Do we have any mentors?

[gralco]

I've been wanting to learn a few languages that will be helpful to some projects, and I was wondering if anyone is available help teach me some C/C++ so that I may help contribute to this project. I know there are other ways to help but I feel this is the way I would like to go and would love to eventually have the privileged to be able to commit code to ROS. I don't have many posts because I usually come here just to read and see what people have to say. I understand that it can even take many years to be truly effective at programming but I have lots of time on my hands after school and would be very grateful if someone would help me learn or would like to learn along side me because that is the most effective I learn things. I know some basics of C++ (nothing that stands out) and am not sure if this will help at all, I've been teaching myself for about two months. If anyone is up to the challenge of teaching me than I would gladly do my best to contribute back to ROS as much as I can once learned. If you do want to talk to me you can via xmpp: gralco@jabber.org, I may also pop in and out of irc. Sorry if this is the wrong place to be posting this, I wasn't completely sure.

[vicmarcal]

Hi..
Well...if you have knowledge of C++ then you are nearer to commit patches ...we use C and few C++. So it has to be easier for you indeed ;O)
In ReactOS channel we can mentor about how the things work inside an OS(how the calls are done, what is an API,how to implement APIs, which APIs we need to be implemented or indeed where you can find info,basically MSDN), but we cant teach C or C++, these languages needs quite time to explain and teach and we havent manpower for that.
There are quite nice manuals of C and C++ online
So you are wellcome if you want to begin helping ...all our devs are online on IRC, im pretty sure that anyone can help you..but of course you have to come with a minimun level of C and C++
Thanks about joining ReactOS development...
If i can help you dont mind to Ping me on IRC, i use the same nick

[Witch]

Attend some sort of C programming night course or C programming club where you live to get started. Then it will be easier and smoother to proceed and explore things by yourself. That is what I think as a newbie PHP Zend Framework user. But getting to the level as the developers in here I'm not so sure how to accomplish.

Which universities produces qualified OS devs?

None, you can't rely on universities to teach you.
If you're serious about developing operating systems then you teach yourself.

Generally, good kernel devs are normally very skilled programmers a long time before they're old enough to go to university.
The ones that aren't have a natural skill and a desire to learn.

How old are you? I'm 28 I thought exactly like you did a couple of years ago but I'm starting to realize I'm too old to become a jedi Maybe a Han Solo but not a jedi.

[gralco]

Thanks, I hope someone can help teach me how to implement APIs because I'm unfamiliar with it. Hopefully I will be able to do something good for ROS. I just feel like I'm going to need a lot of help once getting started. Of course I'm going to keep continuing to learn to program no matter the situation. I look forward to helping

Oh and I'm only 17, I started when I was around 16 so you clearly have a great advantage over me haha but I'm sure it's a good idea to start at this age than later.

[Witch]

If you're an absolute programming newbie. Just don't choose PHP Zend Framework as your first, second, or third language when getting serious with the programming path. Their documentation confuses more than helps. Unless you're some kind of natural talent of course.

[gralco]

My interests mainly lie in C/C++ because they can be used for so many purposes. I'd also like to learn python and ruby as well for later usage. I've mainly been reading documentation on C++ but I also had a book on C that I got from my school library, which I was the first to check out I hope I'll be effective at programming when I'm ready, luckily I have time to become good, I'd better advantage of that.

[hto]

The earlier you start, the better; learning is time-consuming. Some people here started at 8, if I'm not mistaken.

[Ged]

I thought exactly like you did a couple of years ago but I'm starting to realize I'm too old to become a jedi

That's incorrect.

Con Kolivas, one of the most respected linux kernel developers, only got his first computer at 26 and didn't even learn to start programming until the 2.6 kernel (2004).
A year later he was comitting kernel patches.
btw, he's a doctor not an IT professional, so this was all done as a hobby.

It's never too late to learn.

[hto]

He is probably an exception. Usually, there is less and less desire to learn…

[Witch]

He is probably an exception. Usually, there is less and less desire to learn…

I think the reason why that desire is steadily fading away is because of the enormous information overload happening in the world for all sectors and industries.
Before the PC became an ordinary appliance in everybody's home. Those who dealt with the hardwares, coding in assembly level didn't have as much noise and choices around them. So I think (guess) that's why there were more qualified people back then. People who didn't have a long way to go to capture that desire.

Today there's so much noise and choices in the IT world that skilled people stray away in different specialist directions. Like diluting the lemonade concentration until there's no lemon taste left by adding too much water (choices).

To help people of today to capture that desire. People who knows need to pave the path for newcomers so that newcomers doesn't stray away from the path too much or unintentionally. If newcomers have several reachable checkpoints to reach before they reach the final destination then holding on to desire will be much easier, I think.

[unofficialforum]

I'd also like to learn python and ruby as well for later usage.

i'm sure there are different reasons you and i are interested in python. i think it's the best language to get the largest number of people involved in coding, you have your own reasons.

i don't know if python could ever help someone learn to develop kernels, but that's probably more to do with my feeling that low level programming has nothing to do with high level programming. i'm sure that's not true, but i feel like i'm standing naked in the middle of superbowl halftime when i look at c- and c itself is very simple. (actually using it...)

but python's a great mix of ease, function, fun, and a few good practices, for getting people to enjoy and practice coding. ruby has a similar feel, if you hate whitespace it's a good compromise (some even think it's superior...) i can't help you learn c. "think python" (.com) is probably the best python intro anywhere, and libre. other intros supplement it well.

[gralco]

If i can help you dont mind to Ping me on IRC, i use the same nick

I seem to be missing you quite frequently, what's your time zone?
Maybe you can show me a few things about working with APIs yourself if I can catch you it would be much appreciated.

[vicmarcal]

Well my timezone is Spain one You can catch me at 9PM of Spain timezone or also at 4PM sometimes