The last time I felt like a programmer, people who wrote programs called themselves that (not Devs).
So, hi. A long time ago, I didn't finish my computer science training. I wanted to make software when I grew up ... but, I never did.
For clarity, this was a long while ago. Some time shortly after the Millennium bug didn't end the world, but before the first internet bubble had properly burst. It was around a time when the mini-disk was the best piece of technology known to man (and, fwiw, imo, it perhaps still is).
Before burning out of college in a mad few months of mostly partying, I had been on cruise control. I was well on my way to starting a career in the one thing I ever thought I was good at.
It turned out I was going to have a less straightforward relationship with the tech industry.
Eventually, I became the content guy, annoying the tech folks from the other side of the meeting room or Zoom call. Most of my ideas sort of penetrated the tutting and confusion, before being filtered and remoulded through rounds of design and implementation, and stakeholder committees.
We've had our share of gems and also created a camel or two.
Anyway, I digress...
Why am I here. Well, AI is the short two-character answer.
Look, I've tried on more than a few occasions to go back to programming. I've sat, eyes glazed through more than a few Youtube tutorials, only to make boring demo project. I've wasted the price of a cup of coffee on "courses" on those platforms, my fair share of times.
Using AI, somewhere between vibe-coding and re-education, I'm knocking the rust off the old toolbox.
Using AI as some hybrid of co-pilot, educator and whipping-boy, I've been able to really roll my sleeves up, to build and adapt things in both front and back end.
So, to finally put an end to this waffling post, I'm looking forward to gaining more insights from this Devs community, and sharing some of my thoughts along the way.
I don't think I will ever be a real DEV, but the dropout programmer that lives in my head is enjoying the experience nonetheless.
If you want ... You can check out a site I'm developing, NewsDefused, which is my sandbox and lab, as well as a nascent new independent news site.
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