I'm 34 years old. Have I any chance to became a good programmer and to start a career as a software developer if this is new for me?
+4
A:
No, age isn't really a determinant. If you apply yourself, you'll do just fine.
Lance Roberts
2009-09-08 05:26:58
A:
In fact, no you are not... but you will a lot of job ahead of you to do so.
Partial
2009-09-08 05:27:05
A:
Even i wont think age is a problem.If you work out.You should be a good progarammer :)
anishmarokey
2009-09-08 05:28:43
+7
A:
Definitely not, although your current level of technical knowledge of computers and computing will somewhat affect how fast you can come up to speed on the concepts involved in programming.
Interestingly enough, while computing theory hasn't changed much in the last 30 years, software development is a field in which existing skill sets with specific technologies tend to become obsolete much faster then with other professions (because of how fast new technologies become available).
I'd say you are at less of a disadvantage because of this as everyone in the field is probably learning some new programming technology for the first time. You have to be willing to constantly learn new things to be a good developer. The landscape changes rapidly.
Dan Rigby
2009-09-08 05:33:23
I couldn't agree more, developing is spending life studying. Once you get used to it, you don't notice anymore.
giorgian
2009-09-08 05:38:24
Even as a young developer (25) I find it tough to keep up with the amount of new programming languages and technology that comes out every month. On top of that are all the new design patterns and ways to develop such as test-driven development, domain driven development, etc. It gets to be quite a bit to take in!The best thing to do is come into it with an open mind and a keenness to learn and you'll be fine!
link664
2009-09-08 07:25:19
+1
A:
The only potential problem I see with age is that at 34 you may have less will to bump your head on concepts until you get them and less time to spend bumping your head. But this is not about age itself, it's about life and values. If you like doing it, there's no problem.
giorgian
2009-09-08 05:34:41
+1
A:
I feel there is a strong bias towards young programmers that exists more as a stereotype than anything else.
I've known several excellent developers that started relatively late. Your success will likely be determined by your own effort and passion. Work hard, learn as much as you can. Find a mentor to help you.
Good luck!
Harold
2009-09-08 05:35:17
A:
Are you serious? At 34??? Some of the smartest people on stackoverflow are in their 50s, and still writing code.
Dominic Rodger
2009-09-08 05:39:03
I plan to keep to keep coding until I go blind or my fingers seize up with arthritis :-)
Stephen C
2009-09-08 05:52:40
Going blind wont stop, I know programmer using screen reader.
Petteri Hietavirta
2009-09-08 08:52:50
I will be at coding business for ages to come and I'll keep getting better at it
Steve Obbayi
2009-09-08 08:52:54
A:
Stop talking start doing! Age no bar if you've great passion regarding programming you'll succeed.
Shahnawaz Khan
2009-09-08 06:57:53
+1
A:
The answer to whether you'll become a good software developer depends a lot more on attitude, passion and perseverance than on your age.
There are some professions where you spend a few years getting the required skills - through courses and/or experience - and then you are finished "learning" and spend the rest of your time "doing". Any improvement or development that goes on is merely minor refinement.
Software development is not one of those professions.
You need to be prepared to completely roll over your skillset every five years or so.
While there are always lessons to carry forwards, the pace of technological churn is such that you can't afford to rest on your laurels - you need to cultivate a personal commitment to your own professional development. Stand idle for the wrong six months, and you'll find yourself with an obsolete set of skills.
Update
Responding to a comment by Sir Psycho, below:
I did say there are lessons to carry forwards.
I'd suggest, though, that the differences are far more than mere syntax - you don't write a Ruby application in the same way as a .NET one, you don't program .NET in the same way as when using Delphi, and taking a Java mindset into an XSLT stylesheet is a good way to inflict pain on yourself.
Every toolset has it's own philosophy, it's own paradigm that needs to be learnt and embraced. Working against the "native style" of a system is going to be hard work, no matter what the system.
Making the leap from programming in the syntax of Delphi to the syntax of C#, or from the syntax of Java to the syntax of Ruby is relatively easy. Learning "how we do it here" in each environment takes a lot longer, and a lot more work.
Bevan
2009-09-08 07:08:20
I wouldn't go as far to say rolling over a skill set, its more learning new syntax. All languages are the same in terms of processing logic.
Sir Psycho
2009-09-08 07:17:41
A:
10 years ago software development seemed to be mainly young people mostly because it was a new field and so a lot of the people doing it were young. It was a self reinforcing thing because there was a perception that because it was young people making software that they were the right people to do the job.
Of course those young people are now 10 years older and the average age of software developers has increased significantly and I no longer see the bias to younger developers that used to exist at all.
I would say that 34 is now below the average age for a software developer so as long as you learn quickly there will be no issue at all.
John Burton
2009-09-08 08:49:37