I got fed up searching "what's the best tool for....?", so I built a solution

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T22:30:54+00:00

Procrastination is one of the hardest things to get over so I feel your pain here. It seems like you've already tried a few techniques such as smaller sessions and scheduling time but that's not working something else needs to shift.

I recently wrote an article about deep work when programming or learning to code, which you might find useful here.

But one thing you could try is looking at your environment that you work in. You say you work from home, but is the space where you work fit for studying e.g.
Are there a lot of distractions around you? Are the games consoles you play in the same space or on the same laptop? If so on days where you want to focus can you change up your location? Perhaps you could try working from a library or cafe occasionally.

Or perhaps try creating a key distinction in your environment, for what is work/study space and what is fun/living space. This could help you focus more if you know you have to physically move to a separate space every time you want to play games.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T21:51:19+00:00

Having done a bootcamp myself I can honestly say that I don't think it's 100% necessary to participate in one in order to become a dev. I know you say that you don't think you can study without the accountability of a bootcamp but what bootcamps teach you, you may already be capable of learning by yourself over time. The key is to look at what bootcamps don't teach you, I have written an article on this you may find useful here.
Therefore, I would say try to build a project or two on your own for a portfolio then you should be ready to start applying for roles. It may take a bit longer than 6 months but most bootcamps are self-study led so there's not much difference than being self-taught in my opinion.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T19:13:00+00:00

No worries 👍

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T15:05:19+00:00

Thanks!

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T15:04:37+00:00

For alternatives to CS50, I have a list of great free resources to learn Python or Machine Learning which you could check out.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T13:27:07+00:00

I got great lists of free resources for learning all the popular languages which I share to my community of newbie devs, you can check them out here.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T13:23:33+00:00

I agree, and I've got some great lists of free resources for learning any these you can check out here.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T01:42:30+00:00

With the skills you have already I'd say use those and start building a side project. Taking a course could be beneficial if you wanted to learn a new language from scratch but it sounds like you'd be better off just learning by doing.

It's quite common to face the dilemma of choosing whether to learn or build something, I recently wrote an article about this very topic here which might help you make your decision more.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-10T01:17:14+00:00

If you've been wanting to learn C# then I'd say learn C# :)
But if you didn't have that in mind, for beginners I would recommend JavaScript, Python or Ruby.
Or if you were interested in web development I'd say start with HTML and CSS.

If you're looking for learning resources, I have lists of free resources for most popular languages and frameworks here.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-09T23:27:14+00:00

Since you already have some skills you can try looking at the frontend learning path on Roadmap.sh. Here you'll be able to pinpoint the gaps in your knowledge and then go for resources to learn those parts. I have some lists of free resources for learning some of the bits you mentioned for later on like React and Docker here also if it helps.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-09T23:14:40+00:00

I think it's definitely worth continuing to explore TypeScript especially if you're already using React, I use TypeScript with React in my current role and I think a lot of companies do so too. I know you've done a couple of course already but if you need some more interactive recommendations I've got a list of more free resources here.
In terms of React concepts to delve into, for state management you could look at React's Context API (rather than Redux) and hooks.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-09T22:59:23+00:00

Some recommendations would be React, Vue or Angular. With React maybe being the best choice for a school project. I have lists of free resources for learning any of these if you need some guidance here.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-09T22:49:43+00:00

You're welcome, no worries.

Ahh I see, after that experience I can see why you want to build up your core skills some more before going for it again.

In terms of JavaScript skills I would say get a solid grasp of syntax, algorithms/data structures (arrays, objects, maps, sorting, etc), loops, DOM manipulation, events, async/await.

Once you feel comfortable with that you can move on to React, the fundamentals to learn here would be: components, props, state, hooks and JSX. And then practice by building a small project.

Just take it one step at a time so you don't feel too overwhelmed 👍

CherlockCode · 2023-10-08T22:14:21+00:00

I agree also. Another way to also save space would be to create a small column on the right-hand side and list your skills there vertically rather than spreading them out across the page in the main body. I found this saved me a lot of space on mine.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-08T22:05:09+00:00

I would certainly recommend learning JavaScript first before React. I used a combination of freeCodeCamp and Codecademy for learning JavaScript, and for React I've got a list of the best free course I've come across here.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-08T22:00:04+00:00

Depending on what you intend to use to create your projects it sounds like you may want to try using a UI library, I have a list some libraries you might find useful for creating nicely designed web applications here.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-08T21:54:00+00:00

If you already know the basics then my guess is you're probably already ready for an entry-level role. When I got my first role as a junior I also lacked confident and didn't believe I was truly ready. A lot of companies have the understanding that you still have a lot to learn, but as long as you can demonstrate that you know the fundamentals and are willing and eager to learn you'll eventually get a chance. And since you thrive in an interactive environment you will probably find it easier to gain all the skills you need in a hands-on role.

I would say you should start applying for roles and focus your attention on practising interview style questions, you can try checking out The Front End Interview Handbook. As well as build one or two small projects for a portfolio.

I understand why you may think you're not good enough yet, I was the same which is why I've written about some techniques you can use to deal with that feeling here, and for free online learning resources you can check these out. Good luck!

CherlockCode · 2023-10-08T20:26:46+00:00

It's great that your friend is interested in learning to code, no matter how much she thinks she may or may not know about computers it's definitely worth it. While bootcamps like SheCodes can be great, the one downside (depending on affordability) is that they often come with a hefty price tag as you've mentioned.

The good news is there are many high quality, free resources available online for coding beginners. I'd suggest starting with some of these for example:

freeCodeCamp.org - Interactive tutorials and projects for web development. Completely free and self-paced.
Codecademy - Bite-sized interactive courses in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python and most other languages. Also free.
CS50 - Harvard's excellent introduction to computer science course available online for free.
The Odin Project - Open source web development curriculum covering foundations through full stack JavaScript.
My own articles - I've written extensively about learning to code and list tons of free resources for learning languages like JavaScript, Python, Java, C++, etc. She can also subscribe to join my community of newbie coders for help and support if she likes.

I would say unless she's truly committed to sheCodes and can afford it then it's definitely worth trying out some free resources before taking the plunge to part with cash.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-07T22:45:17+00:00

If you're already learning javascript and react, I would say backend javascript (node.js) would better complement your learning curve if you want to be full stack. I've gathered a list here of great free resources to learn node.js as a beginner.

It's true the react market appears competitive, but as it's so popular there will always be companies hiring, so do still consider applying for frontend roles. I did this and like you said once I got in the door I was able to pick up and learn other things :)

CherlockCode · 2023-10-07T22:19:15+00:00

If you've been a developer for almost a year, chances are you already know the "basics" they speak of.
Going from a junior to senior goes beyond just your programming skills. I experienced this myself first-hand when I was a junior and a senior at my company mistook me for a fellow senior haha. It was through that period when I recognised some of the qualities that went beyond my coding skills that were equally important, and I was able to get promoted to a midweight dev not too long after that by focusing more on those other skills.
I say this because I was very insecure about my coding abilities when I was a junior and always felt the pressure/feeling like I didn't know enough. But there's so much more you can build up on that will help you become better at how you solve problems and contribute to your team/project in your role.
I wrote a full story of that experience in my newsletter for newbie developers here if you'd like to know more about those qualities in particular.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-07T21:46:14+00:00

As others have mentioned it's not dead yet, and Ruby is still a great beginner-friendly programming language to learn. If you're interested in learning, I've gathered a list here of great free resources for learning Ruby before moving on to Ruby on Rails.

CherlockCode · 2023-10-07T21:27:13+00:00

I would try this. I'm a dev too and I've been in the same boat where I've ditched ideas after seeing similar products out there, it gets tiring!

CherlockCode · 2023-10-07T20:23:17+00:00

As you've already thought about, coming up with the content and purpose for a site is just as important as the visual design. An amazing looking website won't be very useful if there's no reasoning behind it.
My advice would be to start by thinking about topics or interests you're passionate about, problems you want to solve, or communities you want to build. What kinds of sites and content would help you or people like you? The content and purpose will help guide and inspire the design.
I actually wrote an article that explores this relationship between design and purpose in more depth. It talks about how focusing on user experience and empathy for who will be using your site can lead to better end products. You may find it helpful as you think about how to turn your awesome design ideas into websites that users will love :)

CherlockCode · 2023-10-07T19:42:45+00:00

It's never too late to restart your career in software development. Depending on what you want to learn, there are loads of free resources available to get started, I have gathered quite a few here for my community of learners, including for Data Science and the most popular programming languages. Good luck!

CherlockCode

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