Hmm. I started when I was 16 or 17. Tbh, I sometimes wish I would have started earlier, but thinking back I am glad I, on the one hand, had all the time to go outside, play with others, and on the other hand log into some MMORPG and just grind my skillz. I could do w/e I wanted. Well, my mother made me learn a lot for school, so I didn't have that much time. Spending all that time programming... I think it would have been pretty lonely.