RE: Subject: RE: Jim Langston Cycle Processing vs. Doing it my way -- RPG400-L

Back in 1974 I started on a Wang mini computer with 4k of core memory.
Also I was using and IBM 370 for FORTRAN and APL.  There was also some
Xerox mainframe for COBOL, but I don't remember what model.  I lived
a few blocks from a community college and they allowed a 10 year old
to come in and play with their machines that weren't being used (the
Wang was old at that time.  It had a version of Basic and you saved
programs on an audio cassette).

When I finally hit Jr. High School they came out with the Apple ][
which I used there (Basic) and then the Apple ][e.  Was still going
to the local college and learning other languages.

After High School I didn't do much in computers.  I actually didn't
want to be a programmer, since I did it for fun, and I figured if
I had to do it for a living it wouldn't be fun anymore.  I got a
job when I was 20 or so as an Inventory Control Clerk and they used
some weird machine that used MS DOS, but was as big as an AS/400 is
nowadays (200 model size).  It used dBase and I fixed a few bugs and
found I still enjoyed it.  Later while out of work took a computer
course and met someone who was taking the class to learn computers so
he could write a program for his new business.  Told him I knew how
to do that, and that I would write it for him.  So that was my first
professional job, around the age of 23 or so.  This was for a small
retail store and was inventory control, invoices, accounts receivable
mostly, with some A/P and purchase orders.

After this system I hung around the map store a while do odd things
(deliveries, helping run the office, etc...) and tried to get another
job as a programmer, but no one would take me without a degree.  So
I went to Control Data Institute which was a 6 month course going 5
days a week.  I went 2 days a week and finished in 2 months.  Couldn't
finish, though, cause my Guaranteed Student Loan said I had to be there
at least 5 months.  So for the next 3 months came in 2 days a week and
picked up Assembly and C.  Then I got my first full time permanent
position back.  This is when I consider my programming career to start.

I didn't' get into the AS/400 until maybe 5 or 6 years ago.

Regards,

Jim Langston

-----Original Message-----
From: JMBauman@wardtrucking.com [mailto:JMBauman@wardtrucking.com]
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 2:14 PM
To: rpg400-l@midrange.com
Subject: Subject: RE: Jim Langston Cycle Processing vs. Doing it my way



Hey Jim I am little curious about your programming experience.  You say
that you are 37 and have been programming for 27 years.  What would you be
programming on in 1973 at the age of ten?  I think we should just stick to
professional experience,  this might turn into a " My dad can beat up your
dad" thing.

Thanks

30/9 professional
30/18  altogether (started on timex sinclair with basic and then moved up
to Atari 800 XL and Commodore 64)

John M. Bauman
Lead Programmer
Ward Trucking
Second Avenue & Seventh Street, Greenwood
Altoona, Pa 16602

Voice: (800) 458-3625 Ext. 284
Voice Direct: (814) 947-1284 (Direct Line)
Fax: (814) 944-5470
JMBauman@Wardtrucking.com

Visit our website at http://www.wardtrucking.com

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