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We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

medium.freecodecamp.com

21–30 of 97 posts

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#21
post #4

I know code camps are usually web focused, but I'm really surprised about the lack of any lower level, desktop, or non web back end options for "which roll are you most interested in". Coming from a CS background I was also surprised that more people were interested in front end web development than back end web development, because most of the people I interact with hate front end web development with a passion.

When people want to learn how to create something, usually it starts off as imitation. "I want to make a video game just like Mario!" "I'd love to learn how to make a social network just like Twitter!" "I'd like to learn how to make a desktop app just like iTunes!" "I want to know how to make a programming language just like Lua!" But the majority of software people use these days is web-based, even the desktop versi…

> desktop app just like iTunes

Ha. Haha. Hahaha.

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#22
On a tangential note.

I've spoken to a few hiring managers who have expressed disappointment with some of the hires that they have made straight out of bootcamps (w/o prior CS knowledge or fundamentals).

Specifically, the bootcamp graduate are smart, motivated, and know their specific toolsets well. However, they tend to struggle a bit if you place them outside their comfort zone.

Is this a sentiment that others have heard through their work colleagues or friends as well?

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#23
It's funny. I'm seeing this, while I'm thinking about dropping out of this career. I don't want to be one of those girl dropout stats, but lately I'm feeling a desire to start a family. fwiw I just passed 32 and I don't know if I want to do programming/software engineering jobs anymore. I'm hoping its just a phase.

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#24
post #22

On a tangential note. I've spoken to a few hiring managers who have expressed disappointment with some of the hires that they have made straight out of bootcamps (w/o prior CS knowledge or fundamentals). Specifically, the bootcamp graduate are smart, motivated, and know their specific toolsets well. However, they tend to struggle a bit if you place them outside their comfort zone. Is this a sentiment that others have…

>However, they tend to struggle a bit if you place them outside their comfort zone.

I mean.. yeah, I think you could say that for most people. I would also think that when hiring a bootcamp graduate you would already have some inherent bias, almost like you are waiting to find their weaknesses. Basically, it's easy to place the blame for their struggle on their bootcamp degree, when it could really just be that it would be hard for anyone. Just a thought

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#25
post #23

It's funny. I'm seeing this, while I'm thinking about dropping out of this career. I don't want to be one of those girl dropout stats, but lately I'm feeling a desire to start a family. fwiw I just passed 32 and I don't know if I want to do programming/software engineering jobs anymore. I'm hoping its just a phase.

[deleted]

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#26
By wanting to do something, then finding out how I need to do it. I never learned anything just to learn it, it was always for direct use. Once I made a bunch of Renoise plugins in LUA. Never had used LUA before, never used it since, I don't know any LUA. I know what I use while I use it, so to speak. So I don't really know if I ever "learned programming", I probably wouldn't call myself "programmer" and surely not developer.. I just do things until I have what I want and it works. With things I make up and expand as I go along, until I realize I need to restart from scratch with a better structure. And of course, that I like simple things helps :) The code always has some (cough) messyness to it.. but the next thing I start, is usually a bit cleaner and better organized from, because it incorporates what I learned in the previous adventures.

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#27
post #23

It's funny. I'm seeing this, while I'm thinking about dropping out of this career. I don't want to be one of those girl dropout stats, but lately I'm feeling a desire to start a family. fwiw I just passed 32 and I don't know if I want to do programming/software engineering jobs anymore. I'm hoping its just a phase.

Ironically, it's an ideal profession for staying home while raising kids :)

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#28
post #23

It's funny. I'm seeing this, while I'm thinking about dropping out of this career. I don't want to be one of those girl dropout stats, but lately I'm feeling a desire to start a family. fwiw I just passed 32 and I don't know if I want to do programming/software engineering jobs anymore. I'm hoping its just a phase.

I'd definitely go with a family if I had someone to support me. You can always program more later.

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#29
post #23

It's funny. I'm seeing this, while I'm thinking about dropping out of this career. I don't want to be one of those girl dropout stats, but lately I'm feeling a desire to start a family. fwiw I just passed 32 and I don't know if I want to do programming/software engineering jobs anymore. I'm hoping its just a phase.

hey, i turn 32 today. i'm also feeling dissatisfied with being a programmer. i don't think it's a phase though. honestly, i can't remember a time that i've been satisfied with my situation.

Re: We asked 15,000 people how they're learning to program

#30

I know code camps are usually web focused, but I'm really surprised about the lack of any lower level, desktop, or non web back end options for "which roll are you most interested in". Coming from a CS background I was also surprised that more people were interested in front end web development than back end web development, because most of the people I interact with hate front end web development with a passion.

Yeah, wow - if all CS work consisted of web development, I'd have dropped out of the industry years ago.
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