Do many people really start programming under the age of 12?

Question

Online I see many people who say that they started programming at maybe 10 years old.
Then I saw a 14 year old who asked if it was to late to start programming and they said yes.

I am 13 and I have programmed for about 6 months now. With python and a little c++.

Like at my school, they don't know anything about programming. And I have never SEEN any kids program. They always talk about games, and games, and games... CS, Crysis, COD...


Do so many people really start programming when they are around 10? It just seems really weird.

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry about what AGE you started programming at, in all honesty I BEGAN programming when I was about 7, but then I took a long hiatus in the middle before coming back to it. Programming is something you have to really enjoy doing otherwise like any other job you are going to get burnt out on it. Are you enjoying the challenges of the programs your writing? are you beginning to find it easier to see what the code is going to do before you run it? If you can answer yes then you are a leg up on a lot of people that I have worked with in the past 15 years.



Developers and engineers are really a rather rare and odd breed, I find myself thinking like the computer and compiler more then I do in what I am actually writing in the IDE.



Have fun with it and see if you can find a challenge every day. try to do something that is beyond your skill-set and do the proper research and investigation to find the proper and most productive solution to the problem.



If you find that you really enjoy it then keep going with it, the world needs more programmers that Love their job, makes everyone on their teams life a lot easier :)



Good luck in your venture, try not to forget that it is something you WANT to do.

Answer 2

I started programming around that age too.... No there is no age too late to begin programming. I mean think about how people major in computer science, and program for the first time in college. They can go on to programming careers.



Not very many people know anything about programming, whether they are children or adults. That's just the nature of it since its a specialized hobby.

Answer 3

A friend of mine went back to visit his family in India a couple years ago, and his 9 year old nephew was asking him about C pointers, and how he liked C++.



So yes, in some parts of the world kids are learning to code. Hopefully that will occur more frequently in the U.S., as there's still plenty of room for software designers. If you are meticulous with details, and enjoy the work, it can be both fun and rewarding.

Answer 4

That's very rare.



I started when I was 13 and that I was the only one my age doing it.



You're on a good track, just keep it up and you'll be pulling in good money when you're older. The C++ programmers I see do pretty well right out of college.