[andrewcooke]

how can i / we tell how good a programmer you are? first, it's hard enough in an interview when you're sitting there answering questions. and second, you are inexperienced, so what you are really asking is not how good a programmer you are, but how good you might be.

so it's pointless asking for that kind of an answer here.

it seems to me, then, that what you should ask for is advice on (1) how to become a better programmer and (2) how to avoid any problems in the future if you fail (or even succeed) as (1).

and i think there are many posts here about how to be a better programmer.

as for what to do now to avoid problems in the future, i would suggest not advocating so vocally stuff that you don't understand. use and learn it, by all means, but i don't think anyone appreciates know-it-alls who won't shut up about whatever they think is "the best", especially if they are clueless newbs.