If you weren't a developer, what would you be doing instead?

Forest Ranger.

Venture capitalist

Back in secondary school I used to think I'd make my way being a graphic designer or web designer, as that's what I was into (along with digital art) before I transitioned into web development (and then software dev in general, and then CS).

Before that I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, and before that, a weapons designer (I used to play Hellbender a lot, and the game's story revolved around the protagonist's father, who was a weapons designer).

...as it so happens my current research area involves battlefield robots, I guess things have come full-circle.

Stealing Charles' discoveries as my own.

Hmmm well i have several possible ones:

Landscape Architect

Something Medical or in Biology

Botany or Conservation related.

Marine Biology / Reef Conservation and Coral Propagation

Orchid Grower

I have done things i several fields, I have worked for a year and a half in Stream rehab / Conservation in Northern California near the Klamath River.

I also have worked in plant nursery both retail and educational.

I have a bunch or Orchids booming right now behind me.

I have had 2 Reef Tanks with Hard coral and all kinds of reef cirtters.

Maybe artist. While I can't draw, I am feeling like doing it. Or a cheif.

I'd be in jail...only kidding!

I'm a mech eng by trade, so I'd probably be doing that.

Something involving writing. Words, not code. In fact I'm trying to move towards that goal. Slowly.

I'd probably either be in audio engineering or photography. Those are two hobbies that I spend the most time on.

Bas said:

Something involving writing. Words, not code. In fact I'm trying to move towards that goal. Slowly.

That's why I think people should blog more. I have had a meagre 50 000 views for my blog, that only has a handful of articles, and had nearly as many comments as posts, but it is rewarding when people say nice things in comments or email.

To think that in Victorian times, 50 000 people was a lot, and the likes of Shakespear and Dickens posthumously gained worldwide popularity. Sherlock Holmes started as a bunch of short stories, and in this world of Kindles, iPads and Couriers, having your material availabe on the web increases the likely hood of it being read.

vesuvius said:

Bas said:

*snip*

That's why I think people should blog more. I have had a meagre 50 000 views for my blog, that only has a handful of articles, and had nearly as many comments as posts, but it is rewarding when people say nice things in comments or email.

 

To think that in Victorian times, 50 000 people was a lot, and the likes of Shakespear and Dickens posthumously gained worldwide popularity. Sherlock Holmes started as a bunch of short stories, and in this world of Kindles, iPads and Couriers, having your material availabe on the web increases the likely hood of it being read.

 

 

 

Probably the Captain of a Starship, then when on furloe a stereographer. 

I'd probably manage a team of third line IT support staff.

Tech Support, Engineering, heck a mechanic might be fun (particularly aircraft).

ManipUni said:

Tech Support, Engineering, heck a mechanic might be fun (particularly aircraft).

I expect I'd have some crappy desk job in an office somewhere.

My academic career came to an end anyway (didn't like the ivory tower and wanted a decent living wage), so I don't expect I'd have stayed in that field.

Herbie

Probably still be a call center phone lackey, IT support, or Air Force.  All things I gave up in pursuit of the dream.

Astrospace engineer, design and testing of propulsion systems.  Or marine engineering, I quite fancy building and operating ROVs.

If reality wasn't an issue I'd be working on something like project orion.