OT-Computer programmer/Analyst Degree

[marky]

hey guys long story short[:'(]

im thinkin of goin for a programmer analyst associate degree from a tech scool, cuz every test ive taken says i should lol, personality and such.

but wats it like? fun?

how about sum advice from the guys thats done it? [:)]

[Halsey]

You ought to finish High School first.[;)]

I'll know when you get your diploma.
Your spelling will improve.[:D]

[marky]

ORIGINAL: Halsey

You ought to finish High School first.[;)]

I'll know when you get your diploma.
Your spelling will improve.[:D]

*curly voice*
o a wiseguy huh...

hey moe larryy look ovah here!

o ya knucklehead!


[:D][:'(]

[wdolson]

Halsey has a point. If you become a programmer, you also have to be able to write well enough to tell other people how the program works. The programmers who can't write English, unless they are a super outstanding programmer, are generally the last people hired and the first laid off.

A 4 year computer science degree with be more valuable than a 2 year associate degree.

I've been programming professionally for 20 years this June. Being able to communicate well is critical to some professions and definitely helps a lot in most of the others.

Bill

[Terminus]

Unfortunately, school doesn't do enough to ensure that kids can communicate properly these days...

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

Halsey has a point. If you become a programmer, you also have to be able to write well enough to tell other people how the program works. The programmers who can't write English, unless they are a super outstanding programmer, are generally the last people hired and the first laid off.

A 4 year computer science degree with be more valuable than a 2 year associate degree.

I've been programming professionally for 20 years this June. Being able to communicate well is critical to some professions and definitely helps a lot in most of the others.

Bill

This is especially true in larger business concerns where much if not most information is transferred by e-mail. If you can't communicate clearly and concisely, you won't last long.

[Terminus]

For "won't last long" read "won't even get started"...

[niceguy2005]

Marky, are you interested in it? Every career has its upsides and its downsides.

The statement is true that a 4 year degree will get you farther than a 2 year degree, but the 2 year degree will probably get you started and you can always get the 4 year degree later - probably will take 3 years if you plan it right with transfer credits, but check that out really well if that is your plan. An alternative to the two year degree though is go for the 4 year degree and start job hunting 1.5 to 2 years into it.

At my company we have a programmer that got his 2 year degree first before getting a 4 year degree at a technical college. He is very technically sound and a valuable employee. His secret to success though is that he really likes what he does and that keeps him motivated and learning.

I work for an aerospace software company. I am not a programmer, but do some coding on occasion. I wouldn't worry excessively about the writing. You can improve that if it is a problem. Programming is a field that is constantly evolving though. You have to like learning new skills and be motivated to learn it on your own. In this field if you aren't evolving you are going extinct.

Finally, you had better like hardcore, serious coding if you are going for a 2 year degree. Chances are that's what you are going to be doing at least 8 hours a day everyday for a while. It is fun if you like to code and solve problems...debugging is never fun, but can be satisfying when its done. Not many people I know like to code their entire career, most get a solid foundation and then move on to software architecting, which I think is much more fun...hope that ramble was of at least some use.

[kilowatts]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005
... that's what you are going to be doing at least 8 hours a day everyday for a while.

Hmmm, when I first started I was doing 9-10 hours. [;)]

Seriously though, and assuming you're living in the US, I recommend taking a really good look at the field and where it's headed right now. Currently the whole US software development field is under-going a major upheaval. I don't know how it is at niceguy's company but a lot of the raw coding part of US software development is being done in other countries, and more is headed that way. The economics of US wages and corporate attitudes are the driving forces.

Some coding work is remaining here in the US, especially work on defense and other government projects. So hooking up a company that is in that line of work is a viable career option. My long-time colleague started work with L3 Communications/ILEX last year and he's enjoying himself. Also many pure software companies (eg Google) will probably continue to keep programmers in the US.

The other part of the software development cycle that is staying here (for now) in the US is the analysis/design/architecture and project-management. Which is where I am right now. If this is a path you would be interested in then a 2-year degree would probably be a good point to start from. You could then go for a 4 year degree with more emphasis on the design and analysis part of software development.

Just my 2c.

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: kilowatts

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005
... that's what you are going to be doing at least 8 hours a day everyday for a while.

Hmmm, when I first started I was doing 9-10 hours. [;)]

Seriously though, and assuming you're living in the US, I recommend taking a really good look at the field and where it's headed right now. Currently the whole US software development field is under-going a major upheaval. I don't know how it is at niceguy's company but a lot of the raw coding part of US software development is being done in other countries, and more is headed that way. The economics of US wages and corporate attitudes are the driving forces.

Some coding work is remaining here in the US, especially work on defense and other government projects. So hooking up a company that is in that line of work is a viable career option. My long-time colleague started work with L3 Communications/ILEX last year and he's enjoying himself. Also many pure software companies (eg Google) will probably continue to keep programmers in the US.

The other part of the software development cycle that is staying here (for now) in the US is the analysis/design/architecture and project-management. Which is where I am right now. If this is a path you would be interested in then a 2-year degree would probably be a good point to start from. You could then go for a 4 year degree with more emphasis on the design and analysis part of software development.

Just my 2c.

I can't disagree with anything Kilowatts has said.

btw, i did say AT LEAST 8 hours a day. [:'(]

I think outsourcing will continue to be an issue for coders. The software industry is ALWAYS going through a period of upheval. That's why I suggest continually building your skill set or you will quickly become obsolete. Even though I am not a programmer I expect to learn at least one new software language this year. I won't be an expert, but I have to at least be proffecient.

There are ways to get around the outsourcing trend.

1. Develop a body of technical knowledge that augments your programming skills. This lets you work on niche projects. For instance, we do aerospace flight simulation software (mostly orbital dynamics at the moment). It would be hard for us to outsource this because the programming sweatshops overseas won't have the technical knowledge. Other areas would include scientific, engineering or medical software. IMO it tends to be the the more fun of the mill financial and database programming that gets outsourced.

2. As kilowatts said, work in an industry that requires the programming stay local, like defense

3. Be really good at it. There is always going to be some programming going on in the States. It's the really good programmers that will continue to be able to find work.

[Mynok]

Or you could go into the sysadmin side of things. There will always be jobs in that area.

[Murphie]

U guyz R so old-skool.[:D] Typing like this is 4 real in the phone biz. It's kinda a new language - U kno - texting...

[niceguy2005]

u mean like ebonics? [:D][8|]

[CaptDave]

ORIGINAL: Murphie

U guyz R so old-skool.[:D] Typing like this is 4 real in the phone biz. It's kinda a new language - U kno - texting...

That may be, but we're still the ones making the hiring decisions. If I got a cover letter written this badly, the resume would be headed straight for the shredder. And, BTW, if I got a resume without a cover letter, it would meet the same fate.

I started programming 33 years ago, and it definitely is fun. On the other hand, I say that now because it's no longer my primary job. I'm the type that needs to be different; when I started, working with computers was something special, but now, relatively speaking, programmers are a dime a dozen. I'm now the quality manager for a software company.

As has been mentioned in two or three posts, there's more to it now than just knowing how to write code. It's important to understand the business you are supporting. That said, learning proper software development practices is also necessary, whether that be traditional practices or the agile practices that are in vogue. After 13 years with my current employer, I'm still finding code written abominably by business experts who learned how to write programs but never learned software engineering.

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Dime a dozen, heh? Well, good game programmers are in short supply. Sure could use a dozen more.

Michael Wood
Lead Programmer,
Matrix Games

...but now, relatively speaking, programmers are a dime a dozen...

[Murphie]

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

ORIGINAL: Murphie

U guyz R so old-skool.[:D] Typing like this is 4 real in the phone biz. It's kinda a new language - U kno - texting...

That may be, but we're still the ones making the hiring decisions. If I got a cover letter written this badly, the resume would be headed straight for the shredder. And, BTW, if I got a resume without a cover letter, it would meet the same fate.

I started programming 33 years ago, and it definitely is fun. On the other hand, I say that now because it's no longer my primary job. I'm the type that needs to be different; when I started, working with computers was something special, but now, relatively speaking, programmers are a dime a dozen. I'm now the quality manager for a software company.

As has been mentioned in two or three posts, there's more to it now than just knowing how to write code. It's important to understand the business you are supporting. That said, learning proper software development practices is also necessary, whether that be traditional practices or the agile practices that are in vogue. After 13 years with my current employer, I'm still finding code written abominably by business experts who learned how to write programs but never learned software engineering.

I hear U. But this is 4 fun - not a bizness resume. Texting lingo is actually making it into high school english papers in the US (or so I read [and yeah - that's not necessarily a good thing]). Some companies stay current and push for ideas and creativity - they ride the edge. Some follow the rules and make sure they cross all of the 't's and dot all of the 'i's. Spend some time on UTube or MySpace 2 scam out some of the texting lingo.

I spent 4 years as a database programmer back in the day with Clipper. I migrated to C and pumped code for 2 more years as a Weapons Support Contractor @ NAWS in Ridgecrest CA. Then I moved over to the IT support side. I now manage the WAN @ my place of work and have been in the Tech support field for 11 years.

What I've learned in my years in the IT field is that we are all about support for the end user. SW and HW are tools. I luv my job but I keep it real. There R some places where a resume done in da texting lingo might draw interest. But most places would require the normal resume with cover letter etc.

I'm not slammin' or argueing w/u - I'm just saying it's a big blu world out there and some of us reserve the right to put a little "style" or "art" (I've heard both terms used when referring 2 texting) into R commo style.

[marky]

ORIGINAL: Mike Wood

Hello...

Dime a dozen, heh? Well, good game programmers are in short supply. Sure could use a dozen more.

Michael Wood
Lead Programmer,
Matrix Games

...but now, relatively speaking, programmers are a dime a dozen...

is that a future job offer?

[:D]

[marky]

hmm good points here

id love to get a history degree and maybe a phd and teach, or work at the Naval Historical Center in Washington, damn thatd be fun!

[marky]

but programming does seem interesting to me, ill just have to wait and see

i did take a class called operating systems management, and we played around with DOS, im not sure why but i LOVED that