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Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

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Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

#61

Post by JackMorgan »

I do this. My best success story? I started mentoring my little brother in July when he graduated with a B.A. in philosophy. I code reviewed, wrote assignments, helped him choose his own projects, gave advice on what study, and pair programmed with him on weekends. He worked hard; just started his first job as a software engineer last week.

I used to be a schoolteacher before getting into development, mentoring combines my two favorite things: teaching and programming. Feel free to contact me, I'm open to take on one or two select individuals interested in working hard.

Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

#62

Post by bridgeyman »

I am planning on creating a startup that would do something along these lines. This would be a great opportunity for me to learn about coaching through Skype. If you are interested, I would love to devote a few hours a week to code coaching.

I wouldn't consider myself an expert, but I have been coding for 9 years or so now. What level are you at, and what level would you prefer your coach to be?

Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

#63

Post by abecedarius »

kami8845 wrote: post #21
abecedarius wrote: post #17

I've done this for money a couple times, and informally for a few friends. (Plus, a bit more regularly lately as a student at Hacker School, which you ought to check out.) When I did it for money, both clients were appreciative, but I think it went better with the one I'd previously written a lot of their backend code for, who were also well-heeled. This gave me specific knowledge and more time to give them. (I could…

Is there a HackerSchool alumni discount? :D

It's more like, that makes me more likely to do it. :) It's hard to justify much of it at the rates you can get programming instead.

Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

#64

Post by keeptbluesideup »

I've been thinking about something like this for awhile.

As a developer who works mostly freelance from home, I do engage with some other developers when working on agency contract work, but these engagements are infrequent and I find most of the team to be on the same skill level as myself. The bulk of my other work is solo projects for smaller businesses.

With that being said, for somebody like myself, I find it tough to meet other people who I would consider a mentor.

The only mentor types I have met have been very short lived relationships due to the short term nature of our contracts. I have felt it would be unprofessional to contact them outside of the work and after the working relationship has ended.

For the better part of this year, I have read something computer science related almost everyday. I have made it a day by day mission to better my skill set and understanding of everything computer science. Going at it alone isn't easy sometimes.

I actually wouldn't be able to put into words how grateful and happy I would be, to able to meet and have a long term friendship with a "mentor", even somebody I checked in with just once a week through email, irc, telephone, etc.

So hacker news, where can I find somebody like this?

Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

#65

Post by mnicky »

breckinloggins wrote: post #49
wturner wrote: post #45

Earlier 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'd add:

* Learn Factor instead of Forth - it's similar, but modern :)

* Try logic and declarative paradigms (Prolog, Mozart...)

Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

#66

Post by shill »

KentBeck wrote: post #57

I 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 worke…

Is the word 'coach' in your title, or is coaching just something you do as a good manager?

I really enjoyed your recent post about incrementally escaping local maxima. It would be cool to read some of your coaching tips and stories someday.

Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

#67

Post by Inebas »

Well, what I am doing right now, just trying out so can't say for sure how effective it is. I was working with a a freelancer who knows python and is more experienced than me so I say I'll pay for your time for pair programming, design review, etc...

What I would do is to code the way I would and then go over it with him via teamviewer or something and we chat over skype. For me, the difficult part is creating the right classes and refactoring, making unit tests and making code scale. I also have design questions. Perhaps I'll make a post when I have more feedback.

Re: Ask HN: Do coding coaches exist?

#68

Post by andrewkkirk »

JackMorgan wrote: post #61

I do this. My best success story? I started mentoring my little brother in July when he graduated with a B.A. in philosophy. I code reviewed, wrote assignments, helped him choose his own projects, gave advice on what study, and pair programmed with him on weekends. He worked hard; just started his first job as a software engineer last week. I used to be a schoolteacher before getting into development, mentoring combi…

@JackMorgan - what's the best way to contact you?
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