Learning to code at 56 • Hacker News Board

Re: Learning to code at 56

#41

Post by webwanderings » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:42 PM UTC

beat wrote: post #36

weakeyesforit wrote: post #16

At my age the main problem is that I read a lot in a computer screen and my eyes get tired. Recently I read in the last weak several books for learning Erlang and Elixir and one for refreshing ruby. Last month I learned java by doing several projects with netbeans. Initially I programmwd only with gedit and googling stack overflow. I was programming feom six pm to five am to help my son with a java project. Honestly…

Have you tried plain old reading glasses? They made a world of difference for me. Your vision can be 20/20 and you still can't see things well close enough to read (that's my own case).

I second this. One can also get prescription reading glasses, which in my opinion, is a better choice.

Re: Learning to code at 56

#42

Post by hardlianotion » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:43 PM UTC

grok2 wrote: post #28

webwanderings wrote: post #8

This appears to be an Ad for free code camp (not that there's anything wrong with that). Just ten years younger in a similar boat, I'm neither taking a boot camp, nor writing about my "CIS". To each their own. Learning is a life long activity. It shouldn't matter what one learns at any age.

Perhaps it really is an ad, but if it is real, I am impressed that the person thinks at 56, he has enough runway in life to make a serious contribution by coding :-)...I like that attitude.

If he is in good health, he is almost certainly right to think this...

Re: Learning to code at 56

#43

Post by johansch » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:43 PM UTC

pier25 wrote: post #26

Baeocystin wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking as a 43-year old, while I do have some health issues that I didn't have in my 20's, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, I find learning new things as easy as it's ever been. And I honestly don't think I am unusual in that regard. I have a much wider framework of accumulated knowledge than I did 20 years ago, and leveraging that, I can see how wider parts of systems interrelate with a clarity that I never came clo…

I'm 37 and I find that I'm smarter and wiser now than I was in my 20s which makes learning much easier even if my brain is almost double the age.

Please report back in 20 years from now. :)

Re: Learning to code at 56

#44

Post by adam12 » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:44 PM UTC

beat wrote: post #39

At 51, I've noticed there are really two kinds of people at my age... people who are completely beaten, and people who are winning. Once you hit 40 or so, the scope of mortality really hits you. You realize that you've probably already had half your productive life, maybe half a career. You start seeing peers die of "old age" - heart attacks and strokes and stuff. For most, they're beaten, defeated. They decide this…

I think it's more complicated than that. I often feel beaten and defeated. That doesn't stop me from being a life long learner. I'm sure there are people who are perfectly content with their lives and they just don't feel the need to learn new things.

Re: Learning to code at 56

#45

Post by beat » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:44 PM UTC

mfukar wrote: post #29

jameskegel wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a very non-inclusive way of thinking, and it is hard to imagine that it benefits the community as a whole. What if you substituted developers, in this situation, for doctors?

I'd rather die of an abscessed tooth than visit a doctor out of whatever the equivalent of bootcamps would be. I'm grateful to society I don't have to.

Not me. If some quack who went to a six month "doctor bootcamp" can remove the abscessed tooth that would otherwise kill me, I'd hand him the pliers and beg for help.

Because there's a need, and that need is vital.

Re: Learning to code at 56

#46

Post by innocentoldguy » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:46 PM UTC

jameskegel wrote: post #25

mfukar wrote: post #4

bootcamps - the best way of driving both wages and software quality down

That's a very non-inclusive way of thinking, and it is hard to imagine that it benefits the community as a whole. What if you substituted developers, in this situation, for doctors?

Actually, the equivalent of bootcamps does exist in the medical realm.

For example, a dentist can take a six-week course on breast augmentations, and then perform boob jobs on the side. There are many "cosmetic surgeons" out there who are dentists, ENTs, and general practitioners, who have no formal training in plastic surgery. That's why it is important to look for a board certified plastic surgeon, rather than a board certified dentist who does plastic surgery.

Re: Learning to code at 56

#47

Post by jaclaz » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:46 PM UTC

Well, if it is not an ad, at least is some astroturfing, how come the BIG photo is not that of the actual guy?

The image on the article is this one:

https://i2.wp.com/tobecomeateacher.org/wp-content/uploads/20...

"Stock photo" by Jake Barford: https://unsplash.com/@jakebarford

The photo of Mr. Vaughn, (from his "profile"):

https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/fit/c/100/100/1*Lu4bKAqf2Sxm...

Re: Learning to code at 56

#48

Post by beat » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:47 PM UTC

adam12 wrote: post #44

beat wrote: post #39

At 51, I've noticed there are really two kinds of people at my age... people who are completely beaten, and people who are winning. Once you hit 40 or so, the scope of mortality really hits you. You realize that you've probably already had half your productive life, maybe half a career. You start seeing peers die of "old age" - heart attacks and strokes and stuff. For most, they're beaten, defeated. They decide this…

I think it's more complicated than that. I often feel beaten and defeated. That doesn't stop me from being a life long learner. I'm sure there are people who are perfectly content with their lives and they just don't feel the need to learn new things.

Well, sure, it's an oversimplification. But I think it's a pretty valid one. It's not just about learning new things (you don't even need to learn to be on the winning side - I know artists who are driven to create, who have already refined their technique and are focused on creativity now).

Re: Learning to code at 56

#49

Post by crispyambulance » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:49 PM UTC

webwanderings wrote: post #41

beat wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried plain old reading glasses? They made a world of difference for me. Your vision can be 20/20 and you still can't see things well close enough to read (that's my own case).

I second this. One can also get prescription reading glasses, which in my opinion, is a better choice.

That's the way to go. They're just prescription glasses which are optimized for the working distance of a computer screen (or whatever your workplace happens to be).

You measure your working distance at your desk, take the number with you to the optometrist, and they'll dial-in a prescription that works best for that distance.

Anti-glare coating helps too.

Re: Learning to code at 56

#50

Post by superplussed » Thu, Jan 05, 2017, 3:49 PM UTC

facepalm wrote: post #34

hd4 wrote: post #5

As long as you still have a working memory, you can learn anything at any age, I don't go along with this 'old-dog-can't-learn-new-tricks' thinking. Though obviously when you're younger it's markedly easier to pick up a new skill.

I think programming is comparatively easy to learn. I sometimes wish I had become a physician, but I don't think trying to learn that by myself (or in 21 days or whatever) would be a good idea. With coding, a single good programming book for about 30$ can get you a long way...

I agree, programming is easier to learn than so many other things because of the short feedback loop, the available resources, and the willingness of those who are experienced to talk about what they've learned.