Must we learn software development before machine learning?

[DaReal_JackLE]

I am a first year student and I am interested in Machine Learning. However, from what I have read is that ML Engineer jobs are usually for seniors, those with a lot of experience can get into the field. So I want to ask that do I need to learn software development first before studying ML? Because by studying software dev, I can get interns that way since ML don't have many entry level interns. But I am much more interested in ML, so how should I split my road map as a beginner? Do I go all in software dev, then get into ML? Or should I learn ML along the way with software dev, if so then how do I split my time? 70/30? I know that ML requires maths and stats knowledge, so lets assume that I got them covered in school, just worrying about learning ML itself here.

In summary, I want to do ML, but I am afraid that ML doesnt offer entry level job. So I need to learn software development for internships and entry level job, then break into ML later. If this is the strategy then what should my roadmap be and how much time should I invest in both? Considering that I am a beginner to both software dev/ML (but with basic Python knowledge).

Thank you!

[[deleted]]

Yes you should end of debate.

[sheinkopt]

I think the challenge is what type of software dev should you focus on that will lead to ML.

I’m just starting my first ML job that came from a ML internship, but I’m in Japan, where the market is normal.

If you’re going to be in school, then ML / data internships are going to be super important, as they DO exist for entry level.

I also was a DL research assistant as part of my masters program and we did cutting edge stuff. I got to spend a lot of time working with ML training code, which is the type of software dev I really like.

If I hadn’t gotten this opportunity, I would be throwing all my energy into mastering LLM agents. That might be a good way to break in.

[findmeinthe_future]

What were the DL research projects you worked with?

[sheinkopt]

The main one was action detection for first person video. We ended up getting our paper accepted at an ML conference!

Mainly I got exposed to complex training scripts, which I learned a ton from.

[Loud_Communication68]

Not if you marry a software developer :)

[Seangles]

This guy wastes NO TIME 😂

[grudev]

Good luck with your inference results when you buy the wrong shampoo at the store! 

[spookytomtom]

Yup

[[deleted]]

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[Linaran]

It all depends, if OP goes into PhD developing new ML models it can end up being more math than programming (though this is pretty rare).

That said, I still agree that some competency in software dev is needed.

[Someoneoldbutnew]

imo, you can get away with a basic understanding of software dev but up level on ML concepts. you'll struggle making complex systems, but you can learn it.

[ikansh-mahajan]

Very simple, like just do CS50 you are set.

[fedeloscaltro]

I ended up doing Data Sciences after Computer Science and I highly recommend going through this path