I self-learned to code at 30 • Hacker News Board

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#51

Post by hugey010 » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

revskill wrote: post #25

My experience with learning how to code, is just find some good guide, follow it TO BUILD A REAL USABLE PRODUCT. Learning by making a real usable product is the most important part here, other kinds of learning didn't work for me. P/S: This is different from learning by project. Project mostly is for fun, not a real usable product.

This is my advice to anyone learning to code or learning a new tool. If you cannot build something that interests you, you're going to have a hard time building something for a paycheck.

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#52

Post by nmfisher » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:26 PM UTC

lsiunsuex wrote: post #18

Proziam wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's possible that his technical abilities are now sufficient to do the work but he hasn't yet learned the language commonly used for describing the technology. This is a pretty common thing amongst self-taught people.

As a self taught programmer, I struggled with this for years. I could do the work; understood it; but sometimes I would get terms mixed up. For example: Is it called a method or a function? Conversely, I've known college taught programmers who struggle with basic CSS so... it's all relative IMO.

I've never actually encountered a situation where the differences in terminology actually matter (same as sub-routine and procedure), so I'm comfortable dismissing them.

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#53

Post by AlwaysRock » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:26 PM UTC

mikemac wrote: post #40

marlowe221 wrote: post #36

I started at 37 and got my first full time job a couple of months after I turned 38. I was a lawyer and hated it - now I love going to work every day. But it wasn't easy. I was working full time in a demanding profession and I'm married with two kids under 5 years old. So basically I spent every free moment I had working on learning HTML/CSS/JavaScript. If my kids were asleep, I was coding. I basically had to burn th…

How difficult was it to transition into the job market? I have always wanted to make the jump (in finance & accounting now) but the most daunting thing seems like convincing someone to hire you.

That is the hardest part. Certain professions give a kind of boost. If you switch from being a lawyer or some type of engineering background managers will assume you are smart. Much harder if you move from being a waiter or actor where the assumption may go the other way.

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#54

Post by AlwaysRock » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:28 PM UTC

michaelmcdonald wrote: post #4

This part stood out to me: > Every weekday - 1 hour post work > Every weekend - 4 hours on Saturday and Sunday each > Done over 4.5 months, so total = 234 hours As an almost-40-year-old that has minor coding experience (but wants to do / learn more) I find that time is the component that's the most difficult to overcome. I have a wife, a 5 year old, a house... all of which require time. Getting 4 hours _per day_ on a…

Time is 100% the hardest part. I advise people making the jump to spend 1 hour a day over 90 days doing a Udemy course or something similar in JavaScript. If you can force yourself to make that time and make it a habit then you might be a good fit for a coding bootcamp or deciding to make a more dedicated effort.

But most will never be able to spend 1 hour or more a day learning a new skill because its hard to learn after you work all day.

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#55

Post by shortlived » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:29 PM UTC

marlowe221 wrote: post #36

I started at 37 and got my first full time job a couple of months after I turned 38. I was a lawyer and hated it - now I love going to work every day. But it wasn't easy. I was working full time in a demanding profession and I'm married with two kids under 5 years old. So basically I spent every free moment I had working on learning HTML/CSS/JavaScript. If my kids were asleep, I was coding. I basically had to burn th…

Congrats on the transition! I'm making a similar transition but from management back to individual contributor and also changing tech stacks.

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#56

Post by mattgreenrocks » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:32 PM UTC

revskill wrote: post #25

My experience with learning how to code, is just find some good guide, follow it TO BUILD A REAL USABLE PRODUCT. Learning by making a real usable product is the most important part here, other kinds of learning didn't work for me. P/S: This is different from learning by project. Project mostly is for fun, not a real usable product.

I've started learning guitar more seriously, and I'm convinced this is the fastest way to learn. Set a semi-ambitious goal of something you can show others, and use deliberate practice to get there.

It'll take longer than you want, but you'll get better much faster than you think you can.

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#57

Post by shortlived » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:32 PM UTC

revskill wrote: post #25

My experience with learning how to code, is just find some good guide, follow it TO BUILD A REAL USABLE PRODUCT. Learning by making a real usable product is the most important part here, other kinds of learning didn't work for me. P/S: This is different from learning by project. Project mostly is for fun, not a real usable product.

That's probably the best advice. I'd add to it: make sure it's something your passionate about. Bonus if you can get real users.

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#58

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:35 PM UTC

navbaker wrote: post #24

willbw wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I learned at 27 and it was difficult, even without children. Working all day and then spending 5 hours after work debugging and writing code is very taxing. I have sympathy for this viewpoint but it doesn't seem any different to learning any skill after a certain age. Unfortunately you either can or you can't find a way around the time constraints. I know there's lots of hobbies I've abandoned for the same reason.

> "even without children." ... "but it doesn't seem any different to learning any skill after a certain age" This couldn't be farther from the truth. There is a vast difference between being shot from work and sitting down for a long stretch of time by yourself to self-study and being shot from work and sitting down for a long stretch of time while also being constantly interrupted by the responsibilities you have to…

[deleted]

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#59

Post by RankingMember » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:35 PM UTC

revskill wrote: post #25

My experience with learning how to code, is just find some good guide, follow it TO BUILD A REAL USABLE PRODUCT. Learning by making a real usable product is the most important part here, other kinds of learning didn't work for me. P/S: This is different from learning by project. Project mostly is for fun, not a real usable product.

Yep. I can't even count how many times I've lost steam trying to learn something by doing tutorial projects where you're making lists of vegetables and otherwise building nonsense. It's like trying to learn guitar and being given "Mary had a Little Lamb" instead of some melody you actually like.

Re: I self-learned to code at 30

#60

Post by sixQuarks » Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 2:37 PM UTC

Self taught coder at 44. My memory isn’t the greatest, probably one of the hardest things I’ve done, required so much persistence to get through all the frustrations, only reason I made it was due to huge motivation.

There’s no way in hell everyone can learn how to code. Even if most people had the intellectual capability to code (which they don’t), most don’t have the patience and persistence required to follow through to the end.