Ask HN: Best "entry tech" jobs to learn coding?

I've seen three different paths over the years from friends and colleagues that moved into SWE from non-coding roles via getting in the door in a "technical role" that can help develop the skills you need:

1) Data Science: the requirements and depth of knowledge vary from company-to-company, and many DS roles end up being more basic reporting / data collection tasks, but if you're interested in a more backend heavy role, data engineering, and/or AI/ML engineering type role, this would be a great way to get the foot in the door. That said, of the three options here, I think this one requires the most time investment in the role before making a lateral move to SWE.

2) Solutions, or Sales, Engineering: depending upon the company the coding expectations can vary, but you would have the opportunity to hack together solutions for real Customers - sometimes even earning sales commission as part of your pay! The ability to network closely with Sales teams and Customers is valuable experience that would transfer to many other tech roles if you decide SWE isn't for you.

3) SWE Internships: requires the most upfront investment in self-education and practice, and pay is obviously lower, but you gain actual experience in the role, can add projects to your resume, and network in the space.

This doesn't answer your question exactly, but there's a part time, remote, Masters Degree in Software Development in the UK that will really get you skilled and would be a route to getting a job in software. From a highly ranked university too. I'm about to finish the degree and can highly recommend. Lots of businesses recruit directly from this course. I can send you info if of interest.

> Obviously I can't get "paid to learn" how to code but are there any entry-level jobs where I'd get general exposure that could aid/speed up my learning? (in any programming language) I guess working at a company with software developers could help (like the SDR has), but they might be remote/in other departments.

It seems to me that this is an illusion. If someone hires you as sales, he expect that you'll try all of your best at sales, not at doing coding exercises. The same regarding developers, they're not payed to help you to learn to code and they will probably will not help you until you become their friend. In other world, may be there are easier ways to find friends among software developers?

> I've seen people recommend tech support at a small-mid startup or Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) - on the other hand I've seen others say that since you wouldn't actually be coding and as those jobs require a completely different mindset to a programmer, it wouldn't help.

The same about tech support and quality assurance positions. I saw a lot of people who landed QA position because it seemed easier and got stuck to this career path. QA has some overlaps with software engineering, but, this career paths require very different set of hard skills, especially at lower levels, where responsibility are very separated.

I admit that right now is not the easiest time to start a software engineer career, still I would suggest you to:

1/ Learn how to code and debug with some language (for example javascript for frontend, java for backend)

2/ Learn about design patterns to understand the difference between "coder" and "software engineer". The Design patterns from Gang of Fours still probably works good, but there could be more modern alternatives

3/ Learn about unit tests, the "Test Driven Development" by Kent Beck conveys the more important ideas.

4/ Learn any popular framework (Spring for java/backend, vuejs for js/frontend)

5/ Build any simple app, for example yet another to-do list, and publish on github. But keep in mind that you should use design patterns, any popular framework and cover your code with tests.

6/ Apply to all Junior dev vacancies you see, you're ready to rock. Accomplishing of the 5 steps above will differentiate you from most applicants.

Probably java and java script may not sound sexy in 2024, but this is something in demand in big and boring banks, telecoms, insurance firms that will always need people to support their systems.

I’d add support to that as well. A lot of places will try and sell the job with the promise of a possible move into dev. But once you are in those roles moving is incredibly hard. And as stated - it is poison on your CV.

Is this mainly overuse of trendy packages and frameworks through npm and similar? What exactly is bad about writing JavaScript as an employee?