Regrets As A Self Taught Software Developer
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- Hey, welcome back! In this video, I chat about 5 regrets I have as a self-taught software developer! These are things I wish I had known and done during my transition, so if you are thinking about becoming a software engineer make sure to stay until the end!
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📒 Timestamps 📒
0:00 - Intro
0:39 - Timeline to First Job Is Longer Than 3 months
2:45 - You'll Never Stop Learning
4:16 - Learn To Work In Large Codebase
5:19 - Learn To Debug
6:13 - Master Your Developer Tools
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
info@bukola.dev
I've been a professional programmer for 30 years, and I'm still learning.
The day you stop learning is the day you need to find a new career. Or maybe retire and find a new hobby to learn. No developer I've ever met is happy when they're not learning *something*.
This is very encouraging to read as I always feel that I am not good enough even though I keep learning constantly.
I'll never forget one of my professors.... The good news, and the bad news: You'll always be learning something.
You must be someone who likes to do rubiks cubes for the majority of their days.
Are you a millionaire, yet? That is my goal, btw, to be a millionaire in the next 5 years. I have been doing this for 6 years now.
youre always learning, in any field really.
Even as someone with a cs degree, these are things I struggled with. My university definitely didn't cover a lot of these things, such as debugging and reading others' code. Not to mention that the amount of constant learning blindsided me as well, and can lead to burn out if you're not a natural quick learner. These were all great points!
CS != Programming.
CS is the study of computing and that's mostly theoretical that's why it's usually run from the Math Department
@@rombios3056 Mine was in the science department, but yes exactly. It's primarily theory rather than practical software engineering knowledge, which is why even people with degrees will struggle a little out in the real world at first.
Thanks! That's so interesting I always assumed that CS degrees would teach these things
@@Bukola1 Yeah, I'm thinking some schools might have "software engineering" specific degrees as of late, but generally "CS" degrees are very much on the theory side. Like they're training you to be a researcher rather than an engineer. I had maybe 4 classes in total that were actually relevant to on the job responsibilities. Everything else in my 4 years was just theory or filler. The most prominent example is how I somehow ended up taking 3 geology classes due to my school's requirements 😆
@@Bukola1 thank you so much for your sharing. Have a blessed day. Enjoy your day. God bless you. Take care.. From john
As a 20+ year software engineer I just want to confirm the learning new things never stops. This industry is constantly changing/moving and the best engineers are always learning newer ways to do stuff. There are a few niche areas you can get into that are more solidified (I know AS/400 devs who deal with ~less~ change in general) but overwhelmingly this is an industry of change. If learning new things is something you enjoy, software engineering might be a good fit.
Was coming to say the same. I am now a manager but still have to learn new things. As a manager I really only have to learn it high level, but I keep myself hands on as much as possible because I like to remain competent in what I'm talking about.
How can one get programming jobs? We don't have much programming opportunities here.
It sounds like a career in software development is perfect for people who get bored at jobs where things remain relatively predictable. Thanks!
My self-taught path was very easy compared to most. I had two and a half months on unemployment to teach myself. But, I had years of experience of being a nerd, occasionally tinkering with HTML back in the late 90s. I had some college programming courses many years before I decided to get into development. The reality is, it didn't take me 3 months to land a web dev job, it took me about 15 years of figuring myself out. I don't think I'm alone on this path, either.
Great description. I know a lot of developers followed a similar path. It is the years of experience of being a nerd as you said. I remember a developer that was into the demoscene and later became a great programmer.
It took me 2 years to get my first developer job and it didn't even pay that much. If you wanna do this you have to settle in for the long haul and keep learning the entire time cause the more your learn the more opportunities open up to you. Great video Bukola!
Two years? That is awful!!!!
@@micjakes1 harsh lol but true. 2 years clearly a slow learner no disrespect but that’s just long asf
@@lavarball7538 it takes 2 years to get a degree stupiddd
@@ArtIsDrawing actually takes 3 you stupeeeed.
Am I the only one who notices how calming her voice is?? Love her videos!!
Her voice is wild. She can just talk for a living.
Nope. It makes her videos that much more awesome. She seems so real, down to earth
Fully agree about the 3 month thing! such an unrealistic expectation! Theres so much to know more than the bootcamp show. I ended up in product management in the end and I'm in awe of my amazing engineers! doing the bootcamp is why i was able to get the product job though.
This comment section really is so helpful. The imposter syndrome when trying to break into tech is a real, real thing!
This is great. I started off coding, teaching myself with FCC, Udemy etc. Decided after 3 months it really wasn't for me. Decided to go the UX route, studied on IDF for about 2 months and now have my first UX design job!
Hey! CONGRATS to you! I'm studying web development now, but I really want to get into UX/more design-based work. I've been trying to find good courses for UX but haven't come across any. What is IDF? Any other recommendations?
Hi there, did you have any design experience before this? Thanks !
@@saltybaelv No I didn't. I had some UX writing experience, and I read a ton of medium articles, began looking at youtube videos and a company took a chance on me!
@@i-spy-ty Did you build/need a portfolio before interviewing?
congratz
So true, you see all those posts from people doing it in a 4 month timeline thinking that's realistic but those cases are the exception! I ended up not being able to completely self teach too and enrolled in a full stack dev program. If you're completely switching fields it's more like a 1-3 year timeline (and with covid possibly even longer)!
0:58 I had to immediately hit the like button on this one. They're selling pipe dreams about getting a job in 3 months. Your video is so necessary.
You see that often on channels of CZcamsrs who claim that they are self tought developers but all they do is talking about motivation, how they got a job in 3 months and all of these channels have one thing in common: You won´t see these guys write a single line of code.
I'll be honest the Women In Code movement with bootcamps hasnt helped the 3 month motive at all over the past couple of years. 3 months is steep and takes quite a bit of dedication no matter the area of programming. Well except AI and ML for some reason companies have this idea that you HAVE to have a freakin masters/PHD to run models, so perplexing.
@@codingcrashkurse6429 Chris Sean does. I am not so sure of the others, but yes, he actually does write code.
@Derek Hawkins what do you recommend for someone who has no background in computer science. I am interested in Software developer but not sure what first books or subject I should start with
No they’re not. Lol. Just because one person couldn’t do it doesn’t mean other people can’t. Some people naturally learn math quicker than others. Other people naturally learn coding quicker. People are just convinced that coding is voodoo. That’s not the fault of the people who HAVE done these things in 3 months.
I literally teach people how to code and I’ve helped them get jobs within 3 months... not EVERYBODY (like everybody likes to think), but a STRONG amount of people I’ve taught have found employment within 3 months.
The only difference is that people don’t have a clue what they NEED to know. Typing in “How to code” just simply doesn’t cut it. And that’s what most people do if they have no experience.
As a senior dev / tech lead: I promise you, the feeling that there is soooo much to learn, that will never go away!
I’m Nigerian too and a software developer in the making... thanks for the video ✨✨✨
We (Nigeria) miss you. Lol
Getting programming jobs here is hard. 😂
1 year ago I watched a video of yours and it truly inspired me to transition to tech. I am now on a coding bootcamp and you keep on inspiring me
Even though you're a self-taught programmer who has regrets, I think you're doing an amazing job!! I'm an entry-level Software Engineer, and I studied Computer Information Systems in college. I believe in order to be a successful self-taught programmer a person has to have self-discipline and a passion for coding ❤️
Great video! I gotta say that even as someone who got a degree in computer science, I definitely resonate with every single point. Great content as always!
Great comment!
@@Isabelle-bs5tg thanks Isabelle 😏 fancy seeing you here
went to school for cs for 2 years. dropped out to teach myself for the last 2+ years. this shit takes time and im not ashamed.
all you guys story calms me down a bit. i been stressed with python just for the last 2 weeks trying to memorize. starting from scratch.
@@theish9 stop trying to memorize you clown. Read, understand, then build a project. Google what you forget. You're silly as hell bro
@@theish9 memorization can come with practice/experience. It's so ridiculously inefficient to be trying to rote memorize
@Allison Edwards I could have not too. And so that's what I chose
And as a matter of fact @Caleb, total bs you are. It does not take 2 fkn years. You are just kidding yourself. You didn't drop out to teach yourself. You dropped out to go on and jerk around and kid yourself without having to be held responsible and accountable like school would've made you. Quit your bs
I'm also a self taught developer, and after 2 decades in the industry, find myself as a Software Architect and Development Manager.
The "never stop learning" still applies. I also have to debug code still.
I am a Network Engineer, and there's a saying that most Network Engineers ran from programming into that field. as for its quiet, the oppose, I fell in love with programming and I am on my journey as a self-taught programmer. I feel the guidance is really needed coz I really don't wanna waste too much time wondering around.
ive been thinking about going a network engineering route, whats it like, i never have the chance to ask people who actually work as a network engineer, i plan on going into helpdesk and work from there.
I've had the best of both worlds. I took early-level CS classes at a junior college, which gave me a strong understanding of the fundamentals of computer science, the logic behind programming, and courses on C and Java. Beyond that I'm self-taught, so in the past 18 months I've learned a lot of frontend, a bit of backend, became competent with design and UI, learned version control, how to deploy and host an app, etc. It takes time (a lot longer than what coding bootcamps promise you in their ad), but it definitely makes you marketable. Whether you have a degree or not, you have to be willing to accept that your code will never be perfect and there will always be more to learn, especially as technology and markets change over time.
I like how realistic you are about time. As a person who is changing career to CS I feel a lot of pressure to do it quickly. It’s taking me longer time than that. I feel better about my journey now. Also tips about reading code and debugging is super helpful.
It’s YOUR journey Elzara, take your time and pace yourself remembering to reach out to any number of folks who are willing to help.
Realism and a personal sense of perspective are important as there’s a bit of misinformation and a lot of ego in the game you’ll come across if your so lucky 😊
Congrats for having the courage to perform a career change and the very best to you along the way 👍
My aunt went from midwifery to Law at 41... it was an amazingly demanding transition for her over a number of years but fast forward 11 years she’s a high flying Capital Markets lawyer at a massive firm and is still able to help anyone managing to go into labour on her morning metro commute 😊
@@b1ueocean thank you for taking time to write such an encouraging response. 🙏❤️
As always, your videos stay informative! While on this self-taught journey, your videos have been helping a a lot. Thank you for making these videos! It honestly makes a difference!!
Thank you so much for this!!! I’ll definitely check out those courses, along with keeping these tips in mind. I love this channel!
I like your minimalistic, realistic videos
Hi, Just started watching your videos and ended up watching like 6 in a row. These are so good, lool. I'm a self-taught data scientist and I have similar regrets. Keep it up! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I'm old. I've been programming for nearly 30 years. I've developed some products over the years that have affected a specific industry. I've written language parsers/lexers, runtime environments, pro CG tools, etc... and *still* I find that there's far too much to learn. Oh... I'm self taught. Rather than trying to find employment, I've built my own software companies... and am in the process of building a new one. Keep ya head up.
Mastering use of developer tools is HUGE. I’m in the final year of my CS degree and just now realized how much time is wasted due to the lack of this skill!
hey, I am just beginning my degree and wanted to learn few things/skills which I can begin from now, any tips? @
Gabrielė
@@Anne-rc3og You have a code every day, and spend time learning concepts.
Really helpful info, as always. I work with developers testing new features and am considering that career path for myself--I see day to day how hard they work and the pressure to always learn more. It can definitely be intimidating. Appreciate your videos and how supportive and informative they are.
I love this! I love your authenticity and how genuine you are. I'm a self-learner as well in coding and started last year, still studying as I know I'm not quite there yet. My goal this year is to prep for tech/code interviews and hopefully land something, even if it's a non-tech role but in the right industry :)
Love this video! I graduated on the Fall2020 and I feel have learned more these past three months on my own than in school.
The learning never stops, and yeah it can be frustrating, but its always possible to overcome it by taking it step by step
Totally awesome. I can tell you that the feeling of always having to learn new things never ends. I've been at this for 30+ years. The number of things to learn only increases. And that is wonderful.
This is so interesting as someone who's also self taught. Thanks for making this! :)
software interviews test for:
- algos and data structures
- behavior/culture fit
And, that's all you should focus on until you get a job.
This was a great video! Most of the articles and channels that I looked at didn't provide the info you gave. Thank you so much!
I really appreciate the value you put in every video you make. Every info is so spot on... and cool background music which not many can nail
Great video Bukola 👏🏾
THANK YOU! i'm currently just starting down the path of being self taught, just to get ready for a bootcamp by next year, although the INSANE amount I know i'll have to end up learning in the long run just seems so unrealistic to obtain in 3 months to actually be proficient with not only the technologies, but also the soft skills like reading through others code and debugging.
Solid video! I DO NOT see enough people talking about this lol
Thank you! I'm exploring the path and this is the kind of content I was looking for!!
Got a random recommendation for your video not having seen you before, and what a pleasure it was to watch. Subscribed for how real and straightforward you were with just about everything, and I imagine a number of developers share similar sentiments on the start.
This are great tips!! When I first started learning to code I spent a lot of time reading and memorizing stuff and I honestly never really truly learned how to code until I started building stuff or trying to solve programming challenges.
Not only you have to keep learning about coding, but you also have to be fluent in the industry you work for. E.g. if you develop solutions for the garment industry, then you need to learn about the garment business. Develop for health industry, game industry, retail industry, etc., and you have to learn about those too. Self-learning is not necessarily a disadvantage, because college only trains you a few years and doesn't perform miracles. You have to do a lifetime of learning on your own whether you go to college or not.
Yup. Domain knowledge can really set you apart.
I really like your advice! Not the trope cliche answers but real life pragmatic examples of what you'll see day to day. Love this :)!
I am also self-taught. Took me about a year haha and the learning never stops
@athesit humanist i have a undergrad degree I math, I’ve seen people do it with just and associates but it is much more difficult because of the competition. Almost impossible
How about creating a project to stand as your resume then freelance
@shabby arp biggest problem will be competition since degrees are an easy way to show you have put the time in. Definitely recommend a portfolio with real - world projects
Nice job!! Keep up the grind and it was pay out eventually. Great insight for folks who are learning and what's to be expected.
Great video! Always something interesting and worth watching SE related content on your channel, especially for beginners like me.
I've just started to get back into coding for fun and the tip about learning your editor is GOLDEN! Cause I legit started researching keyboard shortcuts for VS code.
I love your channel, you awnsering so manny questions that I have yet to even ask myself :)!
Every time I see someone post a vid talking bout how they got a dev job in 3 months I feel like slapping them through the computer screen
Some people have done it though
my brother did haha. paid for an 8 wk javascript course and got a job at the same company afterwards as the person who ran the course had worked for previously. think he was just told exactly what to expect at interview.
@@hodsh1 makes sense
Yeah, Bragging about your "status" like that is the most asshole thing to do ever.
Peen slap me bro
Thank you for sharing your personal experience sister, this is inspiring!
Pretty insightful, especially regarding the realistic timeframe. 🙏🏽
Hi Bukola, I'm new here, nice to meet you. Thank you so much for this informative video. I've been trying to tell my parents to not believe the online ads and claims about learning coding in 3 to 6 months. Also, I really appreciate your updates about learning to read other people's code, debugging and optimizing the tools. I learned a lot from this video. Thank you so much for your hard work and effort. Sending you lots of love, I hope you have a blessed day.
Iam in Love with this Lady ,she is very calm and composed!
By far, the most valuable video I've ever seen. This is way more than gold.
You’re so awesome 👏 Thank you so much for all these videos! They’re so useful for all the girls planning their careers in software development! Or just like me... daydreaming to become one 😸
This all so accurate!! Thanks Bukola.
I did get my first job after just 4 months of self-learning, though to be fair I was lucky to get it and the first 6 months were really hard. There was so much basic stuff I still didn't know at the time, but thankfully my employers were very patient with me
What kind of code did you use for the job?
Hello! Just recently ran into your videos as I am transitioning into a new career. I graduated with a degree in Molecular Bilogy and soon realize after getting a job directly in my field that it wasn’t for me. I’m currently in the early beginning stages of learning programming and I’m super excited and motivated to continuously learn!!!
Thanks a lot Bukola, this is very insightful.
Valuable info as always!
Very helpful information, thanks for sharing Bukola
Very good summary. Even if you are not self taught, the process is nearly the same. No university really teaches that deeply. You are doing very well.
great tips! thanks!
(& on a side note... this is your first one I've seen. You seem like an incredibly sweet person.... voice inflections, mannerisms, smile... what a smile! :)
I watched one of your videos last year while I was trying to learn to code for a couple weeks and immediately gave up. Now I've decided to commit to learning again and I found this video to be realistically inspiring so that I don't get wrapped up in the IDEA of what some people may be trying to sell me. I agree that 3 months is not enough time, it is a long-term journey to develop into a developer
Useful tips.Thank you very much.Merry Xmas and Happy New Year
I taught myself from 11 years old to 19 years old before I got my first software job. Talk about long times lol
@Aisha M CZcams
@@bulbacode4380 which proves do you really need school
@@waynegore176 I don’t think anyone needs school. But maybe I’m an anomaly idk
@@bulbacode4380 you’re not an anomaly it’s just that Software Engineering became a formal industry after the desktop computing revolution and rise of business/enterprise software.
In the 80s and 90s when a lot of hobbyists were into games MANY of the top contributors piled in from their bedrooms while still in their teens.
The old Demo scene where truly incredible skills would be showcased was largely driven by self taught hobbyists with truly ridiculous skills honed over hours and hours and hours of learning and experimenting.
Understanding the underlying hardware, how to get the machine go faster, go louder, go brighter. Learning math to produce complex geometry and effects in graphics and audio.
It was difficult to get access to a Mainframe machine or a proper Unix Workstation so we played about with 8-bit machines like the Commodores, Spectrums, Amstrads, Atari’s, BBCs, etc and then eventually PCs.
I was building 3D engines in C and Assembler at 15/16 in the early 90s using library books and bootleg compilers/assemblers 😋
Once I said I’d like to work for a proper company doing “business software” at 18 I was told to get a degree.
It really would have made more sense taking my C skills and getting to grips with the Windows C API, I has already started out on C++ and OOP the year before uni anyways.
I didn’t know any industry people, there wasn’t any social media or CZcams - you sought of trusted what the olders said and got on with it.
It’s a world of conventions, exceptions and luck.
We just have to figure things out.
If you feel like an anomaly chances are you’re just one of the pioneers.
After COVID with many institutions turning to remote learning during the worst times, with lots of courses appearing online, individual courses and entire curriculums, we might yet see some movement to where CS learning becomes a remote affair allowing folks the flexibility to work, learn, etc while picking up skills.
We’ll soon see I guess.
great video, I think you are very knowledgable and these are great suggestions
Currently going through this transition myself and these videos are so insightful. It's been a tough journey but these help a lot, so thank you very much for sharing
Keep going, you can do it!
Thanks Bukola! This will help a lot
You are absolutely on point. There is no point where you stop learning. The pace does not slow down. You need to learn to see through the hurricane.
Very insightful and helpful! Keep soaring!
Thank You for the honesty and insights
Thank you so much for your content! You are awesome.
you are so awesome! love your commitment!
She is so spot on! As a self-taught or learning in schools, this is not a game. Coding is a lifetime geek-ish process. I'll never give up because I like the mind bobbling problems.
Washington DC, where can one get volunteer work to get a better perspective on coding?
I’ve been a self taught software developer for over 30 years. I am still a software developer just a very very senior one. Love it. Glad your enjoying your journey the future is bright. 🖖
Great topic. This is a good video to send to a friend who's playing with the idea of becoming a developer.
Thank you so much for your content! I love your honesty. Your video helped me understand that programming is a marathon so I’m sticking with my MS in CS program (no background in CS). Nothing wrong with boot camps, I’ve heard great things about them. The pacing is likely too fast for me to fully comprehend programming fundamentals in such a short time period.
where are you doing your ms? did u have to take prerequisite bachelor classes before taking master classes?
@@matthewmcneil216 BU MET. I had to take a few prerequisites because I didn’t have a background in coding. But not everyone has to take prereqs to be admitted into the program.
@@laluta9 Nice! How is your program going? And I’m at BU MET.
Love your videos. Thanks a lot. Very helpful
Crazy how I began my journey watching your videos last year while beginning my self-taught journey (and badgering you with questions on insta). Just wanted to let you know, we made it! I got a few job offers and owe a lot to your channel and a few blog posts, lol I really didn't use much else. My biggest regret would be not having looked for others to work on projects with or work with in general. Did everything solo and right when I got accepted into recurse where I planned to work with others and pair program, my job offers came in. The irony is suffocating lol. Anyways thanks!
Wow that's amazing!! Congrats on your job offer!!
These are very crucial facts really, and I think the only way to go through the curve faster is lean stacking, only learning what you really need!
As a 3 yr dev this video is so spot on. I learned this information through pure experience.
Is it just me or does Bukola make coding and learning to code jazzy and cool? Loving the new vid, sis! I love sharing space with devs; but, stop short of getting back into that programmer life of prod code. I'm thinking I want to freelance. Do you have any advice on freelancing? I have too much anxiety daily for the responsibility of production code. Also, after I finished my bootcamp, it took me 11 months of hard core grinding to find my 1st developer job. I needed a support group to keep the pace and definitely cried a ton; but, I never gave up. That was almost 4 years ago. Now, I'm a scrum master; but, itching to get my fingers back into code. Thanks as usual for the great content! All the best!
Wow that's serious. Thanks for sharing your story so people can really understand just how hard it is out there to land a job/career in coding.
Loved your channel. Thanks for the tips.
Interesting Topic! I wish more people would give their perspectives on daily work and perceptions when it comes to degrees
Thanks for those awesome MIT Open courses also, really handy!
I’m always an advocate to get a degree. Why? Because whatever you do, you will be more credible. That’s it. Even for non tech savvy people, you will be seen as a more reliable person, than someone who never proved that they can work under stress. Thus it opens more doors in your career. Despite the fact that it is not the case. Love your channel, keep it up!
3 months is definitely unrealistic, I went to a 6 month coding bootcamp that gave me the base to grow my coding skills. Although I see a lot of companies hiring bootcamp graduates to mentor them
App Academy ?
@@robdog114 Ironhack
What type of companies are more likely to hire boot camp graduates?
@@brecaldwell2993 Startups, freelance/contract jobs, industries like mobile/web or game dev where quick & dirty often supercedes slow & good - basically places where they put a premium on hiring someone cheap, quickly. Large/enterprise companies, with full-time staff positions can generally afford (in time & money) to be more competitive.
@Derek Hawkins I have yet to meet a single person who has become a full stack dev in 3 months without any previous coding experience. Unrealistic doesn't mean impossible maybe a genius could do it, becoming a full stack dev requires months and month of experience and not only in your own "Hello World" projects, I'm talking about real open source or private projects. I do agree with you that there's no cookie-cutter template for learning how to code but bootcamps definitely help to get started.
Great tips Miss. It's very helpful for beginners like me !
The most important thing is that you have the desire to always learn and also be able to take judgment of an experienced developer as a chance to improve yourself.
Thank you for the video, amazing quality
Hi! I just heard about The Missing Semester yesterday haha. I think I'm meant to check it out. Much thanks for your advice and resources you share in this video - gracias! #SelfTaughtDev
Extremely useful info! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely
Thank you for this video!
Working with a large codebase and reading other people's code was a major challenge for me when I started my first job as a developer. Thanks for sharing the tip.
great video as usual Bukola!
Yes it's forever learning as new technology keeps coming out there's always something new to learn
This is the first video that made me realize I haven't really learnt debugging and I've been hacking my way through it. Thank you for that.
Great video! Thank you for being realistic
Thanks for the video!