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I started to learn software dev at 26. I could barely write a coherent HTML page. I'm now 30 and work for a major SV website. I am a bit older than most of my
by dclowd9901 13y ago
I started to learn software dev at 26. I could barely write a coherent HTML page.
I'm now 30 and work for a major SV website. I am a bit older than most of my colleagues, but I keep up just fine. Like you, I wish I had gotten that CS degree as well, but you only let your mistakes defeat you when you stop trying.
- boingyjump 13y agoWhat did you find most effective for teaching yourself? Did you have some driving "thing" that you wanted to build/do?
- dclowd9901 13y agoI signed up for work I couldn't do(!). This sounds scary and awful, but basically I dug in and learned as much as I needed to to write basic applications, then put myself out there for clients. I sold my services for a fraction of what clients would normally pay. Now, before everyone starts freaking out, the trick this whole situation is that you must be willing to learn how to do everything the right way. No cutting corners, no copy pasta. Treat this like a magical classroom lab where they actually pay you. You will feel stress. You will work harder than you've ever worked. I was putting in probably 100 hours a week between my day job and this work. But I also got to a point where I could really write code and archetect software in about 2 years time. It really helps have a close friend who you can turn to when you need someone to help guide you a bit, but if you don't have one, try to get ingrained in some dev forums.