So, for my sins I have experience writing assembler (beat that), Java (hmmm) and that other stuff what’s it called, Visual Basic (cupla versions ago, let’s not brag about that) and am in the process of looking at possible Masters options. I can sort of battle my way around some php but with quite a lot of reluctance and I have looked at Rexx and NCL and vomited too. I find out today that Google have a new programming language. It’s called Go. There used to be an airline called Go, and then it went.

I have not really had much time to look at it in any great detail apart from getting the overwhelming sense that they are pushing it to compete with C and C++. Its USPS on first glance appear to be “fast compiling” and “garbage collection”. Which is very desirable. After all, from what I remember, ten centuries ago, Java had garbage collection but wasn’t exactly high speed either in compiling terms of, in fact, at run time. For someone used to the roi of assembler, it was a bit pitiful, actually.

However, I need to be realistic and recognise that assembler is an increasingly arcane language to be writing in – ie, very few people actually want it any more – and so I’ve started looking at alternatives like, for example “You know Java, don’t you?” and “I hate php, no really”. I was going to check out the Microsoft Visual studio stuff as well because the last time I looked at the language nerds, they were waxing on about C# and how great it was. I think I might procrastinate and look at Go instead and see if it has any realistic future.

As to the masters, I’m having some serious thoughts about it. I have a bunch of parchments already, and working full time and doing college part time will cut into the free time I have for trying not to damage myself climbing, diving, kitesurfing or taking photographs. Interestingly, the worst injuries I have ever got didn’t ever involve climbing, diving or kitesurfing, but walking and taking photographs. Strange that. I’m trying to find a balance between stuff that interests me a bit (maths) and stuff that builds on what I’ve got already (information technology and applied modern languages) and stuff that doesn’t wipe out my life for too long (which means starting a new BSc is probably not the way to go). Masters take about 2 years on average to get part time. I’m looking at science communication, information technology, forensic computing and something else. Can’t remember what. I live near DCU so it’s the handiest.

The problem is, I’ve also been looking at maths modules part time with the Open University. They have maths stuff which is doable part time (unlike most of Ireland from what I can see) but it’s very expensive.

I don’t know. Lots to think about I guess.