Happy Programmers Day

Do you remember the time when there was no computer or digital equipment around? We just had electronic equipment such as a refrigerator which could keep our ingredients fresh. 

Nowadays, our refrigerators can talk to us. AI is going to eat us one day. ??

The question is, how did this happen? 

Because of ….

We can point to one of the reasons:

Programming 

All around the world, some people who have dedicated many hours of their lives, to make our lives easier. 

Here’s a clue:

Is there anyone who is not using a software or application? 

You are reading this article, so you are using at least one application or software. 

And we all know who they are: Programmers.

? Happy Programmers’ Day

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

September 12th, 2020 is called the Programmers’ Day as it is the 256th day of the year. It’s the highest power of 2, less than 365. Number 256 is a known number for programmers. 

Usually, this day is celebrated on September 13th, but as you know, on leap years, September 12 is day 256. 

If you are a programmer or a geek, you know the reason. 

For those of you who are not a programmer, developer, or geek, number 256 is one of the most essential numbers in programming, like 0 and 1.

256 is the number of distinct values that can be represented with a byte. 

Yay! ?

Now we know today is Programmers’ Day and we have lots of friends, colleagues, and team members who are one, what should we do? 

If you want to buy them gifts, we prepared a list for you:

• Adjustable Standing Desk
• Lego Mindstorms Kit
• Certified Coffee Maker
• Virtual Reality Headset
• Laptop Bag
• Robot Vacuum
• Light Therapy Lamp
• Noise-Isolating Headphones
• Mechanical Keyboard
• Programmable Drone

But they are kind, just say congratulations and give them a high five! 

And now, we want to say a very warm thank you to our team members for all their efforts and productivity. 

Let’s get to know some of our team members, who are programmers now, or were once in their career.

We  asked them following questions:

• Short introduction
• When did you become familiar with programming? 
• What is the reason you chose programming as your expertise? 
• Your advice for youth who have already started programming / or want to start programming.

Find out their answers:

Patrick Hartz – Platform Engineer

My name is Patrick, I’m a platform engineer at anynines, I’m 44 and started developing software at the age of 12 years. It was a time when the internet wasn’t common.

My first PC was a Commodore 64 and I typed software out of a computer magazine, due to the fact there were issues in the code I started to debug the code and so I became a developer.

Robert Gogolok – Platform Engineer

My name is Robert (@gogolok) and I’m a platform engineer at anynines and I love programming.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away … I’ve got a Nintendo NES. It was nice to play Super Mario, Mega Man, and other classic games, but the games were rather expensive. So I convinced my parents to buy an even more expensive personal computer (PC). Games for the PC were also expensive, so I looked into other stuff I can do with a PC. I’ve figured out that a PC can be used in many different ways beyond gaming and I got a book about C++, learned about Linux, got into the Internet, and found out about the K Desktop environment (KDE). This is when I became more familiar with programming and started contributing to KDE and other Open Source projects.

Programming becomes a bit of a hobby of mine and still is. I’ve loved doing it in my free time. From there it was an obvious choice to study computer science and make a living with programming.

I guess everybody should learn to program. It teaches you to think. I’m pretty sure I will teach my kids how to do it and you should do the same. Also, with programming or code, you can change the world for the better.

Cedric Hopf – Platform Engineer

My name is Cedric (@cedrichopf) and I’m working as a Platform Engineer at anynines.

I’ve always been interested in computers and started programming at the age of 12 years. In the beginning, I’ve started to create small programs in C. A short time later I’ve dived into the world of web development by creating simple websites using HTML, CSS, and PHP. I had a lot of fun playing around with different technologies and realized very fast that I want to work as a software developer.

For me, programming is more than implementing a new feature for a customer, it’s something creative. That’s why it has become a hobby of mine and relaxes me when I’m able to play around with some new technologies in the evening.

Additionally, programmers have the best communities in the world! It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert or a “newbie”, there is always someone who can help you. There is no racism or anything like that because we are all the same there.

My advice to anyone interested in programming: Give it a try, there is nothing to lose! You may discover an unprecedented interest and a whole new world ;)

Happy Coding!

Cedric

Martin Valencia Flores – Platform Engineer

My name is Martin Valencia Flores, I was born and raised in Tijuana B.C, Mexico, and I’m a Platform Engineer at anynines.

I’ve always been interested computers, my parents got me a few “easy computing” books that had exercises and included a Floppy Disk (yes, that old), at first I viewed it as a game, but I became interested in programming when I was in middle school (although then I wanted to work at NASA, go figure), but my first real interaction was in High School, where I was encouraged to look into it by a professor (and friend).

Realizing that my pipe dream of NASA was just a kid’s whim, but that my affinity for computers was still ever-present, I decided to study Computer Engineering and worked in my hometown for a few years before deciding to come to Germany. As life developed, I was fortunate enough to end up where I am, working at anynines.

If I had a hint or piece of advice to give someone interested in getting into programming it would be to never stop exercising your skill, you can rust (no pun intended) quite easily. Also, although the knowledge regarding languages and its syntax is important, the mindset you have while thinking about what you want to solve is far more crucial.

Happy coding!

Martín.

PS: Remember, there are 10 types of people in the world: Those who can read binary and those who can’t.

Martin Orbanz – Developer

My name is Martin Orbanz and I have been working in the media and IT business for the last 22 years. 15 years ago I turned freelance as a developer and designer, co-founded a company in Cologne 11 years ago. There I had the development and design lead until I decided to leave Cologne, taking my current position at anynines this summer.

I got into computer graphics first and became a media design trainee. But I soon realized I found it much more interesting how the graphics apps worked than what I could do with it. Being trained in a company that did data-driven broadcast graphics was nourishing. Over the years I turned full-time to web technologies.

Because I enjoy it so much. I am still fascinated by the fact that running a computer program actually works.

When my youth’s plan of becoming a pro musician was canceled by fate, I found an equal passion in this work, and the two are much alike in many aspects.

Understand what you do, and use your head. Always try to understand what the library you’re using is doing under the hood. 

Do not always rely on prebuilt solutions, you can do a lot of things yourself. And remember that none of the people who invented all of this studied CS, because it just wasn’t there. So they invented it. Go do that.