Great report. Keep at it Dave. Learn all you can about .NET there are a lot of jobs being posted looking for that kind of experience.

Dave can you create me a GUI interface in Visual Basic to track down an IP address?

Not a problem. All I have to do is press ip - TAB, right?

suzzer, that was pretty enjoyable.

I think you need to randomly bang on the keyboard for a few seconds, which should produce a custom animated CGI interface that looks nothing like anything any known computer OS.

Not a problem. I just press g0oey-TAB 36-TAB em-TAB right?

You forgot the ~

He isn't approximating, he's getting the actual IP address.

Doesn't matter what I type really. As long as I speak faster than a hyper active chicken clucks and have 7 people standing over my shoulder, I'll have it finished in 46 seconds flat.

ROFL...oh those movie/TV show folks.

dave since you're in LA now's the time to switch over to Hollywood consultant on IT matters (well after the internship).

It would be funny if the guy who wrote that was messing with them.

That video was way better than expected haha. I love her tone and facial expression. Congrats on the job Dave.

Yeah, what I know of it is pretty interesting, though nothing particularly revolutionary about it at this point. I guess the point is to create a stateful session on top of HTTP. This has some interesting implications, but so far I've pretty much been learning more about ASP-type stuff, which is a given considering the general HTML stuff at this point. Sort interested in seeing how it all plays out after an actual expert designer gets their paws on it and I have to convert some of it and start doing the CRUD stuff.

I'm getting better at not typing key-chords in the code, but that Visual Studio is killing me. I'm obviously not in a position to ask if there are any other alternatives, but I think the programming / editing environment will be a huge thing for me when it comes time to look for more work. I hate to sound obnoxious on this subject, but its a matter of not feeling productive and there really is no worse feeling for me when I'm working. To be certain, I don't complain about it, but he knows that I use an editor of some sort because he sees how I get into the zone and forget what I'm doing and ack(!). He noted the situation, asked if I normally use an editor, so when he sees me make a mistake, he sort of laughs it off. I just feel so slooowww right now.

Yes, let me see...

Episode 2:
Hot Chick (HC) hacking into some super computing software. Dumb Guy (DG) standing over her shoulder.

DG
Hey, how do you keep track of all those parenthesis?

HC
It's pretty easy to keep track of. After a few day of working on it, I discovered how easy it is to keep a running count in my head.

Pans to the screen:
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Episode 2:

HC
I'm trying to hack into the Government's Website. I know they have super-secret information on their site. I can just feel it

DG
Why aren't you getting started yet?

HC
I'm waiting for my computer to download Javascript.

I think he knew damn well what he wrote. Those writers come from a pretty wide background and tend to read a ton.

An interesting side-effect of moving to LA is that you begin to see a bunch of interesting local-centric jokes in a ton of shows.

Thanks to you and everyone else for the congrats and stuff. Really mean a lot to me.

The only bummer of it is that I don't have much time to do anything else at this moment. I can read Introduction to Algorithms and do math videos while I'm riding the bus, but my projects are all likely to rot for a bit, which makes me a bit sad.

So I'd love some opinions. I had been mentioning burning on at my job for a while. It's not really the job... the guys are awesome, the work hours are fine, the pay is good... it's just a standard 40+ hours a week of coding stuff I don't really want to be coding anymore.

In 11 weeks or so in my first job as a coder after only really about a year of teaching myself, I've built what is (in my opinion, and the guys I work with's) a really sweet app. We've also had it tested by a bunch of solid pen testers who can't find anything but some basic problems with things like the way the headers are set (click-jacking and crap I'd never heard of). The authorization is locked down tight. I've gained a lot of confidence in my ability to create production grade apps quickly. I've also learned a lot along the way, and continue to learn a lot about other web technologies on the side.

With that said, I struggle from crippling ADD/some mood problems which often swing hard together. So when I'm interested, I'm often quite happy and insanely productive. When I don't want to be working on something I, over a period of time, get depressed and very unproductive. Also that's just not a good spot to be in lifewise, so it's something I'd rather avoid. I can handle about 20-25 hours a week of coding I don't really want to be doing... but after about those 4 hours a day I really really hate myself.

I've decided to gracefully exit from this job (basically I have been honest with these guys about how I'm feeling, and told them I am dropping off fulltime in a month, or sooner if they can hire someone soon).

I've also decided to flat out relocate to Boulder, CO at the start of July after 7 years living in Boston. I have no need for money anytime soon, but ideally would love to earn 50k+ (pre tax) at some point in the future doing some project based work 20-25 hours a week, or more with large breaks in between projects.

Since I have a large rails app that I built single handedly getting used in the real world, and will have a fun angularjs app getting used in production in a month or so... what's my play? I'm probably going to try to take the first couple months off from any actual work when I move in order to focus on finishing up my angular app, and meeting new people/getting acclimated.

I'm thinking I just keep building stuff, and maybe try to make some relationships with local startups in the Boulder area. There's a tech stars Boulder which starts soon (I'm currently finishing up with a company in tech stars Boston) which might have some good opportunities for some contract work.

Am I kidding myself with this dream of doing projects so I stay interested, then taking time off? Or working part time for reasonable consulting fees? I love coding, and want to leverage that love and my skillset into some income. I have resources and tremendous flexibility, and know that you aren't always going to love what you're doing... but I think I can (for myself) be happier than I am right now. And I want to find it.

I'm not sure what I'm asking... just kind of rambling.

tl;dr is freelancing actually feasible with the right networking skills/skillset?

edit: I should be able to get a really solid recommendation from the guys I'm working with.

Given your connections and experience I think consulting is totally workable. I'd reach out to the Tech Stars Boulder people and make it known that you're looking for contract work. Lots of TS companies struggle with hiring, lots of them are getting investment money, and all of them are trying to get a ****load of stuff built for demoday - all of which is a great combination for you.

If money isn't an object you could also look for a combination of cash/equity in the deals which could work out really well.

I expect that you could also do the traditional consulting route - but I don't really know the best way to get started with that.

Yeah it's feasible for sure. Remember as a contractor you'll often get assignments directs don't want to do. The 20-25 hours a week thing might be a problem. To me it appears that a variety of work plus very flexible hours might work. By all means if you have product ideas pursue those.

Nch, have you tried Ritalin, adderal, stratera, etc? I have some friends who have legitimate ADHD that swear by that stuff. I think you almost have to have some level of ADD/ADHD to be a good web programmer.

Relocation sounds like it could be a great thing for you. But when you do look for jobs don't tell them anything about the ADD, or taking time off from work, or hating your job after four hours. Just tell them you have a lot of side projects you like to work on. You can always make any little thing you've worked on on the side sound a lot bigger than it really is. I took two years off from programming to play poker, but I also did a few iPhone apps during that time, that I was able to play up.

Pursuing a product could be cool. I need to come up with some fun ideas.

Ritalin/similar drugs do wonders... they also leave me feeling absolutely terrible at the end of the day. It's a trade off. If I needed this job, I'd start taking the drugs, but since I don't, I'd rather find one where I don't need them everyday. They're a great boost when you HAVE to get something done.

Ya when I feel like hopping back in I'll probably try to find some cash/equity deals at a small company. I feel like I might suck at traditional consulting (getting handed tasks nobody wants to do), but don't want to stay on past the first couple months at a start up honestly. If people are in need of early help I'd probably be a big asset.

Supposedly if you have true ADHD, they actually calm you down instead of speed you up. I've been prescribed them, and all they do is speed me up. Which definitely helps me to get things done when I'm running on low energy, but it doesn't really affect my focus either way. I tend to like to talk a lot on Ritalin, versus buckling down and code like a maniac for eight hours.

I use them more like the "mommy's little helpers" that housewives used to take in the 50s to get their housework done. I'm pretty sure that's not the sanctioned reason for handing them out like candy. USA corporate medical care #1.

Mother's little helper was valium. It wasn't like red bull. It was like, I want something to dull the boredom and make me feel good. Really nothing like adderral.

I thought mother's little helper is kind of a generic term for any pill that gets you through the day. In the 50s it was benzedrine. I guess in the 60s and 70s mothers needed downers. I don't think the Stones invented the phrase.

But I could be wrong.

http://news.discovery.com/human/adhd...ers-120515.htm

It makes my brain super tranquil, and when it wears off I feel hungover. Coffee/any stimulant has the same effect.

Man, you guys are hardcore, I feel bad enough for the occasional diet soda that gives me something to sip on.

You have to move on to stronger stuff once 200mg caffeine pills barely register a blip.