Software Information

Programming Language Migration Path


While I was preparing some personal background information for a potential client, I was reviewing all the programming languages that I have had experience with. I list languages that I'm most experienced with on my resume. However, it occured to me that if I was to list all the languages that I've worked with, then the client would become overwhelmed with the resume and just write me off as either a total bit head or looney toons. But as I reflected on all these different environments I realized how much fun I've had being involved with the software development industry, and that a lot of that fun has to do with the learning process. I think this is what makes a good programmer. Not just the ability to write code, or come up with a very creative application, but the ability to learn. Lets admit it! If a programmer doesn't have good learning skills, then the programmer is going to have a very short career.

As an exercise, I'm going to list out my Programming Language Migration Path. I would be interested to hear from other programmers what their PLMP is as well. Here goes:

* Commodore Vic-20 Basic

* Commodore Vic-20 6502 Assembler

* Commodore 64 6510 Assembler (Lots of all nighters with this one!)

* IBM BASIC

* IBM Assembler (My hate relationship with segment addressing.)

* dBASE II (Wow! Structured programming.)

* GWBasic

* Turbo Pascal (Thank you Mr. Kahn! Best $49 I ever spent!)

* Turbo C

* dBASE III+ (Cool, my dBASE II report generator now only takes 2 hours to run instead of 7.)

* Clipper/Foxbase

* dBASE IV

* dBASE SQL

* Microsoft C (First under DOS, then under Windows 3.1)

* SuperBase (First under Amiga DOS, then for MS Windows)

* SQL Windows (Whatever happened to this? Gupta?)

* Visual Basic 2.0

* Delphi

* Visual Basic 3.0

* Access Basic / Word Basic (Microsoft)

* Newton Script (My first "elegant" language)

* Visual Basic 4.0 & 5.0

* HTML

* FormLogic (for Apple Newton)

* Codewarrior C for Palm OS

* Visual Basic 6.0

* NS BASIC for Palm OS & Windows CE

* FileMaker 5

* Satellite Forms

* Visual C++

* REAL Basic for Mac 9.x & OSX

* Java

* Codewarrior C++ for Palm OS

* Appforge for Palm OS & Pocket PC

* C#

* FileMaker Pro 7.0

Whew! Not only is this a good exercise to reflect on all the languages that I've worked with, but it is a good example of how the languages and the technology has progressed during the past 25 years. I'm sure that I'll be adding much more to this PLMP in the near future as well. And as with most programmers I know, there is so much more that I would like to learn but just don't have the time.

Another good exercise is to bring this up as a topic of discussion with a group of programmers after a nice long day at any technical trade show. For example, quite some time ago, after a long day at the OS/2 Developers Conference in Seattle (Yea, dating myself here.), I brought up the topic of 6502 Assembly Language programming. This was during dinner at around 7pm. The resulting conversation migrated to the hotel lobby where it continued until around 2am in the morning. (Ah, the good ol' days.) ;)

(If you're a developer, I'd be interested in seeing your own personal Programming Language Migration Path. Shoot me an email to timdottrimbleatgmaildotcom.)

Timothy Trimble, The ART of Software Development

Timothy Trimble is a award winning, freelance writer, and software developer. He has written a book for Microsoft Press and over 35 articles for significant computer industry trade magazines. He is the Blog publisher of The ART of Software Development which can be found via his web site at http://www.timothytrimble.info


MORE RESOURCES:

ChattahBox

Facebook Co-Founder To Leave For Own Software Startup
InformationWeek, NY - 1 hour ago
Now, he plans to launch a software startup, according to reports on the Valleywag.com Web site. The Silicon Valley publication said that CEO Mark Zuckerberg ...
Facebook Cofounder Leaving To Start New Company NewsFactor Network
Facebook co-founder quits Siliconrepublic.com
Facebook co-founder calls it quits ITWeb
VentureBeat - LinuxInsider.com
all 50 news articles


GameSHOUT

Sales of RealDVD movie copying software halted by judge
Dallas Morning News, TX - 4 hours ago
Software to do that has existed almost as long as DVD discs, but this is one of the first efforts by a mainstream American company to try to make such ...
RealDVD Sales Suspended In Tinseltown Showdown CRN
RealNetworks Halts Sales of RealDVD PC Magazine
RealDVD sales suspended under court request ITworld.com
Forbes - ZDNet
all 28 news articles


Patterson Cos. acquires supplier, software maker
CNNMoney.com - 1 hour ago
based Patterson said it was acquiring software company Odyssey Veterinary Software LLC. Patterson shares fell $1.20, or 4.1 percent, to $27.67 in afternoon ...
Patterson Companies Acquires Leading, Value-Added Distributor of ... MarketWatch
Patterson Cos. acquires Columbus Serum Bizjournals.com
Patterson buys Ohio veterinary company Bizjournals.com
all 23 news articles


Callidus Software Names Jimmy Duan Senior Vice President of Mid ...
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
There are tens of thousands of companies in the mid-market segment, which represents a great opportunity for Callidus Software. We are pleased to have Jimmy ...
Callidus Software Schedules Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results ... Business Wire (press release)
Callidus Software Names Jimmy Duan Senior Vice President of Mid ... TMC Net
all 19 news articles


Visual Analytics Achieves Protection Level 3 Certification for its ...
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
The certification allows the software to operate under DoDDIS, which is managed by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Under the certification process, ...
Tableau Software Provides Visual Data Analysis Solution for AHIMA TMCnet
Tableau Software and AHIMA to Offer Visual Analytics Software to ... MarketWatch
all 19 news articles


Dividend.com

SAP Announces 2008 Third Quarter Preliminary Software and Software ...
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
announced today that after a preliminary review of its 2008 third quarter revenues, it expects third quarter 2008 US GAAP software and software-related ...
Europe's largest software company SAP warns on profits guardian.co.uk
SAP's Third-Quarter Revenue Growth Trails Forecast (Update2) Bloomberg
SAP: first to hit the buffers ZDNet
Reuters UK - guardian.co.uk
all 151 news articles


TopCoder Joins Lineups for SD Best Practices and Software Business ...
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
TopCoder, Inc. today announced its participation in two premier software industry conferences scheduled for the end of October. In Boston, TopCoder will ...


Snap-on Announces New Diagnostic Software for Navistar(R) Engines
MarketWatch - 56 minutes ago
NAVPAK replaces the current Navistar MD32 Master Diagnostics Fleet software. Technicians using NAVPAK will benefit from a PC-based application that supports ...


Given Imaging Launches RAPID(R) 5 Access Software
CNNMoney.com - 7 hours ago
Given Imaging Ltd. (NASDAQ: GIVN) today announced the launch of RAPID 5 Access, new software that facilitates physicians' reading PillCam videos anytime, ...
Given Imaging Launches RAPID(R) 5 Access Software MarketWatch
Given Imaging Launches RAPID(R) 5 Access Software International Business Times
all 11 news articles


Healy Hudson Teams With IBM for Software as a Service Solution
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
have signed a five-year, five million euro Software as a Service contract. As part of the agreement, IBM will support Healy Hudson's e-placing solution ...
Healy Hudson Teams With IBM for Software as a Service Solution International Business Times
IBM opens Scottish data centre CRN - UK
IBM Invests £2 Million in Scotland for New UK Services Business ... International Business Times
all 22 news articles

Software - Google News

home | site map
© 2006