Answer these questions to find out if you're a real IT person.

[darmstadt]

0. Which is the first computer you wrote a program for?

Hmm, either an IBM 370/168 or a ZX81

1. Which is the first computer you owned?

ZX81 followed by Spectrum followed by an Oric

2. How many languages have you seriously programmed in (work or play)?

Try not to really program as such but sometimes its easier and cheaper to write your own stuff so probably only around 6, don't really need many to do the job

3. How many years have you made a living out of IT (programming or otherwise).

Started while still at school during the holidays and evenings so I think its probably 30'ish

4. Do you enjoy programming or is it a chore?

Depends, if its a real programming job using COBOL or PL/I then it can go where the sun don't shine otherwise writing the system tools that I normally do can be quite a joy, occasionally

5. Do you know what vi is and have you used it?

Yes and yes but prefer not to. VIM and GVIM if I can but what about using something like TSO EDIT, makes vi look like the light fantastic. Most of my editing is via PDF or Xedit (SPF for PC or Kedit are nice)

[thunderlizard]

0. Which is the first computer you wrote a program for?

Speccy 48k. I have only recently lost the habit of keeping the rest of my body stock still while typing for fear of nudging the power pack lead the 1mm required to crash the thing.

1. Which is the first computer you owned?

Second hand laptop purchased in 2000. It was grey and the skiddy finger pad gave me blisters, that's all I can remember.

2. How many langauges have you seriously programmed in (work or play)?

4

3. How many years have you made a living out of IT (programming or otherwise).

11 (yes, slightly longer than I have actually owned a computer)

4. Do you enjoy programming or is it a chore?

Neither. it is a zen state of being, in which emotion is subsumed by the infinite other of logic.

5. Do you know what vi is and have you used it?

I have heard tell of it amongst the sandal people but never seen it in real life

[Lockhouse]

1. Which is the first computer you owned?
PC1512
2. How many langauges have you seriously programmed in (work or play)?
Lots, at least 6 have made me money
3. How many years have you made a living out of IT (programming or otherwise).
28
4. Do you enjoy programming or is it a chore?
Chore
5. Do you know what vi is and have you used it?
Yes and yes

[Scary]

0. Which is the first computer you wrote a program for?

ZX81.

1. Which is the first computer you owned?

CBM Amiga 500 (not counting parent owned ZX81, Spectrum or various IBM PCs and compatibles). Saved up every penny of pocket money and Christmas and birthday presents for a year.

2. How many langauges have you seriously programmed in (work or play)?

Maybe 10.

3. How many years have you made a living out of IT (programming or otherwise).

8.

4. Do you enjoy programming or is it a chore?

Depends, mostly enjoy it. In a professional capacity some housekeeping is necessary, which is a chore.

5. Do you know what vi is and have you used it?

vi is a religion in a perpetual state of war with the Church of Emacs. Yes.

[portseven]

0. Which is the first computer you wrote a program for?
- ZX Spectrum 48K
1. Which is the first computer you owned?
- ZX Spectrum 48K
2. How many langauges have you seriously programmed in (work or play)?
- 3.5 (Basic, Pascall, Cobol, Bash)
3. How many years have you made a living out of IT (programming or otherwise).
- 14
4. Do you enjoy programming or is it a chore?
- Chore (sysadmin background)
5. Do you know what vi is and have you used it?
- vi is gods own editor!

[Weltchy]

0. Which is the first computer you wrote a program for?
- Vic 20
1. Which is the first computer you owned?
- Vic 20 (Technically owned by parents) Speccy 128k+2 was my first proper computer
2. How many langauges have you seriously programmed in (work or play)?
- 20+
3. How many years have you made a living out of IT (programming or otherwise).
- 15
4. Do you enjoy programming or is it a chore?
- Enjoy
5. Do you know what vi is and have you used it?
- I know of vi, but never had to use it.

[Scary]

So when do we get our results?

[lukemg]

Interesting thread, all these people who got sparked up with the first home computer stuff and turned it into a career. Clearly it suits their personality etc I wonder what they would all be doing otherwise ? Also, generations since then have had video consoles + PC's where all the nuts and bolts are invisible, which might be a shame, as they might not realise they could get interested in the coding.
I am happy NOT to be a real IT person (I used to try keep it quiet that I was in IT when younger !). You only have to watch the IT crowd to see why !

[Scary]

Also, generations since then have had video consoles + PC's where all the nuts and bolts are invisible, which might be a shame, as they might not realise they could get interested in the coding.!

The PC building thing still goes on, but it's plugging stuff in (and finding the best stuff that works well together in your budget) rather than the nuts and bolts of soldering stuff together. Things like programmable Lego robots are pretty cool for the current generation.

[Scrag Meister]

Where are the equivalent widely available magazines like Commodore Horizons and such, where you actually had coding articles etc that you could type in, use and help you understand how it all hung together.

Wasted afternoons typing in hex dumps only to find it crashed and burned when you ran it, and you hadn't saved it to tape

Happy days at 14/15 years of age. Sigh!