I like the thrill of the hunt; I prefer what I do over new development.

[Mythios]

@Return 0 - That still is pretty cool - Going onto game programming though should be pretty fun. Its what I'm specializing in and I'm loving the study so far.

@seymore15074 - I take it your use to reading other peoples messy code haha

[z05DSL3A]

Technically my job title is Software Development Engineer, but I see myself as more of an Analyst Programmer. I work in the research and development department of a small company (I’m the only Software Developer). I work on systems from microcontrollers up to servers.

[Zaita]

@Helios: Typically you need to have skills outside of just programming. I can also do Comp Tech, network engineer and database admin work also. Then it's just a matter of finding somewhere looking for a software dev to help as a scientific programmer. I can program in a dozen diff languages across web, desktop, linux, windows etc and it def helps to be versatile.

But yea, usual bullsht. Work hard, always try to get ahead etc.

From today on. I'm a self-employed Scientific Programmer :) Same job, but 2.5x the pay

[g0dwyn]

I'm actually slated to be a teacher. This is just something I kick around with on the side.

[Mythios]

@Zatia - Epic Win. 2.5x Pay :) You got a lot of damn experience!