I understand the whole events and callbacks side of it, which is something I really enjoy about working with jQuery & DOM. It just is a little different for me to think of a server side language that is capable of doing that when I have been developing in PHP for 7 years now.
Thanks so much for your reply. I really appreciate your feedback.
I have been learning things that can add to my current programming practices, and I know that Node.js can be another one of those things. I'm going to implement a little Node.js here and there in my clients projects to start to get the hang of it. I started to learn Ruby through Treehouse, but I just didn't really care for the style all too well. I think if I were to learn another language it would probably be Python.
I keep hearing a lot about MongoDB. I should look into it some more. Especially since I won a startup pack that had a $1000 credit to MongoHQ. I also got a $1000 credit to EngineYard and $500 to to Code Climate, but since I don't develop in Ruby I haven't found a use for them.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond and give me some things to think about. I know if I want to be apart of a startup I am going to need to have a base knowledge of a lot of different technologies. Right now, sticking with what I do best is working, but I think it will only work for so long before I get bored and sick of it.
One of the projects I had to sign an NDA, so unfortunately I can't tell you. I know, I know, stealth is stupid, but it wasn't my choice. The other project is a web application to help Property Managers find tenants for their vacant units and also help tenants find property to rent, I know it has been done before, but the client has a few ideas for features that he hasn't seen others do.
As for the competition, it has http://www.startuppack.org it was more of a drawing than anything, but I had to submit my application via their API. I won quite a bit of cool stuff and will utilize most of it, but some I won't. I'm just happy to have won, I've never won anything big like that before.
Environment is huge for me too, but when I can't control it as I would like, a good pair of earbuds helps to block everything out. Lyrics distract me at times too.
I went to college and stopped after I got my Associates because I had already landed a job in the software development world without my degree. Since then I have a few different programming and design jobs, I currently own my own development company that is doing better and better every month.
Anyways, if I decided to go work for someone and they didn't hire me because I didn't have a BA or better, I probably wouldn't want to work for them anyways. I would like to work for someone that believes that experience speaks louder than a degree, because in my eyes, it does. A degree just shows you went through a structured learning experience.
Fantastic point. I think that pretty much sums up my hesitation on continuing, why would I work for a company that doesn't care about me and my experience?
Best of luck with your Development Company and I appreciate the feedback.
Good Luck to you too, and its good to see you started young. I started college when I was 16, landed my first real development job at 17, and have been working in the field ever since. I think in certain situations, being younger is more of an advantage than a disadvantage. I'm 22 now and when people see how much experience I have, they are surprised. I'm sure that's how it will be for you, if its not like that already.