4 ms·

> The top 1% of software devs choose where they want to work, they don't ask for jobs and cross their fingers I don't think folks go to these bootcamps to beco

> The top 1% of software devs choose where they want to work, they don't ask for jobs and cross their fingers I don't think folks go to these bootcamps to become a top 1% dev. They want to get a job building web apps. To do this you don't need to know the algo for quicksort or whatever. I think I'm good at what I do, CS degree with over 10 years experience, but I don't consider myself a top 1% dev or top 10%.

freehunter 10y ago
Right. The top 1% of devs go to the top 1% of companies. The other 99% go to the other 99%. No one coming out of a bootcamp is a 1% dev, and they're not going to 1% companies. They're 99% devs going to 99% companies, companies who just need someone who knows Rails and can get an e-commerce site stood up. I've never been to a bootcamp, but I've worked indirectly with people who have. They're mostly good people and want to do a good job.
- pacaro 10y ago
  I don't disagree with this, but in the long haul, life is richer and more complex. I have a bachelors degree in "The History and Philosophy of Science" and w.r.t. CS am completely self taught. My first job (20 years before bootcamps!) I got mostly on the grounds of knowing a modicum of C and marginally better than high-school math. That wasn't the hottest software company out there, but it was a great apprenticeship for me. After 3-4 years I moved on, to a startup with marginally higher standards which was then acquired by Microsoft. I'm currently a Principal Engineer at Amazon, I regularly use and apply the deeper CS canon that many people that I have interviewed over the years seem to have forgotten since they studied CS. One of Amazon's leadership principles is "Learn and Be Curious" -- which is not a bad maxim for doing well regardless of your educational background.

4 ms·

> The top 1% of software devs choose where they want to work, they don't ask for jobs and cross their fingers I don't think folks go to these bootcamps to beco

by buckbova 10y ago

freehunter 10y ago
Right. The top 1% of devs go to the top 1% of companies. The other 99% go to the other 99%. No one coming out of a bootcamp is a 1% dev, and they're not going to 1% companies. They're 99% devs going to 99% companies, companies who just need someone who knows Rails and can get an e-commerce site stood up. I've never been to a bootcamp, but I've worked indirectly with people who have. They're mostly good people and want to do a good job.
- pacaro 10y ago
  I don't disagree with this, but in the long haul, life is richer and more complex. I have a bachelors degree in "The History and Philosophy of Science" and w.r.t. CS am completely self taught. My first job (20 years before bootcamps!) I got mostly on the grounds of knowing a modicum of C and marginally better than high-school math. That wasn't the hottest software company out there, but it was a great apprenticeship for me. After 3-4 years I moved on, to a startup with marginally higher standards which was then acquired by Microsoft. I'm currently a Principal Engineer at Amazon, I regularly use and apply the deeper CS canon that many people that I have interviewed over the years seem to have forgotten since they studied CS. One of Amazon's leadership principles is "Learn and Be Curious" -- which is not a bad maxim for doing well regardless of your educational background.