@Established Professionals in their respective fields -from kid about to enter monk mode

Eyes_Of_The_Dragon · 2016-06-29T00:11:14+00:00

I've been a programmer for over 20 years.

Get a thick skin and drop the ego. Once you're in the real world of programming, you will be handed piles of shit code to maintain. It is not always because coders are idiots, many times it is because they weren't given enough time or information, so they had to rush to get it done.

I jump jobs every few years, this is the best way to increase your income. If you stick in the same job forever, they have no incentive to boost your income.

Docbear64 · 2016-06-29T01:00:57+00:00

the best way for a programmer to get better ( from beginner to senior engineer) is to program more . I got my first gig after having a bunch of demo projects available , I graduated from college but so did 48 other people ( in a class of 50) who have yet to work a day as a software engineer. You school knowledge is great , your personal projects are where you will grow . I skipped a lot of parties to sit in my room and code , while I wish I had more of a social circle ( and if you have better time management skills you should be able to do both ) taking that time to develop , fuck up , develop better, fuck up in a different way are what made me an interesting candidate and lead to interviews.

I'm only 6 years older than you and have had a few consulting gigs myself , once you KNOW how to program you start to see how tech illiterate the vast majority of tech people in the industry and out of the industry are . I've had a guy reach out to me on linkedin and pay me $35 an hour just to essentially brain dump about a concept he and his partner were considering . and again I am not that much older or vastly more experienced than you .

My only piece of advice is look for an area of focus , software engineering is a vast discipline with tons of applications . The sooner you know what you want to program the sooner you can start building a profile around it , expand your understanding of it , and figure out how to sell yourself as a developer of whatever IT is .

Nymdox · 2016-06-29T01:41:22+00:00

Read more code than you write.

Learn why you're writing these apps. Increased revenue? Decreased costs?

Learn how to read a balance sheet and a cash flow statement.

Never go into business with someone who only brings an idea to the table.

Never be "the coder" in a three person business.

When you're young, people will take advantage of you. Get a mentor, and ask them whenever some tells you these are "standard" contract terms.

Read "Lean Software Development" and "Clean Code."

Learn what a cap table is, and why you should care.

Set up an LLC, a business checking account, and a Quickbooks account.

Get an accountant and a lawyer.

Write an application, a compiler, and a device driver. Raspberry Pi is great for this.

Learn how to deploy apps to AWS and Azure.

Learn about load balancing.

Watch a lot of conference talks on YouTube at 1.5x speed. Slow down for bits you don't understand.

Learn the differences between object-oriented, imperative, functional, and logic programming.

Destroyer8769 · 2016-06-29T00:49:59+00:00

You sound like someone I need to associate with. I am 15 but looking to go down a path like this, but deal with the more 'business' side of technology. PM me and I'll send my skype, I am about to dive headfirst into another coding session, so I'm free to brainstorm.

P.S if you can get your hands on a book called think and grow rich, read it. I am now and it has great guidance that you are asking for!

Eyes_Of_The_Dragon · 2016-06-29T01:48:32+00:00

Check out stuff by Uncle Bob Martin about clean coding and architecture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_TH-Y78tt4

MustNotFfff · 2016-06-29T02:55:59+00:00

Programming w/ different languages but ultimately, I feel like languages are not hard to learn, just that GOOD IDEAS for projects that are scarce. --> Develop my portfolio to apply for jobs.

You don't have to come up with good ideas. At all. Feel completely free to borrow other people's ideas. You're building up a portfolio here. Your first employer will want to see your coding ability, not your ability to come up with cool services/products. Just make sure that whatever you coded, you can talk about it/explain it.

RPthrowaway_007 · 2016-06-29T03:55:18+00:00

I don't see lifting on your list.

AlfredApple · 2016-06-29T07:48:45+00:00

Learn some excel on the side. The "excel guy" at work is always being asked for favours and the big bosses love him because he can fix old sheets and make their lives easier. Great way to get your foot in the general managers door or his radar.

Look at eLearning platforms as they are taking off. Building and modifying LMSs (learning management systems) is going to be important as more companies let people train and learn out of the office.

Title	@Established Professionals in their respective fields -from kid about to enter monk mode
Author	apleasantpeasant
Upvotes	4
Comments	29
Date	June 29, 2016 12:01 AM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/4qcm7v/established_professionals_in_their_respective/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/established-professionals-in-their-respective.107608 https://theredarchive.com/post/107608

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