Who ARE you?
 

I was just wondering who reads and posts to this forum. In particular, I was wondering what is the average ability or experience level. After all, the "guru" designation has nothing to do with the *quality* of our posts, just the number. And the "newbie" designation can be equally invalid.

So to start off:
I've been programming in VB for 9 years (my first commercial program was in VB1)
I've brought maybe 8 VB products to market, some legacy, some from the concept stage. Some were translated into various languages and sold world wide.

Most of my programs have something to do with serial communication and/or graphics. Only recently have I had anything to do with databases. Also, while I've been using API calls forever, I've only recently started using classes and custom controls.

So who are you?
Are you a
a) Guru? - extensive knowlege of everything and acts as mentor
b) Expert? - extensive knowlege of multiple areas
c) Journeyman? - working knowlege of VB & API calls
d) Newbie? - student. Use plain VB only.

What areas of expertise do your have?
a) VB only?
b) API calls
c) Database knowlege
d) Classes and Custom controls
e) Other languages (eg. C++)
f) Other specialties?

How long have you been in this game?

"I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel!" - Edmund Blackadder

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I've been doing VB for 2 years.
I write programs for myself and friends and 2 pieces of Freeware that I've released on the internet.

I'd consider myself between Newbie and Journeyman.

And areas of expertise???? Hummmm.....
Working around easy problems with long and complex solutions. ;-)
Well I do have odd ways of solving simple problems.

CornEmpire Board Administrator
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/thecornmaster/" target="_new">http://www.geocities.com/thecornmaster/</A>

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I've been doing VB for about 5 years and programming a total of 15 years. I mostly deal with database type applications and/or web applications. I'd consider myself somewhere between journeyman and expert. I know VB in general very well, data stuff in VB very well, and web stuff in VB very well. I've been doing custom classes for some time and use them a lot. I'm weak on API, graphics, and communications stuff with VB. Me and my programming partner have been toying with getting certified and I could probably be VB certified with very little study to refine what I know and fake what I don't know.

In addition to VB I'm pretty good with Access97 (even though it drives me crazy) and very good with web development (I've done PERL CGI, VB CGI, VB Webclasses, and I'm currently loving doing intranet site/app development with Active Server Pages). I know HTML extremely well and I'm very good with CSS and JavaScript.

I used to be much more active on this forum, mostly answering questions. Lately I've been too busy to check it daily and there are many more knowledgeable posters here to reply to all the questions.

Paul

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I've been programming for about a year now in VB.
I started off in C++ but hated it because of its complexity.
I am only now venturing into Visual C++ (for some odd reason because VB can do just about everything C++ can do).
I have an extensive knowledge of HTML, Javascript, and CSS, as well as ASP and Perl.
I would like to learn java, but I consider it a dying language, being replaced by ASP and WebClasses.
Overall, when it comes to VB, I think I am an Expert on the basics and API.
I'd venture into DirectX if I had the time, but I rather spend $40 bucks on a Microsoft game (the only software products they offer that aren't buggy) which I know I will enjoy.
I hate databases with a passion, although I can use them when needed.
They are more complex then they ever need to be (especially Access), and their size is always bigger than necessary.
Give me a good old fashion random access file over a database anytime.

Well, enough about me.

Signing off,
-cl

<A HREF="http://vb.wsoftware.net" target="_new">http://vb.wsoftware.net</A>

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I'm a newbie, Bill. Up until last year, not any real knowledge programming to speak of.
My business is advertising design, graphics. Last year
a friend of mine who owns a bar
estaurant was compaining
about his antiquated computer system. I thought It might
be fun to network some pc's and printers to run his business. I bought Corel quattroproVBA and VB6 and went to
work. I didn't really know what I was getting into, but thanks to people like you on this site, and others, I was
able to develop pretty good system for him. I'ts been up and running for about 3 weeks now. My hat is off to the people in this world who take their valuable time to help newbies like me.
Doug

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I'm Definitely a newbie! Although I have been dabling in Vb6 and Vb5 for over a year now, but am truly convinced there will always be more to learn. By trade, I offer technical support, training, and troubleshooting for a major Medical Billing software, mostly doctor's and stuff. By the nature of my job, I deal heavily with databases and call Access 97 my home! (Not crazy about Access 2000). I am currently in the process of attemptig to rewrite a program my boss wrote in clipper six years ago that accomidates direct electronic claims. I try to keep tabs on this board and have found it to be far superior to many others out there. I hope to continue writing Visual Basic for many years. Right now I am just trying to get by as I've dived in head first. I find Ican code for a ood 6 hours and then run into a small prolem which takes my two days to overcome. It's frustrating! Thanks to all of you for allowing me a small portion of my sanity!

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hello Bill,

I go under the Nick of Karimahta, but my real name is Matthew.


Firstly may I <font color=red>strongly</font color=red> disagree with Paul Nettle's evaluation of himself. I have watched his contributions since joining the forum earlier this year, and his input is always exceptional and solutions are 98% of the time far superior than many others offered.



I have been programming for about 12 years now, cut my windows teeth on Access version 1.0 (seed version). My God did I learn pathence in those days. (Or rather,patience now that my teeth have recovered. My mind is always going faster than my fingers!)

After persisting with Access for many years (as well as doing some old text screen mini computer stuff), I was introduced to the VB world with the advent of VB5 and have been with it ever since.



I have done a lot with Access and a bit with SQL. I love COM and have created numerous ActiveX dll's and ocx's (man, they take some mind bending to get right). I don't know where I would rate myself. When I think I am strong in an area, someone posts something that blows me away. When I think I am weak in an area, sometimes I understand more than I thought. I thin I am strongest in understanding code itself. Anyway, I have given up trying to compare and just enjoy the experience of exploring code anywhere, anytime.



I run a one-man show from home where I tend to various ongoing projects mainly in the database realm of things(although things are coming to a close at the moment so <U>if you need a hand with any projects</U>, etc let me know and we can talk a deal!).

Although I spend most of my time doing stuff like developing a quick HTML editor/preview to do posts for this forum. I have a very underdeveloped web presence at <A HREF=http://'www.beondemand.com'>www.beondemand.com</A> which may one day become live. (I must get some tips off Mr Nettle)



Well, enough rambling. May I say this is splendid forum and I have learnt heaps from all of you lovely people. ;-)

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hi,

In work I log in as whelanp, however I couldn't wait until Moday to answer this post...

So, I been using VB since v3 and Access since v1, SQL Server since v5. I suppose I have been programing for around 15 years, initailly using PASCAL and a dodgy version of BASIC (can't remember the exact name (line numbers and plenty of GOTO's and GOSUB's were all the range then!)

The shear versility of VB is what I think keeps me interested especially since v5, with objects and COM/DCOM becoming more and more popular.

I would consider myself an Expert in most areas of VB and have passed numerous MS exams (3 * VB and 2 * Access & 1 SQL Server), although on this forum I'm always picking up tips from you guys.

Getting back to the MS exams for you people that work with VB I believe they are a must. They really seperate the "men" from the "boys". Employers go wild when they appear on your CV.

I mainly work on Banking Applications and have done stuff ranging from simple single user apps to huge (and I mean huge!) whole department type apps (Stock Trading etc)

This type of application really brings out the best in VB, especially now that 3(+)-tiered systems are the norm.

I enjoy this forum, as I like helping people who are generally interested in becoming better programmers, I hate the "Can you give me all the code?" type questions. These people, I believe do make good programmers as they don't want to understand the problem let alone the solution.

Cut "n" paste merchants

Ahhh glad to get that out.

Specific areas of expertise...

Databases and database formats - design, access (ie DAO, RDO and ADO)

Converting badly written "flat" apps to a proper 3-tier system.

Dealing with "other" data from dbase formats to really obsure mainframe stuff (import and export, general processing).


Most important tip for any programmer using any language is standards, standards and more standards.

Good luck to all and keep up the good work!

PS: I think Bill has to best poster to this forum the detail and patience some questions get from him is truly amazing.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

HI,
I am definately a newbie.. i have been programming for over a year mostly in Turing but also alot in VB..i am getting pretty good but there is still alot i don't know about VB.
other areas of expertise...
i am not an expert but pretty familiar with turing.
this forum is by far the best one i have ever been too and probably on the net.. there are so many amazing programmers here and it is great that they take the time to help ppl with VB.


-RC

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Bill, you are definitely stiring up trouble!!!!

I'd consider myself a journeyman.

Started with AppleSoft 1980. Dabbled in ST Basic & C (Atari), Pascal, VB-MSDOS, VB3 - VB6.

My programs are confined to simple utilities for work, I am a CAD/CAM programmer. My company builds bridges, I program large Burning machines, Mills, Lathes and Punches.

Made a simple converter for Feet-Inches-Fraction to millimeters, Foot-Decimal, Inch-Decimal: Fill in one and it converts it to the others...

Another to calculate the K-factor in bent plates...

Two that work in conjunction with our CAD/CAM software. A macro calls the VB program, which in turn writes a macro for the CAD/CAM and returns to CAD/CAM then executes that macro...

I am in 'hog heaven' now! Previous 10 years was under a man who didn't trust us. I was forbidden to install any program. He actually removed GW-BASIC from our PCs and even removed Win3.11 from a new PC... I used to take my laptop to work and run stand alone utilities. Now we are in a new department, and their attitude is, "Write what you need"! When they found out I was writing & compiling with VB5 on my laptop, they bought me VB6 Pro. They also insist that we take outside training at least once a year...

I find programing like Chinese food. After you are done, you want MORE!

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I am a software engineer for Cardinal Solutions Group, a privately held company in Cincinnati. I've worked there for two years doing n-tiered development with either VB/ASP/or VB webclasses as the front end, VB ActiveX dll's for business logic and data access services, and Oracle or SQL Server.

I've only worked two years commercially. My last five year in the military was developing databases and front ends for Oracle to track equipment / units in Bosnia, which is where I got most of my experience.

Besides VB stuff, I'm compentent at DB Design, NT Server, IIS, Exchange, Crystal Web Reports, Oracle 7.3 & 8 w/ PL/SQL, and Sql Server 6.5 & 7 w/TransactionSQL, and API calls.

Most of our applications are financial and heavy on the database side.







Brian T. Wiehoff

Re: Who ARE you?
 

hey Bill... i'm pretty sure your a newbie at writing a root post since your so good and you never ask questions... anyeways, i am 13 years old (boy) i've been 'grammin in VB for about 2.5 years... i love VB.. i consider myself an expert, even though i despise reviewing myself... however i still ask a great a deal of questions, so i'm not the best 'grammer. i know a lot bout the API, but not much about dbases. I'm increasing my knowledge in Classes and Controls a great deal. I know enough to be considered a journeyman of controls and classses. Other languages? ... if you consider HTML a language, which I don't, i know it. I am working into Javascript, but my goal for the next approx.. 2 years is C/C++. i started after my brother who is like a computer expert. I plan to go ionto comp engineering or comp science...

i enjoy playing drums, basketball, tennis, and watching TV. I listen to punk rock and i'm in 8 th grade...

thats it for now... bye

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I told myself I wasn't going to respond to this question, but here I am. I am a 16 year old with experience in multiple languages including qbasic, vb, html, java, c++, among a few others. I have been programming for 8 years, and I consider myself an expert. (Nomatter what that thing on the side says ;) ) I have extensive knowledge in vb, api, classes and custom controls. I have been making commercial programs for 5 years. Right now I'm working on a full blown nintendo emulator in vb, and possibly encorperating the super nintendo in it also.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

In VB I am a novice. In life I am at the point of retirement. Would that I could have been able to program since grade school, but computers were almost unheard of in those days.

I consider myself a competent newbie. I have only been at VB programming for about a year. I write for myself, but have a program that is now being evaluated by our local medical school. It isn't anything complex, but it is detailed.

I am attempting to become proficient in database programming, but don't seem to find enough time to get all the knowledge and writing done that I need.

I am also working on ActiveX programming and have dabbled in HTML.

Dave

Re: Who ARE you?
 

well im 16, ive just started a college course on VB, before that id been programming VB on and off for about a month, i consider myself a novice. i can make basic app's and the occasional basic little game.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I've been doing VB for about 2 years and consider myself a Journeyman with a lot to learn! While in college, 15+ years ago, I took courses in Pascal, COBOL (no pc compilers back then), and FORTRAN. I work in the engineering business, so most of my applications are engineering and database related. I've never taken a course in VB so sometimes I wonder if I'm going about things the right way. Oh well, live and learn......

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I would have to say either an Expert or a Guru. I can help with API calls, Database (RDO,DAO,ADO,SQL,Access, data warehousing), classes and custom controls, application design issues (OOP!) code or GUI, C/C++, x86 Assembler, Pascal, Fortran (please don't though; I HATE it), HTML, JavaScript, Java, Perl, AppleScript, hardware, networking, etc.....

I am 21 years old and wrote my first code when I was 10 years old on a Tandy Color Computer good old BASIC. I dabbled with a Timex Sinclair and a TI-99. My parents bought a real computer (386DX-40) when I was 13 and I quickly learned my way around DOS 5.0, Win 3.0, Batch files, and headed straight for Quick Basic 4.5.

I started with graphics/game programming as I imagine most teenage programmers do nowadays. I soon realized how limited I was in QB45 and wanted to go further. One of my dad's co-workers knew me and when he upgraded from Borland Turbo C++ 2.0 to 3.0, he gave me the old version. I was very excited until I looked at what C looked like. I was flabbergasted. I didn't even think about it for a while when I was in high school (I was more interested in hanging out and chicks).

I took Pascal my freshman year and it made perfect sense to me. The next year I took Supercomputing (i.e. Fortran 77). Fortran is what drove me to the next level. It is a horribly archaic language. I finally had the determination to learn C (not C++) and start working on a game. I installed the compiler and within two weeks, I was writing code that good enough that my dad was amazed (he's a VB programmer now, but was a VC++ programmer then). I started playing with the primary thing that games use, GFX. I was using a graphics library that I downloaded of the net (which was nothing more than NCSA Mosaic 1.0; Netscape 2 came out shortly thereafter and I was SO intrigued by the fact you could change the background to another color or an image using a line of HTML). I found that the library was able to build a nice little palette editor, which was my first *real* application. I used another application to draw the images and used my palette editor to import the colors and add them to the 256 colors that were available. This effectively combined all the image palettes into a single list of 255 colors that I saved as a binary file and was able to load it and set the VGA cards palette.

It worked great for a simple task like that, but failed miserably when trying to write a graphics-intensive game with the graphics hardware available at the time (I had a Trident SVGA card with 1MB of RAM). I bought a book called "Teach Yourself Game Programming In 21 Days". It was for C programmers. I read the book in 3. It was a great help to understand how the different subsystems of a PC work, but again failed when trying to use it for a game engine. I had to take matters into my own hands.

I started by finding some help on the net. That helped alot and seemed to scream one thing. For games, use low-level assembler for time-intensive tasks. So, I opened up my Turbo Assembler manual and taught it to myself. Before long, I have a VERY fast 320x200x8bbp graphics engine. I also wrote several other guts to the game engine (a round-robin multi-tasker that used the RTC, a driver for a SoundBlaster Pro, mouse and keyboard hooks/drivers). Now I was ready for the game itself.

I started to realize how difficult it was going to be to track a sprite using a struct (Type for you VB guys). I stumbled on the concept of a class. I asked my dad and he thoroughly confused me. After about six months of reading numerous books, asking questions, surfing the net, I finally understood what OOP was all about. I now started using a class for the sprite and turned it into an object and used inheritance, overriding, constructors, etc. My dad was always telling me that programming isn't where I wanted to go and that game programming was even more of a dead-end. I listened. Someone I knew wanted me to write some code and I was going to get paid! I was only 15 years old. I couldn't even work at McDonald's! I worked there for several months but do to cutbacks and my grades, I was unable to continue.

I was thinking about another application I had in mind and started to write what I called "Windows". No, no, what I mean is I needed an event driven application that used high resolutions and had buttons, text boxes, etc. So, I took the library I wrote for games and converted it to 640x480x4bbp. Unfortunately, I neglected to save the previous version! Anyway, I got the base down and started building objects such as Button, Text, ScrollBar, etc. It looked a lot like Windows because I did screen captures and used my graphics library to redraw them using lines and rectangles. I showed my dad and he immediately said "Why are you wasting your time? Just use Windows!" I said that I didn't understand all that stuff in Win.H. He said, why don't you use Visual Basic?

I had never heard of it, but I quickly found a book at the library and started learning. The books were for VB2, but I ended up with VB3. It was sooo cool. It made me so mad that I did all that in DOS for naught.

I ended up losing almost all the code when I built a new PC for myself....err....my parents. But I was able to start afresh with Win95 and VB5.

The last three years I have done more of systems work, but I was always supporting programmers. For the last year, I have been coding 80% of my work week, but still help out on the systems/network issues that arise. I am doing my best to help all of y'all, but I can't do much since I work about 50-60 hours a week, plus church and my wife, etc...

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Sheesh, I feel like a baby. I am a 19 years old. I started with the basic language when I was 10 and did some pretty nifty stuff but stopped for about 9 years. I've been dealing with VB6 for about 2 months. I am currently working on a marketing program that keeps track of salespersons, market leads, and other information. I am also interested in web bots and spiders.

I am still trying to learn databasing. Starting out it feels like there is soooo much to go through, but I suppose I will get there one day. In any case, I am very glad I stumbled accross this website.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Well, first of all, there is no way I'm an expert in VB, so don't believe my title - journeyman would be more accurate.

I'm 22 years old, and started programming when I was eight, when my parents bought me a Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 (128K!!!!!). My parents never invested much in technology, so up until 3 years ago, I was programming in Quick Basic on a 286 with 2MB RAM! I took computing at school (A Level for thoses who understand the English school system!), but then left to become a cycle mechanic in a sports shop. 2 and a half years ago, a friend got me a job at a major insurance broker as an MIS analyst. I started with VBA in Excel, and then progressed on to Access, and then eventually VB5 which I still use, as I can't convince the boss to pay for a newer version.

Most of my programs are simple data recording utilities for use in the call centre, but I have produced a few more complex applications, such as a multi-task scheduling tool which I have used every day for the last year. I have some experience with ODBC databases, but mostly Access.

Well, enough about me.....

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hold off on the upgrade till VB.Net and you two will reap more benefits.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hummmmmm....where do I start??

No....my name is not really Noah, but, like the Man in the Biblical Flood I have been through an mill and come out the other side shining...hence the name.

I learned a language called BASIC on an HP "Mini-Computer" in 1978. It ran only interpreted Basic and had no permanent memory. It's total capacity was 64K. They needed me to maintain it as an automated tester even though I didn't write the programs.

My second career was as a Printed Circuit board Designer. It was in that biz engineers began to request database extracts to help them in their jobs. The database was simply a series of ASCII files with very odd formats. I did stuff like Pick & Place info, parts lists, automated test point generation. All these were done in C or Qbasic or VB.

I started going to school in 1992 and have an AA in computer programming. I have all my lower division done for my BSCS and my main goal in life (besides winning the lottery) is to complete it. BSCS = Big$$$. No cert will get you there, trust me.

96->98 I was working for an electronic data warehousing firm that made a hardware/software turnkey system to track parts through a warehouse. We used VB, C, C++, and a lot of Java (yuch!!). When the company failed, I worked for a bit using VB to build a package for Rent-A-Garage places. Now I work for a small consulting firm whose main customer is one of the largest providers of dental insurance in the world. I do some desktop apps with VB and a lot of Web apps with SQL, ADO, JavaScript, and ASP. I really like the work and the persons God has placed here for me to work with.

I'd like to thank my Producer, my Director, and ---- I love you, Mom......ahhhhh.....OH! where was I....

My skill level??

Pretty darn good. Especially with this bag of mixed nuts on this forum. You kooks have bailed my cookies out enough that I am most grateful. Even without realizing it. Often just by reading the posts.

I have a knack for programming and love it. I believe that if I don't know how to do it, at least I know who to ask.

As you all know, I LOVE to lend a hand, but, I will not do anyone's job or homework for them.

I believe simpler is better, too many comments is impossible like being too rich or too thin. Standards can help a great deal. Even if they don't prove themselves, if you've stuck to them, when you make a change, everywhere it's the same.

Hope This Helps Ya Know Me,
->Noah

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Great post - have always wondered who you all were, don't know why I didnt ask really ?

I have been programming on and off (mostly off) the last ten years. I started with GWBasic then moved on to QuickBasic4.5 where I have done most of my work.

I used to write bespoke accountancy modules for Pegasus (a very well known British accountancy software provider) cashbooks, nominal ledgers that kind of stuff.

I moved to VB4 about 3 years ago and more recently to VB6 last year.

I have for the last few years been working for a lighting manufacturer, and have been developing software that calculates the distributed effect of various lighting units within a given space. You draw in the various rooms (using a CAD package I developed) and then place different lights in the room, and the program will calculate the spread of light and show the results using 2D intensity graphs, 3D contour graphs and isolux graphs (all written by myself, no 3rd party graphics here!).

The software is only a very small part of my job (IT manager) but have been doing more recently.

I am quite good with the mathmatical graphical thing (rotating 3D graphics that sort of thing) and tend to have quit a good grasp of most things apart from databases, am just trying to get to grips with it all at present and it is doing my head in. ADO, DAO, OBDC, means little to me.

Everyone seems to have been programming since birth, I only started at about 20, if you've done your maths, your right I turned 30 this year! :(

On a personal note, I'm married, live in Dorset(England) have also lived in Cornwall and London, and think that this site is absolutly great.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Bill, Great Question. I am a retired Navy Chief (freshly 43), working for a multimedia company that develops CBT, mostly for military aviation. I was hired on here for my aviation experience, but it was clear to see, once the aviation contracts ran out, I would be looking for another job. So, I have been learning VB and Authorware for little over a year now. I feel like I am still in the beginner/intermediate range of the VB learning curve, but have found quick, easy and powerful ways to use VB with the access database. I am still working slowly at my own first program, but have found a nitch in creating edit boxes, and database utilities to turn weeks of work (from my co-workers) into a few minutes.

I do what I can to help folks out here, but many questions are over my head. If you haven't noticed, I jump on the easy ones.

I do appreciate everyone here for the help provided, and for taking the time to reply to this post.

Chuck

Chuck

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I'm a newbie. I started VB since last year (VB6). I did database programming (Clipper Dos based)10 years experience.
Now I try to migrate to window based programming. My problem in VB of course just the syntax. Through this forum I got a lot helps from experienced vb programmer. Thank you very much.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

What an interesting thread! I'm new to the Visual Basic world but have been programming for 25 years. I have experience in languages such as BAL, COBOL, PROTOS, Fortran, PL/1, BASIC, MarkIV, Natural, RPG, and Transact. My experience is mostly in the mainframe/mini environment: IBM, ITEL, Amdahl, CDC, Honeywell, Burroughs, DEC, Harris, and Hewlett-Packard. I've worked on large, multi-year, mega-buck projects: purchasing, storeroom, production tracking, payroll, state DMV registration, and medical research. Along the way, I picked up: Panvalet, TSO, JCL, CICS, DB2, Adabase, IMAGE, Superdex, and DBGeneral. And I took some time (11 years) teaching computer science classes at a state university.

So, now I'm learning Visual Basic and I have to admit, it is different from any other programming language I have ever learned. When I hear people say that it is an "easy" language to learn, I have to chuckle inside. However, when I see how these people are using the thing, maybe I can see why they say that. They tend to be developing small, single user applications designed primarily for personal use on their home PC (i.e. games). However, when you are developing systems for hundreds of users who access your applications over a network and large databases on a mainframe platform, and throw in interfaces to real time interfaces to laboratory instruments, things get a little more complicated.

I look forward to the challenge and I'm sure that I'll be needing the help of all of you. I appreciate the assistance that I have received from you in the past couple of weeks.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

hey everyone, i'm a 15-year old nerd in sydney aus. i've been playing with programming since i was about 9, when i got tired of playing Gorillas on QBasic and looked at some of the code. somehow i figured out the print and input statements and got writing. i'm very proud of a Qbasic version of Master Mind i got working when i was 11. at high school i've done Pascal for 2yrs and, this year, started VB. I think ive got the hang of it pretty quickly, although admittedly ive never even touched API or databases or anything outside VB.

im quick & good at figuring out how to do something, but i usually use the most inefficient way there is. it struck me how much CornMaster's self evaluation was so much like me. out of curiosity...if ur reading this, try going to http://www.onlinepsych.com/allhealth/tests/ptt and do this personality test...i reckon a lot of programmer ppl are 'INTP's which is what i scored as.

this year (2000-01) i'm 'embarking' on my first really serious bit of software as my major project for my HSC (final exams in aussie schools), trying to make a good-looking cleudo game. it will be large and clumsy and unplanned and poorly documented but it will work >:)

so, i guess im a novice by your definition, but im surrounded by total dingbats at school and i get the computers award every year so i get an inflated sense of my own skill.

gl to all u VBers out there and i love this site after just 3 days

The fact that nobody understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my post. I certainly was surprised by the number of replies and the detail you all wrote. I guess I touched a nerve <g>. Anyways, I'm glad to see that a lot of "newbies" replied as well as "gurus" since we were all new once.

Also, I was a bit surprised by your ages. It was a lot younger than I expected. In particular, I had mentally pegged Amram71 as in his 20s. I was pretty impressed to find out that he was 13! Another surprise was how far spread out we all are. Somehow I tend to assume most netizens are in the US, or at least in the western hemisphere. So this was a bit of a reality check for me. At least this explains why Dazz is up and about while I'm burning the midnight oil; he lives in England while I live in Vancouver BC.

Again, thanks for all your replies. And if anyone else wants to add their info, please do so!

"I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel!" - Edmund Blackadder

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Who am I? not really sure myself, but in regards to VB i consider that the tittle of Jouneyman to be fairly accurate. I'm not overly proficient in VB, but i know a few things. I do agree, that the tittles designated to members such as newbie, jouneyman, expert, or guru is a little inacurate to suggest the skill level of a particular member. becuase the skill level is dictated(sp) on the amount of replies that particular members has posted, and not based on the knowledge or difficulty of the question.

i'm taking computer science, which focuses more on the grand scale of the computer industry, such networking, databasing, programming, hardware and software. when i finish i won't really a specialty in anything but rather know/ have a good knowledge in most areas of computers. I would like to specialize in programming when i'm done though!

What a great question to ask billoo!and i see a lot of people have the same opinion.

Regan

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I am a newbie in VB. Only 3 months experience. Currently 22.
I have 2 yr experience in c/c++, 1 yr experience in java.
Other knowledge include FLASH, Dreamweaver, HTML, javascript, vbscript, assembly language.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I am an intermediate pragrammer at 3d corp.
hehe not a "novice" as in my title haha
ANd I do like Bad Religion!!!!

Punkrock on my veins..... ARRGGHHUU !

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I'm a novice VB programmer (with a bit of Excel VBA) creating stock index related applications for my own trading use ie. not actually working as a programmer. Most of the stuff commercially available for day-traders LOOKS impressive, but omits the stuff you REALLY need ! (how coincidental...)
I'm 43 and based in the UK or South Africa depending on the time of year.
Great forum - thanks !

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I feel like the newbie among newbies.

I started programming in VB in mid-October.

Now I'm working for a very small company that does medical database stuff in MUMPS. We do the front end in VB.

I have zilcho experience in any other area of computers, other than being a user. My degree was completely unrelated (I'm 25).

I'd love to talk to any other female programmers, if there are any out there!

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hi... I am Duane and I am an addi... Oh wrong place...*grin* I am 34 and I have been programming off and on for about 12 years now... Started in the old GWBasic, progressed to QuickBasic (was killer not having to use those line numbers anymore... LOL)... Dabbled around in C, Pascal, Assembly... Graduated to VB about 6 years ago... Have written various applications for work use... Have done several contract programs on my own... My programs have covered a wide variety from API to Database, just whatever is needed... The kind of programs I like to write are those that everyone tells you are impossible to do... *grin* I would consider myself a Journeyman... All of my programming knowledge has been self taught (yeah one of those)... The one area of VB I am seriously lacking in is the Classes and Custom controls... Bout time I take that one by the horns... *grin* I would like to to take this opportunity to say Thank You to all of you... I have learned a lot here... And am looking forward to being an active participant...
Duane...

Programming... The expression of true creativity bound only to the limitations of your mind...

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I think I allready replied to this question. Seems to gotten lost in conversions or something.
Anyway, I'm a 41 year old programmer from Belgium.
I have some 14 years of working experience, but before that I have been tapping around on different computers among which a TI-99-4A, a C-64, a C-128 followed by all of the PC-models (XT and up). Most of which was game programming.
In my life as a programmer, I became multi-lingual (Basic, Visual Basic, Pascal, Cobol, RPG, Fortran, C, C++, Progress)
Most of my programming was in Basic, Visual Basic, RPG and Progress. Both Basics on my own, untill some 6 months ago, when I turned to full time VB programmer. RPG and Progress were used by the firms I worked for. All of the rest has faded for the most.
I consider myself a good experienced programmer, but I also know I still can learn a lot about VB like API-calls.
I think this is a great site with many helpfull sugestions.

Merlin is the name, and logic is my game!

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Well, I started in 1969, as an IBM mainframe systems programmer, primarily using assembler language. I did that until I helped start up my current company in 1989.

In 1979, I developed VisiFile, which was marketed by VisiCorp. They sold that until about 1983.

I wrote our first suite of products, CheckGard, in 1989, using QB45 and then MS Professional Basic 7.1.

CheckGard was re-written in C and I currently write products using VB6. We currently market two systems I've written that work with our PayBase system. ERADS, an eMail and faxing system for eCommerce, and PayView, an imaging storage, retrieval, and searching system.


Helmar B. Herman, VP ProtoProducts

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Howdy Folks,

I guess posting to this thread is kinda mandatory - so here goes:

I have been involved in programming since 1987 and have been at my current position as the Director of a Programming Department since 1994. I have had the honor of working and learning from some of the best regardless of any official organizational chart – a silly concept in the world of process automation since skill and leadership are not necessarily reflected in bean counter structures. In that time I have programmed or led development teams using TRS-80 Basic, C, dBASE, QuickSilver, Clipper, and Visual Basic. My favorite languages are Clipper and Visual Basic – but that may change if Microsoft butchers their language.

I probably would place myself in the Journeyman/Expert range. I have extensive knowledge of VB, databases, and the various interfaces to databases that are available. I would consider my knowledge of classes and custom control development to be pretty good but not expert. I am passable in the use of API calls, but really don’t like using them since Microsoft enjoys playing with them. I would consider myself incredibly ignorant in anything to do with graphics, cute little random number stuff, or game development – so discount any post I might inadvertently dump on you in these areas.

We are now in the process of exporting an Enterprise wide VB application to the web environment. This is easily one of the weakest and least controlled environments I’ve ever worked in. VBScript anyone, Java ****lets and taglets for everyone. Got to go, someone’s bleeding over here on the edge…

Later

Roger Bogh
Yak & Quack Software Incorporated...

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Lets see.

I'm 30 years old, have been programming in VB for off and on close to six years, and have during that time developed several enterprise wide systems. I took a few years to work on Network Management areas, but stuck my foot back in the water over a year ago, developing a couple more enterprise wide systems, this time using ASP with VBScript.

I would classify myself as an expert except for the newer com+ technologies, because I am not really up to speed on them yet.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hi! I would consider myself somewhere between a novice and a journeyman. I have been programming in Visual Basic for about two years now doing mostly GIS and simulation and analysis modeling. I don't do much programming with anything else, but I do know a few other languages such as C++, HTML, COBOL. I guess I have a pretty good working knowledge of databases and SQL.

There's always a lot of confusion over my username too. It's supposed to read KatEyez44 (as in cat eyes). A lot of people assume it's KateyEZ (understandable). And, no, I'm not 44, I'm 23. 4 just happens to be my lucky number.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hi all,

I am 25, and have been programming in VB for only a few months (6 or so). I very much consider myself a novice at all this. I learnt VB because of my job, which incidentally has taught me a couple of other major languages too (which I think is wonderful). I find myself getting stuck in VB in places where others wouldn't, so when I find out (or sometimes figure out) how to do what I'm meant to do, I'm pretty happy. Every now and then I think - Hey, I'm a VB programmer... and then I wake up :)

I'm getting better at this, but if I were you, I'd take my posts with a grain of salt - I definitely don't have the sort of experience behind my posts than most of the guys on the forum. Nonetheless, I enjoy being here to answer a few simple questions and learn from others.

To answer Bill's question about expertise: I know Cold Fusion (and the standard web languages) much better than I do VB, and then comes Foxpro and C++. I started in 4th Dimension, which is quite a useful relational database language, but it is obscure in the mainstream programming world.

HTH ya Bill!

Steve

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Normally I wouldn't reply to this, but what the heck.....seems like a good Idea.....

I am a UK radio presenter. I do a daily program which is braodcast to an audience of 11 Million. Yes I play records! Well actually not even CD's now, but the theory is the same. My job is to present music mixed with humour, news, current affairs and the obligatory interviews.

Visual Basic is purely a hobby for me. I have been VB'ing for around 3 years. I am entirely self taught, bar the odd book and CBT course. I would regard my skills as Expert in radio, and not so expert in VB. Like many, I am very good in certain areas of VB, and rubbish in others. I can turn 3 lines of code by an expert into 4,397 lines of code by me to do pretty much the same thing!

I like VB, I hate Microsoft. I think George W is about the worst Presdent America has ever had. I would rather trust Nixon anyday.

I think that the forum has a lot to gain from a lot of people, but I truly believe for everytime we receive help, we should offer help, and give thanks.

There you have it, a mini day in the life of.......

Re: Who ARE you?
 

It's been 5 months since this thread was last replied to. Since that time, we've had a number of new members appear. So I thought I'd revive this thread again....



"I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel!" - Edmund Blackadder

Re: Who ARE you?
 

hi everyone :) i just saw this post and thought that i should reply :)


Well....i am a 16 year old student, (purely amatuer) "VBer", at the moment, ive been trying to program a visual basic assignment for school

so far ive had the assignment up in the air for around 6 months, but most of the time i have been doing all of the planning & designing of the program

now its time to finish the code:) so thats why im here!

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I'm an old IBM Mainframe Systems Programmer. I started in 1970. As such, my primary language was assembler.

In 1978, I developed a product called VisiFile, which sold along with VisiCalc until around 1984.

The past 11 years, I've been developing products (ProtoProducts) in basic and Visual Basic, from VB3 to 4 to 5 and now 6.

Helmar B. Herman, VP ProtoProducts

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I just started programming in VB, and all I really want to do is make simple 2D games for kids in my High School, and stuff for my family. I don't know much, but I am learning quickly. I have experience in web design, and make some money off of that. But as for application development, I'm really just a newbie.

Jacob Sheehy
http://www.sheehy.ca

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I am a vb beginer and live in sweden i am 13 and i ben programing whit vb for a couple of months i also do homepages whit javascript & HTML which i am very good at. i have made a coupel of games and a lot of programs.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I've been doing VB for just a short while, about 2 or 3 months, so of course I'm considered to be a newbie. Although, I have been into web programming (Mostly HTML and some Perl) for about 3 or 4 years. I've also tried learning other languages, such as C++, but I found myself getting obsorbed into other things, mostly school.

Anyway, I'm a newbie.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hey All,
I'm in the US Air Force stationed in England, and play with vb as a hobby/job ops when i retire in 6 years. I'm probably by now an advanced newbie, been playing now for about a year or so. I read everything vb that I can get my hands on, so think i know alot more than I can put into practice. If you need an F-15 fixed, i'm your man, need a program call someone else :)
Shawn AKA Dragnut

Re: Who ARE you?
 

I'm 52 and went back to college in 1990 to get a degree so I could make some cash after retiring from a previous job. After taking Basic, Cobol and "C" in college, I graduated and hit the age old problem - now that you have a degree, where's your experience. I lucked out and got a job with the local school board network supporting 1000 Novell Servers and 12,000 computers with 7 others who are still my friends today). It was great experience (with kinda low pay - almost an internship in my book). I went on to a bigger job (and better pay) at a University as a Library Systems Manager - now supporting 2 NT Servers, 2 Novell Servers, 3 Linux Servers, A CD-Server and a Storage Server and a SQL Server. I self taught myself VB and have written several utilites to make my job easier since I also support about 270 computers (software and hardware) by myself.

My screensaver reboots each computer after it has been on after 6 hours (with no use). I use a program called "Ghost" which reimages the computer when it boots up. I have a TCPIP Program that allows me to send messages to each computer, reboot it and tell it to run a lockup program at closing (so everyone quits and goes home).

My greatest appreciation to others who are willing to share their code as I am willing to share mine.

Phillip


...And on that day, Lister, Satan will be ice skating to work.... Rimmer, Red Dwarf

Re: Who ARE you?
 

Hello, I'm 19 and have been programming with Visual basics for about two years now. I'm currently in college and majoring in Computer Animation.

I'd consider myself a novice with Visual Basics. I know HTML and JavaScript well. I also know a very tiny bit of Perl and C++.

Re: Who ARE you?
 

So NEWBIE is the only choice I have here.. Well if there was something like.. Sun of Newbie then DATZ ME BABY ;) [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] But don't worry one day I'll be a father of every newbie.!

One day I will be the one who posts the answers,today I only have questions...