Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

How I learned to code in my 30s

medium.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 208 posts

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#41

Post by quakeguy »

samstave wrote: post #31
flubert wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I read an 1 meter [high stack] of books about the subject. Sounds like a good hook for website. Instead of learn X in 21 days: http://www.1meterofbooks/programming

That unit of measurement should be dubbed the Pruteanu As in: " How many Pruteanus until I'll be proficient in ML if I have zero understanding of the subject"

So shall it be!

1 Pruteanus (1 Prt) is measured as the amount of learning from a 1m high stack of any books given.

obv /s

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#42

Post by soneca »

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 to apply to jobs. After around 4 rejections, last week I started as Front End Junior Developer (using Ember actually) at a funded fintech startup with a great learning environment for the tech team.

Very proud of my accomplishment so far, but I know the rough part is only starting.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#43

Post by tannhauser23 »

projectramo wrote: post #5

This is generally a decent article about the balancing non-technical skills, and exerting effort in learning. I found it noteworthy that the "hook" in the title is that the person started in (gasp) their 30s. Why should that be noteworthy? Why wouldn't someone start coding in their 30s, 40s or 50s? Now it is true that starting a new profession late in life may not always make sense because, presumably, you have to li…

I started learning to code in my 30s and I found articles like this very helpful. You're right - why should age matter? But it does, at least in one's own mind. When you've spent your 20s working in a different field, it's very easy to get stuck. It just gets harder and harder to mentally motivate yourself to study something new and pursue a different career. Hearing from other people who have gone through the same struggle tells you that, hey, this is possible! Especially in an industry full of people who have been coding since they were children.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#44

Post by tannhauser23 »

bradcrispin wrote: post #32

I once said that "I realize nothing I do in engineering will ever end up on the front page of Hacker News." Feels like a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Thank you

Thanks for sharing your story! I took a similar path: 20s in a career I didn't like, coding bootcamp, working like crazy to get that first software engineering job. Now I couldn't be happier!

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#45

Post by politician »

alexee wrote: post #40

My father is 59 and started to learn programming half a year ago. So far I was giving him algorithmic tasks to learn basic language constructs, he is now comfortable with basic Java and is able to solve most of easy problems from programming contests. And idea where to go from here? I don't think solving more difficult problems (like that involving algorithms or creative thinking) would make sense at this point. I tr…

I guarantee you that if your father is 59, that at some point in his life he's found a way to be more efficient at whatever his workload was at the time than a raw beginner. Design patterns are exactly that: patterns of efficiency.

The terribad thing about them is that they don't often explain why they are more efficient than the the naive path.

I'd recommend that you pose a series of tasks to your dad, and work with him to build them out, rebuilding them several times if necessary, to start that deep understanding of the art. Adopt a posture that this work is critical, and that you are working together. You'll both learn why as you do it.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#46

Post by ryandrake »

taurath wrote: post #19
projectramo wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the same ageism -- true or perceived -- in all industries? Would you be feel comfortable starting med-school in your 30s? A PhD? Training to be a plumber or an architect? If anything, because programming takes a shorter time to become productive (say 2 years), I would think it would attract older job switchers. (edit: Before people give me counter-examples, note:I know these things do happen)

Not really. The problem in general is that there are very few active "junior" level positions about, and a lot of people wanting to break in - see /r/cscareerquestions. For later learners especially self taught learners the problem really comes from finding the FIRST job, not the second when they have professional experience. Coming out of college though is a different experience. If you're 33 and just finished a BS…

There may not be a lot of jobs out there for junior people but there are very few out there for people with 20+ years of experience, either. Everyone seems to be looking for that “4-6 year” sweet spot where they think they are getting the best of both worlds: someone senior enough to have made and learned from a few mistakes but not too senior that they have to offer more than peanuts and worthless equity as pay.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#47

Post by just4themoney »

jarsin wrote: post #4

What i always tell people if you find yourself naturally drawn to it then you will eventually find some level of success. If your in for just the money then you will not stick with it and it probably won't happen. Same is true for just about most things in life. This guy found he was naturally drawn to it. End of story.

Totally untrue.

I'm just in it for the money. I've achieved success, I'm really good at my job and I'm still going strong almost 20 years later. Wouldn't do it if it didn't pay the bills.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#48

Post by ryandrake »

ice109 wrote: post #38
jarsin wrote: post #4

What i always tell people if you find yourself naturally drawn to it then you will eventually find some level of success. If your in for just the money then you will not stick with it and it probably won't happen. Same is true for just about most things in life. This guy found he was naturally drawn to it. End of story.

people say this a lot but it's pretty hollow. if you're smart enough you can do it even if you don't like it. anecdotally I'm a fairly good dev (full stack, know several languages, several projects under my belt) and I hate it. the day I move from technical to management will be the greatest day of my life.

Careful what you wish for. Management is often the same shit, different sandwich. I agree, however that you can be good at something you don’t necessarily have a burning passion for. That’s why they call it “compensation”–it’s there to compensate you for the time you’d rather be doing something else.

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#49

Post by sillysaurus3 »

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…

Clickable: http://rodrigo-pontes.glitch.me/

Congrats on your achievement. :)

Re: How I learned to code in my 30s

#50

Post by liragg »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #49
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…

Clickable: http://rodrigo-pontes.glitch.me/ Congrats on your achievement. :)

I started smoking at 15. When I was in my early 40s, i was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),It was becoming increasingly worse. My dad and his dad died from this. It's a hard disease that seems to start out like bad asthma and progresses into chronic lung infections. One day i saw a blog online,were so many people are writing about how perfect health herbal medicine cured them of COPD,so i contact perfect health herbal medicine home immediately via email,which they replied immediately too ,and told me to purchased the herbal medicine for COPD,They gave me guarantee that i will be cured with 6 weeks of usage,i believed them and purchased,after purchasing ,the herbal medicine was shipped to my home address,i received within 3 days. i used the herbal medicine for 6 weeks ,and i was totally cured of COPD ,All thanks to perfect health medicine home.please get your COPD cure immediately you see these testimony . CONTACT DETAILS; (Email;perfecthealthherbalmedicine @ gmail com) (website:www ' perfecthealthherbal ' weebly ' com)
Post reply on HN