Learn to Code, It's Harder Than You Think

If a only a small portion of the population will be adept at programming, and training is less important, then it's likely that most of the potential talent does not have formal training incompetent science. Therefore, coding schools should give a second opportunity for those tho did not study computer science in a formal university setting. Learning to code may help reveal those very people.

It really hurts new CS grads too. They usually go for similar jobs as Bootcamp grads, but may get rejected because they don't have the "practical" experience (i.e. latest frameworks) Bootcamps grads may have. So instead of grooming and training students with a four year foundation in Computer Science, they go for the cheap route and hire someone who just knows APIs.

I admit my post has a lot of generalizations and I know Bootcamp people that are great engineers and CS grads that are not, but I think you get my point. I see a lot of frustration over this in /r/cscareerquestions.

I would argue that CS grads who do not spend some time learning practical skills on the side are idiots and completely misunderstand the industry they are trying to enter.

Bootcamps claim that they can help people who lack the proper foundations or the discipline to learn on their own, these are assets that CS students should have, they should therefore apply their knowledge and training to learn on their own the tools that are used in the industry.

I loathe these type articles.

They're complex arguments to justify the attitude that "only we chosen few (men) with serious tech degrees are gifted enough to do important work in code."

Tech is a big, prosperous industry and will be bigger if we act welcoming rather than creating complex arguments to protect our turf.

Disclaimer: Am a white male with a CS degree who runs a coding bootcamp.

On the one hand, I wish to concede defeat in this argument, that indeed this is a very British argument being made, one that is, essentially, "an excuse for class", whereby a subject requiring high-order adept facilities is available only to "a select few", 'because class system'.

On the other hand, beyond the borders of the colonial-imperial mindset, we have kids in the slums who - precisely because they were not given the 'golden ticket' of opportunity presented to a select few - had to actually .. you know .. do the work of becoming a very good developer.

Good developers are not limited by class.

(disclaimer; have lived and worked with many good developers around the world, and it has nothing to do with education and everything to do with spirit..)