Old Programmer does a Blog

I have been programming since the late 70's. I am one of the few programmers who have made the transition from serial languages (COBOL, Basic) to oops languages (C#, Java), from main frames to mini-computers to PC's, and I have worked with more operating systems and programming languages then I can remember anymore (the last two are Windows and AIX OS’s). It has been a long bumpy road with a few mistakes that nailed me, but with triumphs that gave me so much joy, it was better then sex.

I have gone from being the top at my game; to picking cigarette stubs out of ashtray cans (I have been so close to living on the street too many times in the last ten years). Technology is a harsh mistress! She giveth and she taketh away. She favors no one and nobody stays in her good graces forever. Eventually, we all are left at the door wanting more.

Management is no safe haven either. I have seen too many good people passed over or under and left behind in the dust. The lucky ones with stock options usually get into real estate (another failure lying in wait).

I do not mean to spoil what may be a good career chose for someone, but when you ride the leading edge, no one wants to talk about what happens when you fall off. Some day, you will fall off. Then you will have to live with the consequences.

However, I am an addict. In the beginning it was to easy for me, I got hooked young. Too young to know any better. So here I am, still programming and enjoying it. Without the perks and pay grade I had become used to.