I haven't been around in awhile. Was just starting to consider returning to lw.. discovered the tech / programming forums..
I'm almost excited.. aside from what seems to be a lack of activity, anyway.
*shrugs*
In some form of an attempt to get a conversation going, random things about me in relation to this forum:
I'm a senior in high school, 19 years old. I've only been involved in programming since my sophomore year, so not as long as some by far; but it's been heavy involvement.
First two years were what sounds rather typical of most highschool approaches... intro was in Pascal, then about a year and a half alternating between C++ and Java. Following that I became an Independent... and I still am one.
For lack of an idea of what anyone, if anyone, would care to read...
My general interests involve design patterns, analysis mechanisms, threads, GUIs, and various other closely related things.
More recently I've taken a very, very strong interest in soft-coding / extensibility / modular styled programs. So far, I'm quite happy with the results. It's really a let-down that many educational facilities don't seem to emphasize these qualities (and other related ones) much if at all. I'm hoping to change this at my school, though.. wish me luck? =P
Anyway.
I'm fluent with the AP topics.
I'm workings towards transitioning myself away from being Java-centric, to C#... as well as learning a bit more about various networking APIs.
Would be nice if there might be acouple around that'd like to chat.
Wow, that sounds interesting. Any guesses as to what types of things you'll be doing for their page?
If you wouldn't mind, I'm curious: in brief, how would you define OO programming and any specific reasons your preference is otherwise?
In brief, to make sure we're on the same page, my definition of OOP would be something like... using Classes to define a type and the accompanying interface through which that type may be used; in effect, I would describe a Class as a template. From that, I would define an Object as an instance based from a template.
That's the short version, of course. But probably better to expand on it later if desired than to ramble on about it forever beforehand
In my terminology, an understanding of OOP states that one understands the decomposition of problems into types (modules) and the process through which these types can use each other.
LFC8:
Yay for activity . I'm really hoping to see an increase in it, here...
And, ouch. Can't say I've had the best experiences with third party tools either.
I haven't had a lot of experience with .NET yet, but so far I'm liking it.
*** Anyone of the opinion that (many / most?) educational institutions tend to focus far too little on design, if at all?
It seems to be a common practice to leave areas such as this both unmentioned and untested. And very frustratingly so. The disregard I've observed towards real world problems makes all the little things they test on seem inane.
Anyone else think courses should work in a bit more about analysis, refactoring, coupling / cohesion issues, etc? Enough problems are caused by this disregard that it amazes me to so little is done.
Myself I'm using VB6 to populate PDF's documents which intergrates with our system we already have in place. Which involves using a 3rd party tool which i'm sure you all know can be a bit of a pain.
I'll soon be moving to .NET, i know its long over due but price and program restrictions have hampered that
Well enough about me
Enjoy coding people!
My interest tends to lie in web orientated programming although i will be do a fair amount of visual C# in my job. This is however why i have a few scripting languages under my belt (or those that can script).
As to points that have been raised about OO programing, i have only ever been taught OO from day one, but i tech myself others in my spare time. As it happens i actually enjoy writing non OO code much more, but i would rather see people learn OO from day one as its far more useful for them in the real world.
Yeah, seems as if it is quite dead. I'd love to have a part in reviving it, though. And even with there not being too many of us, I love talking about programming.. sooo =P
Heh, among other reasons, GUIs are definately one reason I'm leaning away from Java and towards C#. I've come to be rather familiar / competent with Swing, and I actually didn't mind some of the issues with it too overly much -- as I didn't know of a better option. If you get a chance sometime, you might download the Free Express Addition of Visual Studios ... make a windows app project and play around with the form builder.
I've been working on a project for awhile now in Java.. probably 100 hours or more logged just fighting with the GUI. I could make a much better GUI in C# in 5 minutes.
shadow:
Yeah, it's really too bad more schools don't cover it at all.. or in a really poor fashion. My biggest complaint against even the schools and colleges that teach it reasonably well, though, is the often failure of such institutions to encourage people to program in a way that's friendly to the real world.
But then, that's why I'm doing all I can to improve my school's curriculum.
It would definately be interesting to see a project of mine on sourceforge ..
pleaseremove:
If you wouldn't mind describing it, what are you doing for your job? I'm always interested to hear about what others are doing in the field..
squirellplayingtag #2:
Meh, that sucks. So do you have, uh, any say in the matter at all? I mean, would your teacher be at all likely to listen if you proposed something?
Being an Independent has been incredible. It's made me into an infinitely better programmer than I ever would have been otherwise. Not that it's at all likely, but I'd so love for an opportunity to talk to teachers like it sounds like you have... anything to improve on the educations of those interested in CS.
*edit: fixed some blatant typos.
(Edited by Whuppee at 4:45 am on May 7, 2006)
It really is a shame that schools don't teach more project oriented programming. Wouldn't it be great if your class project became a popular sourceforge project?
As it happens for someone of my age in the position I'm in i haven't been going long. I have really only been doing it for 2 years. I write huge amounts of php and C#. I used to write a fair bit of Java, but i haven't done that for months now. I have also played with Perl a fair bit, but thats another i don't really use much. I think for now i shall master C# (since my Job for a year will be using it, that should be simple). I'm also planning to get into Java a bit more in that time as its so similar. I think Perl can wait for now.
Good meeting you, Jay.. though I really must make myself stop replying and get to sleep.
Night all.
*edit-> sooo maybe I should have edited this response into my last post. Oops.
(Edited by Whuppee at 11:01 pm on May 4, 2006)
This many years later, well, can't say I ever put a lot of thought into it much past the first explanations my parents gave me when I was still in elementary school.. but so far as I understood it, had my birthdate just been something like a month different, I'd have been old enough for admittance.
So I'd have graduated at 18, instead.
I know very little at all regarding school policies. It might have even been a local / state thing.
Hope that helps explain it?
I myself am into website development, and maybe a little bit of programming. I should have a look around that part of the forums as well, but I do have a little bit of trouble finding it (not easy enough).
2 replies in, like, one minute. Crazy.
And, yes, I'm sure it's much busier during the usual hours. I just meant that the 2nd newest topic on the list hadn't been updated for a little over a week..
And, sadly, my alarm's set to go off in just barely over 5 hours, else I'd take you up on that offer =/
Maybe tomorrow?
Just thought I'd say hi to the programming forum before I let myself pass out =)
(Edited by Whuppee at 10:42 pm on May 4, 2006)
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