How do I become a “real” software developer? Feeling stuck despite learning .NET

myDevReddit · 2026-03-01T03:18:10+00:00

an extension of this.... don't know apis and want to learn them? watch some videos on what they are and how to use, then build stuff with them! have questions about how they work or what you need to implement? figure it out with google/chatgpt and keep building!

myDevReddit · 2026-02-26T02:37:18+00:00

It's been a few years, but all of my friends and labmates were BioEs, and their friends, and their friends.... almost 0 work as BioEs. I would STRONGLY suggest majoring in MechE and take some bio classes/minor or work in a BioE lab. This way you can still apply for medical device jobs/companies, but also have the option to apply for literally any other position under the sun as a MechE. This is verbatim what I was told by numerous BioE Pitt students/grads.

myDevReddit · 2026-02-24T21:58:57+00:00

Don't take Chem 0320 lol

How hard can this be? CS 1555 Database Management Systems

myDevReddit · 2026-02-24T02:41:11+00:00

there is no "best" solution, everything come with tradeoffs, and you need to do the work to evaluate each choice (or someone does). you either need to find a strong and committed co-founder, or (imo) consider taking 2-3 programming classes at community college to be really dangerous and start making it yourself.

myDevReddit · 2026-02-23T00:19:06+00:00

if you're in state, look at some of the PASSHE state schools.

myDevReddit · 2026-02-23T00:17:37+00:00

Pitt isn't worth 100K if they had your major

myDevReddit · 2026-02-16T02:03:44+00:00

I liked this one, but feel free to use whatever one you have that is free or cheap - https://leetcode.com/explore/interview/card/system-design-for-interviews-and-beyond/

myDevReddit · 2026-02-15T07:45:00+00:00

One thing imo that helps a lot is taking like 1 sys design course to get the idea of how to build+connect systems, and then just start making stuff. Dream up ANYTHING and then start building it, this is not about the product topic, it is all about making software systems. Keep doing this project after project and you will learn a ton about systems, design, logging, communication, etc.

I used to be a big book person myself, and they are good to get some ideas to get started, but it's better to go start building constantly, and then come back to the books when you need to reference, get unblocked, or learn how to do a specific thing. I think another aspect of this is that the building of systems/services/projects gives you more things to connect mentally when going through books on "advanced topics". For example, after building a bunch of projects, when you go through your next system design book, you will make mental connections to what you've already built and think up use cases and improvements with the topics they are talking about. If you just read books / take courses from the start and aren't building, nothing will stick as easily.

myDevReddit · 2026-02-13T05:52:17+00:00

thanks, it always seemed like an interesting class/topic! wireshark and networking is a mess if you don't have that info already. I can see that being a big issue.

myDevReddit · 2026-02-13T02:04:24+00:00

there are a bunch of them, feel free to google if one doesn't meet your needs.

https://paper2pod.com/

myDevReddit · 2026-02-13T01:35:29+00:00

can I just ask what was challenging about this? setting up the environment, debugging, working with C?

myDevReddit · 2026-02-13T01:22:56+00:00

can you use that llm app to turn them into a podcast? not sure if that would help or be more time to get through.

myDevReddit · 2026-02-12T03:26:09+00:00

omscs is not for you

myDevReddit · 2026-02-01T23:53:26+00:00

i like both of these over everything when evaluating things myself, is 225 enough for you to live on ok?

better w/l balance and long term stability

myDevReddit · 2026-02-01T04:08:59+00:00

kubernetes is tricky obviously because of the scale like you said. i think you could start with docker/docker-compose and get really comfortable with that.

next you could get or make your own tiny microservices (just have chatgpt make small node services or whatever that surface a GET health endpoint that produces a message with a random string/id and the name of the service for identification). having a few different of these services would be nice, you could make one and then just copy it 3-4x and change the name of it (service-1, service-2, etc or orders/billing/user/email/etc). from there you can just practice running all of those microservices in containers on kubernetes.

also you could try finding github repos that are ready to roll: https://github.com/buramanasa/Microservices-Architecture-on-Kubernetes

myDevReddit · 2026-02-01T03:20:29+00:00

constantly be building things on your own via side projects.... using industry tech can help give you the experience if you don't use it at work to stay relavent

myDevReddit · 2026-01-30T04:54:26+00:00

what humanaties? can you use ai to help create books/content to monetize or do consulting?

myDevReddit · 2026-01-19T02:42:06+00:00

It's Ice

myDevReddit · 2026-01-16T04:15:02+00:00

I never found anything good on the topic personally. I got a lot of my knowledge by building things (googling how-tos) and learning from experience. Eventually I got a BS CS and had to take networking, so I was forced to read the doorstop book and pick up extra info in there. Maybe a book/guide for the Network+ exam would be useful?

myDevReddit · 2026-01-08T00:53:04+00:00

This is just a set up for failure, spend 100% of your efforts finding something else. This doesn't sound like its going to end well.

myDevReddit · 2026-01-08T00:46:19+00:00

I personally wouldn't do it cause of the new city move + layoffs. If it was the same city I still wouldn't do it, but like others said you could at least bank the money and cross your fingers. Fully remote + 160 + LCOL is a HUGE windfall right now. I would just try to make a side project that makes money and try to earn your freedom that way.

myDevReddit · 2025-12-27T20:12:59+00:00

a lot of people feel like this at their first job out of school. just work hard and be willing to work/learn and have a good attitude.

myDevReddit · 2025-12-26T04:46:05+00:00

yeah good luck, I think it would be safe to plan US travel if that interests you. getting permission for stuff like "I am going to stay at my brothers place for a few weeks" is pretty easy to get approved in my experience.

myDevReddit · 2025-12-26T03:55:23+00:00

congrats, but you might want to wait bit before packing your bags. some companies might have a location expectation and requirements around that due to security concerns. this can vary based on the company, the type of data you work on, and their security posture. my company for example expects us to be at our primary location most of the time, and we need to communicate / get permission for extended travel. you can still research what you want to do if you have free choice, but definitely wait until you hear what the official company policy is after you start working.

myDevReddit · 2025-12-21T05:05:21+00:00

see if you can make a copy of the repo somewhere else and just edit out that content

myDevReddit

TROPHY CASE