The Digital Press

Bruce Dawson shares a detailed reflection on the early part of his 37-year software development career, highlighting his unconventional path from a university dropout to a successful programmer involved in major projects and innovations. He discusses his passion for programming, early challenges, key projects like CygnusEd and fractal programs, and the balance between career and personal life.

Why it matters: His story illustrates how persistence, self-teaching, and practical projects can lead to a rewarding career despite non-traditional starts.

The big picture: Early programming required deep hardware knowledge and optimization skills, contrasting with today's high-level tools and multi-core processors.

The stakes: Choosing programming over a circus career and navigating job offers shaped a stable and influential tech career.

Commenters say: Readers appreciate the inspiring and candid career insights, look forward to part 2, and praise the blog’s engaging, detailed storytelling.