Is this an end to my carrer in programming

[sevenhalo]

lets supose you are a programmer without knowledge of accounting... how the hell do you program an acounting system ?

Work directly with a business analyst.

(Sorry to rererererequote, but that's how I handle jobs that might take indepth comprehension)

And to the original question, you're 17. This isn't the "end of your programming career," hell... This isn't even the beginning of your career.

[zuperman]

That's the whole point: it doesn't hurt to be educated in more than just the programming but you don't really have to be.

agree

[zuperman]

Work directly with a business analyst.

sometimes is not that easy...

[sevenhalo]

sometimes is not that easy...

Article on PM and BA relationship

If it's not easy, it means you have a BA who isn't doing their job. All they do essentially is "bridge the gap" and sit in meetings.

[RhinoBull]

...If it's not easy, it means you have a BA who isn't doing their job...

... and there is always users community that really know the business better than any BA (in case BA is useless).

[abhijit]

Hey I used to be BA, till I realized that there was more fun in programming.

[abhijit]

Anybody can become a VB programmer, it's not tough

You need to learn Maths especially, I wouldn't hire a graduate with low maths grades.

Thats just sad. My math was terrible in school. However I was good at solving puzzles.
Wouldn't you rather hire a guy for his ability to solve puzzles.

[sevenhalo]

... and there is always users community that really know the business better than any BA (in case BA is useless).

I've tried this and it seems like I only get the "luxury specs." If you want to know how a form/report should be layed out or tab order, they're more then happy to help. If you try and talk to them about the procedure for returning an item (who needs to be notified, how to handle inventory, etc); you'll get the specs in random phases during the dev time.

I also got low scores in math. Not because I couldn't do it, but because I wouldn't do the home work (and when I did, I didn't show my work). They grade repetition; not logic and analytical concepts (which is what you really need as a programmer). I got mid to high 90's on all the tests, but took a hit on the homework.

[ewomack]

I completely fell into development by picking up books, writing some programs, distributing them to co-workers (boss included), and when the boss switched jobs he decided to take me with him as a developer (since he had seen my work and liked it). So I developed for a few years and then moved into Project Management by the same method. At the time I only had a Philosophy B.A., but I was apparently easy to work with so people took me on. Being easy to work with is a really underrated skill to have. If you're an amazing wizard of a coder but a pain in the *** no one will want to work with you unless they absolutely have to.

So there are ways to "sneak" into the development world. It takes a little bit of luck, but it can happen.