Ryan Lanciaux recently tagged me to write up how I got started in software development (a meme originally started by Michael Eaton).

How old were you when you first started programming?

I first started "programming" when I was 11. In quotes because I really don't consider now what I did then programming. It was mostly just hacking and fumbling.

How did you get started in programming?

I've been using computers and playing computer games since I was very young, probably about 4 or 5 years old, back in the personal computing heyday of the 1980s. That segued to an interest in actually creating my own games and programs.

What was your first language?

BASIC, and later C++

What was the first real program you wrote?

The first was a text-based adventure game I called Tandith. Later this became a pen-and-paper game like D&D that I played with friends. If I'd known how to do multi-user programming at the time, I probably would have made the game into a MUD.

What languages have you used since you started programming?

ActionScript 1, 2, 3; PHP, C++, C#, VB, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, Perl, Python, BASIC

What was your first professional programming gig?

My first professional programming gig was developing a website in PHP for an author at my church.

If you knew then what you know now, would you have started programming?

Yes, I would have taken it more seriously sooner.

If there is one thing you learned along the way that you would tell new developers, what would it be?

Head down, power through.

What's the most fun you've ever had programming?

It's usually when I'm doing something in ActionScript 3 or Flex. Typically it's a real joy to use.

Who are you calling out?

Very few of my colleagues actually have blogs (sorry John). When I come up with some people to call out, I'll edit this post.