First steps on becoming a Software Developer

[Morgan Gerrell]

Hello all, I was hoping to ask the community about becoming (what I think is) a Software Developer. First and foremost, what I want to do as a career is design programs (simple tools all the way to games), work on computers (repairs, virus removal, etc...) and build computers to sell. I am very unfamiliar with this field but ever since building my own computer I have an urge to expand my skills and knowledge and do something in this field. The most programming I have ever done was fumble around on my calculator and made a simple program to play "rock, paper, scissors" against my TI-84 calculator using simple logic/if-then statements. Needless to say I have virtually no knowledge in this field so I would like to know a good place to start. I also am afraid that (since I'm 19 years of age) I have missed the train. I know people younger than me that make minecraft mods and what not. Is it too late for me to start? What can I do to effectively develop developing skills? I have tried in the past to learn java script but never could find anything that was really for true beginners. Any tips/suggestions/help would be appreciated!

 

[Kewlx25]

I never did hobby programming. My first programs were in college for homework. I did have decades of self learning just reading how things work. Programming was natural for me when it happened, no real effort, second nature. If you're like that, then no worries. The harder part is finding something that interests you that drives you.

 

[galerecon]

Hello all, I was hoping to ask the community about becoming (what I think is) a Software Developer. First and foremost, what I want to do as a career is design programs (simple tools all the way to games), work on computers (repairs, virus removal, etc...) and build computers to sell. I am very unfamiliar with this field but ever since building my own computer I have an urge to expand my skills and knowledge and do something in this field. The most programming I have ever done was fumble around on my calculator and made a simple program to play "rock, paper, scissors" against my TI-84 calculator using simple logic/if-then statements. Needless to say I have virtually no knowledge in this field so I would like to know a good place to start. I also am afraid that (since I'm 19 years of age) I have missed the train. I know people younger than me that make minecraft mods and what not. Is it too late for me to start? What can I do to effectively develop developing skills? I have tried in the past to learn java script but never could find anything that was really for true beginners. Any tips/suggestions/help would be appreciated!

Are you attending college or plan to? Find universities that have a Bachelor's degree for Computer Science. I just graduated with a BSCS degree and work as a software engineer for an automotive company. I have never dealt with programming until a semester into my undergrad. I originally went there to major in Architectural Engineering but found out I hated it a few weeks into it. It's never too late and 19 is a perfect age. Whether or not you go to a university for a higher education in Computer Science, you should read online and teach yourself. You can also think of small projects for yourself and learn as you build it from the ground up. A great tool is a YouTube channel called TheNewBoston and that guy has a lot of major programming languages for beginners.

Going into this field means that you can't rely on professors or someone else to do the research and learning for you. A lot of the stuff I know now I learned on my own from research and experimentation so keep this in mind.