I have done this quite a bit over the last two years, and was paid for it. I love it.
Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
51–60 of 69 posts
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#52I've thought a lot about this problem. Trying to remedy it I built http://coderook-beta.herokuapp.com
Still just playing with it.
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#53I've thought a lot about this problem. Trying to remedy it I built http://coderook-beta.herokuapp.com
Still just playing with it.
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
As a middle aged man who has spent the last year teaching himself javascript and the prior year teaching himself basic programming concepts using C++ I can contest there is no substitute for developing a deep kinesthetic learning and having a project that drives you. I would really like to read your opinion on what exactly the skills are to "learn new programming languages in minutes or hours rather than days or week…
Thank you for the compliments. > I would really like to read your opinion on what exactly the skills are to "learn new programming languages in minutes or hours rather than days or weeks. In this there is no substitute for practice and a little drudgery. It is a lot like sight reading sheet music. At first each new piece is a struggle (more so if you are learning the instrument at the same time). But over time, you n…
I can't stress how much I agree with the last point. Probably the single hardest CS course I took in college was an upper-level seminar on compiler design, in which we built a simple compiler (for Appel's Tiger language) over the course of a semester. I've never poured more hours in to doing harder, more frustrating work in my entire life... and I've found that I haven't looked at code the same way since. I've found that you can get a similar experience by really, really groking C, but it still doesn't hold a candle to really getting to the innards of the machine.
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#55I would like for a site to exist where I can go and find an expert on whatever I need and consult with them over whatever communications method they prefer (Skype, Google Hangout, Phone, etc). The experts would work for tips/donations, an hourly/15 minute fee, wishlist items, credits, bitcoins, barter, etc. If anyone is interested, I have a more detailed roadmap for this idea, a couple of domain names that would work…
At LiveNinja we are doing exactly this and we are launching to the public next week. Check us out at http://www.liveninja.com If you'd like early access email me at will@liveninja.com Thanks!
Can't wait to see what you've got!
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#56I would pay for this. If anyone is interested please contact me to discuss.
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#57I coach full-time at Facebook, and I coached for various clients part-time for a decade before that. We work a bit on technical stuff like how to design, test, or refactor, but honestly the technical work is mostly to establish trust so we can work on more personal issues--time management, multi-level thinking, communication skills, principles of programming. For example, a couple of recent students had ADD. We worked on finishing one thing before starting the next, mostly using techniques that I developed for my own use. After a month of daily one-hour sessions the change was noticeable.
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#58Unless programming is a hobby for you, I would recommend you look for a job that has mentoring built in. I remember that at Google -- which hires pretty decent coders to begin with -- there were plenty of both educational and 1-1 opportunities to get better. In fact you had to pass a 'code readability review' with senior colleagues before you got access to check in any code.
If changing jobs is not an option, then, yes, remote coaching/pairing works pretty well. Lately, I have been starting remote study groups to master new technologies with other developers. Take a look here for an example: http://scalafp.pbworks.com and http://scalapro.pbworks.com
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#59I think this is something that could be very helpful. In college, I didn't get so much feedback on code, so I would be interested in having a "coding coach".
In fact, I wonder if anyone would be interested in helping a small group get better at coding. The coach would provide feedback and answer their toughest questions. I guess it would be like a small independent coding bootcamp. I'm not sure how compensation would work, but I wonder if anyone would be interested in it?
Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thanks for your reply. It sounds like what you are doing is admirable but not along the lines of what I'm after. I don't think that there is really any weird power dynamics in this kind of coaching, at least not in my experience. On one hand we are dealing with a domain in which reason is the ultimate method of arbitration, and a good coach would not be presenting me with opinions or ideas that I could simply disagre…
I'm pretty sure I was unclear in my original reply (not enough coffee at that point to be replying to the internet I think :) ), I think we actually agree more than disagree. Perhaps I can explain what we thought of as problems and solutions a bit better now that I'm fully awake: First the idea of paid, but not directed tutoring is a bit weird. When a person is paying they exert an influence over the person they are…
Thanks for this thoughtful reply. I think you articulated the power dynamic between tutors and students very well. I was reluctant to use the word "tutor" in my post, and picked "coach" instead, for this very reason, but I did a poor job of explaining it.