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How old are you in programming ?

N Cee Dee on May 30, 2022

This will make it the _______years/month/week you starting programming??

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eljayadobe profile image
Eljay-Adobe

Since 1976, so 46 years.

I've worked on a few noteworthy titles that people probably have heard of: Oregon Trail, Expression Blend, Visual Studio, Internet Explorer, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop.

I've had lots of brushes-with-fame with noteworthy developers who I've worked at the same company, and pestered in chat and email: Herb Sutter, Raymond Chen, Scott Meyers, Alexander Stepanov, Sean Parent, Gabriel Dos Reis, Arlo Belshee, Mads Torgersen, Anders Hejlsberg, Dave Abrahams.

I've been very fortunate. I have a career doing what I enjoy doing. And I've been able to do it all without moving out of my home state, Minnesota.

And I've been able to seriously program on a wide variety of platforms, in a wide variety of programming languages. (Where seriously means I was getting paid for it, and not just toy programs for fun in a programming language I was fooling around with.)

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gass profile image
Gass • Edited

Cool. I hope to have a career like yours. Great job with Photoshop and Visual Studio. VSC is such a cool code editor. Love it.

What are you up to these days?

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eljayadobe profile image
Eljay-Adobe • Edited

Visual Studio Code was made by a separate team, as a separate project. Unrelated to Visual Studio. I presume the marketing folks made the decision to prefix Code with "Visual Studio", but I'm not in marketing, so maybe they had good reasons.

As I understand it (and I may be mistaken), the Visual Studio Code team was under Erich Gamma (of "the gang of four" Design Patterns fame).

I have no insider information. I presume Visual Studio Code fits into a vision of the future where compiling and projects are all managed "in the cloud". With projects in Microsoft CodePlex GitHub, and those projects ALM and cloud compiling using Azure DevOps Server (fka Visual Studio Online, fka Visual Studio Team Services).

These days, I'm working at Adobe on Photoshop. May sound sappy, but I'm on a great team, with great management, and a very successful product. I'm most fortunate.

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gass profile image
Gass • Edited

Visual Studio Code was made by a separate team, as a separate project. Unrelated to Visual Studio.

I thought about it for a second! ..

If I may ask, what is your train of thought if you had to recruit a developer?

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

💪💪

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Am working on a project for a company with my partners ☺️

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eljayadobe profile image
Eljay-Adobe

If I had to recruit a developer, I'd refer them to Photoshop Is Hiring.

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gass profile image
Gass

haha! well not the answer I expected, but okay...

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babib profile image
𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐢 ✨

Your programming age is double+ my entire existence on earth!

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Can't lie about that 😂... You right

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...😮😮😮

Am speechless boss😮

Respect 🙌💪

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jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy 🎖️

39 years

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codenameone profile image
Shai Almog

1980 so 42 years. Ugh.

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miketalbot profile image
Mike Talbot ⭐

I'll end up in the middle of that! End of 1981 so 41 years....

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow.,...
That means I was yet to be born
When you even started coding...😪

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

wow,
probably.. i was still yet to be born when you started coding...

respect sir

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codenameone profile image
Shai Almog

Not a great achievement... Not dying while being a geek ;-)

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Exactly 💪

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p2510 profile image
YATACHI

un monstre ce mec

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

LoL 😂

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow... That means,you where still coding while I was still yet to be born😮🙌

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deltd3v profile image
deltd3v • Edited

6 yrs..

Started with python...did nothing but waste time on tutorials.

Second year I joined a 1yr long bootcamp to learn web development HTML, CSS & JS along with the mern stack. I graduated having done 1 project called "think tank united" some website that allowed strangers to participate in a meeting n talk about world problems n come up with a solution in one hour.

Third & fourth year I gave up on my self.. no self respect, low standards n just a complete hatred for the job search process. I settled to learn the finnish language using courses at home and practice driving courses.

5th year I caught myself trying out new web dev tools, design tools, productivity apps and no code. I challenged myself to learn different languages and really get into it...
Still haven't found a job...

But I got into some school named hive.

Here's my plan.

Learn a low level language C.

Learn how to work with databases.

Establish some online presence, blogs, ux / ui design posts, record myself doing online challenges

Improve my linkedIN n Try freelance.

My domain of focus is going to be web dev

Feel free to leave any advice. Im 24 n feeling like I'm lost

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emptyother profile image
emptyother

You think tutorials was a waste of time?

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deltd3v profile image
deltd3v

I most certainly focused on the wrong things.
I dont blame that only for why my life sucks.

Today, I've come to love building things and not relying on tutorials(they hold your hand and don't force you to research, plan, design, document or test anything your problem solving mind ideates). It's a completely different game compared to when I started. Today I have friends that I try to join on a zoom call n do small challenges together. 😅..man..if only I had done abit of brainstorming and learned better...I'd be very far by now 😭

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Their still chance😁

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Absolutely not

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Nah... Absolutely not

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

You u all saying.. you wasted time on tutorials 😂🤷🏻‍♂️

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow... Nice one 😮😮🙌

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itscasey profile image
Casey 💎

Only 14 years, which is quite a bit but not a lot.

I started in ~ mid 2008 by wanting to create my own version of RuneScape, in this case a Private Server. Java...

Since then I've worked in:
Java, Kotlin, C#, JavaScript, Swift, Objective C, Python, Ruby, and PHP

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
That's a lot of years and experience 😮😮..
Respected 🙌🙌

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anyanka profile image
Anja

13 months.
If HTML and CSS count as well then 20 years.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
It counts...
That's alot of year😮🙌

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anyanka profile image
Anja

I taught myself HTML & CSS when I was 12 years old to build better pages than the ones that were possible with beepworld - I think only milennials will remember this awful site. I know it sounds like a weird old lady comment but it's absolutely true: The internet was very different at this time and I loved it!

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee • Edited

Wow...
Was it on YouTube tutorials??
Or you read alot of textbooks

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anyanka profile image
Anja

I read a textbook for web designers and learned with w3schools and a site with a lot of knowledge about CSS but unfortunately I forgot the name of it. After some reading I mainly learned by doing and testing things and would do it again like that (and skip the book that's outdated in this minute you saved the draft of course). :)

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....
I also learnt with w3school...

You awesome 💪🙌

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anyanka profile image
Anja

Thank you, and so are you!

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

u wlc boss

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gmf002 profile image
George Fazio • Edited

About 1.5 years professionally with a large gap from COBOL, PASCAL, SPSS, and BASIC in high school. Switched from system administration to C# development at 47. It's been an "interesting" ride so far, but enjoying it.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
That's great😮

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eriklz profile image
Erik Lundevall Zara

Hmm, started writing programs in February 1981.
Started writing program and run them on a computer a couple of months later.
Then I learned that there were different dialects of BASIC and Pet BASIC did not have all the features of ABC80 BASIC.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
That's a lot of years😮

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gass profile image
Gass • Edited

HTML and CSS are not programming languages. And most programmers will agree with me. I begun building websites in 2006 and a couple of years after I started playing around with C++ and PHP (gaming and web dev). I then studied Java at the university for one year, which allowed me to play around with it for some time. I never enjoyed any of those languages as much as I have enjoyed JS. My journey hasn't been linear. I would say hands on programming I have about ~ 7 years.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....
Nice ...
Respect🙌💪

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gass profile image
Gass • Edited

Thank you Nnaji. People love to talk about themselves hahah. This post is the proof of that.

For all developers who consider themselves new in this world I say that if you really like it, don't feel intimidated by the experience of others. You can become a good programmer faster than you might think. The old days, were very difficult because we didn't have access to all the knowledge and tutorials that are now everywhere.

Good luck in your journy Nnaji ;)

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Thanks so much 🥰🙌.. you too🙌💪

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wemersonqueiroz profile image
Wemerson Queiroz

Professionally 1 month tomorrow 🎉
I started studying in March this year and got my first job May the 1st !

I don’t want to look cheesy, but I just said to my colleague that it’s the first time I’m happy with what I’m doing during my professional life !!

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
Grace...

So,how do you see programming??

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joehonton profile image
Joe Honton

If you're like me, the chief pleasure in programming isn't learning new languages or the latest technology. Real satisfaction comes when you're able to stay in the zone for an extended period (days or weeks at a time) and make steady progress with a creative solution to a novel problem.

So my advice to others pursuing this career is quite different from what those who are younger than me have to say: to avoid burnout, stay one step behind the bleeding edge; master one thing and use it to its fullest. Then move on.

I credit my enjoyment of JavaScript to my early years mastering Fortran, COBOL, Visual Basic, C++ and PHP. Each in turn made me stronger.

My first paid gig was the summer of 1977. To all those just starting out, you've got a fun ride ahead of you.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

💪💪🙌

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siddharthshyniben profile image
Siddharth

5 or 6, idk anymore lol
I started at around 9 years old

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow .....

Who Eva that urge u into it... Really loves u☺️🙌

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siddharthshyniben profile image
Siddharth

I've always been a curious one, and I had to learn when I saw my dad coding cool stuff :D

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

wow...
that's nice...so that means, your dad was the source of ur motivation

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invalidlenni profile image
InvalidLenni • Edited

I started 2 years ago with HTML, CSS, Php, JS, Java and later with Lua, Python, C# and more

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Nice ☺️☺️...

So,... Have u started with projects??

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invalidlenni profile image
InvalidLenni • Edited

yes. And I learned by myself Python and Lua.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

wow... nice work

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invalidlenni profile image
InvalidLenni

Thanks

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

u wlc

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vulcanwm profile image
Medea

2 years lmao

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow ...
I guess u would have accomplished some things for Abt those years☺️

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vulcanwm profile image
Medea

yea ive made a few cool websites ig.
how long have u been doing programming for?

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

3 yrs .... Still yet to accomplish alot☺️😪

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vulcanwm profile image
Medea

i mean thats longer than mine so uve prolly done more than me

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vietmle_ profile image
Viet Le

3 years

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vietmle_ profile image
Viet Le

Still trying to learn everyday

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Yes ..

Definitely....

Good luck 💪🙌

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
Nice...

More years to come

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twrigh404g profile image
twrigh404G

4 years in the software game. Slow growth over time but the years have been so worth it. Now I'm accelerating my hobbies as the start of a career as a Full stack react dev 🤓.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
Great achievement 🙌🙌

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raguay profile image
Richard Guay

43 years in programming.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

wow....
that means am still a kid in this programming world

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raguay profile image
Richard Guay • Edited

Some advice: don’t get stuck in a rut (a rut is a grave with the ends kicked out). Always look for new, innovative ways to do things. Many times we are tempted to just use the same old techniques and aren’t open to the new. That begins to become stale and less productive. Also, no language is the best for everything. Always use the right tool for the right job. These are things I wish I knew when I started.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
Perfectly said...

Respected 🙌🙌💪

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codeystein profile image
codeyStein

this is the 1 year/5 months/not sure what week.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

LoL😂...

Nice one...
How do you see the programming world😇

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dilutewater profile image
Rachit Khurana

2nd/3rd year. I currently I know python, django, flask, fastapi, html, css etc.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

wow...

you must be a legend by nw

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dilutewater profile image
Rachit Khurana

I wish I was, but I know mostly just the basics of these

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

You will still get to that level.. ..
As long as you enjoy it and you keep doing it💪

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gabrielpedroza profile image
Gabriel Pedroza

~1.5 years🥹

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

nice one...

so,how do you see programming?

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gabrielpedroza profile image
Gabriel Pedroza

I feel pretty comfortable with the basics and I'm making sure I truly understand something before moving on. Now, I'm learning Data Structures and Algorithms and creating apps with Next.js

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...

U already taking steps...

Nice one...
Good luck 💪🙌

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mistval profile image
Randall

About 15 years for me. Maybe 16? I am 30 now, and started when I was either 14 or 15.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow😮...

I guess am still a kid in this work or profession. 😮🙌

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mistval profile image
Randall

We all still have a lot to learn :)

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Yes,
that's sure...
no one is above learning...
learning doesn't finish...

but respect

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geraldew profile image
geraldew

Bit hard to be sure, around 45 years I think. As it happens I recently wrote out my coding history - see my account here.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow😮😮...

Am still a kid in programming 😮

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow😮😮...
Respect 🙌

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zafarpolvon profile image
Zafar

4 years

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
I guess u would have achieved alot for Abt those years ☺️🙌

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mattbartley profile image
mattbartley

From Hello World type programming, 20. Taking it seriously? About 5.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

LoL...
Definitely 😂

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yxsh profile image
Yash • Edited

about like 2 and a half years

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Nice...
I guess by those years .... U would have achieved something 😇

 
nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

LoL 😂

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow..
That's a lot of years and experience 😮🙌

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andrewbaisden profile image
Andrew Baisden

17 - 18 maybe when I first started.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow ..
That's a lot of years and experience 😮🙌

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Sloan, the sloth mascot
Comment deleted
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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
That's alot of years😮

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upmaliss profile image
upmaliss

I've only just started to learn more about programming. I'm 50, I hope it won't be too late.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

It's Neva too late....

U are even an inspiration to others...

RESPECT 🙌

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souksyp profile image
Souk Syp.

10 years

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
Nice...
That's a lot of experience

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stylr profile image
Michael Stark

53

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Years😮??

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gass profile image
Gass

maybe days.. haha!

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

LoL😂😂

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kithminiii profile image
Bhagya

Almost 2 and half years🤓​

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

wow...

i guess u would have accomplished a lot in those years

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saptakbhoumik profile image
SaptakBhoumik

2yrs lol

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Nice...
Hope u have achieved alot from those years🥰

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evansifyke profile image
Melbite blogging Platform

4 years for me

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....
That's a lot of experience 😮🙌

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calinzbaenen profile image
Calin Baenen

Like four or five years now.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...

That's a lot of experience 😮🙌

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taijidude profile image
taijidude

16 years since i started in the programming trade school.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....
That's a lot of experience 😮🙌

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ecyrbe profile image
ecyrbe

32 years

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
I guess am still a kid in coding 😂

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miguelmj profile image
MiguelMJ

7 years here

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....

That's a lot of experience 😮...
Keep it up 💪

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dumboprogrammer profile image
Tawhid

Just mere 4 years

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...

I guess you would have had some achievement over those years

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naskovic profile image
naskovic

39 years

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow,....

That's a lot of experience 😮🙌

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emptyother profile image
emptyother

30 year-ish? Got a C64 without games back in '92-ish, when I was around 7.

I find it very hard to believe I could have read the included english manual at that age, but somehow I did.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...

What a year😮

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moopet profile image
Ben Sinclair

I will approximate 40 years, since I started with a xz81 and would have got that a few months after it came out.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow😮...
Am still a kid in this coding world😮😪

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ezeanamichael profile image
EzeanaMichael

A year and half 😶

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Nice....
HV definitely seen my mate😁

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nombrekeff profile image
Keff

7th year coding professionally, and maybe 8th/9th year since I first touched a line of code... quite young in the industry!

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Huh... Young😮...

Wow...
Respect sir🙌🙌

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ajshivali profile image
Shivali Pandey

7 years old now!

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....

I guess u would have achieved alot☺️

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ben profile image
Ben Halpern

About 20 years since my first website.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow,

Am still a kid in this work 😮

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said7388 profile image
ABU SAID

about 3 years

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....
That's great...
Keep it up💪

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....
Have you started working on projects??

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said7388 profile image
ABU SAID

I have been working on a company since January.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

wow,
happy for you bro

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p2510 profile image
YATACHI

3 ans

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
Nice☺️💪

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deyvisonrocha profile image
Deyvison Rocha

About 11 years!

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow,
That means you have a lot of experience in this work💪🙌🙌...

RESPECT🙌

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arlyj profile image
Arly J

7 years

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
That's a lot of experience 😮🙌

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

wow,
that is a long year of experience..

respect

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hardiquedasore profile image
Hardique Dasore

3 years and counting.

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...
Nice... One..

I guess from those years... U would have achieved something.

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sophiene13 profile image
Sophien Bouderbala

1 month

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Awwwn...

So,how do you see it??..

Hope you learning 💪..
Good luck ☺️

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow...

U must be a legend 🙌🙌

 
nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

u wlc

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carfield profile image
carfield

25 years for me

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nceedee profile image
N Cee Dee

Wow....

I guess I am just a very little child in this programming language 😃...

Happy 25 anniversary sir🙌