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Life of a Freelance Developer in the 90s in Singapore
Exploring the Evolution of Tech, Challenges, and Triumphs in the World of Freelance Programming
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A client recently asked me this: Tell me about your freelance programmer life in the 90s.
This is what I replied, with some literary fluff padded around my words. And also calling my hidden keyboard warrior / writer to my aid as well.
The 1990s were an era when the digital landscape was just starting to take shape, and the term “freelance programmer” was often met with puzzled looks. As I reminisce on those early days of my career, it feels like a journey through a time warp, witnessing the evolution of technology from the primitive internet to the sophisticated, interconnected digital world we live in today. Being a freelance programmer back then wasn’t just a job; it was an exploration of uncharted territory, navigating through the infancy of the web, experimenting with code, and witnessing the birth of what would become the foundation of modern technological advancements.
The Dawn of the Dot-Com Boom
The ’90s introduced me to the mesmerizing world of code. It was a period of dial-up internet, pixelated graphics, and the birth of the World Wide Web. Back then, freelance programming was more about passion than profit. It was about grasping the concept of HTML, the thrill of building basic websites, and the excitement of connecting with a global audience through this new digital frontier. Clients were few, projects were limited, and the sheer novelty of creating something online was exhilarating.
Challenges and Triumphs
The challenges were as immense as the triumphs. Internet speeds were painstakingly slow, debugging code was a tedious task, and compatibility issues across different browsers were a nightmare. But with every challenge came a learning opportunity. Adapting to new languages and evolving technologies, such as the introduction of JavaScript and CSS, became a cornerstone of our journey. We were constantly learning, evolving, and improvising to keep up with the rapid pace of technological advancements.
