DEV Community

Discussion on: Learning Code as a Type B person

Collapse
 
joshuawoodsdev profile image
JoshuaWoods • Edited

Also I don't think your wrong so much focus is on speed how can one really learn all they need in 16 weeks? You can't many people wash out because their brains are simply not prepared for the work and the fact your setting down for 8 hours and fixing code. Most will not be making big big things but smaller parts. I think it takes at least 2 years to learn the basics and tools also I believe learners should souly focus on making projects. There should be ways for people to learn the basics BUT not promise a job and also not focus on speed. I have to ask why do we learn coding? Is it to get a job at FANG or is it to grow and learn a new skill?

Collapse
 
jenc profile image
Jen Chan

I'm not a proponent of the bootcamp model though I'm don't think there's anything wrong with going to one if they provide a fair amount of career support, realistic expectations, and guidance after. It's hard to tell what any camp's culture is like... and the one I went to was clear from the start they wouldn't be offering any support.

I went through one and it wasn't the first time I coded, and more like a survey of the Javascript ecosystem that was trendy at the time. If I knew what I did now, I would have focused on JS fundamentals and problem-solving skills ahead of trying to learn a bit of every part of the software dev lifecycle.

Since then I've had 3 jobs in tech and two of them didn't involve performing dev tasks full time and I was constantly waiting for company approval. I didn't believe I was good/mediocre enough, and therefore didn't reach higher. When I did make the job and realized I wasn't good enough, I also knew I had to work triple hard to create projects and keep applying to other places with the idea that I would learn more, and faster amongst a team instead of staying home and beating myself down.

imo the hardest part is to find the strength to keep enjoying instead of letting occupational trauma ruin it all.

The schools of thought I've been exposed to at previous workplaces were varied, and it could be said some were too strict for not being anywhere near a FANG company. Without the kind of context for solution and pattern recognition that a CS degree offered, it was very easy to sway me into thinking the best way to do something or whomever was qualified was whatever the tech lead thought.

I can only say the strange satisfaction of making a dumb idea work and also having a community online is what keeps me going ... there's definitely a handful of people who looked at me like I'm stupid for continuing while between jobs. I'm trying to get to a better place mentally and not let being a "dev" or worker become my identity.