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I've only been coding for about six years on and off. I received my degree in Mathematics, but I am back in the university studying Computer Science which is probably what I should have studied in the first place! Though I don't regret studying higher Math. It was a great experience.
Not sure if I will complete the degree though as it all depends on funds of course. I did take a lot of CS electives while I took Math and had a minor which was one of the main reasons I decided to go back to school.
Anyway, I hope to break into the software industry soon where ever in the US it takes me. I've done a few medium-sized projects with C, C++ and Java. Currently I'm working on developing an IRC client since it covers a lot of basic programming concepts such as GUI, networking, etc.
The courses at the university are pretty basic so far so I find the self-projects teach me quite a bit more. I'm also trying my hand at modding some of the Civilization IV code, and that is a more daunting task due to the sheer size of the code base plus being unfamiliar with it.
Thanks for reading!
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Welcome and good luck with your studies!
New version: WinHeist Version You didn't fall from the stupid tree you got dragged through the whole dumbass forest.
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Hi Friend,
You have found one of the best communities on Earth for all things coding! Sounds like you're already on a good track with your studies and project experience...
Welcome to you!
clientSurfer
... having only that moment finished a vigorous game of Wiff-Waff and eaten a tartiflet. - Henry Minute
I'm still looking (eagerly) for wisdom in terms of best practices in OO design; and I doubt I'll ever quit looking. - BillWoodruff
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. - gavindon
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ismann wrote: received my degree in Mathematics, but I am back in the university studying Computer Science which is probably what I should have studied in the first place!
No - you made the right choice (though I am a little biased).
Mathematics teaches gives you an incredibly solid framework of logical thinking, problem solving, and basic skills applicable to anything you do in Computer Science. It's timeless. Computer Science, while having a large foundation, is very, very changeable. My personal philosophy is you learn the solid foundations in University, then you learn (and keep learning) the evolving and changing stuff in the field.
Thanks for dropping in. The beer's in the fridge ![Beer | [beer]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/beer.gif)
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: The beer's in the fridge
Well - it was.
MM found it. 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Chris Maunder wrote: The beer's in the fridge [beer]
But the fridge is in Canada (or Australia now?)... 
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter wrote: But the fridge is in Canada
FTFY
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
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The beer's in the fridge on the patio
If it's still in Canada, the patio is plenty cold enough.
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Welcome!
If you wanna chat about pretty much anything that isn't rude or offensive, this is the right place! Stuff which might annoy people goes here: The Soapbox[^], and you can get help here: Quick Answers[^], or here: Discussion forums[^]. There is a huge resource of articles here: Articles[^] that may help as well.
If you ask a question, remember that we can;t see your screen, access your HDD or read your mind - so give us all the relevant information, including code fragments.
Kick back, relax, and you're welcome to our little community! 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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OriginalGriff wrote: and you can get help here: Quick Answers
How?
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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UrgentzzzZ?
Rules for the FOSW ![ ^]
if(this.signature != "")
{
MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + signature);
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found");
}
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Forgot to add 'Plz'...
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Ask it when He Who Must Not Be Named is asleep... 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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And "that isn't rude or offensive"... 
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Oh, no.
If you want me to be rude and offensive about him, we'll have to take it outside - the cat is too young to hear (or read) that kind of language!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Welcome on board 
I never finish anyth
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Welcome to CodeProject; may you learn long and prosper.
cheers, Bill
«I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center» Kurt Vonnegut.
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ismann wrote: modding
hear here ...
So, Charlie Rose is interviewing this twit who has just directed a Bond movie and he makes a reference to some obscure passage in the footage. And the braggard goes off on himself, as if he was Uma Thurmond at a table with Ethan Hawk joking about asylum inmates jumping into the Neva, "I just got through filming the greatest depiction of someone putting out an eye in all history" ...
And I thought "Oh, right Shakespeare, Regan did it with a heel to Gloucester at Cornwall's house".
Nope.
Me!
I did this; and my name is ... Jack London.
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Hey Fellow CP'ers,
Not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I'm sure if it's not then Maunder or any of you kind folks will tell me where to go...
I'm faced with yet another software development proposal and even though I've been in the business for awhile I can never hear enough feedback from the community about this particular thing:
Should I cry hourly or bid on the whole project?
I've been in situations in which I've bid (1994) on a project that ended up making me about $3.00/hr because, since I'm a geek, ended up working about 90-100 hours/week (and got to learn the beginnings of .NET  ).
I've been in other situations in which I got $20/hr for 40 hrs/week for work that in some times and places should rightfully have cost $60/hr...
This latest opportunity is very exciting and I just wanted to hear from fellow CP'ers about their experiences with hourly rate vs. project bid scenarios...
Thanks Everybody,
clientSurfer
... having only that moment finished a vigorous game of Wiff-Waff and eaten a tartiflet. - Henry Minute
I'm still looking (eagerly) for wisdom in terms of best practices in OO design; and I doubt I'll ever quit looking. - BillWoodruff
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. - gavindon
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Bid - if scope is clear, frozen and signed off**.
Hourly - otherwise.
How about agile - hourly? Wouldn't that be a better option?
** Highly unlikely; there will be changes in scope.
modified 9-Nov-15 23:04pm.
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Yeah I've only had one meeting with this guy so the scope is not clear at all...
I like the idea of agile hourly... I'm going to investigate that further... Thanks so much for the reply! Cheers
... having only that moment finished a vigorous game of Wiff-Waff and eaten a tartiflet. - Henry Minute
I'm still looking (eagerly) for wisdom in terms of best practices in OO design; and I doubt I'll ever quit looking. - BillWoodruff
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. - gavindon
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This is always a nightmare - and the "best" route is never as easy to spot as it seems. Basically, there are a number of major factors which determine whether I quote an hourly rate or a fixed price:
1) Specification. How "tight" is it? The "firmer" the spec, the more likely I will go fixed price, but with a caveat that changes may mean additional cost. The "looser" the spec, the more likely that I'll go hourly.
2) Ability to estimate my time. I'm reasonably good at this these days, but I've made some horrible errors in the past. If you are good at estimating how long something is going to take you, then most customers prefer a fixed price. If you aren't, then hourly is the only way to go.
3) Customer history. How good are they to work with? How easy is it to get the money out of them when it's due? Do they pay up in the thirty days from the invoice, or is it always ninety days in practice? The more hassle it is to get the money, the more an hourly rate is likely.
4) Repeat business. I'll give a fixed price or discounted if it's pretty sure that there will be more work as a result - I'm in this for the long term, and losing a little money now to get it back fourfold over the next five years is a good bargain! Or if I can get a commission on each item they sell as a result, then I'll leap at it! That's like having a free money machine pumping into your account for the cost of sending an invoice each month!
The one thing I will say about a fixed price: try to make it staged payments: maybe 25% upfront, 25% here, 25% there, 15% on delivery, and 10% on three month retention. That way, you are hopefully covered for your costs at each stage even if they decide to sit on the final two payments (i.e. "pure profit margin")
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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This is usually how I approach projects. Customers do like a fixed price. However, they also understand that the project can go over due to unforeseen issues. So in those cases, most customers don't have a problem adjusting the original quote. I don't really like hourly because lawyers bill hourly and nobody like lawyers.
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jesseseger wrote: I don't really like hourly because lawyers bill hourly and nobody like lawyers.
Good stuff - thanks so much for answering!
... having only that moment finished a vigorous game of Wiff-Waff and eaten a tartiflet. - Henry Minute
I'm still looking (eagerly) for wisdom in terms of best practices in OO design; and I doubt I'll ever quit looking. - BillWoodruff
Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. - gavindon
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