As an older programmer, here's one drawback to hiring me: I'm unlikely to live in the office, and I'm unlikely to sleep under my desk. I'll put in extra hours, when actually necessary, but if I'm perfectly honest I just don't have enough energy to brain 16 hours a day anymore.
On the other hand, I think that I brain pretty effectively during the eight hours a day I give an employer. I don't write a lot of lines of code anymore, but I don't discard much code either. I'm good at case analysis, and if management encourages handling errors... well, I know how to do case analysis.
I like working with younger programmers. I can teach the brilliant guys to be disciplined, and that's what matters, and about all that matters. If they aren't brilliant, who cares. But if they are... they need to be taught a few things.
Still- I'm afraid I can't pretend to be young anymore ;).
On the other hand, I think that I brain pretty effectively during the eight hours a day I give an employer. I don't write a lot of lines of code anymore, but I don't discard much code either. I'm good at case analysis, and if management encourages handling errors... well, I know how to do case analysis.
I like working with younger programmers. I can teach the brilliant guys to be disciplined, and that's what matters, and about all that matters. If they aren't brilliant, who cares. But if they are... they need to be taught a few things.
Still- I'm afraid I can't pretend to be young anymore ;).