I've been thinking hard about how best to go from some experience in coding, to landing an entry level job. There are hundreds of forum and reddit posts discussing the subject, as well as articles and books. Recently I have discovered "Coding Bootcamps." Essentially you dedicate a full working day or more EVERY day to learning how to program. Most are 9-12 week programs which give a guarantee that you will land a job within 90 days of completion making a minimum of 60K.
This is the type of learning I am most interested in. When I want to learn something new, I can't stand taking it slow. The idea of spending 4 years in a university JUST to get beginner knowledge of the subject is a dreadful thought to me.
I would pick up and leave for one of these camps by the end of the day if it was possible. Unfortunately I do not have near the resources available to do that. I did try to apply for some loans for around 8400 to pay living expenses but they are all denied. I really don't know how people can manage to do these things without already having a massive amount saved up or getting significant help from family.
Sucks, but that's life. Well that won't stop me from learning...it just means I'll have to figure out on my own what is best to study and give myself projects to work on. Also it will take a bit longer I assume, based on the fact that I can only spend 2-4 hours a day coding as opposed to 12-16.
The one that looks most interesting to me is actually one from where I live in San Antonio called Codeup They offer a "Master" program in addition to their 4 month bootcamp, which puts you in a similar scenario but with the goal of becoming an absolute guru in coding. I'll put that one aside as the dream scenario, but with maybe a 1% probability of me ever having the financial means to do something of that caliber.
Takes money to make money!
For now, I'll continue pushing along and doing personal projects while reading and coding in my free time.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
A quick look at Python
So, within two days time I have completely read over all 21 chapters of Program Arcade Games With Python and done several practice apps to get the hang of the syntax. On a side note, that course is amazing and very well put together so I would highly suggest it to any new programmer.
As the "Final Lab" for it, you are supposed to create your first functional game. I was considering doing this, although I don't need the practice in the same way a new programmer would. I have already developed much more complicated games.
Now that I have a feel for the syntax of Python however, I am not sure if I really enjoy it as much. I am all about efficiency and coding quickly but I think I am still more of a fan of Java. Perhaps you can call it a "First Love" since it is almost the same as Actionscript. Java improves on the things that sucks about Actionscript anyhow.
I like the type safety, and the way that Eclipse easily works together with it (not that it doesn't do pretty well with Python already)
Another side note to the editor situation...I really wish VIM code complete was anywhere near as good as just using the standard editor within Eclipse. I even tried using eclim, but it just feels so slow and clunky. Obviously going back and editing text files etc can be easily done with VIM I am sure, but perhaps I am just not seeing the draw towards it that many posts are claiming.
Back to Python in that regard also. People are claiming fast dev time and prototyping so being an impatient and efficient minded thinker, it made sense to me to want to learn Python. That said, I know the job market is all about Java and C#. Python seems popular for small and indie companies for the aforementioned benefits of new dev.
I think I may make a pact to myself to occasionally do a Python app just to keep fresh on it, but I overall think it would be best at this point to focus now on learning Java in order to land a job as quickly as possible and get into a better position financially. Generally doing programming for money isn't the best way to go about things, but I really enjoy it from a hobby perspective too so it won't be a big deal for me.
So going full circle here, instead of the "Final Lab" idea in Python, I may just create something similar in Java, and instead come up with my own Python project idea. Perhaps create some sort of editor within Python for my Java ran game. That seems like it would be a better use it perhaps? But then again, Java has all of the GUI editing features right? Tough call, I'll figure it out. That's really all of my thoughts for now.
As the "Final Lab" for it, you are supposed to create your first functional game. I was considering doing this, although I don't need the practice in the same way a new programmer would. I have already developed much more complicated games.
Now that I have a feel for the syntax of Python however, I am not sure if I really enjoy it as much. I am all about efficiency and coding quickly but I think I am still more of a fan of Java. Perhaps you can call it a "First Love" since it is almost the same as Actionscript. Java improves on the things that sucks about Actionscript anyhow.
I like the type safety, and the way that Eclipse easily works together with it (not that it doesn't do pretty well with Python already)
Another side note to the editor situation...I really wish VIM code complete was anywhere near as good as just using the standard editor within Eclipse. I even tried using eclim, but it just feels so slow and clunky. Obviously going back and editing text files etc can be easily done with VIM I am sure, but perhaps I am just not seeing the draw towards it that many posts are claiming.
Back to Python in that regard also. People are claiming fast dev time and prototyping so being an impatient and efficient minded thinker, it made sense to me to want to learn Python. That said, I know the job market is all about Java and C#. Python seems popular for small and indie companies for the aforementioned benefits of new dev.
I think I may make a pact to myself to occasionally do a Python app just to keep fresh on it, but I overall think it would be best at this point to focus now on learning Java in order to land a job as quickly as possible and get into a better position financially. Generally doing programming for money isn't the best way to go about things, but I really enjoy it from a hobby perspective too so it won't be a big deal for me.
So going full circle here, instead of the "Final Lab" idea in Python, I may just create something similar in Java, and instead come up with my own Python project idea. Perhaps create some sort of editor within Python for my Java ran game. That seems like it would be a better use it perhaps? But then again, Java has all of the GUI editing features right? Tough call, I'll figure it out. That's really all of my thoughts for now.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
First Post!
Just wanted a simple blog to post thoughts and updates on. I'll add more later when I get a chance.
Currently a bit annoyed at trying to learn vim so much, and then I am ending up not using it all because the code complete sucks hard.
The code complete isn't much better for Python using pydev in Eclipse...but w/e. Perhaps I may end up using vim for Python dev, and Eclipse for Java?
In any case, I'm going to try and power through this gamedev in Python course from programarcadegames.com
I still have to set up some other things but I am slowly getting more comfortable with Linux, my editing tools, and finding the resources that I need.
I want to do so many things, but feel my time is very limited ... or perhaps I just get easily distracted. I am so into it right now that it is very hard to peel myself away long enough to do things like...go to the grocery store for food. That said I am at least being efficient and cooking meals for the entire work week via slow cooker / Quiche.
Well that's it for now. I'm going to post up my samples and what not when I make some. For now I'll do my best to at least get an elementary understanding of github so that changes can be placed there. Since I am using Eclipse it would be good for me to learn how to use it's git plugin.
Currently a bit annoyed at trying to learn vim so much, and then I am ending up not using it all because the code complete sucks hard.
The code complete isn't much better for Python using pydev in Eclipse...but w/e. Perhaps I may end up using vim for Python dev, and Eclipse for Java?
In any case, I'm going to try and power through this gamedev in Python course from programarcadegames.com
I still have to set up some other things but I am slowly getting more comfortable with Linux, my editing tools, and finding the resources that I need.
I want to do so many things, but feel my time is very limited ... or perhaps I just get easily distracted. I am so into it right now that it is very hard to peel myself away long enough to do things like...go to the grocery store for food. That said I am at least being efficient and cooking meals for the entire work week via slow cooker / Quiche.
Well that's it for now. I'm going to post up my samples and what not when I make some. For now I'll do my best to at least get an elementary understanding of github so that changes can be placed there. Since I am using Eclipse it would be good for me to learn how to use it's git plugin.
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