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Ask HN: A less-expensive (or free?) alternative to codementor.io?
I can code, but only in the sense that I can cobble things together until it basically works. I took an intro course sequence, but am almost entirely self taught beyond that point. I know from watching other, more professional programmers working, that my process is inefficient and often results in less-than-optimal solution. I make a lot of mistakes. It takes me a long time to figure a problem out, while it seems to take other people way less time to solve similar problems. I think I am probably that dreaded "bad programmer" everyone talks about.
I really want to be better.
But, I think I have hit the wall with self-teaching, and what would really help me improve at this point (going back to school is not an option) is some regular hours every week for a few months doing pair programming. I heard about codementor and thought this sounded like a great idea until I realized how much you have to pay for these sessions.
I also know that there are a lot of people out there that would probably be willing to help out someone who is genuinely interested in improving their skillset, either on a volunteer basis, or for less than $40/hour (the apparently minimum rate on codementor...)
I know about the Recurse Center too, which actually sounds perfect. But, I am not in a position in my life to drop everything for 3 months and do that. So, I guess I am looking for some kind of hybrid between codementor and the Recurse Center. Does such an animal exist?
Thanks in advance.
- kup0 11y agoSomething like this would be a huge benefit to me. It's good to know that something like codementor exists too. Depending on your reasons for not going back to school, if there is a local college in your area, auditing courses is a cheaper way to go. It sounds like you need something more than an online course (video lectures, etc) and need to work with someone. I know that feeling. I can self-teach okay, but sometimes I need someone to bounce my learning off of that is more knowledgeable, so that I improve.
- moubarak 11y agoin my opinion you're not a "bad programmer". Since when has cobbling things together until they work or making a lot of mistakes called bad programming. Keep doing what you're doing if it's working for you. Don't stress to become like other people. You will be surprised how many fast problem solvers i met and found out they're just solving the same problem over and over again. but hey i might be a bad programmer myself, so it's just my opinion.
- veddox 11y agoI hope you find somebody to help you, but if not, here is some advice from somebody who is likewise self-taught: find some good books on programming. Not programming languages, programming. I discovered that there are several of these freely available, and they have really helped me improve my style. For example, I have found "The Art of Unix Programming" (Eric S. Raymond), "On Lisp" (Paul Graham) and "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" (Abelson & Sussman) all downloadable from official sites. If you have access to an academic library, you will find plenty of others too. The books mentioned above do not teach you how to program, but how to become a better programmer. They cover all layers of programming, from software design down to the writing of individual functions. Especially "The Art of Unix Programming" was brilliant, as it gives real-life case studies for every topic. And lastly, download the sources for some good open-source programs and study them (ideally with the aim of contributing). Seeing how more experienced programmers have gone about their work is another great help. Of course this is not really an answer to your original question - but if you don't find a personal mentor, keep this in mind.
- klunger 11y agoThanks for the tips. I will be sure to check out those books. I will also take a look at some open source projects!
- klunger 11y agoFollow-up time. I just discovered this http://www.freecodecamp.com/ http://www.freecodecamp.com/ which ticks off all of my boxes: -free -opportunities for pair programming -structured curriculum to help level up skills Anyway, I am going to give it a try. I hope this discovery helps anyone else that stumbled on this question and was looking for something similar. My one reservation concerns their business model (they do not appear to have one...). So, I hope this program still exist in the months it takes to complete the courses and projects.