To the VB teenagers out there

[ShepherdOfChaos]

First off, I just want to say Cryogenic Legumes, Hominids! (cool beans, man!). It's really neat to have so many youngsters learning VB.

Some advice. Try to balance your "explorations" with some formal study of VB (or other computer science topics, like data structures and algorithms). Doesn't necessarily have to be in a classroom. You are all obviously smart enough to learn on your own. Some of the certification study guide books are an excellent way to broaden the scope of your knowledge and make you a more comprehensive programmer.

What I'm trying to say is don't make the mistake of falling for the Hacker's romantic notion that being "smart" and "clever" is enough. Hackers are a dime a dozen, and the vast majority do not make a living at programming.

With some persistence and discipline, you guys and gals have the potential to be master programmers by your early twenties. That can net you about 70K a year (US dollars). By your mid to late twenties, you can be well off and knowledgable enough to do whatever you please, like start your own consulting firm, game company, etc.

Also, don't be afraid to look for a job, no matter what your age. If you're not yet qualified, you will be told so, and then you'll know what areas need work. And you will have made some industry contacts, contacts that will be banging down your door as soon as you are qualified.

Advice offered by a 35 year old "smart" and "clever" hacker who went down the wrong path to programming "glory".

[Sam Finch]

Thanks for the advice, I'm 19 and have pretty much decided that programming is the career move for me.

However VB is the only language I know, I'm quite good with the API and subclassing and have some knowledge of how windows functions,(Messages, threads, mutexes,dcs etc) and how VB handles itself. however although i have experience with HTML i have little experience with scripting languages and VB web applications.

I want to know what other languages to learn and how else to expand my knowlege to make money,

I'm doing a maths degree at the moment so how can I encorporate that into what I learn.

[da_silvy]

yeah, thanks for the advice

i'm only 13
and i think i will do something to do with computers,
not neccessarily something in vb

Is it just me or are all the companies that offer VB courses deliberately withholding information until you have signed up with them? for instance:

I enquired about a Computeach Vb course, the representative came round for an interview, and blatantly refused to give me any info whatsoever about Vb, instead he gave me a load of rubbish about C++ being the one to go for these days. this fact may be true, but Vb is the most widely used language according to his own figures (44% of the market).
the course would have cost me about $3500 but he only told me that at the end of the interview. needless to say i cant afford that at my age (19). another course i sent off for info about didnt include any price info at all, not even by phone or website!

I really want to do a formal course in VB but I dont know anywhere i can go that isnt going to destroy my bank balance. Plus I'm unemployed too (which is why i am wanting a course in the first place).

Does anyone else have any ideas, ther must be other people in my position?

[TimBarnette]

When I got into the field, it was only COBOL. :( I went to a "TRADE SCHOOL", and it was expensive, but I financed it.

Was worth it in the long run. Now am a partner at a consulting firm.

I've been hiring younger people that are really "into it".. I hire them with some technical knowledge at Entry Level Wages, throw some projects at them (where I serve as a Project Mentor), and it's been working out great. I have a few guys as a result of this that are among the smartest people I've ever met, and yet the rest of the world wouldn't have given them a chance.

Where's everybody on here located at? I'm in the Detroit area.

[Bob Baddeley]

Thanks for the advice. Sometimes I think that a class would be helpful, but I'd rather push through it on my own. I just turned 18, and I'm ready to take on the world =) well...

Btw, To get to my house, go to the middle of nowhere, turn left and go another hundred miles, then turn around a few times, point in a random direction, and go that way. You won't find it, but those directions are more fun than getting lost following the correct ones. ?? Anyway, I live in Great Falls, Montana (just about the center of montana).

bob

Im in Derbyshire, England, go find a map! :D

[Sam Finch]

I'm in London, that's about 60 or 70 miles south of Derbyshire.

[TimBarnette]

Sorry, guys... I think of everything from a local perspective.. probably never heard of Detroit before.. Detroit, Michigan. Did you ever hear of Detroit? If so, what kind of image does it conjure up?

I have "freeware" for fitness that I let users download, and I'm finding that about 40% of my users are European.. I need to stop thinking local... stop thinking local... stop thinking local....

[Sam Finch]

They make cars or domething in Detroit don't they, Never heard of Michigan though, what do they do there?

[Phobic]

I'm 16, tought myself VB since 13. Never really got into hacking, just making crap projects for friends and whatnot. My dad had me start working for him, and I've made a couple of unique controls for an application he's building (don't tell him, but it's really bad). Anyhow, I've been looking for jobs, but I couldn't get one because I didn't have enough time. The other is a possibility at a computer store over the summer. I'm looking for classes, but I've heard the ones available in school are basically, well, ****. Other classes are kinda expensive at local colleges, but I'm working it out.

Shaker Heights (by Cleveland), Ohio.

[Bios]

Hello all,
I've had 16 birthdays so far, and started programming around 8 or 9 in BASIC on my grandmothers computer since then I've been hooked. I programmed in QBasic for a while then one day I discovered VB 3.0 and was kinda like wow, this is cool. :cool: That was at about 12 or 13 I believe. Also since then I've learned the complete ins and outs of HTML and Java Scripting. Also, I know some limited PERL, but get little chance to practice it. I tried to learn C++ from this book I had, but someone stole the CD out of it somehow (I dunno why or how). So now I don't have C++ anymore. One of these day's I'll get it and try to learn it. I've also been into computer hardware for a couple of years now. I've gotten very good at fixing/building computers. Pretty much all my friends computers were made by me (it's just cheaper that way). I've taken basically every tech course my school offers from Keyboarding to Cad to Electronics, but they don't offer any computer programming courses. I recently went to a night course at Prairie State College (I community college near where I live). Well, I guess that's about it (I kinda feel like I just wrote my resume all over again, but oh well).

-Leonard Urbanowski

PS...I live in just out side of Chicago, IL...and am graduating high school half way through next year (so around December)...and I'd probably be interested in going to Detroit...I dunno just mail me with any details you could give me about it.

[amanda]

Well, I search and I search, but I just can't find many Aussies out there.
I am not a teenage VB programmer... more like a late 20's one, but all the same I like to read about other learners advice and problems so I may be able to fix mine.
I have just decided to take the big jump and look at a carrer change. I am an Environmental Chemist and with Australia being so environmentally aware (choke) there are not that many jobs around.... and if there are, they pay like crap. I am teaching myself VB with about 50 billion books. The courses were too expensive and seemed a complete rip off so I am giving it a go by myself.
Other people out there who are teaching themselves... keep at it and all will fall into place one day! ;)

[excess]

Amanda you arent the only one!
I work for my local concil and learn vb on the side, ive just been doing tutorials online, im not sure if ill get a job coding vb, there is alot to learn but ill stick with it and see how far i go.
Brisbane Australia

I've been programming since i was about 13 or 14, started in BASIC then moved up to VB. I found it a lot easier to pick up by looking through the vb help files and looking at other peoples work like at www.planetsourcecode.com

[Phil.Hebert]

I have been programming since I was 7!!!! I had this old DM5 (8086) computer and that was all you could do on it. I know GWBasic, QBasic, and now VB. I also know HTML, and some JavaScript. Im 18 now, so I am getting more into education on it.

[kedaman]

I started programming in gwbasic when i was 12. Now im 19 and use VB5.

By the way, every one here is talking about their experience with vb, the age when they started programming. Why are we doing that? I mean everyone should know that starting programming earlyer doesn't determine the capacity in programming you have. It's the experience that counts. Or should I say the amount of lines you coded from the very beginning. Anyway, im from Finland, Åland, that little island that is between Sweden and Finland.

[ljdarten]

hmm... i sense a pattern here and i seem to be part of it.

i started programming in gwbasic at a very young age on my dad's ibm pcjr. im 22 right now. went to qbasic, made a brief stop in turbo pascal, got a copy of vb and have been working at that for a few years. looked at c occassionally, but haven't got around to getting any good at it. learned html, working on vbscript too. Vb is where I think i would like to stay, but still got a few holes in my knowledge.

right now (at my "real" job) i program in business basic.
it's a step back, i think, but i've been working in vb on my own.

I actually live fairly near Detroit, in Mount Clemens. I would be very interested in finding out more about your company, Tim. Business basic a pretty good language, but my brain is beginning to melt from the monotonous, clustered programs I have to deal with all day.
you never appreciate why you must make modular code until you deal with years old code and the people who wrote it quit a long time ago <G>

[gfurner]

I'm 15, just got into vb6. My dad's told me that for a job I should know Java Script. Could anyone advice me what to get.
Thanks

[waas]

I'm no teenager, by a long shot, but I am new to VB, and I think I can offer some words not totally useless to young programmers. At least this is what I would like to be able to go back and tell myself twenty years ago, so take it as advice from your future.

A really smart guy told me: you get paid a little bit for what you do; you get paid a little more for what you know; but you get paid the most for what you are responsible for. Take responsibility for your own training, your own work, and your own product.

The whiz-bang coding is fine, and has many good uses - but care most about the people you are developing for. Your job is to make their job easier (faster, smarter, more accurate, less costly).

Have someone other than you try to use your code. Communicate clearly with the user. Learn good programming practices and use them. Handle errors intelligently. Be willing to learn from other people. Don't be lazy. Learn to read (documentation, code, manuals). Exert some ergs (units of work). Don't code for your own enjoyment. The real fun is seeing what you create become useful and valued.

And keep your eyes open. If you think that something is too hard or could be done better, that's your opportunity. Don't be afraid to do something on your own initiative. Other people may think you are dreaming, but I can tell you from personal experience that a good idea makes its own way.

[gvirden]

I've got a 9 and a 7 year old who spend quite a bit of time on computer games, in fact, more time on these games than the TV games. What do you think would be the best way to introduce them to programming? They both learned how to load and unload software and play the games even before they knew how to read. Is there is a fun way to learn VB as a kid?

[Desire]

Hi,
I started programming at 16 with Turbo Pascal and then COBOL (which I think is a great language) at college. Once I finished there I started learning VB5 for myself and I love it. I've been looking for a job using VB5 but nobody will give me one as I have no formal Qualifactions in it.

I'm always greatfull for any advice people can offer about programming so keep it coming.

Desire.
Lives in Lowestoft, England.
Don't worry if you don't know where that is 'cause nobody else does either.

[gglaze]

It looks like some of you guys are getting started really early, like 12 or 13. That's great! I really envy you. I didn't get my act together until I was 16, when I got a job writing in QBasic, and then I moved to VB3 a year later. Now I'm 22, and I just started graduate school in Austin, Texas. I worked through high school and college, so I've been doing VB for about 6 or 7 years now.

I definitely recommend to the younger guys here that are still in school to get a job and start working right away. By the time I graduated, I had much more experience than any of my peers. To the really great companies, this is the best combination - a college degree, combined with some good experience, which demonstrates a lot of initiative. I have been recruited by just about every big company down here, and my friends in other areas like finance are extremely jealous of the ridiculously unbelievable offers that I have been getting. I recently accepted an offer to move to a really great company here in Austin, and well, lets just say the amount of money a 22-year-old with a little experience can get down here is insane!

So I definitely recommend that you guys get out there and find a way to get some good experience. You're never too young to start building a resume, and even if you're young, if you have some skills I know there are a ton of companies out there that would love to get their hands on you. And if any of you teenagers reading this are in Texas, especially in Austin, drop me a line - I'd love to meet you!

[Marc Burmeister]

I started Vb programming this year because I thought a course in high school would be fun. During the first weeks of it we were learning binary numbers and how to convert them, which really sucked and I almost dropped the class. But then we finally started Vb programming and I am one of the top in my class getting an A- last semester and have done extra work reading books about Vb and making games. Now I even know more than my teacher does! Which kinda scares her. I have been fooling around with Windows 95 since it started and know how to fix a lot of problems because my Compaq has practically had everyone out there. Anyway, I am graduating high school early December of 2001 and after that I am going to Iowa Community College or Indian Hills Community college. If there is anyone interested in hiring me after I further my education just send a note to botnataxiderm@hotmail.com and we'll keep in touch...

[Steve1]

Hi I am 18 in orlando just moved from chicago. I am really into programming as well. I took your advice and applied to some companies today. Will see what kind of replies I get. Bios, just wanted to tell you that you that there is a freeware c++ compiler out there. I don't remember the exact name however. Well thanks greatly for the advice and belief in our abilities. Most of the adults out there believe anyone who doesn't currenlty have a full 4 year degree knows nothing. At least there are a few who see we can do good things also :)

[cady]

Wow! I'm beginning to feel quite old. I am one of the late starters. Worked in a couple of fields, last as a Travel Agent. One day I realized that I needed to make a serious change, the internet is killing travel agencies and I needed to find something that I really wanted to do. So I quit my job, took out a student loan and took a Very Intense 7 week 8-5 daily class in VB. The school required that each student take and pass with high scores an aptitude test before they would even let you attend. With no former experience, I passed (whew!) and at 33 years old basically started over. In 2 months I was hired in the interactive department at a advertising business as a programmer/developer. It was hard but worth it. I wish I had started at 12 and 13 like most of you, when I made more brain cells. And I agree with the others, learn,learn,learn! Read everything, keep up on the latest, and get as many languages as you can, and certifications(they are considered important). You guys do this and I envy where you will be at my age (34 now). Anyway good luck to all!
(by the way Kansas City MO)

[drewski]

I'm 14 right now and I'm still pretty new to vb. I've been programming since I think I was about 11 or 12 and started out in qbasic. I think compared to other people I've been learning kinda slow but I think that's because I don't really have any real driving force to push me along. It helps if I have an obligation to what I'm doing. I'm working on a game for school and it's helped me come along not really in learning but using the things I've already learned.

Hey, I heard some people complaining about finding good programming classes to go to. Just the other day I found this college online that specializes in game programming and animation. The tuition didn't seem too high but I don't really know what is good or bad. I'm not sure if the college teaches classes in vb but it seemed like a really cool place. If anyone wants to check it out the site is www.digipen.com

Hope someone finds this useful,
Drew

[KnightM]

Well, I've been programming for as long as I can remember. (it's sad, I know) I started out on a Texas Instrument computer when I was around 4 years old, and have "evolved" since then. Now at 16 I can program in VB, C++, J++, etc. I also do HTML and stuff like that and I am the Computer Admin. for my school. :cool:
Schools (High schools) don't offer anything to do with computer science/programming though..or at least any that I know of.

[drewski]

Hey you're the computer administrator at your school? Cool! My brother is something like that just he's like an aprentice or something. He doesn't do programming though. He does some html but that's all. He's more into the hardware and taking the computer apart and putting it back to gether. My family is kinda into the computer generation. With 3 desktops and two laptops I think we're a bit spoiled but not too much cause with a big family like mine there's never enough computers :)

That's enough of me yakking let's hear some more teenagers out there.

[Marc Burmeister]

It's weird that you said no high schools ever offer programming. Int my little tiny 500 student high school we have a VB programming class, but only 7 students(including me) are enrolled. For next year 30 something people have already signed up. The teacher said there could also be a C++ class for next year. I always thought my school was horrible but I guess not anymore...

[Bob Baddeley]

boy are you lucky. My high school of 2000 doesn't offer anything remotely like programming. We tried to get one going this year, but the district won't let us if we don't have at least 15 people. (it's not fiscally viable, they say) Bloody ******s. Who needs a class anyway? I've got this forum. :)

[Mag-Net]

Wow, I am 16, and have been programming for about 4 years, with simple stuff, like HTML, JavaScript, and DHTML, then I done some Delphi (and never really learned much and didnt stick to it), I did a little Java, and a little C/C++. That was fun. I can read the languages, and write little things, but have been programming in vb for about ummm....4 months i would say, and got to grips with it quite well. I have been writing some apps for myself, and just stuff to learn techniques. I enjoy writing internet apps, with sockets and things, making two computers talk to each other is so much fun! lol...anyway, I havent been thinking about a job, although I have worked in a computer shop making computers and upgrading/fixing..them and all that since i was about 13. That stuff is too easy. I have no intention of sticking with VB, just using it as somehting to learn windows programming in, and techniques. I want to learn C/C++ later, when I have more time. I am thinking of setting up a company with my friend making websites, we have made a couple, and as I have a lot of knowledge of web programming think this would be a good idea. I want to go to uni, so am not thinking of it as a full time job or somehting, just to make some cash. :)

As for hacking, i wouldnt class myself as a hacker, but just gaining access to the skool network, to get stuff that i need is just essential..lol..

ah well that is my story!

[Kerrberr99]

I am going to be working with a partner when I'm about 16. I am only 12(and about to turn 13) right now. But I know a friend who is a very good V.B. Programer. He makes bidding programs. I would be his "Professional E-Mail answerer". It sounds like a boring job but he gets about two hours worth of answering E-Mail. I think that it would be some good pay. I am still on my first book but when I am done with my secon (the one that he looked over and decided not to give it to me) book I will show him what I can do and convince him to let me study all of the code and than I can know what exactaly his program does and I can answer his E-Mail super simple while he works on his programs. He is a realy nice guy and I am almost done with my first book (only on chapter 16 out of 35, Almost half way. That's good for me!)
I have been very good though. I sometimes wright my own programs that arn't that usefull, but I can come up with some of my own code.


Well, That's what I have to say!!

[greendey]

Hello all,
I'm 15(for 2 more weeks) and I live in Oswego, New York. Its a small town of about 20,000 people and a college. My high school has about 1600 people and the thing thats really good is the fact that this town has a nuke plant which pays huge taxes and the school district budget is huge. We have a programming room, a keyboarding room, a library/media center, a "writing center", a graphics development room, a desktop publishing room, and a tv studio which are all completely loaded with PII computers running on windows NT. Also, just about every class room has a few computers and each student has an NT account with personal access to part of a 50gb hard disk. Our school district has VB6 enterprise, 3d studio max, all the adobe programs and a ton of other stuff. Its really great. We have 2 vb courses and a C++ course. All of which are....ok. The second vb course is a little harder, but it's all mostly just an introduction to using the different controls in different "projects" The class is way below my level, but at least its there and its giving me a sweet grade for my average. My only problem is that my programming teacher isn't quite qualified for teaching the class...in my opinion anyway. He gives us stupid worksheets for each new control we learn and we have to look up how to use them in the help index, so he really doesn't teach too much which is hurting a lot of my friends who are just starting. Anyway, maybe we'll get a qualified teacher one of these days. who knows.

Jake

[CarlosTheJackal]

Wow...so many fellow teenagers out there! Im 15 (for about 2 months more) started @ 14 with QBasic Then Html then VB...Now im pretty proficient in Vb, html/dhtml/css/all the other web related buzz technologies :),i also know some perl (as you can see i love computers and spend all the time im not with friends on them...who needs to do homework anyway? :) ) Now im tackling VC++ Pretty rough but cool anyway :)...
I really wish my school offered some decent computer classes ,it only offers keyboarding and a 1 semester QBasic class (i guess thats what i get for living in Cape Girardeau,MO (about 2 hrs away from st. louis)) In my opinion this forum is truly a gift from the heavens, and it's wonderfull to see intelligent ppl from all over the world getting together and helping each other =) I cant wait till visual studio 7...

Thnx For Your Time and Long Live Computers!
CarlosTheJackal

[SYAlam]

I'm up for some projects...anyone got ideas?

[Nitro]

To Sam Finch!

You have helped me a couple times with API. All this time, I thought you are alot older because of your vast knowledge. I must commend you for such talent at a young age.

You will be an excellent programmer by the time you hit 24 if you continue at this pace.

Thanks!

[Sam Finch]

Unfortunatly, my knowledge is confined to the API, I'm not too good with databases and Web aplications and there's a lot of gap's in my knowledge but thanks for the complement.

[Nitro]

I have experience with database - both ADO coding, ADO controls, Data Environment, and DAO. I am average and I know many out there are extremely good. The best way to pick up on database is using Access. Don't get too comfortable in it, because you will not be able to migrate over to Sybase or Microsoft SQL.

If you have any questions on database, you can contact me at nitro_dioxide@yahoo.com.

[Sam Finch]

I've had some experience with DAO and SQL but the reason I don't know much about them is that I have no call to use them, I'm planning on getting a job so that might help.

[cgl88]

I must say there are so many young people out there who have great experience and knowledge. But ya gotta ALWAYS remember today's hot thing could be tomorrow's extinct programming language. I don't think VB will go away. It appears that the ability to code and produce something useful and fast and in a short amount of time will rule the day. What I fear right now is JAVA, which is somewhat harder to learn but could be THE language depending on how applications run tomorrow...i.e. wireless stuff, etc.


I'm only 4 months into learning and applying VB. I definitely need more time to master it, and really appreciate everyone here who replies and gives their suggestions. Without this site, I think for a junior like me it'd be hard to get my apps working! :cool:

[sgauntt]

Hello,

I am 18 years old and have been working with VB for about 3 - 4 years. I have been working for a distribution company for about 2 years. I also have been heavily involved in the creation of their distribution software which uses VB and ASP. I also have created several commercial web sites.

Everybody keep up the good work!

Stephen Gauntt
sgauntt@yahoo.com

[Serge]

I feel like I want to leave a little something about myself.
I'm 27 years old. I have a degree in a Computer Science. Up until 19 years old I was living in Kiev, Ukraine.
At that time I was right out of the college, so my knowledge was still raw. Came to Philadelphia in 1992. From 1993-1994 I was sent to a computer school to learn VB (at that time it was VB3) by company I was working at. Right now I work as a consultant.

And i have to agree that you have to learn, learn, learn...

Also, if you want to work as a VB programmer, then learn Databases too. If you look at the job ads, 90% of all VB jobs are database oriented, so keep that in mind.

I love helping other people who got stock with a problem (even though I never like to teach).

Good luck to all.

[^0blIvIOn^]

Whow! Someone who doesn't require a college degree!? :eek: I've been programming for almost 9 years now, and whenever I went down to Indianapolis to find a job doing either programming (VB) or web design, the rule was, "No degree, no experience, no job" It's just a big loop I've found myself in. I'm 20 (21 in June), graduated from high school middle of the class, tried college (if you want to call it that) and find myself now working for Pizza Hut. Don't get me wrong, I love working with pizza, but computers are my passion for life. I have (possibly) a job starting in the next year working for a dentist with 2 other programmers to make a few programs out to help him, but nothing big. If you are still looking for people, a move might be in order for me and my fiance. ;) Just email me if you'd like to talk further.

Hello,


I've probably been playing with anything got to do with BASIC since about 12, I'm 15 now and only started VB several months ago after I conviced my parents to get me a copy of VB. Since then...I've written a program for my parents shop (can't get money outta that!), programs that my friends wanted (hey nothing bad going on here), some mods for games...and now trying to do some utilities for my home network. Sadly...still in high school, at least i do come first in the grade for computing studies and electronics :)


Sunny
Sydney, Australia

[VBHack]

i am 4 and i am a genius. I program every language under the sun and i live in new york. you are all old.

[Kzin]

Originally posted by amanda
Well, I search and I search, but I just can't find many Aussies out there.
I am not a teenage VB programmer... more like a late 20's one, but all the same I like to read about other learners advice and problems so I may be able to fix mine.
I have just decided to take the big jump and look at a carrer change. I am an Environmental Chemist and with Australia being so environmentally aware (choke) there are not that many jobs around.... and if there are, they pay like crap. I am teaching myself VB with about 50 billion books. The courses were too expensive and seemed a complete rip off so I am giving it a go by myself.
Other people out there who are teaching themselves... keep at it and all will fall into place one day! ;)

Why did you chose VB to learn did you have a specific job in mind? Have you done any other programming or is this your entry into the software world?

[kiesmithuk]

i must say this thread is very good, a lot of good advice to us teens, i myself am 17 at college in the UK and have been programming in VB heavily for appropiamately 1.5-2 yrs, i am also now learning VC++ nad have also had experience in ASP, SQL, DAO, ADO.

[parksie]

I'm 17 and have been using C since I was 10, and Basic (in many forms) since I was 6 :eek:

[Good Dreams]

Originally posted by parksie
I'm 17 and have been using C since I was 10, and Basic (in many forms) since I was 6 :eek:

:eek: 6? I only started with 9 years

[JasonLpz]

Do you think a carear in computer programimng , repair, and reselling and being an electriction at the same time will make me alot of money. I am currently 16 and i have to be 18 ( i believe) to get my electrician lisence. Can someone make a type of palm pilot oonly in vb ? or someother piece of hardfware. I want to make my house the house of the future (hehe) ill make appz that controll power and refrigeration and stuff. Does that sound good ?

[Cheeko]

I'm 15 and I know perl, and decided I wanted to get onto programming my own applications (I know perl can too, but I only know unix, and that also requires the end user to actually have perl!)

I learnt perl mainly to online scripts, and it just snowballed into an obbsession to out do myself everytime I made a script

I know perl to a level Im satisfyed with and wanted to learn some proper pregramming. As in, the end result is a nifty program you can pass round registration on 3.5 inch floppies and buzz away in class :D

Still, Ill be there soon... Altho I might be getting Visual Studio, which I believe has VC++ on it, which I would rather do, but I might stick with VB and see what comesof it.

Other people offering free adivice have said that vb is altogether slower at runtime the vc++, which is another reason.

Anyway, Im 15, I live by Liverpool, England and Im way to geeky for my age :o :D

[egiggey]

I tought myself everything to pass all the MCSE couses with ease ive taken up learning VB as a way to provide solutions my theory is the more you know the more your worth unfortunatly most companies dont give a #^$* about what you know but instead care about what degrees you have an example the network adimin where i work has the iq of a flea (sorry flea's) but he was hired soley on his college degree and my MCSE and 20+ years PC exprience didnt mean anything so my advice go to college even if they dont actualy teach you anything useful learn on your own for real world knowledge and go to school for the piece of paper

[kiesmithuk]

yeah thats what i thought too, get a degree and do as much programming in ur spare time as u can, that way u have a degree and enough experience to get a good job straight away.

[Kzin]

How many people here have read the true (and highly entertaining) book "The Soul of a New Machine (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316491977/o/qid=987268200/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/103-6295888-9207060) "?

It's about the US company Data General secret project to build a new class of computer using "kids" - i.e. brilliant but inexperienced 'hackers' (not crackers) straight out of school and college to do things that had never been done before in hardware and software (by getting people to do them who didn't 'know' that they were impossible).

Its a brilliant read and essential background to anyone thinking of a career in the tech sector. It really gives a feel for the excitement (and stress) of working on a hot computer project - I first read it while doing my first job and found it very edifying.

Oh - it also won a Pulitzer prize.

[Mr Happy]

Im only 14

I got into programming because thats what my Dad did for a living, but he was old so he didn't know Vb or C++, only Fortran, Pascal, and similar launguages.

I started working with Quick Basic when I was I think, 9

I knew very little and never really got anywhere with it although I tried, I didnt have a compiler. Hey, I didnt even know what it was.

So then my Dad picked up a copy of VB6, I was still playing around with QBasic, didnt even know about VB : /

Any way, I got the basic basics from the start but never really went anywhere with it, my knowledge only encompassing the Learning Edition tutorial.

But then I really slacked off......didn't touch it for a while at all.

Then I ordered a new computer for my 14th b-day and wanted to get back into it. Thankfully, I knew some fairly good people at it. I recently got an upgrade to VB6.0 Professional edition, in which Microsoft very helpfully packedged the FULL thing, and part of the contents of Visual Studio :).

So now Im still discovering the posibilites of VB, what the tutorial didn't teach me, the great resources here, and the possibilities of adding more components.

Still a novice in QBasic after 5 years, a learner in VB 6.0 after 2 years, and a very hopefull monkey forever: ME

[Flammable Duck]

I'm 14 and I am already an HTML,DHTML,and Javascript guru. I know a bit of MySQL and CGI. I am a begginer with Visual Basic 6 though, I just started about 3 weeks ago. You might have seen some of my newbie questions in this forum. ;)

[denniswrenn]

HTML, JavaScript, CSS, VB, C++, PHP, MySQL, Perl, ASP, Python... :eek:

[chrisjk]

what is it with the word "newbie"? Can't we use proper English like "I've just started programming with VB and....." All I see is "newbie questions" or "please answer this and be nice i'm a newbie". Even the bloody Sims has Betty Newbie. It's rapidly becoming one of the most annoying words..

Sorry, bad day:(

[Fallen Eight]

hmm.. I'm 17 and started programming 2 years ago!

[denniswrenn]

Another Girl? That makes... 4!

[Radar]

Sounds like all of you young fellows & gals out there have good attitudes, and bright futures :). Don't do as I did: I'll be 39 next month, and just last year decided to program for a living full-time. I started working at age 14. I am an Alaska Airlines Academy graduate, an A.S.E. certified Automotive Technician, an SBE certified Broadcast Engineer, and hold a few credentials in other fields that I can't remember at the moment. I spent 5 years in the Airline industry, 7+ years off-and-on in Broadcast Engineering, 10 years and still going as an Auto Tech, and 22 years amoungst it all as a casual programmer in various forms of Basic and C/C+/C++. I finally discovered last year that Programming is my true love, and now I'm doing it. My point and advice is to not wait until you're crowding 40 years old to try to realize your goals/desires. Start on it now. I sometimes feel that its too late for me cause I'm too old now and things in the tech world change so fast. So, if this is what you want to do, then go to school for it, or teach yourself, or get a job and learn from it, or whatever way you wish to persue it. Just don't wait almost too long like I did:)

[Deathfrog]

Radar!? your an AAA Graduate? that means you lived im my state :) just thought i'd point that out as i have nothing better to do right now, whare did you live/how long?

ive been here for about 11.6 years (born in AK and moved down to wisconson at 7 months old and moved back when i was 5) and im stuck in Fairbanks, so meeting someone who has been in Alaska is kinda like running into a celebrity :) gawd this is a small town...

[Pix]

Only started programming properly about a year ago so compared to most I'm a total novice

BTW I like the word newbie :p

[egiggey]

I started on a commadore PET (all basic programing)thats what got me hooked

[ricmitch_uk]

I am 15 and started programming in QBASIC when I was 12. I did really crap stuff then. I can now use all kinds of languages. I fyou wnat to see some of my early stuff, go to my website below. I did write more, but I was disconnected as I was sending this last time and lost my last message. :(

[Radar]

Hi Deathfrog - Nice to meet u!

I attended AAA in Anchorage in the spring of 1987, during the Alaska Air/Horizon Air merge. I had actually started working for Horizon about 2 years before the merger, and had done most of my PSA training such as Hazmat, Reservations, ticketing, bag tracing, air freight, etc. training at the Horizon Air training center in Seattle. So a group of 7 of us from Horizon that went to the AA Academy mostly just had to get familiar with the Alaska Air way of doing what we were already trained for, and their company policies, etc.. Anyway, it was alot of fun in Anchorage, but our group only had to stay for three weeks cause of the Horizon training. After that, I went to Portland, Or. for some Dispatch training, then back home to work, grad certificate in hand :) BTW - I live in Klamath Falls, Or. I left the Airline industry in July 1988 to accept a better job(at the time)as Chief Engineer at KAGO radio. Never went back to the airlines. Anyway, this post is getting a little long so I better quit. I have some friends in Soledotna AK. - they are pretty cool.
Gotta run...........

[arcadia]

I am 14 and have been programming for about 6 years in QBasic and then in VBasic.:cool:

I am learning C++ (not too hard) and assembly language(fairly hard) in an attempt to write my own O/S. I don't know any Java, but I think I may start learning that. Is it arelated to C++ in any way?

I also know HTML, DHTML, JScript, VBScript etc.

arcadia:rolleyes:

[ricmitch_uk]

It has it's similarities, yeah, instead of include it has import and stuff. The one problem is, unlike C++ you can't compile to a stand-alone .exe file. You always need a Java interpreter on the machine running your program. The main use of Java is in applets on webpages.

[Kzin]

Originally posted by ricmitch_uk
It has it's similarities, yeah, instead of include it has import and stuff. The one problem is, unlike C++ you can't compile to a stand-alone .exe file. You always need a Java interpreter on the machine running your program. The main use of Java is in applets on webpages.

I'm told by the head of the SUN Microsystems 'Incubator' that the main use of Java is as applets on servers. There is a real-time version of Java out soon apparently this should extend Java functionality. I recommend anyone wanting to improve their employability learns C++ to start with.

[kropes]

Hey gang..
i am not normally in this forum, but i stumbled across it...
i have some food for thought for many of you. so here goes...(yes it is long, but it is worth it...)

Oh, First... in regards to VB Teenagers and learning Programming... here is an article that i wrote, i might suggest you read it....
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=191523&highlight=learning

and if you youngsters want a break ? seriously... if you are good, you may consider volunteering your computer services to some organization. Find a need and fill it. for your first "job" your only real concern is what you can learn and what type of experience can you (honestly) put on you resume. it only takes one person to recognize that you are good, and it can be all gravy from there.

ok,.. well...
before i get into all of this. the bottom line is KEEP GOING !!! your dream job is out there !

when i first started out i got all of teh standard replies "no degree, no chance." i remember one time, i did a mass mailing of my resume to about 250 companies... NOT ONE would look at me for the lack of a degree.
i hate it when people do not look at the person i am, and instead look for something that is supposed to "justify" me, or "validate" me. i am more than a piece of paper.

since then,
now I am 35. have been doing computer stuff since i was 14. (yes, 21 years) i never attended college, the only training i ever had beyond high school was only a 4 month specialty program when i was 18. (1985)
they placed me with a software company in Ohio. the owner hired me specifically because i did not have a degree... in his words "you dont have any bad habbits i have to break first"

in the past 15 years, I have ran my own computer business for 7 years, taught computer classes at 3 different colleges for 10 years (yes, time frames are overlapping) have learned (on my own) how to design board level electronics and have a complete understaing of electrical wireing (electronics and household / industrial wireing)
i also assist an organization where we teach kids (ages 10-16) computer skills. www.thecomputeracademy.com (go to "about this website" for some good info on online databases and their capabilities)
i can write software in 7 languages, i have worked with every possibly piece of hardware and most software packages taht you can think of.

I now work for a company in indianapolis where i do waht ? PROGRAMMING !!! (about 75 K a year)

the bottom line is... KEEP GOING, NEVER let someone tell you that your not good enough. but make sure you always keep learning new skills. learn to be a problem solver. think different. (no, not "outside the box", what a lame saying) think outside reality sometimes... be the best at what you do. regardless of what you do. i had an older friend tell me one time. find what you love to do, (and would do it for free if you could) and DO IT. the money will come naturally.

you think that i let the fact that i dont have a college degree stop me from TEACHING at, not one but, 3 colleges ? when you are REALLY good at what you do, someone will see that. you only need ONE person in your life to understand you and your abilities / capabilities in order for you to get going in the right direction.

Just One. FIND that ONE !

By the way...
when i was contacted about this job ( a headhunter called me) and after i told them i was interested, i made it know, (with absolute certanty) that there were 2 questions i do not want to be asked when i interview with them... if they have a problem with these 2 questions, i should not even bother showing up.
1) i do not have a degree, they need to know this. dont ask me about it.
2) do not ask me how much money i make at my last job. my ability to solve your problems has nothing to do with how much money i am getting paid. i do it because i love to do it.

They did not have a problem (surprisingly.)
They spent $5,000 to fly me out to interview with them, paid for a hotel room at the airport for 3 days, a rental car, and bought all my meals. once i accepted the job, they spent an additional $5,000 and paid my movnig expenses.
(it only takes one person to recognize you for waht you are.)

There are about 400 people (globaly) in our IT department, 250 at my site. I find out that my boss does not have a degree, his boss does not have a degree, and the VP in charge of global computing... does NOT have a degree.

NEVER SURRENDER.

for you guys that are interested, i have the names of several headhunters that have contacted me. the one that got me this job deals specifically with the medical industry. it only takes one.


also, one last thing in closing...
there is this book i read. when i first got it i expected something different, and didnt think i would make it past the first chapter (i hate to read) .... after i finished reading it ... for the 4th time, i bought 50 copies and gave tehm away one year as Christmas Gifts.

it is called "The Law Of Recognition" by Mike Murdock $10, USD
http://www.mikemurdock.com
Goto "Bookstore" (4th item down on the left)
last item on the 1st page.
and DON'T Worry, all you people taht go and see this site.. this book is not about religeon. it is a book about recognizing the obvious and wounderful things that are in front of you, that people overlook all the time. (sound familiar ?)

Product Description:
Anything Unrecognized Becomes Uncelebrated. Anything Uncelebrated Becomes Unrewarded. Anything Unrewarded Eventually Exits Your Life. The Law of Recognition can turn a lifetime of failure into instant success.

FIND that ONE !