How I learned to code in my 30s • Hacker News Board

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#101

Post by teekert » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 6:25 AM UTC

I also learned to code after 30. At some point Excel and Origin weren't dealing well with ever increasing data sizes in my field (biology). I did an intro course on Python (2) of 3 days (basic Python and some Numpy). Back on the job I immediatly switched to Python 3, learned about Jupyter and was lucky enough to have a job where I could take time to learn (although it doesn't take much time to get back up to Excel/Origin level data analysis skills with Pandas/Seaborn/Jupyter!).

That combination is still gold for me although bioinformatics is forcing me into VSCode/Bash/Git territory more and more. I can recommend anyone wanting to do data analysis to start with the Jupyter/Python/Pandas/Seaborn combo, the notebook just makes it very easy to write small code snippets at a time, test them and move on. Writing markdown instructions and introductions/conclusions in the document itself help you to make highly readable reports that make it easy to reproduce what you did years ago.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#102

Post by eecc » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 6:37 AM UTC

albedoa wrote: post #87

quincyla wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is Quincy with freeCodeCamp. Congratulations on your new job, and your diverse portfolio. Getting a job as a new developer after only 4 rejections is a great batting average. Sean Smith rejected 192 times before getting a job at Trustar. https://medium.freecodecamp.org/how-i-learned-to-code-and-ea...

Sean Smith's story is so inspiring. It teaches us that if you can afford to work unpaid for 7+ hours per day, 50+ hours per week for a whole year and move to one of the most expensive cities in the world without a job, then you can truly achieve anything.

You forgot the /s, but it's pretty obvious;)

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#103

Post by Dolores12 » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 6:42 AM UTC

bricestacey wrote: post #72

soneca wrote: post #42

I started to learn to code last November at 37yo. About 30 hours a week for two months I finished the Front End Certificate from freeCodeCamp (highly recommend the site for starters). Then I decided it was better to build my own projects with the tech I wanted to learn (mostly React) using official documentation and tutorials. This is what I accomplished in around 3 months: www.rodrigo-pontes.glitch.me Then I started…

It looks like you've learned a lot, but a lot of people are going to criticize you based off your design skills. Frankly, it's ugly so you're automatically not going to be doing any product work. If you could clean up your demos to look more acceptable to the modern day reviewer, I think you would have better presented yourself.

This is constructive and honest opinion. Why downvote?

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#104

Post by Osiris30 » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 7:06 AM UTC

teekert wrote: post #101

I also learned to code after 30. At some point Excel and Origin weren't dealing well with ever increasing data sizes in my field (biology). I did an intro course on Python (2) of 3 days (basic Python and some Numpy). Back on the job I immediatly switched to Python 3, learned about Jupyter and was lucky enough to have a job where I could take time to learn (although it doesn't take much time to get back up to Excel/Or…

Would you know, or can recommend, any good datasets (or practice exercises) using "Jupyter/Python/NumPy/Pandas/Seaborn" for someone with a similar Excel background (and basic understanding of Jupyter/Python/Pandas)?

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#105

Post by minademian » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 7:16 AM UTC

contains a lot of real advice. the sharing of experiences and insight into his process makes this piece really great.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#106

Post by fidraj » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 7:34 AM UTC

soneca wrote: post #42

I started to learn to code last November at 37yo. About 30 hours a week for two months I finished the Front End Certificate from freeCodeCamp (highly recommend the site for starters). Then I decided it was better to build my own projects with the tech I wanted to learn (mostly React) using official documentation and tutorials. This is what I accomplished in around 3 months: www.rodrigo-pontes.glitch.me Then I started…

I don't mean to be intrusive, but how much can one earn after this experience?

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#107

Post by sAbakumoff » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 7:41 AM UTC

onion2k wrote: post #97

sAbakumoff wrote: post #94

2017 : codecamps produce an army of amateurs that make interent of shit.

I've been making websites for over twenty years, and I can assure you that there have always been bad web developers. Some are self-taught and some learned at university. Just as there are good ones who have learned in those ways too. Codecamps are no different - there'll be bad developers and good developers who learned through attending them. There's nothing inherently or automatically worse about codecamp graduate…

Ok, I have been working in IT for 15 years and have seen some shit too..and I would never hire a person who attended codecamp, to me it does not seem to be reliable way to grow a developer. It's more like a trick that only takes the money from people who want to live the software developer life in the Bay Area.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#108

Post by thinkMOAR » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 7:52 AM UTC

The title implies as if you are ever 'finished' with learning to code, anybody thinking about starting, this is a lie, it's a never ending road :)

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#109

Post by martijn_himself » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 8:17 AM UTC

paul7986 wrote: post #80

At 31 I took my savings for my house, quit my robotic customer service job and started a startup. I worked on my 1st startup for three years and along the way taught myself front end development and design. Which I now do for a living. I say startup and if it fails like 80 to 90% due you gained an in-demand skill that you can use to make a nice living.

Would you have any advice especially on how to master design skills and how to deal with pressures around personal finance when starting out on your own? I'm about to quit my job in 'enterprise' software development because I am bored to death.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#110

Post by martijn_himself » Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 8:24 AM UTC

dschulz wrote: post #60

dzink wrote: post #12

You need more stories like this to show people who wouldn't normally consider CS as a viable, lucrative path to a second career. Areas with high unemployment and people in dwindling old industries may get a second wind in life if they tried his approach. A big change like this also requires multiple exposures to the currently much easier to reach CS education as a possible solution, so I hope more people produce acce…

I'm 36 and already feel "old" and unfit to continue pursuing a career as a software developer, which I consider(ed?) my dream job. I began programming at ~20 yo but had to work in another barely related field (still in IT) because where I live it's more profitable as a lone ranger. It's difficult to find peers in my area. I work as an independent consultant wearing many hats, doing all kind of weird network related j…

I'm in a similar situation but I work in 'enterprise' software development. What makes you hate your job? It seems you are very skilled in various areas and others seem to recognize and value your skills- that seems to me something to be proud of instead of feeling guilty! Is it the pressures that come with the job?