<div class="bbWrapper">Wow - lots of devs here! Entrepreneurial minded lot we are.<br />
<br />
<b>Experience</b><br />
Learnt to program BASIC on my Dad's BBC Micro<br />
Workwise I started out on the web 17 years ago, HTML, asp (anyone remember that?)<br />
Moved into C and C++ and spent over a decade as an embedded programmer working for large corps on RAID storage, the PS3, marine navigation. Contracted for some of it.<br />
After my third child I left the job market and after a few other 'ventures' (I use that term loosely), I started a freelance web co where I work as a full stack developer. I also provide hosting and email for small businesses.<br />
I don't code so much now, but I help local businesses get online. It's fairly rewarding work, but it's never going to make me rich. I created myself a job by becoming the boss, haha.<br />
<br />
<b>Toolkit</b><br />
Then: C, C++, GDB, Linux and bash scripting, dabbled in Python, Qt, and too many others to bother listing<br />
Now: mainly HTML, PHP, MySQL, plus a whole host of graphics work<br />
<br />
<b>Tips</b><br />
Write lots of code.<br />
Try to solve before googling for the copy and paste answer.<br />
Read a lot. Read the books by the top people in your area.<br />
If you're stuck, sleep on it. I've cracked more bugs first thing in the morning than I ever have in the middle of the night <img src="/community/imgs/emoticons/em-smile2.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-shortname=":)" /></div>