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How I learned to code in my 30s

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Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#201

Post by tvelichkov »

swiley wrote: post #154
tvelichkov wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you did learn programming, because you wanted a great paycheck 13 years later? Lol, that's just stupid. I advised everyone from my circle to stay away from programming unless they fell in love with it. It's pointless to be a programmer if you don't have it in your heart. However, if you did enjoy, then there is nothing to be upset about, I mean you are doing what you love right? If its all about your paycheck you…

>So you did learn programming, because you wanted a great paycheck 13 years later? I don't know, I did something similar and didn't care about how much I would get paid. I learned because I loved it. But almost no one warned me about what I was missing out on because they kept saying that I was spending my time well based on the whole money thing. (in fact, there where many people who said I was spending my time bett…

You are 27 right now right? Your life has just started, what did you actually miss that you cannot do now?

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#202

Post by soneca »

brokenmachine wrote: post #196
lmitchell wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been clicking on your 'hacker news best comments' button for like twenty minutes now... you weren't kidding when you said 'basically a time waster' :P Seriously, really good looking stuff for your early projects! I'm not surprised someone picked you up :) http://www.opusnota.com/hnbc

I'm curious how hnbc even works. AFAICT there's no way to see how many upvotes someone else's comment has gotten. Is the upvote number shown through the hn API?

Algolia's API show comments upvotes up to 2014 I think. So basically hnbc only shows old comments.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#203

Post by sAbakumoff »

RedPandaPounce wrote: post #190
sAbakumoff wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Wow that's extremely shortsighted given that there are definitely world class engineers at Google, MS, etc who never had formal training.

definitely? Do you have any solid base behind this claim?

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#204

Post by x2f10 »

bradcrispin wrote: post #79
colmvp wrote: post #52

> Immersion means 100% focus. If possible, no friends, no drinking, no TV, just reading and writing code. If you take five minutes off to read the news, be aware you are breaking the mental state of immersion. Stay focused, be patient, your mind will adapt. Eliminate all distractions, of which you may find doubt to be the loudest. Immersion is the difference between success and failure. Certainly, I think Deep Work r…

I agree that for rapid learning, focus and repetition are essential. I don't think you have to quit your job in order to change careers into coding, but for me it took a very full year of effort.

Hi, Brad. I'm now embarking on a non-programming learning crusade. I agree with your comments on immersion, but I find it quite difficult to become immersed. I am often distracted or don't have the "energy" to do the serious work I need to to learn.

Do you have any tips I can steal from you?

Great article BTW!

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#205

Post by speedplane »

52-6F-62 wrote: post #164
speedplane wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot has changed in the past 5 years or so. Anecdotally, 5 years ago I'd bet that 90% of programmers either had a CS background or something very similar (ECE or Comp. Eng.). Today, I think that number is down to 50% or maybe even less. So many of my friends who went to excellent schools but had degrees in Biology, Biotech, Physics, and even some social degrees (including a pianist) now are full-time programmers. I…

To add some anecdotal support: I land in a similar, but different camp. Self taught programmer (started at a young age out of interest), working in the field in sort of a generalist dev position at a large media company. I'm out of practise with my math, but trying to kickstart myself to return to university for studies in Physics. Maybe a bit of a reversal? Programming jobs are a great practical employment solution,…

Just two points:

> Programming jobs are a great practical employment solution

I entirely agree, but I wouldn't discount a "great practical employment solution." Compared to the alternatives, programming jobs often pay better, have a much better lifestyle, and are far more gratifying. Very few get exceedingly wealthy, but it's a very respectful position where you get to use your intellect.

> personally I feel compelled ... to seek out further innovation on the application side I have this sense that there needs to be far more crossover than there is presently.

Ideally, everyone would be an expert programmer AND an expert in something else. Having a strong command of a programming language is much like having a strong command of the English language. It's a valuable skill, but far more valuable if you have something interesting to say.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#206

Post by jondubois »

tvelichkov wrote: post #119
cryptica wrote: post #115

I've been programming for 13 years. I started when I was 14 years old and studied software engineering at university. These days, when I take on well-paid contract work, sometimes I find myself working alongside people who only started learning to code at around 25 and never went to university. It's upsetting for me to think of all the fun I missed out on in my early life because I was learning programming and pushin…

So you did learn programming, because you wanted a great paycheck 13 years later? Lol, that's just stupid. I advised everyone from my circle to stay away from programming unless they fell in love with it. It's pointless to be a programmer if you don't have it in your heart. However, if you did enjoy, then there is nothing to be upset about, I mean you are doing what you love right? If its all about your paycheck you…

I was passionate for the first 11 years. The last 2 I did it for the money.

After solving so many difficult problems in my life, I feel that the only difficult problem left for me to solve is making lots of money.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#207

Post by truthseeker1024 »

csa wrote: post #191
truthseeker1024 wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am a mature worker looking in the Washington dc area. There seems to be a lot of competition. Do you think I would have better luck in Atlanta?

I honestly don't know what the job market is in Atlanta. That said, the US government and contractors thereof desperately need programmers and programmers who can do other stuff (e.g., manage a contract, project management, etc.). I would try to meet some people who do this type of work and have a coffee with them. Many of these folks live in the D.C. area. It's not sexy at all, and you won't get rich via a startup,…

thank you for the reply and advise

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#208

Post by ckib16 »

truthseeker1024 wrote: post #207
csa wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly don't know what the job market is in Atlanta. That said, the US government and contractors thereof desperately need programmers and programmers who can do other stuff (e.g., manage a contract, project management, etc.). I would try to meet some people who do this type of work and have a coffee with them. Many of these folks live in the D.C. area. It's not sexy at all, and you won't get rich via a startup,…

thank you for the reply and advise

Lots of contractors are hiring in DC. Check out places like Excella consulting. Good luck.
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