An aging community we are

[Richard Kreiss]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: filepro-list-bounces+gccconsulting=comcast.net at lists.celestial.com
>
[mailto:filepro-list-bounces+gccconsulting=comcast.net at lists.celestial.com]
On
> Behalf Of Bill Campbell
> Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 6:21 PM
> To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> Subject: Re: An aging community we are
> 
> On Thu, May 21, 2009, Fairlight wrote:
> >Only Jose Lerebours would say something like:
> >> Following the post I submitted a moment ago, I had to stop and think
how
> >> long its been since I started writing code.  I am a very young 41 years
> >> old man (no, there is no doubt in me, I am a man).
> >
> >I'm 38 going on 192.  :)
> 
> I have COBOL program listings that are older than you :-).
> 
> I've been making my living herding computers since February 1966,
> and *nix systems since 1982 when Tandy introduced Xenix on the
> Model 16.
> 
> I met John Esak in 1982 or so when I was managing a Radio Shack
> ``X Deparment'' a block and a half from the Radio Shack Computer
> Center where he was a computer marketing rep.
> 
> ...
> Bill
> --
> INTERNET:   bill at celestial.com  Bill Campbell; Celestial Software LLC
> URL: http://www.celestial.com/  PO Box 820; 6641 E. Mercer Way
> Voice:          (206) 236-1676  Mercer Island, WA 98040-0820
> Fax:            (206) 232-9186  Skype: jwccsllc (206) 855-5792
> 
> The only logical reason to take guns away from responsible people is to
> give irresponsible people an edge in the perpetration of their crimes
> against us. -- The Idaho Observer, Vol. 1, No. 2 February 1997

OK, guys as for age I just turned 67 and have been programming with programs
from small computer/Radio Shack for almost 30 years now.  I ran in profile
at a computer show.  Bought it for my business.  My office was located
around the corner from small computer.  I was at 40th street and 7th avenue.
They were on 41st just west of 7th.  I even upgraded product at their
Hawthorne offices.  I met most of the staff on my periodic visits there.  I
doubt anyone of them would remember as I was never there very long.  Just
purchase a new upgrade or pickup a runtime for a client.  

As for aging, the community is aging.  That isn't all bad. As the
alternative sucks.

We who program in fp are a shrinking breed.  However, in many cases the
product we produce serves our clients well.  Granted in some/many cases
additional tools are necessary to accomplish our goals.  However, that is
true of most industries.  And fp is a tool.  

I would hate to call a plumber who had only one wrench.  My workbench has
over a dozen different size screwdrivers, 4 different hammers, and yes, 5
sizes of adjustable wrenches and various sized pliers.  That's without
getting into the other hand tools and power tools I use.

filePro's biggest problem is the lack of publicity.  There are many lousy
products out there that get a lot of press, either free or paid for and the
public knows there names(brand recognition).  At one time filePro had that.
But over the years, for one reason or another, the PR stopped.

I will probably work for another 5 or 10 years, if I can.  I have reduced my
client load to one that is easy to handle and gives me the type of income I
am looking for at my age.

At this stage of my life, if I need additional programming skills (read
languages), I will outsource my requirements to those that have those
skills.  At this stage in life, I like taking vacations not learning new
languages.  These are usually one long one and a couple of shorter ones.
Yes, I am married and my wife is still working.  She has enough time off for
us to do this.

The only problem is that my clients insist that I be reachable.  So, I have
my laptop and my cell phone.  Last year I modified a file from aboard a ship
in the South Atlantic off Argentina at mid-night via a satellite connection.
Ain't technology grand.  Some vacation.  It was and I kept work to a
minimum.

One client even informed me that I need to install a phone jack and have a
computer connection in my coffin.  That's the problem with custom software,
they always want to be in touch with you.


Richard Kreiss
GCC Consulting
rkreiss at gccconsulting.net