where do you gain all your experience from

pk_volt · Post by **pk_volt** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:16 pm

So I finished a 2 year program from a technology institute in robotics and automation. Mostly electronics.

Anyways, all this firmware/hardware hacking really interests me.

I am really ashamed to say that I don't understand a lot of what goes on in these threads. Even looking at the max3232 used for level shifting the serial communication line took me a while to reverse-engineer on how to interface it while following the datasheet! Though I guess I am a little better at hardware since we've done a lot of work with microcontrollers.

But anyways, I was wondering where do you guys get all this experience from for both hardware and software.

thanks!

groepaz · Post by **groepaz** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:56 pm

learning by doing, many of us for more than one (or even two) decade(s) =P

psyberjock · Post by **psyberjock** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:19 am

I'd have to agree with that. I've been seriously using computers for 14 years, and that means more than just clicking icons and typing messages.

I think the first step I took was reading the DOS 6.0 manual twice through while trying to repair the damage I did with double space. Then I experimented with DOS 5 due to it's bootsector loading abilites. After that it was pretty easy to start learning other things like Windows 3 and up.

The rest was just interest related. I wanted to build a web site so I did. I wanted to mod my dreamcast so I bought a soldering iron and did. I wanted to learn to program so I started. While programming is my least developed talent concerning computers, I'm still progressing and one day I hope to be able to accomplish all of my hobby related programming goals.

FreePlay · Post by **FreePlay** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:13 am

I've been programming and fiddling with computers and electronic devices since about 1990. I spent most of that time using simple languages like BASIC (eggh) and doing web stuff, but in the last 4-5 years started doing more advanced programming. I just like to challenge myself as much as I can; problem is that I tend to lack the motivation or creativity to come up with new ideas :/

The best way to learn this stuff is to get your feet wet, and learn from your own experience and that of others. Stand on the shoulders of giants :)