Computer Programming
Jun. 2nd, 2004 05:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccastareyesWell, today was Day 1 of Rebecca's Fun With New Computer Languages. First off, we got a lesson in Linux -- namely, that while Linux has a decent icon and window-based system that any idiot could use, the staff insisted we learn to use the command based structure -- namely we opened a little window and started typing things to get around the network. Not so bad -- after the years of figuring out how to link my webiste(s) together, I kinda know how directories work. We also started poking around IRAF (astronomical software) and learned that the basic program was written before many of us were out of diapers -- and before I was even born.
Then came the actual working part of my day, in whihc I set down to learn a computer language. My advisor recommended FORTRAN because it was one he knew, and thus he could help me when I want to throw the computer accross the room because I can't find a syntax error in 1,000 lines of code. So, I went down to the library to get a book on it.
Not only are most of the books on FORTRAN older than me (The language was invented in 1957, whihc I'm pretty sure makes it older than every single person on my friendslist (and maybe some of their parents)) but the oldest still have instructions on how to code FORTRAN into punch cards and speak of the monitor and keyboard as a new device -- you ought to see some of the intro chapters. Needless to say, this is very intimidating to someone who's first experiences wiht a computer were games on the Apple II when she was in grade school -- say what you will about the Apple II, modern desktop computers still have a vague resemblance to it.
So, I managed to find a book on computing that was relatively recent -- 1990, and still spoke about people working in DOS, though I know the window and icon interface was around back then -- my dad had a Macintosh laptop computer that we used to play with when he didn't need it.
This is making me feel very, very young.
Then came the actual working part of my day, in whihc I set down to learn a computer language. My advisor recommended FORTRAN because it was one he knew, and thus he could help me when I want to throw the computer accross the room because I can't find a syntax error in 1,000 lines of code. So, I went down to the library to get a book on it.
Not only are most of the books on FORTRAN older than me (The language was invented in 1957, whihc I'm pretty sure makes it older than every single person on my friendslist (and maybe some of their parents)) but the oldest still have instructions on how to code FORTRAN into punch cards and speak of the monitor and keyboard as a new device -- you ought to see some of the intro chapters. Needless to say, this is very intimidating to someone who's first experiences wiht a computer were games on the Apple II when she was in grade school -- say what you will about the Apple II, modern desktop computers still have a vague resemblance to it.
So, I managed to find a book on computing that was relatively recent -- 1990, and still spoke about people working in DOS, though I know the window and icon interface was around back then -- my dad had a Macintosh laptop computer that we used to play with when he didn't need it.
This is making me feel very, very young.
