Andy Lacey
andy at minstersystems.co.uk
Wed Feb 23 01:33:09 CST 2005
Apologies if this appears twice. Sent yesterday and hasn't showed up. ------------------------ No problem with using my answers but I'd better give you the longer versions. Now, what were the questions? Do solely Access development. Like many on this list I started in something called Computing which metamorphosed into IT. Bit reminiscent of Rocky's story, ie started on IBM 360's, 370's but in my case in Cobol, then IBM Assembler. Worked for big drug company for about 4 years, then a biggish software house for a few more. A bit over 20 years ago, about the time IBM PC's were arriving in UK, myself and a friend/colleague set up our own biz but we did the opposite of Rocky. We started with products but they never took off and we evolved into development when people looked at the products (a library of pre-written macro-driven Lotus 123 spreadsheets) and asked us to write stuff for them. From there to dBase, Clipper then Access. Left partnership and went solo over 4 years ago. This list has been my guide and mentor ever since (thank you everyone). Still doing much what I was doing x years ago. Not even later versions as my main customer is still A97. Very much an indie, as shown above. It has its problems (security, where's the next customer/pay day coming from?) but I still prefer it. I've been lucky (touch wood) in having a main customer who keeps me well occupied, for which I'm eternally thankful cos I loathe the the selling bit - ringing people cold who've never heard of you and trying not to sound like the awful salespeople who ring me. And no, no certs. Have a degree but nothing since. When I was employing I didn't give them much credence either. Preferred to look at experience and then set some of our own tests. Amazing how often people with seemingly good qualifications couldn't do pretty basic stuff in practice. HTH -- Andy Lacey http://www.minstersystems.co.uk