[LRUG] Beginner advice

Fri Apr 13 03:23:35 PDT 2018

this post about learning
<https://links7.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/pUQ1EAGyzrojkODgp?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
that Najaf pointed out is tremendous. Thanks for that.

On 11 April 2018 at 00:40, Najaf Ali <ali at happybearsoftware.com> wrote:

> Hi Sam,
>
> *> I'm currently going through other basic tutorials(html, css etc) and
> was wondering what the next step would be after being comfortable with the
> basics.*
>
> I would strongly second what Graham said about getting as much practice as
> you can. If you don't have a specific project that you're focused on right
> now, there are plenty of exercises available online for you to work
> through. exercism.io gets a lot of good reviews, some other examples
> include project euler
> <https://links2.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/AHeGerJSe1ejiQ5oU?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>,
> SQLBolt
> <https://links6.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/EA2X1Mg361mIib8gH?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
> , rosalind
> <https://links5.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/3uZPfphPKpLAite8l?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>,
> and cryptopals
> <https://links8.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/tSwHjQp56F6R8P5NA?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>.
> (If you manage to complete up to challenge 6 in cryptopals, or even attempt
> 6 and get stuck part way through, then it would probably be worth us
> discussing the potential for an apprenticeship as plenty of senior
> developers can't do that exercise).
>
> I particularly like this post about learning
> <https://links7.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/pUQ1EAGyzrojkODgp?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
> (and more specifically learning to program) about fluency vs. understanding
> and structure vs. imagination.
>
> However, in addition to building fluency, we also encourage apprentices to
> read books. For learning Ruby our standard text is The Well Grounded
> Rubyist
> <https://links10.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/dJXYviaJX4QfuOIHq?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
> by David A. Black. Other books on our apprentice reading list include High
> Performance Browser Networking
> <https://links8.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/6Eiu9QlZGg35El8Su?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
> by Ilya Grigorik (available online for free) and Designing Data Intensive
> Applications
> <https://links6.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/9KFV67uLpuJDyATcr?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
> by Martin Kleppmann. The former is ostensibly about performance and ends up
> being a sales pitch for HTTP2, but on the way there the author has to
> explain how the internet works. The latter is a book packed with a lot of
> knowledge and clear thinking about how to make good decisions with
> databases that I wish I'd had earlier in my career.
>
> *> It would also be nice to know what possible paths there are for
> becoming a fully fledged developer.*
>
> Having advised (and subsequently hired a few) graduates from code schools,
> career changers, and coding meetup attendees, without knowing more about
> your circumstances I would wager that from a standing start this is a
> project that will take you between 6 and 24 months, depending on your life
> circumstances, your prior experience, and connections.
>
> Here are some things you can do to help make your first job as a developer
> happen:
>
>    - *Start talking to people in the industry*. Go to the LRUG
>    <https://links10.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/6T4XqSs7Ut8I7Z3YZ?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false> meetups.
>    One of the most common concerns about attending that new programmers raise
>    with me is that the talks will be "at too high a level". They're not at too
>    high a level for you (sorry everyone!) and even if they are, isn't that the
>    point of you going? Try to stay for drinks afterwards if you feel
>    comfortable doing so and maybe introduce yourself to some people that have
>    also been to LRUG that evening. Maybe think about attending Brighton
>    Ruby
>    <https://links7.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/3JyKp8CSOjQKj4lQn?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
>    too, Andy knows how to put on a good show. In addition to this, if you
>    happen to be from a background that is underrepresented in tech then I
>    super double plus turbo recommend you attend codebar
>    <https://links1.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/ZlIh01s1kqTP4B4WQ?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>.
>    It is the gold standard introduction to the industry. You will be in an
>    office where developers work, with other people learning to code, and a
>    handful of developers teaching you how to code, for free. If that doesn't
>    make the prospect of becoming a developer more real for you, I don't know
>    what will.
>    - *If you can afford to do so, attend Makers Academy
>    <https://links4.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/TUOwHD5lOlnXQ8jXl?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>*.
>    I have no affiliation with Makers other than I know a lot of the students
>    and occasionally have lunch with Evgeny who is one of the founders. After
>    years of watching Makers launch cohort after cohort into the industry, I
>    don't have any hesitation in recommending them to you (though I suspect out
>    of all of these recommendations, this one will be the most controversial on
>    this list). They will definitely make it more likely that you get a job as
>    a developer more quickly than you would be able to do so on your own. They
>    also at this stage have an extensive alumni network, and a lot of good
>    connections with companies that are actively trying to hire people that are
>    new to the industry. This is a really good set of advantages to have at the
>    start of your developer career.
>    - *Start the campaign for your first developer job early. *Let's say
>    you have to make 100 applications for a developer job, 30 of which get a
>    reply, 9 of which lead to an interview which result in one or two offers
>    for a job. You still need to make those hundred applications to get those
>    one or two offers. As you improve your skills, make more connections, and
>    get more experience interviewing, your likelihood of getting an offer will
>    increase. So the earlier you start writing CVs/cover letters, making lists
>    of companies you'd like to work at, and reaching out to people hiring
>    junior/apprentice roles, the better.
>
> You'll get a lot of other good replies on this list and this is just one
> set of opinions to weigh against all the others, but I hope there are one
> or two things there you find useful. If there's anything I've said here
> that you would like to discuss further then feel free to get in touch on or
> off list.
>
> Best of luck!
>
> Najaf Ali - Founder at Happy Bear Software
> <https://links4.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/6Ruohd7dHMfHeT1a4?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
> Phone: 07590 073 977
> Skype: alinajaf85
> Timezone: London, UTC + 1
> <https://links7.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/g75wimnKBoVFEkEYG?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
> LinkedIn
> <https://links10.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/2bRAkTZhK9SbKJvE9?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
>  | Twitter
> <https://links8.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/CQJxZdkCqrufc1yud?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
>  | Medium
> <https://links7.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/Bd5gegp8mSMQn5WVT?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
>  | GitHub
> <https://links7.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/szeRW7CJlUBsueml6?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false>
>
> I run a technical consultancy specialising in Ruby on Rails. Have a look
> at this one-page info sheet
> <https://links4.mixmaxusercontent.com/rSxCBSBNkaSyYEvDv/l/BZtwTzqL1Oa0x1zOv?messageId=yAaWHPoia63A4r4b7&rn=gIwV3bydEIzJXZzVFI5JWdSBibvRmbvxkI&re=icmcv5yZ1JHbuMHdzlGbARXYoNmI&sc=false> for
> a summary of the services we provide. We're always happy to meet people
> building software, so if you think of anyone appropriate for us we would
> appreciate being put in touch :-)
>
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 10, 2018 7:48 PM, samuel brown samuelbrown201195 at hotmail.co.uk
> wrote:
>
>> Hi all
>>
>>
>> I have started getting into programming(initial through basic ruby
>> tutorials and onto hartl's rails tutorial). I'm currently going through
>> other basic tutorials(html, css etc)  and was wondering what the next step
>> would be after being comfortable with the basics.
>>
>>
>> It would also be nice to know what possible paths there are for becoming
>> a fully fledged developer.
>>
>>
>> Any comments would be much appreciated
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Sam
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Chat mailing list
> Chat at lists.lrug.org
> Archives: http://lists.lrug.org/pipermail/chat-lrug.org
> Manage your subscription: http://lists.lrug.org/options.cgi/chat-lrug.org
> List info: http://lists.lrug.org/listinfo.cgi/chat-lrug.org
>
>

-- 
------------------------
Andrew Premdas
blog.andrew.premdas.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.lrug.org/pipermail/chat-lrug.org/attachments/20180413/eac62dd5/attachment-0004.html>