I think millennials have a very special position. We grew up with computers but it was during the rougher times. So they had to learn more about how things worked. Then came the easier stuff (smartphones, etc.). So we are mostly digital native but with more depth.
Late Generation X and early Millenials oftentimes had to type of basic code of a magazine, if we wanted to play a game. :) Whole different level of insight. Tbf, we were a minority.
Gen X was the generation who grew up with illustrated children’s books teaching assembly language programming. There was a window of maybe 10 years when it was not unreasonable for a bright kid to teach themselves the machine language of their home computer, as well as its entire memory map and how to control its video/audio circuitry by writing bytes to specific numbered addresses. Then Wintel PCs became the standard and that world disappeared.
I think millennials have a very special position. We grew up with computers but it was during the rougher times. So they had to learn more about how things worked. Then came the easier stuff (smartphones, etc.). So we are mostly digital native but with more depth.
Late Generation X and early Millenials oftentimes had to type of basic code of a magazine, if we wanted to play a game. :) Whole different level of insight. Tbf, we were a minority.
Looked like this (this is a short demo, some games where dozens of pages long): https://atariprojects.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/MadMagProgram1-1024x668.jpg
Gen X was the generation who grew up with illustrated children’s books teaching assembly language programming. There was a window of maybe 10 years when it was not unreasonable for a bright kid to teach themselves the machine language of their home computer, as well as its entire memory map and how to control its video/audio circuitry by writing bytes to specific numbered addresses. Then Wintel PCs became the standard and that world disappeared.
I came after that generation, but I did learn how to code in basic on the C64 in my pre-teen years.
If you feel you missed out on learning 6502 assembly language, it’s easier than ever to catch up.