Comments on: How I Got Started in Software Development

By: Matt Berseth

Matt Berseth — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:10:34 +0000

Thanks Dave. You are right, it is kind of fun taking a stroll down memory lane again.

By: lucy

lucy — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:28:48 +0000

Good article.

By: What is the one thing you would tell new developers? « Andra & my Backbone

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:45:13 +0000

[...] Dave Ward: Software development is less about coding and more about communication. [...]

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:56:09 +0000

LOGO was the best! Particularly “doodle mode” with the little turtle and the keyboard overlay that turned all the numbers into directional arrows. :) I remember the gigantic manual and typing in the sample programs to make the turtle actually draw fractals. Hardcore stuff for a 7 year old, I was convinced that I was the smartest kid in school. :) And the 3-ring binder that was actually a touchpad, those were my very first computer games. Programs where on the casettes and came with a few pages for the binder, stuff like a maze game, math wizard (or some similar lame concept), etc. Good times!

By: Joe Stagner - Frustrated by Design ! : How I got started in programming.

Joe Stagner - Frustrated by Design ! : How I got started in programming. — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:59:21 +0000

[...] Dave Ward tagged me in Michael Eaton’s software development meme that’s been going [...]

By: Devin

Devin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:46:09 +0000

I can’t imagine programming anything at age 5. Of course, I don’t think I knew what a computer was when I was that age either. Interesting post though :) I had my first experience in BASIC as well, for the TI 83+ calculator. It was much more interesting to program in math classes than actually pay attention…

By: Dave Ward

Dave Ward — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:19:22 +0000

I’m jealous about Color LOGO.

My parents refused to get that for me. They probably thought it was a game or that I’d make a game with it.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:33:42 +0000

Fantastic — this is exactly why I love your blog so much. I, too, had a very similar start in programming (although I spent more time in Color LOGO on the TRS-80 than I did BASIC … gotta love those load times on the casette storage!) at very close to the same age. But what I love the most is your constant reminders that coding isn’t always about the code. I can’t begin to tell you the level of frustration I sometimes run into when inheriting code from someone with no communication (or otherwise soft) skills whatsoever. Keep up the good work!

By: Justin Etheredge

Justin Etheredge — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:09:41 +0000

The answer to the last question was classic! Hilarious!