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No, I think that most developers worldwide actually belong to the 2-5 year category.
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or maybe there should've been more categories. there's a HUGE difference between a 2y/o "programmer", and a 5 y/o Software Developer... no, it's not just the dipper size.
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Maybe you've not met many developers  During the time I've been a developer I've found that they fall into 2 groups; those that dabble in it for a few years and then move on into management (and so on and so on) and career developers, who one day will drop dead at the keyboard after a lifetime perfecting their craft
Phil Harding
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You aren't thinking about anyone in particular, are you, Phil? 
Steve S
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Nah, just a few crusty old geezers I've met !
Phil Harding
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That puts me out of the picture then, as I'm not crusty... 
Steve S
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I'd have to add 1 more category. That being the ones who drop out of it just before they drop dead at the keyboard.
Sometimes I think I want to drop it, but I can't seem to tear myself away from it. I tell myself that I will go out and start up some other type of business. I've played with the idea of a restaurant, bar, bakery, photography studio, music studio. All kinds of stuff. But somehow, I always end up in front of the computer churning out line after line of code.
I guess I am in it for life.
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Interestingly enough, your initial trend seems to have continued. I think it's interesting to sort of invert the survey, and view it as a measure of interest in or usage of Code Project, broken down by age.
The largest audience is in the 2-5 year range. My theory: These folks have been around long enough to know that college didn't teach them everything. They know enough to look around and see if anyone else has solved the problem they're interested in.
There's an interesting dip in the trend for the 11-15 year range, indicating lower interest at that experience level. One possibility is this is the age at which folks switch from an engineering track to a management one, if they're going to do so. For those who stay in engineering, this is possibly the period when they've settled in to a 'comfort zone' in their expertise, and don't feel they need outside help.
The more than 15 years group (mine ) shows the interest level moving back up. In my case, I use Code Project to help me keep track of current trends and The Next Big Thing. In other words, what are those damn kids up to now... 
Software Zen: delete this;
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YOu make some interesting points. One more you might consider. Now, I do not have statistics to back this up, but based on what I have seen I have another theory which might explain what seems to be less interest in engineering for the 11-15. That being that it is very often that Engineers move into another phase of their personal lives.
That being getting married and having children. May engineers are so busy being engineers, that there is little time for the highly active social life. I found myself in that same sort of rut at one time. Then I did a crazy thing. I took up bartending at night for the fun of it. What a change that was for me. Engineer by day, bartender by night. Slowly this thing called a social life krept in, and about the same time I hit my 10 year anniversary as an engineer, I was married.
Interesting enough, move of my friends were doing the same or having kids. I saw a huge change in my own life and my friends, and suddenly, engineering was more of just a job and not a passion. Life took me over, as it did many of my friends.
Anyway, thought I would throw taht in the mix. Funny thing is, now that I have been married for over 2 years, I find myself more stable and actually drumming up new enthusiasm for the work I do.
I don't know if I am ready to switch to the full-time management track. I'm content in a lead development position.
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I think that's what I was originally getting at. In my case, the events that changed the priorities in my life were threefold. First was the birth of my daughter when I was thirty. This had a profound effect on my emotional landscape, readjusting the level of importance of a lot of things. All of a sudden, there was this small person that depended on me for everything.
The second was my smoking. From college throughout my twenties I had let my body take care of itself. I smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, and didn't watch what I ate. I had a smoker's hack, I felt like crap most of the time, and my gut looked like I was the one who was pregnant. When we found out my wife was pregnant, we agreed to quit smoking. I quit, cold turkey, on January 1, 1991. I haven't had a cigarette since.
The third event was acquiring a new friend who got me into running and lifting weights. About the time my daughter was two, I was having problems with lower back pain, probably from stress. I was walking a lot during lunchtime, which seemed to help. One day when I was changing in the locker room, one of the guys said I should go running with them. 'Said' is too mild a word; he positively nagged. I went running with them. At the end, I was convinced I was going to die. After I had been running a few months, the same guy 'casually' mentioned he needed a workout partner at the gym. Ten years later, I've run two marathons, two half-marathons, and countless shorter races. I ride a 350 mile bicycle tour every other year or so. I've still got a bit of a gut, but it's surrounded by muscle, rather than the pale, sunken chest and stick arms I had before.
The combination of these things have given me a perspective. Programming is what I do for a living, and occasionally do for fun, but it's no longer the whole focus of my life. I don't have the temperament for the management arena. I'm content to stay at the top of the technical track.
Software Zen: delete this;
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Congratulations! I you have probably added years to your life, as well as increased the quality of it. As my wife is pregnant now, I am doing the exact same types of thinking. Fortunately, I don't smoke or drink, but I need to shed lbs as I also have elevated blood pressure.
One of the serious side effects of sitting in front of a computer all the time, no exercise. I am 33 now and find myself realize that I need to make a change.
Your words are inspiring, and I am glad to read your comments. (Man, this sounds like a subject on Oprah). I hope I can make such changes in my life to improve the quality of it. There is a rich world out there beyond the computer screen, and time on this planet is fixed. MAke the most of it.
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I think the same thing could be said about the "old-timers" who responded "more than 15 years".
"Those that say a task is impossible shouldn't interrupt the ones who are doing it." - Chinese Proverb
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Started with a Vic-20, 10k expansion module, tape drive, and a 1541 floppy (interchangeable with the C-64) at the age of 10. Didn't get seriouse until 12. Learned alot by picking apart other peoples code, including my fathers...
Caught on to Oop and away we go... (with my first IBM compatible - 8086)
1 company... Hopefully this doesn't change (don't wish to relocate)
Sign says 'Store your *treasures* here!'
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... with my first job. Compared to the rest of you guys, I must seem like a newbie.
I only hope I can last half as long as some of you guys. Cheers!
"if you vote me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine" - Michael P. Butler.
Support Bone
It's a weird Life
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Nick, I don't know what twit voted your post a 1. I gave you a 5 just to offset it.
Nick Seng wrote:
I must seem like a newbie.
That admission moves you one step further down the Path To Enlightenment. Well done, grasshopper.
Now, fetch me some coffee, boy.
Software Zen: delete this;
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Yes sir, Mr. Wheeler, Sir!
You should probably know the coffee I brew has been known to known to cause permanent brain damage.
"if you vote me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine" - Michael P. Butler.
Support Bone
It's a weird Life
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Nick Seng wrote:
permanent brain damage
<Marty_Feldman_voice>
Too late!
</Marty_Feldman_voice>
Software Zen: delete this;
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I'm a software architect, darn it!!!
Marc
Marc
Microsoft MVP, Visual C#
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Well, it did say grindstone and not coder. So developing systems or apps does include architects also. Right At least that was my take. ![Rose | [Rose]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif) If not then I miss voted. 
New Sig Time
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Yeah, I am not a mere developer, I am a software visionary.
"I'd be up a piece if I hadn't swallowed my bishop." Mr. Ed, playing chess
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I'm not a developer, I'm an enlarger*. All of the apps I work on just get bigger.
(*) Ok, I work for Kodak. I had to go for the lame film-oriented joke  .
Software Zen: delete this;
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I'm ashamed to say I'm programmer when I see others, 2-5 year and never work as an employee , just had some projects for others , and always teach myself programming myself.
Mazy
You're face to face,
With the man who sold the world - David Bowie
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Nothing to be ashamed about. Curiosity and the quest for knowledge are what drives quality developers.
onwards and upwards...
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It's been a long roller coaster ride too.
Started with a small company, I was employee #22.
Merged seveal years later with 4 other small companies, and went public (all at the same time).
Ran that way for a couple of years, then split into two distinct companies that failed to go '.COM' because of the '.BOMB'. Worked for one of these two companies, then I jumped to the light-side, and now work for the 'other half'. Our half was recently bought up by KODAK and I now gladly work for them.
D.
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