ZeroToDeveloper

Culmination

These past weeks have been a truly amazing experience.  I've learned things that I only thought that I would be able to learn from either college or experience.  Things like the different types of RAID, making CAT5E Network cable, and even making some basic software programs using C#.  I have also learned how to properly install an Operating System, which will come in handy when I need to switch to Windows 7!

Speaking of Windows 7, Microsoft has brought it to the RTM stage.  RTM stands for Released to Manufacturing.  This means that Windows 7 is officially done, and is being boxed to be released to the general public on October 22, 2009.  Luckily enough for me, and all the others out there that have a MSDN subscription, we are able to download and install Windows 7 now!  In my opinion, it seems to be a bit faster, and the Aero design looks much nicer.  Windows 7 has the same kernel as Windows Vista, and one can tell.  

But, besides learning all of the technical stuff, I have also learned some things that I can use in "real life".  They showed me how easy it is to make brownies, and how to make a delicious turkey dinner!

I have also been introduced with Indian food, and sushi.  I was pretty nervous about eating Indian food, but it was really good.  I really hope there is an Indian place somewhere in NY!  I've heard that sushi is pretty good, and I didn't think that it was that bad, but I will probably only have it on a really special occasion.

Well, I can't wait to get back home to New York, hopefully it will be nice and cold! 

Aggregation

These past few days, Jay and I have changed course a bit, and have been working on networks, and virtual machines.  I set up my own little sub-net here at the loft, and been troubleshooting the occasional problems that come along.  I have also set up my own DNS server on a virtual machine, and set up a domain as well.  I just find it very interesting how data can travel physically through cables and such, and end up on a screen.  That's where I met my friend, the OSI model.  The seven layers, Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data Link, and Physical, are quite fascinating to me.

I have been relieving some of my gaming withdrawal on Fridays too.  I have been working from Sunday to Thursday so that I can work with Jay on Sunday, which has been working really well lately.  The machine at work is luckily strong enough to play Counter-Strike: Source, and Left 4 Dead.  It's nice to game on PC again... :D

 

I have also decided to get an iPod Touch!  I'm really exited, and I love it!  Being able to listen to music and podcasts (Suggestions please!).  Applications are cool to look for, but I haven't bought any yet.  I really hope that 16GB holds me over! 

Establishment

Except for the hot weather, Houston is pretty cool.  Jess and Jay rent a loft on the very outskirts of Houston, and the skyline is staggering.  I haven't really gotten close to a big city before, except for New York City that is.  Downtown Houston is much different that NYC though, it's mostly made up of office buildings. 

    Jay has started a job for a company in the Texas Woodlands.  Now that he isn't here during the week, I have to start learning alone.  Jay and I picked up this book, and it is another great book that teaches C#.  It is much more oriented towards beginners than the last book that I showed.  Mr. Gross uses many analogies in the book, which does help make everything a bit simpler.  I made my own translator, with help of the book of course.  Now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy. In my opinion, programming in general isn't easy. (Or at least C#).  But, I do think that as I get more exposure to programming, I will begin to find it easier and easier.

    Jay and I have also started a project for Jessica, and her photography business.  We plan on making a program that will allow Jessica's photographers to be able to easily upload their pictures to her.  I really hope that this turns out well, both for her, and for me! 

Acceleration

This first week working with Jay and Jessica was one of the most exiting weeks that I have ever had.  This may be odd, but I feel that the week has flown by, but at the same time, I have learned so much.  As I said in my last post I began the week by learning C# in Visual Studio 2008. Jessica helped me with most of my social media things; setting up my Twitter account, my gmail and google reader.  

I was fortunate enough to install the Windows 7 RC operating system on my personal laptop. I do have to say that I think that it's very stable and will be great when it comes out on October 22.  Jay had me install openSUSE on another PC on the other side of my desk at the loft.   OpenSUSE is an operating system that is based on the Linux kernel. I've never seen what Linux is, let alone openSUSE.  For those of you wondering, the layout is much different than windows, and much, much different from Mac.  After installing it, we found network drivers to set up the LAN/internet.  We thenn attempted to set up Synergy.  We had an odd file missing, so I had to use all of my searching skills to try and find it.  For those of you that are looking as well, here is where you can find the file. 

Now that this week is over, now I can sit back, relax, and play some Rock Band!

                                   -Happy 4th of July!-

The Beginning

    After getting off of the plane in Houston, I made my way down to the baggage claim to meet my hosts for the summer, my cousins Jess and Jay.  I am interning for Jay this summer so that way I can learn a bit more, not only about software development, but about computers in general.  I was really happy to see them, and I think they felt the same way.  We picked up my baggage and we were on our way home.  As soon as we stepped outside, I felt it; the heat.  Jess said that 94 degrees was nothing compared to the temperature that there was a few days before.  We got home, and I was shown around the house.  I went to bed late that night, because I was so exited for my first day tomorrow.

    I woke up late, but only by a few minutes. I was able to get ready in a mere 3 minutes!  After the hectic morning Jay, Jess and I left the house and headed to the loft to work.  Jay and I set up the desk where I will be sitting and the little gray desktop that I will be using the whole summer.

    After we set up the hardware it was time to install the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008.  The only programming software that I have used is Dev C++, and it's a big step up from Dev C++ to Visual Studio.  Jay showed me an enormous book, Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform.  I was really intimidated, just because of how thick it was.

 

    Jay first showed me how to create the famous Hello World program, showing the basics of Windows Form Applications and Message Boxes, using the C# programming language.  We then made a Celcius to Fahrenheit converter.  It was a lot at first, but I managed to hang in there.  I looked online for some other tutorials for even some more help, and found a very good set of tutorials on msdn.  For any aspiring developer, this is an excellent place to start, to learn both Visual Basic and C#.