Tip 31Don’t Panic

I started my career as a computer programmer because of video games. Since the days of loading games from tape on my Commodore 64, I’ve been hooked by their immersive, interactive experiences. I used to be embarrassed to admit it, but I realize now that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. For me, computer games turned the on-screen environment (the operating system, I guess) into an environment I was comfortable and excited about.

My favorite game ever was id Software’s Doom. I was specifically in love with the one-on-one, player-vs.-player, death-match part of the game. Players would connect via modem or serial connection and battle each other in small, fast-paced environments. I got really good at the Doom death match. I often ...

Get The Passionate Programmer now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.