DOH! Should have done this before...

[submix8c]

Hello, all!

Been a member for a while. Didn't start posting until recently (last 6 months?).

From circa 1979 through 1998 I was a Mainframe Programmer. You know, IBM 360/370/4300, Amdahl, the "roomfull of big stuff" computers. At various times, I had installed and maintained the OpSys and the compilers and "COTS" packages (IBM's and others). I spoke Assembler, Cobol, PL/I, FORTRAN, Basic, and RPG (all versions thru '98, just to mention a few) fluently, favorite being Assembler (the Operating System language). I have written and maintained many (should I yell that?) software products, either alone or as a small team. Also worked alongside Configuration Management, since I was a part of the team that wrote the Migration Software Package (can you spell BMF?). I just loved to "get into the guts" of the bits-n-bytes! I had also been rather good at database conversions (DA, DL/I, IMS, VSAM, DataCom, etc.), since I was goud at "bios-level" I/O. You might say I was the all-around "Go ask him, he knows" guy; a man of "all hats". Heck, even found a terrible error and provided the solution to one of Computer Associates' DL/I components (although they won't admit it).

But alas, all good things come to an end, especially when you're dumb enough not to re-train for the "new ways" (MocoSoft, Mid-Tier, Client-Server, etc.). So, the Air Force dropped my contract, never to be contacted again. Nope, no jobs for Mainframers, so back to AutoBody Repair I go! Tough one, at my age; good thing I can still do well at it!

And.... here I am fiddling around (ah, Rome!) with you guys! Hope I can contribute something useful. I sure blow away lots of time on this I-built-it-from-spare-parts thingy! And I've already learned a few new tricks from some of y'all (goody!)

'Nuff said!

p.s. already beating "AutoPatch for 98SE" up; probably driving soporific nuts!!!!!

edit: picky about spelling, not the grammar, so me-fixum...

edit#2: forgot to mention... was in USN as a "nuke-subby"; wasn't real thrilled with the possibility of pushing the buttons to blow up cities ("ICBM button-pusher").

Edited May 6, 2007 by submix8c

[tain]

Nice intro!

Sorry to hear the AF dropped your contract. That is very common these days as much of USAF's cash and resources is being redirected to the Army and Marines. Something about a ground war