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My initial interest in programming started before 1990. Due to an insane number and variety of mostly personal factors, the farthest I ever got was a couple an

My initial interest in programming started before 1990. Due to an insane number and variety of mostly personal factors, the farthest I ever got was a couple ancient javascript/HTML experiments, a few small-to-medium side projects in MS Access and some intermediate router configuration. I've primarily just done tech support. I've performed well in the jobs I've chosen, though, because I get along well with others and tend to be loyal to the organization, even if I know this is sometimes foolish. It's simply how I'm wired. Despite all the time that's passed and all the things I've dipped my toes into, I feel no closer to choosing a language, framework or tooling. I have no friends who are serious developers. I'm good at learning new things, but it happens slowly. It would probably take me 6 months to a year of dedicated daily time & effort just to ramp up on any one particular sub-technology (which, considering that I'm a rideshare driver to make ends meet, is a challenge)-- and there is no guarantee it would help me find work, since I have no idea who's hiring for what, or what those jobs are actually like. All that being said, other than 'professional entertainer' (haha), a software developer is all I've really ever wanted to be, and I think with enough time invested the right way, I'd be really, really good at some aspect of it. I built myself a custom checking account database to better predict its future balance, and I'm happy every time I interact with it (except when it crashes for reasons unrelated to my code). The biggest question of all remains, though: Is it even worth the trouble to try, because would anybody even consider hiring someone like me?

onemoresoop 8y ago
The best place to learn is when you're hired as a software developer at a company. It doesn't matter if the company is good or not, you'll be forced to learn to make the product work. Change a few jobs and some years of tinkering and you'll likely get the fads, buzz, experience, etc.. Best place to start is as junior dev and quickly move up. Learning at home will never give you work experience since the 'real world' environment is not replicable at home.
wccrawford 8y ago
IMO if you're learning that slowly, you aren't doing enough coding. That said, you've actually built something that you weren't assigned in a class. That's more than most of our junior programmer applicants have.

onemoresoop 8y ago

The best place to learn is when you're hired as a software developer at a company. It doesn't matter if the company is good or not, you'll be forced to learn to make the product work. Change a few jobs and some years of tinkering and you'll likely get the fads, buzz, experience, etc.. Best place to start is as junior dev and quickly move up. Learning at home will never give you work experience since the 'real world' environment is not replicable at home.

wccrawford 8y ago

IMO if you're learning that slowly, you aren't doing enough coding. That said, you've actually built something that you weren't assigned in a class. That's more than most of our junior programmer applicants have.