thanks for your thoughts, brilliant.

I am a software developer. I studied Computer science at University and have been “programming for pay” since 1999. I love writing software. I love the buzz you get as you “kill the beast” (that will make no sense to those non programmers out there).

My Dad is a software developer, and has been his entire professional career. I remember punch cards because they used to lie around the house and get used for shopping lists.

When I was 8 years old I begged my dad to get me a ZX Spectrum. He did because he loved computers. He tried to teach me basic but that did not work so well. All I wanted to do was play games (but I still have the “teach yourself basic on the ZX Spectrum” book).

I think I disappointed him that day

The next thing that gave my dad hope was Logo. Looking back it was probably one of the best ways to teach a kid programming basics, iteration, abstraction (I never tried recursion). I remember pronouncing one evening that “when I grow up I want to be a logo programmer”

Years later when I left High school, angry at God because he would not tell me what to study and what to do with my life (I think I wanted a hand to write things on the wall for me), I sat in the councillors office at University trying to decide on an extra course cause I was short on credits. Eventually I chose Computer Science because it seemed the “lesser of 2 evils” when compared to all the “…ologys”.

I was very soon bitten by the bug and here I am today, wondering how old my daughter has to be before I introduce her to logo (don't worry I know 2.5 years is too young), perhaps I should have a look at SmallBasic (or Scratch or Alice or …).

(Now my comment is longer than the original blog post)

peace|dewde