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> People like a good narrative. One narrative people seem to like is that I'm a good problem solver, and that problem solving ability is generalizable. But real

by mattm 5y ago

> People like a good narrative. One narrative people seem to like is that I'm a good problem solver, and that problem solving ability is generalizable. But reality is messy. Electrical engineering seemed like the most natural thing in the world, and I picked it up without trying very hard. Narrative or not, my experience talking with people transitioning from other careers via bootcamps has been that people who came from scientific backgrounds have a very large advantage over those who do not.

nkingsy 5y ago
I would say people who are good at languages have an advantage, but that’s a wide definition. Math is the most transferable language and anyone in the sciences has a solid math background. The biggest prerequisite, though, is a love for computers. I’ve been trying to teach my 16 year old nephew to code. He’s an excellent student, great at math, and has made marvelous strides in music (should be very transferable), but his computer literacy is shockingly low. The kid barely knows how to install a program on his laptop. As a result he hasn’t engaged with it like he did when I started showing him stuff on the piano, and has made no progress at all.
- mkr-hn 5y ago
  A piano with MIDI (USB preferably) and something like Ableton Live might work. Get the full Max and you can code your own devices. https://cycling74.com/products/extendmax https://cycling74.com/products/extendmax Even Max4Live has Node, so it's not exactly limited if you don't want to spend the extra money on Max.
- Hermitian909 5y ago
  I think love seems like a pre-requisite because of the massive time investment required to become good, but I know really good software engineers who couldn't care less about computers. They just realized they could triple their salary working at companies like Google and so buckled down and learned the skills they needed to get those jobs and then climb the ladder. Most people don't have that kind of discipline and drive, so interest is a good supplement, but I don't think you actually need it.

by mattm 5y ago

nkingsy 5y ago

I would say people who are good at languages have an advantage, but that’s a wide definition. Math is the most transferable language and anyone in the sciences has a solid math background. The biggest prerequisite, though, is a love for computers. I’ve been trying to teach my 16 year old nephew to code. He’s an excellent student, great at math, and has made marvelous strides in music (should be very transferable), but his computer literacy is shockingly low. The kid barely knows how to install a program on his laptop. As a result he hasn’t engaged with it like he did when I started showing him stuff on the piano, and has made no progress at all.

mkr-hn 5y ago
A piano with MIDI (USB preferably) and something like Ableton Live might work. Get the full Max and you can code your own devices. https://cycling74.com/products/extendmax https://cycling74.com/products/extendmax Even Max4Live has Node, so it's not exactly limited if you don't want to spend the extra money on Max.
Hermitian909 5y ago
I think love seems like a pre-requisite because of the massive time investment required to become good, but I know really good software engineers who couldn't care less about computers. They just realized they could triple their salary working at companies like Google and so buckled down and learned the skills they needed to get those jobs and then climb the ladder. Most people don't have that kind of discipline and drive, so interest is a good supplement, but I don't think you actually need it.