From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.4 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_00 autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,7d66145c10697d62 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-02-05 19:20:01 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!newsfeeds.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!colt.net!dispose.news.demon.net!demon!psiuk-p2!psiuk-p3!uknet!psiuk-n!news.pace.co.uk!nh.pace.co.uk!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: How did you get started in Ada? Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 12:43:12 -0500 Organization: Posted on a server owned by Pace Micro Technology plc Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: dhcp-200-133.miami.pace.co.uk X-Trace: nh.pace.co.uk 1012930993 1386 136.170.200.133 (5 Feb 2002 17:43:13 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@news.cam.pace.co.uk NNTP-Posting-Date: 5 Feb 2002 17:43:13 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:19654 Date: 2002-02-05T17:43:13+00:00 List-Id: I got into it from a Business Data Processing (Cobol/Mainframe) background. I got interested in Ada and learned all I could about it which gave me a skill needed at the time by DoD embedded developers. (Compilers were barely in existence at the time - so finding someone who could spell "Ada" and had actually seen a compiler was a bit of a rarity.) I also worked through a bunch of home study courses in Electronics that were available from Heathkit at the time, so I developed some working knowledge of all those doohickies on a circuit card. The rest is kind of On The Job Training. You may find that if you've got a solid background in Ada, some business using Ada will likely want to consider you even without any embedded experience because you have a skill they need and it isn't found everywhere. You can also develop some knowledge of electronics through informal means. Remember that they're not hiring you to design circuits - but it helps to know something about the hardware. Don't underestimate the fact that often, more important than some set of skills, is your mental attitude. Put yourself in your (potential) boss's situation and immediately start talking about how you can solve his problems. A guy who comes in the door with an attitude of "Don't worry about your problems - I'll find a way to make them go away for you!" is going to be perceived as a big advantage over some other candidate who may have a better fitting background but comes off as just willing to do what he's told. And if you hear of any Ada work that is going on in South Florida, let me know. I know people who would entertain the notion of getting out of the C gig. :-) MDC -- Marin David Condic Senior Software Engineer Pace Micro Technology Americas www.pacemicro.com Enabling the digital revolution e-Mail: marin.condic@pacemicro.com Web: http://www.mcondic.com/ "Aidan Skinner" wrote in message news:slrna6031t.4d8.aidan@crushed.velvet.net... > > So I'm wondering how people here got started, or is embedded s/w dev a > prety much closed system? >