Oppolzer - Informatik / Blog

> -----Original Message-----
> From: IBM Mainframe Assembler List
> To: ASSEMBLER-LIST@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Assembler learning (Was: Help reading a dump)
>
> Bernd, there is lots of assembler application code still in
> use. Many of those applications are critical enough that
> companies will be looking for young programmers for many years.
>

Also ignoring older programmers who are equally skilled...

> I sometimes say that Assembler Language programming is
> something that lots of people do, but they don't like to
> discuss in public.
>

Why is it employers look at a single skill. These days life should be about
versatility. IME programmers who know any assembler have a better understanding
about how an underlying system delivers its services to their application. This
often results in better code, even if they are writing Visual Basic 5. I suppose
that as some one who is capable of working in Assembler, C or Visual Basic (even
APL but that would need a little revision) I would say that. I guess employers
think I am a "jack of all trades, and master of none" , but hey I seldom have to
code for a living thses days, I spend my life sorting out why programs don't
work as users expect :-)

> Regards... J.
>     (------------------ Referenced Note Follows --------------------)
> Date:         Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:13:01 +0200
> From: Bernd Oppolzer <bernd.oppolzer@t-online.de>
>
> I taught my macro course in the early 1990s the last time.
> I had 9 participants, all from the same company.
> I'm working as a free lance consultant for this company
> without interruption until today. No need to teach other
> people since then.
>
> The last ASSEMBLER course was 2004, by the way.
> Only 4 participants. In the next few years, we will run
> into problems, because many of the old people retire,
> and there are still many ASSEMBLER modules around.
> That's systems programming, not application area.
> Maybe good for me (I'm 51 only), but I cannot do it
> all alone, and it's hard to find younger people that want
> to do ASSEMBLER etc.
>
> Kind regards
> Bernd
>