From an interview by Naomi Hamilton:
> **Do you have any advice for up-and-coming programmers?** > >
Chet Ramey, interviewed by Naomi Hamilton, ["The A-Z of Programming Languages: BASH/Bourne-Again Shell: When the Bourne Shell found its identity," Computerworld, 20080530][], accessed 20111029.Find an area that interests you and get involved with an existing community. There are free software projects in just about any area of programming.
The nuts-and-bolts -- which language you use, what programming environment you use, where you do your work -- are not as important as the passion and interest you bring to the work itself.
["The A-Z of Programming Languages: BASH/Bourne-Again Shell: When the Bourne Shell found its identity," Computerworld, 20080530]: http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/print/222764/a-z_programming_languages_bash_bourne-again_shell/