6 ms·

Learn to code in 8 weeks with Bloc, an online bootcamp for would-be developers

44 points by jmtame 14y ago

jmtame 14y ago
Minor correction: we are not YC funded; I've e-mailed Jolie to let her know. I had mentioned that I started my previous startup in YC, so think that's where the confusion came from.
larrys 14y ago
Love the Arrested Development reference.
ericmsimons 14y ago
Sounds like this is kind of like a mix between codeacademy (learning to code online) and dev bootcamp (learning to code in person). The problem I have with codeacademy is that when I get stuck I don't have someone to immediately answer my question, which is unbelievably frustrating. On the other side of things dev bootcamp requires you to be there in person which just doesn't fit my schedule. If these guys can actually merge the convenience of sitting at my computer with the human element of learning, I'll gladly drop 3.5K to learn web dev in 2 months. Are there any alumni of bloc on HN that can share their experience?
- jkeesh 14y ago
  We are building a similar site called CodeHS ( codehs.com ), which is focused on teaching basic programming to beginners, with an emphasis on giving help from real people. Not nearly as intense, and focused more on being fun and accessible.
- lachyg 14y ago
  We (http://devbootcamp.com/ http://devbootcamp.com/) host the Bloc guys in our office, and work with them on a ton of cool stuff! I see them in constant Skype calls with their students, discussing all kinds of cool things. These guys are great.
- Reebz 14y ago
  After a 7 year programming hiatus from my college CS degree (never ended up coding professionally), I am learning RoR through CodeSchool.com's tutorials and it's fantastic. The best part is you can speak to a real person for help by calling RailsHotline.com, they only ask that you donate minutes in return. I am currently up to 'Rails for Zombies 2', and while it is very beginner focused, I'm comfortable to look through API docs to work out what I need to use, I have a grasp of MVC and I'm acquainted with basic github functionality. It's fun. It's never going to be "5 minute abs", but that's a good thing.
wpietri 14y ago
Is there some way that's not a ridiculously fawning news story? E.g., the claim that it's well worth the price tag, or that it delivers dramatic results?
- jmtame 14y ago
  You can compare the hacker schools here: http://blog.bloc.io/comparing-hacker-schools http://blog.bloc.io/comparing-hacker-schools -- if you're interested in learning about the economics, I'd recommend reading Race Against the Machine: http://www.amazon.com/Race-Against-The-Machine-ebook/dp/B005WTR4ZI http://www.amazon.com/Race-Against-The-Machine-ebook/dp/B005.... One of our students was just hired, and we've got another who just graduated on sponsorship from another well known startup as part of their hiring process. If you want a full list of the apps our students have built e-mail me at jared@bloc.io. The bootcamp is really what you make of it, although our focus is on building an application that you could do many things with: show an employer (who appreciates seeing code that you've written as opposed to a resume), show to a potential cofounder, or bootstrap it.
  - wpietri 14y ago
    I'm more questioning the article than the program. I know we're not exactly living in a golden age of journalism, but this struck me as a puff piece. That said, I'm also very skeptical of the program. I'm having a hard time thinking of a profession where programs like this wouldn't be entirely suspicious. E.g., "Become a veterinarian in just 12 weeks!" I think somebody who wants to be seen as a journalist would ask some some questions about the apparent disparity. Or would at least refrain from endorsing something without demonstrating a little critical thinking.
sonnyhe2002 14y ago
$3500!!!! I'll use that to take a course from Harvard thank you.
krollew 14y ago
Learn to code in 8 weeks... Lol. http://norvig.com/21-days.html http://norvig.com/21-days.html
jmspring 14y ago
Probably being a bit curmudgeonly, but a lot of these "learn to code quickly" remind me of the joking around 5 minute abs and the like. Yes, they will probably help you weave some html/css or understand CRUD apps, but I've yet to see one that will be helpful in understanding more than the basics. Smart people will certainly use this as a springboard to get in on the game and will learn more as they go along. But, depth in terms of debugging problems, knowing how to connect technologies (or craft your own solutions), scaling and the like take time. I don't think we are at the late 90s stage of "you're a warm body? here is a job", but quick paths to coding, every tom, dick and harry being an angel investor, and the like do give me a pause. I hope people do learn, contribute, and grow, but...questions persist.
- hanibash 14y ago
  Thanks for the feedback jmspring. I think you're right, deeper understanding takes a lot more time than 8 weeks, even at the pace that our students go. However for people that want to get into coding for the first time, nothing is more gratifying than having a project in your pocket that you can point to and say "I did that". That is why our courses are project-oriented. I hope that our courses pique student interest enough to pursue deeper theoretical knowledge, but as a first foray into coding, we've found projects are really the way to go.
- lionheart 14y ago
  Well, if you think about it 90% of web apps really are just CRUD apps. They're ways to make some bit of life easier or more fun, not complex pieces of programming. So for many non-technical founders of startups, being able to make a simple CRUD app will take you most of the way toward a prototype.
  - trekkin 14y ago
    "being able to make a simple CRUD app" does not mean the person has learned "to code".
    - Wilya 14y ago
mkramlich 14y ago
This smells in several ways. Wow.
Rhymenocerus 14y ago
$3500? I'm in the wrong business
slurgfest 14y ago
Given that people who can already develop are not in any way guaranteed jobs, $3500 is pretty darned steep. How are you going to recoup that? edit: Oh, I know. First you make a website which tells people they are going to learn to code...

44 points by jmtame 14y ago

Minor correction: we are not YC funded; I've e-mailed Jolie to let her know. I had mentioned that I started my previous startup in YC, so think that's where the confusion came from.

larrys 14y ago

Love the Arrested Development reference.

ericmsimons 14y ago

Sounds like this is kind of like a mix between codeacademy (learning to code online) and dev bootcamp (learning to code in person). The problem I have with codeacademy is that when I get stuck I don't have someone to immediately answer my question, which is unbelievably frustrating. On the other side of things dev bootcamp requires you to be there in person which just doesn't fit my schedule. If these guys can actually merge the convenience of sitting at my computer with the human element of learning, I'll gladly drop 3.5K to learn web dev in 2 months. Are there any alumni of bloc on HN that can share their experience?

jkeesh 14y ago
We are building a similar site called CodeHS ( codehs.com ), which is focused on teaching basic programming to beginners, with an emphasis on giving help from real people. Not nearly as intense, and focused more on being fun and accessible.
lachyg 14y ago
We (http://devbootcamp.com/ http://devbootcamp.com/) host the Bloc guys in our office, and work with them on a ton of cool stuff! I see them in constant Skype calls with their students, discussing all kinds of cool things. These guys are great.
Reebz 14y ago
After a 7 year programming hiatus from my college CS degree (never ended up coding professionally), I am learning RoR through CodeSchool.com's tutorials and it's fantastic. The best part is you can speak to a real person for help by calling RailsHotline.com, they only ask that you donate minutes in return. I am currently up to 'Rails for Zombies 2', and while it is very beginner focused, I'm comfortable to look through API docs to work out what I need to use, I have a grasp of MVC and I'm acquainted with basic github functionality. It's fun. It's never going to be "5 minute abs", but that's a good thing.

wpietri 14y ago

Is there some way that's not a ridiculously fawning news story? E.g., the claim that it's well worth the price tag, or that it delivers dramatic results?

jmtame 14y ago
You can compare the hacker schools here: http://blog.bloc.io/comparing-hacker-schools http://blog.bloc.io/comparing-hacker-schools -- if you're interested in learning about the economics, I'd recommend reading Race Against the Machine: http://www.amazon.com/Race-Against-The-Machine-ebook/dp/B005WTR4ZI http://www.amazon.com/Race-Against-The-Machine-ebook/dp/B005.... One of our students was just hired, and we've got another who just graduated on sponsorship from another well known startup as part of their hiring process. If you want a full list of the apps our students have built e-mail me at jared@bloc.io. The bootcamp is really what you make of it, although our focus is on building an application that you could do many things with: show an employer (who appreciates seeing code that you've written as opposed to a resume), show to a potential cofounder, or bootstrap it.
- wpietri 14y ago
  I'm more questioning the article than the program. I know we're not exactly living in a golden age of journalism, but this struck me as a puff piece. That said, I'm also very skeptical of the program. I'm having a hard time thinking of a profession where programs like this wouldn't be entirely suspicious. E.g., "Become a veterinarian in just 12 weeks!" I think somebody who wants to be seen as a journalist would ask some some questions about the apparent disparity. Or would at least refrain from endorsing something without demonstrating a little critical thinking.

sonnyhe2002 14y ago

$3500!!!! I'll use that to take a course from Harvard thank you.

krollew 14y ago

Learn to code in 8 weeks... Lol. http://norvig.com/21-days.html http://norvig.com/21-days.html

jmspring 14y ago

Probably being a bit curmudgeonly, but a lot of these "learn to code quickly" remind me of the joking around 5 minute abs and the like. Yes, they will probably help you weave some html/css or understand CRUD apps, but I've yet to see one that will be helpful in understanding more than the basics. Smart people will certainly use this as a springboard to get in on the game and will learn more as they go along. But, depth in terms of debugging problems, knowing how to connect technologies (or craft your own solutions), scaling and the like take time. I don't think we are at the late 90s stage of "you're a warm body? here is a job", but quick paths to coding, every tom, dick and harry being an angel investor, and the like do give me a pause. I hope people do learn, contribute, and grow, but...questions persist.

hanibash 14y ago
Thanks for the feedback jmspring. I think you're right, deeper understanding takes a lot more time than 8 weeks, even at the pace that our students go. However for people that want to get into coding for the first time, nothing is more gratifying than having a project in your pocket that you can point to and say "I did that". That is why our courses are project-oriented. I hope that our courses pique student interest enough to pursue deeper theoretical knowledge, but as a first foray into coding, we've found projects are really the way to go.
lionheart 14y ago
Well, if you think about it 90% of web apps really are just CRUD apps. They're ways to make some bit of life easier or more fun, not complex pieces of programming. So for many non-technical founders of startups, being able to make a simple CRUD app will take you most of the way toward a prototype.
- trekkin 14y ago
  "being able to make a simple CRUD app" does not mean the person has learned "to code".
  - Wilya 14y ago

mkramlich 14y ago

This smells in several ways. Wow.

Rhymenocerus 14y ago

$3500? I'm in the wrong business

slurgfest 14y ago

Given that people who can already develop are not in any way guaranteed jobs, $3500 is pretty darned steep. How are you going to recoup that? edit: Oh, I know. First you make a website which tells people they are going to learn to code...