left BASIC away for assembler in '95, then practiced C again and again until i finally decided PERL was more handy for everyday programming ... Doing my first steps in C++ on a nintendoDS atm. I like programming environments that use languages and commands rather than buttons and textfields (e.g. MAKE + CSCOPE against ECLIPSE :) and books on programming that are lightweight and (con+pre)cise against "for dummies" books full of environment-specific screenshots.
Mostly did game programming, hobby OS, linux modules and network programming. I did some JAVA too, but i can't tell i've been convinced.
Used a lot of IXP2xxx assembler programming during my PhD, as well.