#be a programmer

[tumblingthroughbooks]

Scroll down about half way down the page to find the free classes! Self paced with videos and lessons and forums for support. Very cool! The HTML 5  Game design course is taught by Google engineers and programmers and has a lot of support.

[kevinfadler]

Software engineer-to-be, that's me

print('"I have no business being in this class."

High school calculus, two weeks in. I said that. I felt that. I felt out of my league. The material was different than anything I had encountered before. I felt it was too hard; too foreign; too late for me, clearly. I felt I wasn't good enough to learn it.

Fortunately, I did not say that to myself only.

"Dad, I'm serious. I have no business being in that class." He grinned, a knowing look. His eyes set on mine: "I want you to remember that you said that."

He encouraged me that I could do it. When I pushed back further, he reassured me that he would help me learn it. When I pushed back further, he moved the goalposts closer. "Give it a couple weeks, son. We'll see." 

Fine. I gave it a few more weeks. My frustration turned to exasperation turned to resignation: I was resigned to open my mind to the prospect that I could learn calculus, even if I did not necessarily think that I would. 

But my mindset began to change. Soon, F's turned into C-'s, which turned into F's enclosed by J's (forming something called a B). And so I think I can and I think I can and I think I can further still. The material grew more challenging (proofs?!?), but my confidence and my core understanding accelerated to keep pace with, and eventually exceed, the level of difficulty. I grew to love calculus. More so, I loved that I began the course with minimal knowledge and low confidence, and gained much on both fronts.

I finished with an A-. 

I recall my dad making a face like this one when I received my semester grade. You can almost hear him say "I told you so."

My dad has retold this story a hundred times. Usually my eyes roll as I can't help but grin. But today, August 17th, 2013, on what would have been my mom's 65th birthday, I commit to set off on another goal that, admittedly, I wonder if I can ever reach: to become a bonafide software engineer.

To make the transition from being a non-technical founder to a technical founder. To take what I have learned before and now learn what it takes. 

I am fortunate to still have my dad in my corner. But this time he knows far less about the material than I already do. Success will be as much a battle of willpower as syntax errors. I may ask you for your help along the way. 

Or at least a bit of reassurance that I will.')

# I am doing this because I care about people and I am creative; I want to make stuff that makes the world a better place. After two years in Silicon Valley as a startup founder and advisor, I see the power of software to change the world. Now I am committed to learn it - now, it is my business.

[it-professional]

So You Want To Be A Programmer? Here's How!

So, you’ve decided you want to be a programmer. You may have heard about how good a friend’s job is as a programmer, or you may have an interest in this field. But, you’re not sure how to begin or where to go? Read on to find out more!

Why Should I Be A Programmer?

Well, you might already have the answer to this question, if you’re reading this article. When I originally decided I wanted to work in the information technology industry, it was programming and software development that got me excited. I liked the thought that you could create things on the computer based on what you tell it to do. At the time, it seemed incredible and I had more questions than answers. One of those queries was, “why should I be a programmer?” Some of the reasons are:

• Creative expression – being a programmer allows you to express yourself creatively. Sure, it’s a highly logical field to work in, and in many cases you’re developing based on requirements that has been written, but there is still a level of creativity that goes into developing software.

• Creating something from nothing – The process of developing programs starts from nothing. You have a need for software to be made, develop the idea on what it should do, design it, and type instructions into the computer. Once it’s finished, it forms a program that can be run to do the task you told it to do. A program has been created from nothing. This can be a good feeling for you to experience.

• High demand – Companies are always looking for ways to improve and enhance their business processes. This is commonly done in the form of software. Programmers and software developers are the people involved in this process, and as a result, there is a lot of demand.

What Kind Of Programmer Do You Want To Be?

Ok, so you’ve decided you want to be a programmer. The next step is to take some action. To begin with, you’ll need to decide what type of programmer you want to be.

There are many different kinds of programmers, some of which are:

• Desktop software programmer – developing software for use on desktop computers

• Web developer – developing Web sites and Web applications

• Mobile device programmer – creating software and apps for mobile devices

• Database programmer – creating procedures and other areas of databases

• System programmer – developing scripts and code for operating systems

You should ask yourself what area you’re interested in. Which kind of programming interests you? If you’re not sure, that’s alright – the main skills in programming allow you to change courses in the future.

Consider An Introductory Course

A good way to get started in programming is to take an introductory programming course. You could find these at colleges or universities. Many of them offer a beginners or introductory course in programming that teaches you the basics of programming.

The basics of programming include what it’s used for, how to write code, various languages that are used, and other programming concepts such as debugging and compiling. I would suggest taking an introductory course if you’re interested in programming. Some of them even include coding in several languages or programming areas, so you get a sample of what kinds of programming there is.

Learn A Language Yourself

An alternative to taking an introductory course is learning a programming language yourself. This can be harder if you don’t have the background in IT, but it lets you study at your own pace and do your own research. You can do this by buying a book on a programming language – most languages have a “beginner’s guide” or “learn to program” book.

You could also find many websites that offer tutorials and guides on how to develop software in a certain language. They also have practical examples that you can use to help your learning.

Personally, I have experience programming in a few languages, and if I wanted to learn an additional language, this is the process I would use.

Consider Starting A Side Project

If you’re a little more experienced in programming, or feel like learning it yourself, you can always start a project on the side. You can practice concepts and techniques you have learnt or are currently learning. In most cases, there is no better way to learn than to do it yourself. This way your free to progress at your own pace, make mistakes and work out how things are done.

A side project could be a small database, a Web site, a software application, or anything else. I would recommend starting small to begin with – the idea is to learn and practice the concepts, not to create the next Microsoft Office.

Apply For A Job As A Programmer

Once you have the knowledge on how to be a programmer, and have some self-experience with a certain language, you should now be ready to apply for a job as a programmer. In many cases the kind of job you’ll be looking for is a junior role or a graduate role, which are roles that focus towards the less experienced software developer. This is not a bad thing – it’s most likely the level that you’re at. There are many things that you learn on the job that you just can’t learn in an online tutorial or university course.

You’ll find that once you start working as a programmer, your skills will get better and you’ll earn experience in your field. And, most importantly, you should enjoy it! If you’ve still got the passion and interest you had at the start of the process, that’s great!

Good luck with your position as a programmer! I hope this article has helped you!