Computer Programmer Q & A
Q:How did you gain your knowledge and skills in computer programming?
A:I have had two classes on computer progrmaming the rest I have learned hands on, either through experience or books.
Q:Why and when did you become interested in the field of computer programming?
A:In college thirty years ago because I liked the logic involved in programming.
Q:Now do you program because you enjoy programming or becasue of the pay, or both?
A:I still enjoy programming, I appreciate the freedom and flexibility it provides me in my work schedule, I like being my own boss, I like the getting paid at the rate im getting paid, I also enjoy learning new things.
Q:Can you make a living programming?
A:Yes you can but but it is getting harder because more and more computer work is being sent to other countries because labor is cheaper.
Q:What type of programming do you like the best?
A:Web programming because there is a potential audience of billions.
Q:Do you work alone or with other people?
A:I work mostly alone, my primary employer works and lives in france however I have a few local customers with whom I meet occasionally to review the scope of work to look at the progress and to do testing.
Q:When you started programming was it a good job to have?
A:I have been working as a programmer for two years,before that I did system administreation networking and desktop support,I just fell into programming because someone said they needed something done and I said that I could do it.
Q:How much time does work consume each day?
A:I spend six to eight hours a day programming but only half of it is billable becasue half the time I have to learn stuff that if I had been formally trained I would know.
Q:Have you worked on computers your entire working career?
A:At times computer was an avocation, and sometimes it was a secondary means of earning an income, for example I practiced law for five years and during that time I assited other lawyers with their computers and networks sometimes I was paid and sometimes I was not.
Q:How do you keep up to date with all of the changes in the computer world?
A:I work on keeping up everyday, I spend a good part of each day learning new stuff by experimentation, reading new books and re-reading old ones and, using the internet, for example one of my customers web hosts recently instituted a spam filter that prevents me from emailing site members so I had to learn how mail servers work in order to solve that problem.
Q:What will you be doing in five years?
A:I hope to keep expanding my buisness and when all of my kids are in school or moved away I hope to be able to spend more time at it.
Q:If you had a choice would you choose this profession again?
A:Yes but I would have chosen to have a formal education.
Q:Why did you focus more on programming then other types of computer work?
A:No particular reason, it is just the opportunity that came up.
Q:What programming languages do you work in?
A:I work in coldfusion, php and, I work in visual basic.