Sorry if I misread that as a movie title.
From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
61–70 of 148 posts
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#62Another good example of someone learning to program on their own because they wanted to and then leveraging that experience to get a job doing it professionally. The big secret to learning to program is that there is no big secret. It's basically a glorified trade job and everyone already has the tools in front of them.
In the same way that orthopaedic surgery is glorified carpentry?
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#63TL;DR there are a lot of incompetent developers out there.
This isn't a comment about the author, as much as it's about something she said.
"Today you can take a lot of programming and Computer Sciences courses online. Everyone can be developer! There are also a lot of developer bootcamps: within 8–12 weeks you can become a developer."
This is a very dangerous line of thinking. Some people have convinced themselves that they are competent developers because they went to a bootcamp. And they might have just enough domain knowledge to convince a company with poor hiring practices that they're worth hiring.
I inherited a situation like that (this dev was hired a few weeks before me). After a few weeks it was painfully obvious that this guy was a detriment to the company because of his lack of coding ability. For reasons above my paygrade, we couldn't fire him immediately, and eventually we took all responsibilities away from him. We paid someone to come in and not do work for us.
I've interviewed dozens of developers since then. The one's coming from a bootcamp (or similar situation) have no computer science skills. They also have no problem solving skills; they're unable to break through the box that they were taught in. Most companies can't afford to hire a developer who knows one thing, and one thing only.
Now, we've had 4 year university graduates with experience in the field come in from top schools with degrees in CS. A (scarily) large percentage of them are incompetent as well, though not to the degree of the bootcampers. They're typically serviceable though.
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most trades can be taught to anyone i think programming requires a certain kind of mind set to begin with or but another way an already analytical thought process. It's why a lot of grads that jumped into the field to make tons of money have trouble with the actual work. I am not saying it requires a special snow flake but it does require abstract thinking and that can't be taught to everyone.
The principle of programming is really trivial, so I am unsure that it can't be taught to everyone. We are able to teach basic math to everyone, if badly at that. I doubt programming is such big of a jump.
I do believe that the very basics of programming can be taught to everyone, like you said. I think everyone should be able to learn the basics in school (or elsewhere). We are surrounded by software, coding is like a new literacy.
But I also think not everyone will like coding. It is kind of abstract but also creative. People have different interests and silks: writing, coding, drawing, taking pictures, sports,... and that's ok!
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#65TL;DR there are a lot of incompetent developers out there. This isn't a comment about the author, as much as it's about something she said. "Today you can take a lot of programming and Computer Sciences courses online. Everyone can be developer! There are also a lot of developer bootcamps: within 8–12 weeks you can become a developer." This is a very dangerous line of thinking. Some people have convinced themselves t…
I've said this before, but Python is dangerous in this way. You can learn how to write an executable Python script in a few hours, which if you do this for a few years, you might be convinced you're "fluent" in Python, when in reality you know nothing about how to build and deliver quality software.
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#66TL;DR there are a lot of incompetent developers out there. This isn't a comment about the author, as much as it's about something she said. "Today you can take a lot of programming and Computer Sciences courses online. Everyone can be developer! There are also a lot of developer bootcamps: within 8–12 weeks you can become a developer." This is a very dangerous line of thinking. Some people have convinced themselves t…
This is exactly how I reacted when reading that line. Everybody can become a developer, yes. Everybody can become a good developer quickly, most likely not, and that applies also to people coming out with a formal education in CS, not only bootcampers.
I don't understand fully why so many people think that about coding, but not about other fields, like cooking/building/who knows.
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#67Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's basically a glorified trade job and everyone already has the tools in front of them. That attitude certainly explains a fair few 'legacy' systems I've seen.
I actually like seeing my job as a craftsmanship, because (at least in my native language) there is a certain "honour of doing good work" connected to it. Also, no shame to work a trade job at all. Not sure where people get that idea?!
I honour every trade job! And as an office worker (secretary/ developer) I really miss to create something physical or with my hands. I started to create my own feminine developer t-shirts (NERDpraunig.com), something I can touch and wear.
I don't care which profession someone chooses and whether it is more brain or more physical work.
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, I don't understand parents trying to curb aspirations in favor of practicality. I can understand if she wanted to do something that was ambitious + risky, but it's just computers. There's been nothing risky about getting an education in computers for 25 years now.
No, it makes sense, go for the thing that will reasonably make you enough money to be comfortable and independent. It's funny though, for me an education in computing was the practical thing. I have a science degree too but I had next to no intention of being a professional scientist.
No, it really doesn't. Secretaries have been mostly replaced by computers already -- a trend likely to continue.
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#69And hard to avoid Imposter Syndrom the hard way ?
Re: From Secretary to Software Developer: The Hard Way
#70TL;DR there are a lot of incompetent developers out there. This isn't a comment about the author, as much as it's about something she said. "Today you can take a lot of programming and Computer Sciences courses online. Everyone can be developer! There are also a lot of developer bootcamps: within 8–12 weeks you can become a developer." This is a very dangerous line of thinking. Some people have convinced themselves t…
It is my thought as well on those bootcamps, you lack some important CS skills. But there are different coding jobs out there: I think you could easily create some nice, small websites or WordPress themes afterwards, your own app, small freelance work, things only you maintain, but doing "serious" coding in a team on a bigger project after a few weeks? I don't think so... You'll need a lot of mentorship, maybe an internship... May those nano degrees are a better choice if you add some CS skills on top off it.