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Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

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Re: Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

#41

Post by pavs »

I am not the same boat as your, couple of years younger and recently started with php. Well I am not there yet, one month in to my serious attempt (I have tried several time not-too-seriously), I can say and feel that its definitely possible to learn to code in a single language in a reasonable time.

I think it boils down to your attitude towards it and how much you are motivated to learning. I spend only about 1-2 hours every other day. One of the mistakes I made was trying to decide which language to learn first, I would say it matter very little; the reason I decided to try PHP (despite having many naysayers), because of huge size of its community, easy access to free materials on the web and get any kind of help I want to and also because how relatively easy it is to learn PHP. I also looked in to other programming languages a bit (code snippets) and general impression I get is that once you have a good understanding of one programming language its very easy to pick up other programming language (yes, even with php), because despite its differences the general idea behind most programming language is the same.

I would also spend a week or so to learn git/github even if your are coding by yourself and learning very rudimentary stuff.

I would say go for it, stop wasting time deciding which language to learn, pick one and jump to it.

Re: Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

#42

Post by mr_spothawk »

I'm 32 this month. Similar situation, but about a year into studying part-time.

I'm looking very seriously at the Immersive Tech Schools that claim "12 weeks to being employable". No idea how well it can work out for me... but here's where I started:

http://www.quora.com/Hacker-School

Re: Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

#43

Post by flojito »

Yes, you can. Just go for it!

I got it when I was 30 years old and you know what? I use the programming skills I have now plus the knowledge aquired in my previous job. The result is a programmer who also is a specialist in X or a X specialist who can develop software in this field.

Re: Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

#45

Post by realize »

The best way to learn is by doing. Set yourself a small goal, perhaps a website with a database back-end. It doesn't matter how good the final product is, you will learn loads by making it and having to research each thing you try to do. The version of the product you would make after 6 months will be far in advance of the one you make after 6 weeks.

Re: Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

#46

Post by rouan »

I think you should learn processing and arduino, possibly before starting into web. There are already a lot of web developers, and not enough visual/electronic opensource devs.

To get started download and run http://processing.org/

Paste in this code and click run. Start messing around and start learning if, while, functions etc.

--------------------------------------------

void setup() {

  size(640,480);

  background(15, 25, 25);
}

void draw() {

  stroke(255,255,125, 55); //RED, GREEN, BLUE, ALPHA 0-255

  line(320,240,mouseX, mouseY);
}

--------------------------------------------

Then with arduino, very similar environment. About $20 for a board. You can start blinking LEDs etc. Get an UNO board to start off with. File > Examples > ..

http://arduino.cc/en/

With an LED in pin 11 and Ground. Upload this code and rejoice.

--------------------------------------------

void setup() {

  pinMode(11, OUTPUT); //sets 11 to output power instead of read in
}

void loop() {

  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly: 

  digitalWrite(11, HIGH); //switches on 5Volt

  delay(200);             //waits for 0.2sec

  digitalWrite(11, LOW); //switches off gnd

  delay(100);            //waits for 0.1sec
}

--------------------------------------------

After this I would recommend starting on nodejs/html/css since you can use processingjs to draw in your browser, nodejs can connect to arduino and allow for internet of things.

Re: Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

#47

Post by crististm »

If you need to ask then you can't.

I have a relative that five years ago was choosing his major and it was not CS. Now he wants do do computers but has no other background than hanging on the net. I know him better than you and I don't think that he would do much programming.

My take is that if you want to do something, you don't need HN permission or approval. Just do something and see if you can do it and have the guts to take the take downs.

Re: Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

#48

Post by cdvonstinkpot »

whiddershins wrote: post #31

I have been learning coding in dribs and drabs for the past many years. I think if you have the itch, you can probably do it. I have some strong opinions about what would get you the quickest results. - doing practical projects that interest you plus - learning solid conceptual fundamentals, thoroughly I would like to recommend, in the most enthusiastic terms, you peep this course called: MIT 6.00 Introduction to Com…

Hey, thanks for the tip- I'm in the same boat as the OP, bookmarked the link you posted & appreciate your advice.

Re: Ask HN: I am 35 years old with no degree – can I still program?

#50

Post by tista »

Yes yes yes it's possible.

Coding/programming is as complicated as building Facebook or Twitter but also as simple as wanting to get some daily tasks done like grocery lists.

If you dont know how to do something in language x, probably someone else knows. Any language you'd want to use, the logic stays the same, the implementation that varies. Hello Worlds should always be a thriller.

Bottomline, coding is simply a means to an end.

http://www.bango29.com/go/blog/2013/means-to-an-end

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