Programming Language Migration Path
|
While I was preparing some personal background information for a potential client, I was reviewing all the programming languages that I have had experience with. I list languages that I'm most experienced with on my resume. However, it occured to me that if I was to list all the languages that I've worked with, then the client would become overwhelmed with the resume and just write me off as either a total bit head or looney toons. But as I reflected on all these different environments I realized how much fun I've had being involved with the software development industry, and that a lot of that fun has to do with the learning process. I think this is what makes a good programmer. Not just the ability to write code, or come up with a very creative application, but the ability to learn. Lets admit it! If a programmer doesn't have good learning skills, then the programmer is going to have a very short career.
As an exercise, I'm going to list out my Programming Language Migration Path. I would be interested to hear from other programmers what their PLMP is as well. Here goes:
* Commodore Vic-20 Basic
* Commodore Vic-20 6502 Assembler
* Commodore 64 6510 Assembler (Lots of all nighters with this one!)
* IBM BASIC
* IBM Assembler (My hate relationship with segment addressing.)
* dBASE II (Wow! Structured programming.)
* GWBasic
* Turbo Pascal (Thank you Mr. Kahn! Best $49 I ever spent!)
* Turbo C
* dBASE III+ (Cool, my dBASE II report generator now only takes 2 hours to run instead of 7.)
* Clipper/Foxbase
* dBASE IV
* dBASE SQL
* Microsoft C (First under DOS, then under Windows 3.1)
* SuperBase (First under Amiga DOS, then for MS Windows)
* SQL Windows (Whatever happened to this? Gupta?)
* Visual Basic 2.0
* Delphi
* Visual Basic 3.0
* Access Basic / Word Basic (Microsoft)
* Newton Script (My first "elegant" language)
* Visual Basic 4.0 & 5.0
* HTML
* FormLogic (for Apple Newton)
* Codewarrior C for Palm OS
* Visual Basic 6.0
* NS BASIC for Palm OS & Windows CE
* FileMaker 5
* Satellite Forms
* Visual C++
* REAL Basic for Mac 9.x & OSX
* Java
* Codewarrior C++ for Palm OS
* Appforge for Palm OS & Pocket PC
* C#
* FileMaker Pro 7.0
Whew! Not only is this a good exercise to reflect on all the languages that I've worked with, but it is a good example of how the languages and the technology has progressed during the past 25 years. I'm sure that I'll be adding much more to this PLMP in the near future as well. And as with most programmers I know, there is so much more that I would like to learn but just don't have the time.
Another good exercise is to bring this up as a topic of discussion with a group of programmers after a nice long day at any technical trade show. For example, quite some time ago, after a long day at the OS/2 Developers Conference in Seattle (Yea, dating myself here.), I brought up the topic of 6502 Assembly Language programming. This was during dinner at around 7pm. The resulting conversation migrated to the hotel lobby where it continued until around 2am in the morning. (Ah, the good ol' days.) ;)
(If you're a developer, I'd be interested in seeing your own personal Programming Language Migration Path. Shoot me an email to timdottrimbleatgmaildotcom.)
Timothy Trimble, The ART of Software Development
Timothy Trimble is a award winning, freelance writer, and software developer. He has written a book for Microsoft Press and over 35 articles for significant computer industry trade magazines. He is the Blog publisher of The ART of Software Development which can be found via his web site at http://www.timothytrimble.info
|
|
|
Alien Intruders!
You probably didn't casually invite, or extend a formal attendance requestto, these undesirables known as viruses.Regardless of your opinions, such cyber-nomads may call on you, complete andactive, with their destructive payloads.So what is a virus?A virus is a program that can self replicate or reproduce itself.These programmable pirates have a special talent for attaching themselves toexecutable programmes. When such programmes are executed (often by you, butnot always), so is the virus.They don't necessarily have an ".exe" file extension and are relativemasters of disguise. Extensions can be doubled-up to create an opticalillusion or optically misleading appe...(related: Software)
Microsoft Business Solutions Partner ? How To Launch New It Consulting Practice
In the new era of internet marketing the problem of severe competition comes into the first position. If you look back into 1990-th you will find high tech companies using traditional sales techniques: purchasing local and regional businesses contact lists, making cold calls and then trying hard sales closing techniques, such as "selling to the top" ? IBM style, selling to VITO (very imp...(related: Software)
Groupware: What Works The Way Businesses Do?
GroupwareThe internet is full of 1.5 million to 7 million indexed pages of groupware packages available on the market today. Every business needs groupware to control, manage, or track documents.Groupware is similar to other systems that enable document management, often using a centralized system to work through business collaboration processes to create budgets, market reports, presentations, contracts, and countless other documents necessary to run a business.Ad Hoc Collaboration<...(related: Software)
Crystal Reports - Microsoft Sql Server
Microsoft SQL Server is the leader for inexpensive and middle size SQL solutions. Plus it is now capable to serve large enterprise on Microsoft Windows platform. Crystal Reports is the most flexible tool on the market and it has market recognition. Multiple software vendors offer Crystal Reports as the main reporting tool: Microsoft, Best Software, Oracle to name a few.Sometimes developers try to use Crystal directly to pull data from multiple database platforms - we understand the need to give you additional tips to increase Crystal report flexibility. Also common case when Crystal report should pull data from multiple database platforms. Assuming that you are creating Crysta...(related: Software)
Introduction To Isdn, Part Iii: Pap
Introduction To ISDN, Part III: Configuring PPP PAP AuthenticationNow we know how the ISDN link comes up (interesting traffic), and some scenarios that might cause the link to stay up, we need to look at ISDN authentication schemes. The two methods Cisco certification candidates must be familiar ...(related: Software)
Microsoft Crm: Implementation, Customization, Support ? Consultant Overview
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is present several years on the US software market plus it makes advances in Europe....(related: Software)
Microsoft Great Plains Integrations ? Retail Management Sample
Microsoft Business Solutions is emerging as very attractive vendor for mid-size companies. The strength of its products is in their cross integration potential. This integration strategy will be the software development direction for this Microsoft subdivision. Meanwhile, as of right now ? we have to recommend just to stake on it and deal with custom or in-house developed integrat...(related: Software)
Microsoft Crm Integration With Ibm Lotus Notes Domino ? Machinery Dealership Example
IBM Lotus Notes with Domino email server is traditional document workflow management solution for large corporate business, where you need audit trail on approval cycle and decision making. Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is very cost efficient solution to automate sales process. It might be surprising, but we see good strata of clients who are willing to deploy and integrate both systems: MS CRM and Lotus Domino. In our opinion these clients are balancing ERP platform risks and trying to protect and deploy investments into Lotus licenses, while deploying new and already leading CRM solution ? Microsoft CRM. In this small article we'll give you the integration example ? European division of o...(related: Software)
Microsoft Ecommerce Web-development: Great Plains Econnect .net ? Highlights For Programmer
In our small article we'll consider Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains Sales Order Processing module as eCommerce backend. Plus we'll cover what is possible and impossible in eConnect and why.Microsoft Great Plains is one of the most popular ERP in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Latin America, UK and South Africa. Due to the MBS strategy ? Great Plains Dynamics was pulled from other markets, such as continental Europe (Germany, France, Russia) ? where Navision and Axapta are the promoted and recommended solutio...(related: Software)
site-map - Copyright © 2008 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Software