How can I get experience in programming?
I have just graduated with the BS in Computer Science from Troy University. I currently work at a helpdesk making good money and I don’t really want to leave this position. However, I do want to eventually jump into programming and I would like to know the best way to get experience.
I have heard that internships are a great way to accomplish this but where would I find one?
Programming covers many fields, and not only the web!
I am 61, and have programmed all my life, since computers were born.
The only advice I can give to a youngster is: be versatile. That is, be able to adapt to requests.
Nowadays, there are too many languages to stick to one particular: you need a broad knowledge.
Start with C AND Java.
I can hear the oppositions: "C" is outdated, "Java" is too young…
"C" is the father of most new languages. Knowing it will allow you to get into C#, C++, Php and MANY other languages, easilly!
"Java" …. A bit "too" new, but I believe the way forward. Also similar to C, it has features that were impossible in C.
That’s for "standard" professional direction.
But you have many more!
Image analysis, games programming (requires a lot of maths!), robotics, AI… too much to choose from.
Get the basics and grab your opportunities!
(PS: if you want to work the web, why don’t you take the "table v div challenge" at www.web2coders.com? It will give you something to work on!)
You could always try getting involved with an open source project – that’s a great way to get some experience. Go to sourceforge.net and pick a project that you are interested in.
screw all of that. Buy some books and read them.. figure out what you want to program IN and buy books about that. Then try to find some people to pay you to make websites. Meanwhile, develop your own websites or softwares, whichever it is.
then after about a year, you may be able to potentially get an entry level job doing it. -may- depending upon where you live.
you need to do your research though to figure out which type of programming pays the most.
php programmers dont make much at all compared to .net developers. The reason why is because .net can be used to software and for web.
also with .net there’s asp.net which uses c# or VB.net, and Ajax, Java, WPF, and silverlight, and html, and SQL, AND the list goes on… you have to know a decent amount of all of it… but most entry level .net developers where i am start at about $30 USD per hour. more experienced developers can make over 100k a year after a few years. notice i said developer not programmer or designer… they are different.
good luck..
For some programming concepts, check out http://www.rmfusion.com