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A comment on How far off am I?.

Re:How far off am I? by Edmond on Wednesday August 11, 2010 @11:20AM (#1594929)
Along the line of some of the advice below...Programming is hard but you become better with experience. I wont raise your hopes, it really does take years to get to the point where you can get a programming job,it is much more than just learning a programming language (just as learning English wont turn you into JK Rowlings)... unless of course you are much smarter than the average programmer.... I am giving you advice based on experience. I am 30yrs old and have been programming for about a decade. Some of the things you can do after a decade of practice:

http://www.colabopad.com

http://www.meshipu.com

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cpp/visual_java.aspx

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/miscctrl/ruler_control.aspx

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/IP/videochat.aspx

http://code.google.com/p/rhythmote/

http://pugoob.blogspot.com/2008/01/pugoob-image-search-tool....

Just a sample of my work, doesn't include what I actually do at work. How long do you think it will take you to learn how to build the kind of software above? I would hazard a guess, it will be a looooooong time. I currently work as a System Architect and even so I am not considered a senior person. Programming is like athletics, after a certain age you really shouldn't pursue it as career. You can try to learn it as a hobby, but spend your time and energy on more attainable career goals in the short term. I hate to sound uninspiring but I have seen enough of this type of thing, mid-career people trying to find a lucrative career and thinking programming is the way to go, mostly it is a waste of their time. I am in an MBA class with someone who's about 33yrs old and is taking Oracle classes trying to get into the IT field, he is mostly likely wasting his time.

IF YOU MUST

Start with PHP not C++ (Not likely to get you a job anytime soon)

Learn how to setup an entire LAMP (google it) system first, you could install virtualbox on what I am sure is your windows system

Then try to create some website, maybe a dating site or something your neighbors might find useful.

Be prepared to spend a lot of time on web forums asking questions

Hope this helps clarify some things for.

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Re:How far off am I? by tseabrooks on Wednesday August 11, 2010 @12:20PM (#1595122)
The advice on PHP might be correct, and it might jive with most of the collective experience of HNers... However, my company is always hiring C and C++ developers... we interview maybe 3 people a weak and hire maybe 1 person every 2 or 3 months.

That said, there is absolutely a shortage of C++ jobs... but this shortage has created an equal shortage of competent C++ programmers. We can't find C/C++ programmers to hire fast enough.

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