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< how did you start dev (for those who do)?

I got started on the path when I got told in elementary school that my handwriting was so awful that my only hope was to do everything on a computer. Then it was lego robotics, then in middle school it was using AppleScript on the school computers to annoy people, to switching my laptop to this thing I saw online called "linux" and never looked back.

Long story short, I just got promoted past the new-grad level at my software engineering job. (Backend though, I haven't done any frontend web-dev work since high school. I feel like I just don't have the aptitude or will for it.)

Thinking back on it, I also owe a lot to two particular computer teachers, one who gave an intro class that seemed to mainly be him, a computer person, teaching whatever he felt was important. Probably terrible as a "curriculum", but very helpful for getting a lot of the lingo and exposure to other things I didn't yet know (SQL and visual basic really stick out in my mind). Another who ran the AP class, let me T.A. and got me my first job as a CS Tutor.

I'm always curious how people go from computer users to computer people, so a very interesting post, thanks ~tffb!

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~tffb wrote (thread):

Hey, ~owleyarc! Congrats on the promotion! I double the sentiment about backend - I've learned that I prefer to work with things in relation to VPS management, and I (surprisingly) took a liking to deal with MySQL stuff, as I am always repeating XYZ command(s) to access a table/column to make a change or whatever. One can't help but become accustomed to getting the overall "basics" of navigating a MySQL db over time. Figuring out the proper stuff to put IN such and such db, such as connecting a PHP script for UN/PW input on the frontend, that's another story ;) I also consider MySQL as a possible "marketable" skill in freelance type of stuff, because a lot of devs/designers and CSS gurus don't want to touch a db with a 50 foot pole, lol! (not knocking the CSS gurus out there)

Funny you mention the Lego robotics thing, because I asked this same Q/told this same story over on the Commander X16 forum just after writing this here, and a guy mentioned some Lego robotics devices he built ("some from kits, some with mods").

I have no idea if I'd make dev a full-time gig/job, but I am a passionate hobbyist, and would even do a freelance thing at some point (maybe) should I be well versed enough in a certain area to confidently charge money for my service.

Thanks for the response!

~bartender, a round of anything for folks about The Midnight this AM. And a hot coffee for me, thank you! :)