NetNews Offline 2/NetNews Offline Volume 2.iso/news/comp/lang/c++-part2/13437

Internet Message Format | 1996-08-05 | 5.3 KB

Path: shelby.visix.com!david
From: [e-mail] (David Charlap)
Newsgroups: alt.computer.consultants,comp.edu,comp.lang.basic.misc,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.misc,comp.lang.pascal.borland,comp.lang.pascal.delphi.misc,comp.misc,comp.os.msdos.programmer,comp.os.os2.programmer.misc,comp.programming
Subject: Re: Info on being a Systems Programmer/Analyst?
Date: 26 Mar 1996 02:50:16 GMT
Organization: Visix Software, Reston VA
Message-ID: <4j7m18$[e-mail]>
References: <[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: celica

<[e-mail]> wrote:
>    I am currently a Junior in High School and have been
>considering becoming a Systems Programmer/Analyst.  I've read books
>about it but I would like to get some first hand information from
>real people with experience in this field.  General information,
>including job responsibilities, education needed, and salary would be
>appreciated.  I am specifically wondering about how much math I would
>need.  I don't really like to do math but I am fairly good at it.
>Many people say that to be a programmer, you need a lot of math
>skills, but I wonder if that is true.  I'd like to know specifically
>what type of math is used and how it is applied.

I've never been to clear what a "systems analyst" does, but I've been
working in computers for a few years now, and I've been playing with
computers since the 7th grade.

First and foremost, you must love working with computers.  I'm not
kidding.  Sure, you can have a 9-to-5 job, but you'll never go far
that way.  You have to like what you're doing enough to work 10-12
hour days as needed to get your work done.  You have to be willing to
go the extra mile for your boss (or your customer if you're self-
employed), or you'll never be viewed as anything more than "average".

Now, since you do love computers, (what?! you don't?  Better
reconsider your decision...) you probably own one already.  Don't wait
for the right classes in school.  Go to your local software store and
buy a compiler.  Any language (C, Pascal, Delphi, whatever) will do.
Start writing programs.  It doesn't matter what kind - games, pretty
pictures, a phone book, whatever.  Stuff won't work the first time, or
the second, or maybe even the fifty-second time.  But stick with it.

If, after struggling with a nasty bug for a week, you suddenly find
the solution, and then you jump on the table and yell "YES! IT'S
ALIVE!", then you're perfect programmer material :-).  (Don't look at
me that way!  I've done it once.  And you will too.)

Anyway, this is probably better training than all your classes.  If
you can learn a programming language from the manuals that come with
your compiler, and write working programs, you've passed step one.  If
you can't do that, no amount of classes will make you a good
programmer, IMO.

Step 2 is to take the classes.  Algebra is a biggie.  Calculus and
Differential Equations are a plus, but certainly not necessary.  (I
never took DifEq, and I've never had to use calculus in my job.  But
you may need it, depending on who you work for.)  More important are
courses like:

    Geometry
    Discrete Math (set theory, boolean logic, etc.)
    Algorithms
    Finite Automata
    Computer Language Theory

Some of these are computer courses, some are math courses.  You
probably won't be able to take many of them in high school, but some
colleges will let you enroll early for one or two courses if you're
good enough.

Note that I didn't mention any languages.  Courses like "intro to C",
and other "let's learn a programming language" courses can be useful,
but they're far from necessary.  While a course may be nice to get
you started, a good programmer should be able to learn a language on
his own.  (After the first 2 or 3, they're all pretty much the same.
With the exception of certain non-traditional languages like LISP and
Prolog.)

Computer science has many sub-fields.  I don't know of any colege that
lets you specialize in "programming", but that's OK.  Personally, I
recommend you pick the specialty you enjoy best, but try to take
courses from all the sub-fields.  Even though I've never worked on an
AI (artifical intelligence) or Real-Time project, the few courses I
had in these fields has helped out.  Same for operating systems,
computer architechture, 3D graphics, image processing, and many other
courses.

Actually, it's a good idea to keep tabs on as many subjects as you
can.  I took courses from many different engineering and social
science departments while in college.  All have helped me in different
ways.  Of course, you can't learn everything - your brain would
explode if you tried - but a diverse background is an excellent source
for future creativity - and creativity is the one thing a programmer
should never be without.

Anyway, I'm rambling now.  If what I've said still interests you, then
you've picked the right career.  Go for it.  Feel free to post or send
me e-mail if you have more questions.

---------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
David Charlap        | The contents of this message are not the opinions of   |
[e-mail]      | Visix Software, nor of anyone besides myself.          |
Visix Software, Inc. +------------------------------------------------+-------+
Member of Team-OS/2  | Quantum mechanics: The dream stuff is made of. |
---------------------+------------------------------------------------+