Trauma
For those who hate reading like me, the question is at the end.
I reckon there are people out there who are in this domain but they hate it whereas I'm passionate about it but I don't work in this domain. Seeing all what I took fading away, it's depressing.
I remove the dust to reconsider what I learnt a while ago. Digging through my courses faint memories of failure and success in school exercises invaded my mind. Then a devastation stops me, the dismay of knowing I'm about to review my courses again with the dreadful bitterness that this time I know I won't be needing them in applicable life. But I'm still passionate about this field.
what's the meaning of learning something again while you're sure you won't employ it? You're passionate about programming but you can't find a need for it, do you simply leave it? What would you do?
rtp
well am not sure if you are asking about the education system or purpose of programming
any will answer both never the less.
About the education system, its far from perfect, you do end up learning a lot of things that you actually never use or use very rarely. You end up spending over 20 years for not that much knowledge in the end. Am not saying its a complete disaster, but it can be definitly imporved, i for one hate school so bad because i was literaray felt am not going to use what i was learning and was wasting time and energy, but when i arrived at university it was a different ball game, i guess school is a phase one has to go threw, like it or hate it.
about passion about programming or anything else, am pretty sure you can find a purpose ( need ) for anything in this world. When there is passion or right perspective then you are self driven, which is very important if you want to live happy (content) life. When you are pushing yourself to do something you don't like everyday then i guess its more difficult to be content with life. There is a need for programmer just that there is a need for somebody to pick the garbadge.
welcome to the forum by the way hope you enjoy your stay
Kassem
If you are passionate about programming then that's probably what you should be doing for a living, given the fact that a career in the software development industry is a pretty good (and rewarding) one. But if you've already established a successful career at doing something else and you're happy about it (that's a key point), then learn programming just for the fun of it and carry on with what you're doing now.
P.S: If you hate reading and you still want to learn programming, I suggest you resort to screencasts. But from my own experience I could say that screencasts are good, but nothing can teach you better than a book and experimenting on your own.
Good luck.
Trauma
Thanks guys for writing about this topic.
@rtp Sorry when I wrote school I meant university. Some people end up studying something and working in another thing. So no I'm afraid I can't find any need for programming, that's the problem.
Thanks for your insights of life.
@Kassem. programming is challenging so yes if someone would restart learning programming then as you said it would for the fun of it.
What are screencasts please? did you mean videos or a website titled screencasts?
For working in this field, what I think is that there currently aren't too many options available in Lebanon or it's somewhat limited. That's why one should keep walking and select what's available.
Kassem
Trauma wroteWhat are screencasts please? did you mean videos or a website titled screencasts?
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PluralSight.com
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Channel9
Trauma wroteFor working in this field, what I think is that there currently aren't too many options available in Lebanon or it's somewhat limited. That's why one should keep walking and select what's available.
You are very misinformed. The IT sector is one of the most prosperous sectors in Lebanon. There are many job offerings available. The demand for programmers is at an accelerating rate. Unfortunately, the number of quality developers is too small compared to the demand. On the bright side, developers who are passionate and serious about their career can easily find a good paying job at a reputable company.
Trauma
Thanks for your concern Kassem. I'll check those links out.
I personally don't write something unless I'm familiar with it in a way or another. I wasn't speaking about IT. yes IT services are so broad and i wasn't writing about software development that you mentioned because I know none about it. and certainly i wasn't discussing game development.
What I wrote about is just programming, this by and large, I know isn't a narrow field neither but as I said I think that its options are limited. And i hope that i'm misinformed but here's what made me not think so at all.
Had freshly finished my school I knocked the door of multiple companies but none employed me. Some didn't even send back for interviewing me. When being adamant to them do you know what arguments I heard? Either already have we'll call you when there's free place, either we're mixing 2 sections into 1 IT and firing some, either there's no candidature at the moment, either we'll call you just don't call us, either would prefer to pay an employee who already knows it instead of paying to scale up juniors and you'll waste time and productivity of others...
and here's a story of an associate who graduated at the same school and learnt the same programming that I learnt but he had more experience since he had his own clients at his area so not only he knew how to write a code, he had a broader knowledge of computers. However he worked at a computer shop, but I think his knowledge didn't seem to be at his dreams. having funds he and his cousin started a company, to later end up closing it and he moved to an arab country. that was the last I heard of him.
Please don't understand me wrong. I didn't mean to destroy the reputation of programming because no way can I do that and I reckon there really are talented and creative programmers out there. Plus I can't destroy the reputation of something I'm passionate about myself.
I once headed to a company which turned out not be a company as described but an office with one manager seeking junior programmers where I had to work 8-9 hours, there was no salary, no transport, no Social Security, with an only promise that helping in his project would scale me up at PHP.
If a reputable company would have employed me I wouldn't have the thought that i currently have that there aren't many options in available Lebanon and maybe I would have excelled there more than their employees since I was passionate about it and I'm still. never the less I absolutely don't know if all the companies are like that or not since I didn't visit all.
So instead of fulfilling my wish for which I chose my specialization, it turned into a real despair for me hence I was forced to turn 360 degrees to find another nonrelated job. This was my experience about programming in Lebanon dear Kassem which made me think so.
Trauma
I owe you an apology. i realize I sounded a bit overreacted and I'll try to avoid being negative. I just couldn't handle the harsh times I weren't employed and it causes me ache each time I think about it.
Please add anything more if you wish Kassem.
Kassem
I understand your frustration Trauma, but my experience has been completely different. I worked as a freelancer for a little over a year while I was still in school. Then I graduated on Saturday, went to an interview on Monday, got the job and been employed at the company until today. So basically, I haven't passed through a phase of un-employment at all.
I totally realize that not every programmer had a good experience finding a job like myself, but it's still far better than other sectors. I know some business graduates who have been unemployed for over a year. On the other hand, all of my class-mates who were relatively good students have found a job 2-3 months after graduation.
One thing to note here is that if you want to excel at a software development career, it's going to suck the life out of you. I spend most of my free time reading, watching screencasts or playing around with some code. I also spend a lot of extra hours at the office. I almost have no personal life what so over at the time being. So yeah, it's not really a pleasant walk in the park if you ask me. Is it worth it? Well, if you're someone as passionate about programming like myself and some of the people I know, then yeah I would say it is. But if you just chose computer science or MIS for the lack of better alternative, then I would strongly recommend doing something else; you will NOT enjoy it and you will not be good at what you do.
Ayman
kassem wroteBut if you just chose computer science or MIS for the lack of better alternative, then I would strongly recommend doing something else; you will NOT enjoy it and you will not be good at what you do.
Amen to that!
@Trauma I totally agree with Kassem and another thing is that there is a huge difference between liking something and loving it. So if you really love programming and ready to put all your time for it and sacrifice for the sake of doing something you love then yes go for it. If you just like to program from time to time and have priorities over it then don't. The market is indeed growing demanding for developers is growing but if you don't put enough time and effort to reach a certain standard to differentiate yourself then you wont go too far.
One important thing is that in Lebanon most companies are not really willing to put time or resources on teaching a fresh graduate everything by the spoon over long periods. So if you can prove that you can learn on your own and finish tasks the right way on time you'll get hired, even if you were in an internship setting.
longbit
F*** it, write useless programs if that makes you feel ok... even if it's a software that prompt 1+1=2... so hardcore isn't ?
am 100% sure that in your daily life you can find stuff that can be automated or scriptable, or areas where a small application can be helpful, like logging events or calculating stuff...
Trauma
I definitely am surprised with your experience Kassem. I understand it all depends on different factors such as experience or lack of it. Thank you all for your contributions as everything mentioned makes sense now.