Posted on 03/05/2016 11:57:50 AM PST by OddLane
“Coding is easy!”
“Anyone can learn to code!”
“Everyone should learn to code!”
Hogwash. Learning to code is exceptionally difficult. It’s true that it has never been easier to attempt to learn to code, but trying and doing are two completely different things. As someone with virtually no computer science or mathematics background, diving into the world of programming has been an eye opening experience. If you haven’t studied computer science already, I guarantee that you are underestimating just how vast the domain actually is.
I’m not saying this to discourage anyone interested in learning to code, (quite the opposite!) I just want people to enter this field with their eyes open. There are a wealth of free resources online for learning any number of languages, and if you are interested in seeing what this is all about I highly recommend giving one of them a try. My only warning is that once you complete those first classes and tutorials, you are essentially on your own.
Many people have written on this topic in the past, so I’m not going to reiterate what has already been put better by others (most notably Erik Trautman of the Viking Code School), but I will try and give you some advice on where to get started and how to avoid the pitfalls I found myself tripping into. So, where to begin:
(Excerpt) Read more at mattpritchard.io ...
My first computer job was for the County utility dept.
I took a knitting needle and pushed it through a slot and it pulled out the punchcards for all the bills to mail that day.
Looking around there’s still a big demand for COBOL and FORTRAN.
Mostly seems no one wants to spend the money to update huge old programs to new languages.
C++ didn't really exist yet.
Yep, that’s a big problem in state government. Legacy systems are a rich niche. The wise programmer will not only learn a good programming language, but they need to look for the best match of what skills they have to what someone with money needs to have done.
Peace,
SR
Have used Lego WeDo set to teach OO (block programming) and Arduino.
OO isnt programming. It is hoping that the shoulders of the giants you stand upon don’t shrug. I personally hate OO. So much ugly overhead. The friggin NSA could hide backdoors in any part you did not personally develop. OO is a very ugly fat girl and you are at the bar at closing time. Be prepared to gnaw off an arm in the morning.
Alot has changed since I first became a programmer in 1982. I would recommend taking an aptitude test like I did. I was naturally suited to it.
If I was going to recommend a start for a young person I’d have them buy one of these Raspberry Pi 3 things and see if you can get it to work. It’s basically a computer on a single board. Much different than the mainframe computers we punched cards for when I learned COBOL and FORTRAN.
I am commenting from experience as well. I started out in procedural languages, but moved to OO. I had a lot of painful unlearning to do compared to if I had just started in an object oriented language.
Well then, don't bother with it. Limiting your skill set is always a good career move.
Heh, I’m still trying to figure out .bat files.
Programmer competence is a huge problem in the industry because of the assumption that “anyone can code”.
I worked for a company that spends several million $ per year for software that has never worked properly. This in part because the company failed to write a contract with enforcement provisions. Possibly an inside job.
-PJ
Hey now, I code for food. Just cause I think some system is crap doesn’t mean I am not the best at it. Admit the overhead in CPU cycles and memory are huge. It is lots easier to code though when other people did the actual thinking. I guess it is a trade off. Thought vs speed and efficiency, I prefer the programmer be good and his or her code be efficient and quick. No matter how smart or good the completely OO coder, their stuff runs slower than non OO stuff.
OO is good for large projects. Allows compartmentalizing thought and responsibilities, but given OS400 was written by a three or four man team, I mean big stuff.
I don't deny that, but the economics of it are that CPU and memory keep getting cheaper all the time, and programmers keep getting more expensive.
> “trying and doing are two completely different things”
Never try. Either do or do not.
(ex Fortran coder — with programs that are still being run)
C++ is the hardest language to learn. It is probably the most powerful. C++ programmers are a different breed.
“C is great but doesn’t teach you a dang thing about object oriented programming.”
__
Yup... I was unstoppable on Turbo Pascal.. then it changed to Object Oriented programming.. Lost me real fast :/
I have tried C++ several times... I just can’t get into it :/
I like C because it’s wonderfully portable. I went from C to JavaScript in a month or so and from there, the OOP just seemed to flow from my fingertips without me even having to think about it, after half-reading a few manuals to get the theory down of course. ;)
Self taught to use Paradox (version 4.0) up to (9.0, or maybe it was version 10 {ten,} I forget.) I believe no one will argue against me calling Object Orientated.
Small list of accomplishments: Towing Company software, to preform State (Washington) Mandatory Paper work requirements, as follows: Vehicle Intake (Make, Model, Color, Vin, Location of pick-up etc.,Authorizing Police Agency, {State police / Town-City police} ) 24 Hour Notice Letter (to be printed automatically, via Vehicle Intake) to the Registered Owner & when necessary the Legal Owner (Usually a bank of some type, i.e., Credit Union, Some National Bank, etc.) Notice of Abandonment to State Police, and so - on.
I also started to make a Legal Dictionary. Presently have in excess of five Legal Dictionaries combined, and was looking to add approx six more. The working page of my Dictionary, was divided if you will to four sections. Far right the words in a column, click on a word, and the definition of word clicked on would appear center top. While reading said definition, if you came to a word you wanted to look up, just type in the word, center section, and just below that would appear the definition of that word. At the bottom of the page 26 square boxed Letters of the Alphabet, click on one and the first word of the Letter chosen, would appear TOP, far right, with the definition appearing appear center top.
I found that I had an ability when checking my work, it was as if I was competing against some person (other then my self) and looking for MISTAKE(s.) I know, this is going to sound weird, but I would have a big SMILE, when I found something wrong, that was causing my problem.
I was able to work, if you will, from an example given by the program, see what made it work, and be able to change / alter to meet my needs, and expand upon when needed. Via trial & error.
I would say you either have "coding" skills or you don't, no matter how much you go to a formal (College) class. Just one man's opinion.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.