honest opinion, please

[BobLewiston]

I was a programmer for 4 years ending 12 years ago. Back then it was all procedural, not object oriented. Now I'm 45. On the other hand, I'm bright and motivated (and for what it's worth, I've got a Bachelor's degree in engineering from 20 years ago). If I work hard and learn what I need to, is there any way in hell I can break back into programming? No doom and gloom, no "happy crap", just what do you think, can it be done?

 

[rjoubert]

If you've got the drive and determination to do it, then I think it is possible. I would suggest starting out with some serious object oriented training. Once you get your head wrapped around that, picking up the syntax of any object oriented language should be relatively easy.

 

[DonQuichote]

It also depends a bit on the language you program. If you were a COBOL programmer, companies could be begging for you to return.

+++ Despite being wrong in every important aspect, that is a very good analogy +++
Hex (in Darwin's Watch)

 

[Ascalonian]

What type of programming are you looking to do? Or do you have any language(s) in mind?

 

[ousoonerjoe]

The simple answer is 'Yes' you can. You can get back into any area you wish. Will it be easy? Not at all. A lot has changed in 12 years. Cutting edge techs back then are dead or being phased out now. The concepts you learned back then are still good, but have been built on and elaborated. Your degree will help you get past HR. It's the IT managers you'll have to convince to give you a shot. You will also have to start in the 'trenches' doing stuff that you may not like and for entry level pay that none of us like.

Can you do it? Yes, but you'll have to be diligent. I suggest picking up a book and start coding a 'pet project' today in the language of your choosing. Start trying those new objects and functions and putting them into a practical use scenario.

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"...and did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO!"

"Don't stop him. He's roll'n."
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[BobLewiston]

MikeyJudd:

Based on what I'm told are the most marketable skills (which fortunately sounds like what I'd like to do anyway), I'm leaning towards .NET / C# / C++ / ASP / SQL / Javascript (web, both server- and client-side, as well as desktop). Not to cast too wide a net or anything.

 

[ousoonerjoe]

What language(s) did you program before?

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"...and did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO!"

"Don't stop him. He's roll'n."
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