Ask HN: How do I become a Software Developer? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How do I become a Software Developer?

#21

Post by coryl » Tue, Jul 14, 2015, 5:31 PM UTC

I started when I was 24, that was 3 years ago. Since then I've shipped 3 million total downloads on the iOS app store as an indie developer. I've learned enough programming to make almost anything I can think of. I haven't actually ever looked for a job because I like my freedom so much, and I make enough to survive.

Figure out what you want to learn/build, and just start. When you hit seemingly insurmountable roadblocks, just take 20mins away from the computer and come back. Stick with it, have a long run view rather than a short run view.

Re: Ask HN: How do I become a Software Developer?

#22

Post by tedyoung » Wed, Jul 15, 2015, 1:46 AM UTC

doobiaus wrote: post #13

If you're not in an environment where you have mentors, or if you find yourself easily distracted, sign up to a course at a school with proper in person training and testing or you're just going to keep procrastinating.

Definitely agree with this. It can be hard to get started and/or stay with doing the learning when you're doing it on your own. Some people just do better when learning in the context of a group/class or with a pair/mentor. It's really easy to spend time and find yourself just reading/browsing the coding sites instead of doing the work, i.e., writing code, so either try and set small, achievable goals, or find someone you can learn with.

Re: Ask HN: How do I become a Software Developer?

#23

Post by bwldrbst » Wed, Jul 15, 2015, 2:27 AM UTC

I was interested in coding from a young age but was a terrible student. I barely scraped through high school and never completed any tertiary education. By 22 I was unhappily working as a pizza store assistant manager.

I then took a pay cut to get a job as a tech support guy at a tiny local internet provider. Over the next couple of years the company merged with a bunch of other small ISPs and I found myself given more responsibility. Not liking all the paperwork this involved I wrote some web based tools in perl to make my life easier. This was noticed, as was the fact that I was cheaper than a "real" programmer, and when they wanted to expand the dev team I was given the job. Now, after more than a dozen years and quite a few different organizations I'm a team lead on a pretty large and successful system.

I guess the point of the story is to build stuff, especially stuff useful to you right now, and don't be afraid to take risks.

Re: Ask HN: How do I become a Software Developer?

#24

Post by amalag » Wed, Jul 15, 2015, 2:35 AM UTC

morepyplease wrote: post #14

Similarly I'd like to ask how to jump industries. I have 12 years in enterprise IT as a network and systems admin and the last 5 years I've been living and breathing powershell at work, developed several python/flask side projects (one full site with cc processing, coupon code checking with JS, email notifications, user registration, etc.). Learned to use git, developed my first published windows store app, and now c…

As the other comments say, just call yourself a Devops person. It is for companies who want to automate sysadmin stuff in coordination with newer technologies like docker.

Re: Ask HN: How do I become a Software Developer?

#25

Post by halotrope » Wed, Jul 15, 2015, 11:56 PM UTC

I have also started my career in Software Development with a student job for QA where I was manually testing iOS apps while studying marketing. I was 24 when I took this job because I needed money and was good with computers and interested in software anyway. I am almost 28 now, working freelance with a partner, recently incorporated our little agency, developing products on the side and making around 120k$ a year pre-tax. So with some grid and determination it is well possible. My advise would be to:

- Ignore gatekeepers (The programmers at this first job ridiculed me when I was asking programming questions)

- When possible find a partner / mentor that you can learn form and with and whit whom you can motivate each other

- Keep on learning really hard, don't settle

- Show some fucking passion and good things will happen :)