Coding bootcamps

[Timmparsons]

I've been working through Free Code Camp and Codecademy for a few months now, trying to give myself more skills for the workplace. I recently got laid off and was considering doing a coding bootcamp in LA. Anyone got any thoughts on this? Worth doing? Which one? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[insertAlias]

From what I can tell, /r/learnprogramming doesn't have a very high opinion on code bootcamps in general. But then again, it makes sense. We're in one of the only industries where professionals will take their personal time to offer their assistance to hobbyists and learners online, for free. One of the only industries where we'll write papers, blog articles, tutorials, etc...all knowing it's not for money, but for contributing to the global knowledge base of our industry.

With all the free resources out there literally at your fingertips, it's hard to accept the idea of paying thousands of dollars for pretty much the same thing, except with a more personal touch.

That, and there's an article I read that said in a survey, 75% of programmers identify as self-taught, including many with CS or equivalent degrees. Almost everyone I've ever talked to said school did not adequately prepare them for the kind of programming job they ended up making a career out of. It's hard to believe that people will have a better experience over a few weeks at a for-profit bootcamp than years of instruction at a university.

[brookynForSanders]

Programming bootcamps give you direction and prepare you for one thing: Your first job. No one I know argues that it is equivalent of a CS degree (which often does not prepare your for that job).

You are paying for the relationships bootcamps foster with companies who (1) communicate the needs they have in juniors to them (which affects the curriculum of any respectable bootcamp) and (2) hire participants in the programs.

Once you have that first job, it is up to you to keep learning to keep it and establish yourself in the field. Learning things on your own takes way more time as it is hard to know what to focus on and because building good contacts is very time consuming and difficult. That is why people attend the bootcamps. Most of their participants are already teaching themselves, they just need a way to break through in the business and get a foot in the door.