Is it to late to be a "universal programmer"?

a "universal programmer". someone that learns all the programming languages: c++, html, etc., etc. is 14 years old to late to start? (hypothetical...)

Is it to late to be a "universal programmer"?
No, it's not to late to start.





Language is the easy part, they all pretty much have the same components and constructs. The main differences are syntax and often the language is structured in such a way as to make some more suited for some tasks than others.





What you really need to concentrate on are algorithms, data structures, and good design practices. Archetecting good software is the hard part. Implementing it in whatever language is the "grunt work" that the junior programmers get to do.
Reply:I would have to agree with the other posters, there are too many languages to "master" every one.





If you tried you could get quite good at a coding in a majority of the "hot" languages. But even then you need to learn platform specific things for each language to make this goal useful, which would be impossible.





I would suggest that you try to master a small set of languages. With some variety between them: learn an assembly language, a "regular" language, a scripting language, a markup language, and a database system.





Then you should read a lot about the features of a lot other languages to find out where they are used and what there strengths, and weaknesses are. At that point when you have a project that would be best coded in that other language, learn it.
Reply:It's never too late to learn something new. However, if you intend on having mastery of all programming languages, that might be a little tough. I would guess that at 14, you should be able to pickup most mainstream programming languages if you desired.





I'd say learn as much as you can and develop a better programming language than any out there.
Reply:It's never too late to start, but in your case, if anything, it's too early. Learn HTML then CSS then XML %26amp; XSL then JavaScript, then PHP, then MySQL. Learn Flash and Photoshop. If you got that down you can be a good web developer or web designer.
Reply:14 is probably too late. I would say, you should "start" programming at around 8 or 9, and playing with computers at around 5. But, why would anyone want to be a "universal programmer" anyway. It's much to have complete mastery of one or two very useful languages.
Reply:It is never too late for anything. If you know how to program in one language then learning another is like learning a different dialec. In my opinion, try to specialize in a langue such as JAVA. Hope this helps you.
Reply:You can't learn all the programming languages anymore. There are dozens/hundreds of languages.





You're never too late to start, though. Most people only start at 18 in college.
Reply:yes. there is no longer any one program(mer) to cover all the possibilities of electronics
Reply:no ofcourse not! im 13 and now and im programming. why should 14 years old be too late? and indeed what others say, dont learn them all. learn 1 or 2 what these other guys sayd. hope i helped.
Reply:Dude, you are 14 not 40 and even 40 is not late to start learning. Try this website out - w3schools.com. Learn something.
Reply:It's a lost cause. You might be able to learn most of the active languages but you would never be able to keep up with all the changes to them. There is no point to learning the dead languages, even if it was possible.





If you do not actively program in languages you lose most if not all of your skill. Focus on one or two specialties.
Reply:It is NEVER too late to start learning anything. Keep your ambitions high and you will go far.
Reply:No, it's not too late.


Fourteen is an excellent age to dive in, but try not to diversify too much- find what you like then master it. A "Jack of all trades, master of none" doesn't hold great marketability in s/w development.


I'm a Sr Technical Recruiter for a VERY large s/w company. We look for Software Engineers with C/C++ skills every minute of the day.





Good luck!
Reply:lstn dude there is noooo to late ....


u could learn these languages and create so many new things with them belive me
Reply:No, its not.


I dont recomend trying to learn every language there is to learn.


Rather specialize in one or two languages as many people have wasted their time trying to learn them all. I'm also 14 and I'm intrested to know that you also have a keen intrest about programming.
Reply:This is a ginius
Reply:There are so many programming languages I doubt if anyone could learn to be good at all of them. Its certainly not too late to start learning to be a good programmer.





I was around 16 when I started, I'm 52 now. I have used around 10 languages seriously over the years and dabbled in others.





Once you have learned a few of the major languages you will find it easy to move to other ones since they borrow a lot of features from each other.





I think the best definition of a "universal programmer" is someone who knows enough to easily pick up new languages when needed rather that trying to know them all.