Learn to code in 2018, get hired, and have fun along the way

This is republished from my original medium article here

Last year I wrote a post that went viral which gave you step by step instructions on how to become a web developer in 2017. A lot has changed since then and since I’m a proponent of not wasting time, I wanted to share with you the updated article because there is a ton of changes. I’ve also made this way more extensive than the last one. These are the steps that you should be taking if you want to learn to code in 2018. Let’s get started shall we?

P.S. This is Part 1 of a two part series.

If you are a complete beginner, junior developer, or are curious about this industry, this post is for you. If you are an established developer, you may find some useful links in here as I list the best resources to supercharge your skills. I also wrote a post on how to become a senior software developer that may be useful to you.

If you find this post too long, you can skip over and start from the 5 Months, Step By Step Section. But you’ll hurt my feelings...so you know, you can live with that guilt.

Ok you’re still here. Great! I like you already. Let’s keep going…

Using online courses and mostly free tools, you can gain a valuable skill that will allow you to be employed in a great industry that is rewarding, challenging, and with a lot of options to move around the world (more on this later). 2018 will see the growing job field of technically literate people grow like crazy. It’s the reason I got into the industry in the first place. I wanted control over my life, and to have a say in what type of work I do. To this day, I stand by my statement that this is the best industry to get into if that is your goal.

Important note: The post may seem like a step by step guide of what to do to become a developer, but if you look closely, it is a strategy that you can apply to any sort of learning.

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Why coding?

Before we get into the steps you can take to become a developer, we must first dive into why you would want to go down this path. Every decision that will require significant time of your life should be justified. Time, after all, is the most important resource we have:

A. You want to be working in an industry where there is a high demand for the skill and many possibilities to be in highly important roles at the top of the food chain.

B. You love being location independent. You want a skill that allows you to go anywhere in the world and still be able to find a job easily. If you decide to move to Iceland tomorrow, you want to make sure that you won’t have issues finding a job.

C. You’ve noticed the difference between 2003 and 2018 and how much of a technological progress we have made in those short 15 years. You want to be at the forefront of an industry that is impacting the world.

D. The biggest industry growth in the last couple of years has been in the cryptocurrency (Bitcoin), and artificial intelligence (Machine Learning)space. We interact with technology on the daily, and you want to not be left behind in the dust as these things take over our future. You want to understand and be able to pick up these skills.

E. You think change is good, and learning should never stop. So why not do something new?

But I don’t have a computer science degree and I don’t even know how the internet works! Don’t worry, we will use that to your advantage. Keep reading…

When choosing a new career path here are some good must/nice to-haves:

1. It must be relevant for the next 10+ years. This skill should be valued many years in the future guaranteeing you job security.

2. Demand for people with this skill must be higher than the supply. The less available pool of skilled workers in the industry, the more control you can have over your job and companies you work for.

3. Ability to have a high salary regardless of years in the industry. You don’t want to spend many years climbing the corporate ladder until you make a decent living.

4. An industry that doesn’t require a specialized degree from a university. You don’t want to spend the next 4 years getting into debt and going to a graduate program before you start making money. And yes, I think there are better alternatives than going to an expensive coding bootcamp.

5. Ability to catch up to the top performers in the industry in the shortest amount of time. Can little experience still get you employed? And can you close the gap as fast as possible to be considered a senior or an expert in the field?

6. It must allow you to build foundational skills that will give you multiple career options no matter what the future holds. For example, by learning to code, you’re able to better understand new up-coming technologies like distributed applications, blockchain, and cloud computing, and chose which field you want to jump into next.

7. Have fun. The most important one. Can you see yourself doing this 40 hours a week for a long time?

Coding hits every one of the points above in my experience. Your mileage may vary. One of my favourite books is titled So Good They Can’t Ignore You. In there, they argue that passion is a myth. You shouldn’t go into the travel industry because you are “passionate” about travel. Most people find passion by struggling and working hard to master a skill. Once people start acknowledging your valuable skills, and you are able to feel respected for these skills, that’s when you develop passion for what you do.

You want to evaluate this yourself and see if it is something that is right for you.

Still with me? I haven’t scared you off? Ok, we shall keep going then….

IMPORTANT POINT READ IT: keep in mind that the first 2 months will feel like you are climbing an insurmountable mountain. Every tutorial, course or lesson you do will make you feel like you are the only person in the world that doesn’t know this stuff. Stay strong. You will get there and you will have more and more ‘AHA!’ moments as time progresses. We call this the Impostor’s Syndrome: where you feel like you are the only one who doesn’t know this information and you are surrounded by self-doubt. Rest assured we all feel this way when we learn something new.

What you will learn is that being a good developer isn’t necessarily memorizing a whole bunch of documentation. It’s about learning how to solve problems using all of the tools that are available to you. It’s about being a problem solver and getting from a state of not knowing to knowing.

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Who are you and why should I listen to you?

Wow, you’re direct, but I guess that’s a fair question. First off, I’m a senior software developer that has worked in various places including Silicon Valley at some of the top tech firms. I’ve been very fortunate in my career and I’m actually taking all of 2018 off to help others learn software skills. But I wasn’t born a computer wiz. I didn’t graduate with a computer science degree.

P.S. This part is all about me, so if you don’t care (totally fare point), just skip this section. I’ll get over it eventually.

It all started many years ago…I wanted a career change and decided to teach myself computer programming.

I spent the first month avoiding any tutorials or books. Instead, I spent this month looking at the best way for me to learn and get hired. I wanted to be efficient, not waste my time and learn outdated technologies, or learn things that I would forget after a month. I studied other people’s experiences, looked at job postings, spoke to established developers, reviewed online courses, looked at bootcamps, and even read articles by futurists on where we will be with technology in 20 years. Based on those, I created a curriculum for myself focused on efficiency: The critical amount of learning in order to be employable in the shortest amount of time.

If you love the works of Tim Ferriss as much as I do, you’re going to love this. The curriculum isn’t focused on doing the least amount of work. Instead, it is focused on working really hard at the things that matter most in order to be employed in the optimum way. This doesn’t mean doing the bare minimum and being hired as a junior developer. If you can work hard and skip the line by jumping straight into an intermediate developer role, that is a better outcome. Luckily for you I have already sifted through everything.

Although I spent one month planning my studying instead of actually studying, it was a benefit in the long run because I wasn’t running blind. I knew where I was going, and I had a map to the finish line. You will too.

So yes, I’ve been where you are and I know what it takes. When I was getting started, I wish there was something like this that outlined things for me. I also found many tutorials were taught by people with a lot of technical knowledge but without being able to properly teach a novice. I’ve read and studied every single video, tutorial and course that time permitted, and I still do.

Since then, I have consulted for Fortune500 tech companies, run coding workshops, consulted on published tech books, and given technical talks. I am now in a position where I don’t have to work for anybody. I love this career and I think many people would enjoy it and benefit from it as well. So I’m on a mission to help others who want to make this jump.

Ok that last sentence was a wee bit dramatic…??

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What language are we going to learn?

You are going to become a Javascript ninja for the following reasons:

→ Javascript is everywhere. Every company that has a website or an app needs someone with Javascript knowledge. This language is a requirement for a TON of job postings (If you don’t trust me, search for Javascript in your area on LinkedIn).

→ With the introduction of Node.js you can use Javascript to create a full-stack app (english = you can use javascript to build your entire project). Using tools like Electron, React Native and many others, Javascript allows you to build a desktop app, a mobile app, a web app, and even VR apps. You can control robots by using something like Jonny-Five. You can build your own blockchain. Lisk, an ethereum like platform uses javascript.

→ If you didn’t read the first point and you were thinking about something else, let me reiterate: Industry demand for Javascript experts is HUGE. It is not uncommon for developers to get contacted by recruiters and headhunters multiple times a week for job offers.

→ Javascript community is growing at a crazy fast pace. There is a lot of new developments in the community. Some people complain about Javascript fatigue, since more and more new tools are being developed every day. However, we can use this to our advantage. You would be learning these new technologies at the same time as people who have been in the industry for years.

Trust me, it is a great community with a lot of demand. If you don’t trust me, here is a trending developer skills analysis.

Enough jabber, let’s get started. Below you will find what I believe are the best for you to get the most out of your time. By the end of 5 months, you should be able to land your first real non-entry level programming job. No bootcamps. Just you and your determination.

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The 5 months, step by step

We will be focusing on the most employable and in demand skills in 2018. No time for outdated technologies like PHP or jQuery. There is nothing wrong with them, and I have total respect, but based on some of the emails I have received over the years, a lot of people are in financial need and have families that they have to support. Time is important to them and they want to be employable as soon as possible.

First Month: The Big Picture

Big question to answer: How do computers, the internet and websites work? How can I build a website?

• Understand the Feynman Technique so you really learn over the course of the next 5 months instead of just using your short term memory.
• How Does the internet work: this from LearnCode.academy and this from thenewboston.
• The best overview of Computer Science: Crash Course Computer Science
• Follow this Harvard course on youtube. This is just pure gold from probably the best computer science instructor. No need to do the exercises.
• How to use the command Line: this by Zed Shaw.
• How to build a website/get a domain/and have it up and running: LearnCode.academy video.
• How does HTML, CSS and Javascript fit together: FrontendMasters course on web development. Only up to and including section on Javascript.
• Learn to build websites with Bootstrap. Start with this then go to the Bootstrap 4 documentation and add components you see there to a sample website. Understand the benefits that it provides vs writing CSS yourself.
• Understand how to use templates to build websites using free themes and templates.
• If you have time, you can do a few of the courses on the HTML and CSS sections at freeCodeCamp.

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Second Month: Javascript

Big question to answer: How does javascript make machines do what you want?

• This is where most of your focus will be in the later months. What problem does Javascript solve? Start writing little programs in Javascript to make your website behave in a certain way. This language makes your websites do things other than just look pretty. Start with these two courses: one and two
• Read the Eloquent Javascript book.
• Learn about DOM manipulation.
• Read this great article about programming.
• Learn how you can use chrome developer console to write javascript. Do this CodeSchool course (only the console section). Then learn to inject <script> tags in your html to run javascript files.
• Watch this by Kyle Simpson, and finish the rest of the course you started the first month. Finally, finish these five courses on the javascript track from CodeSchool.
• Use this guide from freeCodeCamp for short lookups if you have questions throughout the 5 months.
• Learn the new ES6 features in this two part series: one and two.
• Learn git and Github with these courses. Create a Github profile and start making commits every day. Start developing a sample website.
• Terminology/Jargon: this video and this.
• Finally, watch this great playlist on youtube. Ignore the sections on jQuery and Grunt.
• Start using this guide whenever you have questions and you want to dig deeper into a topic.

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Third Month: Javascript + NPM + Building Your Website

Big question to answer: Can I build a professional looking website and understand the entire process?

• Google Developer Tools → learn how to debug your programs and websites using google Chrome. Finish this CodeSchool course if you haven’t done it yet.
• Start attending local meet-ups on coding and Javascript.
• Learn the difference between synchronous and asynchronous javascript.
• What is the event loop? → Once you have a good grasp of Javascript thistalk will be a game changer. Hands down the best talk on javascript ever given.
• Learn about Promises, and Async Await in ES7 here.
• Finally, watch this course by Douglas Crockford.
• Learn about the history of modules in Javascript here.
• download node.js and npm. Download lodash from npm and use browserify to use Common Js imports. Learn about it here. Understand why npm is such an amazing tool for developers.
• By the end of the month you should have a personal website up with the codebase on Github. Use Github pages to have a live website for free.

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Fourth Month: React.js (or Vue.js)

Big question to answer: What problem does React or Vue solve?

I’m heavily biased. I love React.js. As a matter of fact, I teach it to others and run workshops on it. So just trust me on this one. Learn React unless you have a good reason to learn Vue.js. It’s new and exciting, but the job demand just isn’t there yet.

• React → Do these in order: one, two, three. Then head on over to the official documentation and read through everything. If you have the money, this is the best react tutorial.
• If you have the time and you want even more in depth tutorial on react here it is
• Optional: Learn Redux → Watch this course. Don’t let your head explode. Then read the documentation for it as well.
• Build a sample React application using create-react-app. Create-react-app will blow you away. It will open up a new world for you.
• Deploy your app on Heroku.
• Deploy your app on GitHub pages.
• Start following top 10 articles on Medium and read any article on coding that ever comes up. Sign up to these email lists to keep in touch with what is happening in the industry: Javascript and React.
• Start building your online resume. There are people that give better advice than me on this. Check this and this out. I also wrote an article on this that you can check out, but this post is already getting too long and you’re starting to give me evil eyes.

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Last Month: Servers, Databases and Connecting the Dots

Big question to answer: Where do servers, databases, and raspberryPis fit into all of this?

• HTTP, JSON and AJAX. Learn how these allow you to communicate with servers.
• Learn how to build an API server. Then go a step further and master node and Express.js here.
• Once you are done with this, use a fun API like this one and build a simple app.
• Subscribe to the computerphile youtube channel and watch their videos as they come. Even though topics may be difficult, it will introduce you to some amazing things.
• What is a Computer/Server/OS: buy a raspberryPi and build your own server. Look up different projects on youtube you can do with your raspberryPi. Finally, build a simple script that makes lights attached to your raspberryPi blink. Follow this course. Host your website on the raspberry pie. Be amazed at how cool you are.
• Spend one day each on the below subjects. You don’t need to have a good grasp on them. Just learn why they are there and what problems they are solving: Testing, Machine Learning, Time Complexity, SQL, UX/UI, Continuous Delivery, Basic Data structures. You should be able to explain what a data structure is. Hint: Arrays and Objects are two popular Javascript data structures.

***I can already hear people screaming at me with the above suggestion. “Are you out of your mind?! You don’t think testing is important?” But hear me out. I do agree that the above is important to be a good developer, and everybody should learn those skills. However, we are trying to build a trunk of foundation here. It is easy to start diving deep into a topic, but without the foundation you won’t actually know why it’s important, or how it relates to what you are doing. Additionally, in most job postings I found, there was very little mention of the above skills. Just save learning these until you are on the job.***

REMEMBER: your goal is to get employed in the most efficient manner.

• Build a small project using firebase as the database.
• Read The Two Pillars of JavaScript Part 1 and The Two Pillars of JavaScript Part 2.

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Let’s Recap

By the end of the 5 months you should have the below requirements completed:

1. Learn HTML and CSS. Then, buy a domain, buy hosting from a place like BlueHost or HostGator, get the cheapest option, make a website, and put it online. You can skip this option if you would like and use Github Pages. But if you can afford it, actually buy one of the above hosting platforms so you understand how they work. This is going to be your portfolio from now on. Learn how to update it and make edits. As you learn new things, continue to make it nicer and nicer. Don’t spend too much time on this. Just enough to show that you’re able to put something online and make it look nice.

2. Start learning Javascript. Now how can you make your website interactive? Go through the above resources and see what Javascript does.

3. Start pushing your little projects to GitHub. Employers will look at your GitHub profile and how active you are on there. Try to make commits 5 times a week on your personal projects (they don’t have to be big). Also try reading through this and contributing to some open source projects like freeCodeCamp.

4. Learn to google and use Stack Overflow when you have problems. 99% of problems you will encounter when you start out can be found online. Or join the Javascript IRC channel and ask questions when you are stuck. Your local community might also have a slack channel. If not, pick one from here and talk to other developers.

5. Become comfortable using a command line to do things. Always have it open when practicing and try using it instead of the GUI (graphical user interface).

6. Learn the newest language features and trends in Javascript, and learn to solve problems with them (i.e. Promises, ES6, ES7, functional programming techniques).

7. Attend local meet-ups and start talking to people. You will be really overwhelmed and confused by all of the things you don’t know. Don’t worry as this is natural. Just start meeting other coders so you can be surrounded by the lingo and jargon.

8. Start listening to the podcast, Javascript Jabber. This will get yourself familiar with the jargon so when interview time comes, it doesn’t overwhelm you. The first few times you listen, you will have no idea what they are talking about. Don’t lose hope. Eventually you it will all make sense. FunFunFunctionis also a great weekly youtube channel you should follow. For a more complex podcast, but probably the best on software, check out Software Engineering Daily. Also keep an eye out on the state of javascript survey every year to see what is trending in the industry.

9. Start applying to recruitment agencies early. We are going to use them as practice. Most of these have practice interviews with professional coders so they can rank your skill, but you can use these to practice programming question, and ask these experts any questions you want!

10. Start applying for jobs for which you are way under-qualified. You will get some interviews. You should never settle for a job. If you never ask, the answer is always no.

11. Make your LinkedIn profile look nice. Don’t spent too much time on your resume. Make it one page, make it concise and write down all the skills you’ve learned in the previous months. Being self taught shows a lot of courage. Remember that your resume is just to get you an interview, after which, they are as good as paper towels…ok bad analogy because paper towels are very useful. I spent less than 2 hours on my resume. What makes you different than other developers is the fact that you come from a different field and background. How is this going to differentiate you?

12. Interview and be amazed at how employable you are. Not all of them will go well, but then again, not many developers learned everything in the last 5 months. It shows ambition. ONLY apply to jobs on LinkedIn, and the rest should just be you emailing directly or calling the company you want to work for. Don’t waste your time on mass Craigslist, Kijiji, or Monster.com, or other job board ads. You can also use services like Indeed prime or hired if you want.

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What is the 20% that will get me 80% of results

Most people have an idea that you need to get something 100% before they can move on to the next step. However, for most skills, including programming, the closer you get to 100%, the longer it takes to get there. You only have 5 months. The last 20% will be better served actually working in teams, on real projects (and getting paid). So we are only focusing on getting 80% of the knowledge to use our time efficiently.

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Biggest takeaway from all of this

Technology is always changing. This is especially true with Javascript. Things are moving so fast right now that it is impossible to know every single library, quirk, or framework. What you do need to know is how everything fits together and what each technology is trying to solve. Most importantly, you just need to know it exists so you can look into it and figure it out when the time comes. Programmers are problem solvers. Learn to solve problems with the tools available to you. Most of us spend a lot of time on pages like StackOverflow or researching google because there are so many resources out there. Once you build the foundation of your knowledge, you can go anywhere. You just need to know how to look for answers and ask questions.

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Conclusion

Focus on efficiency. The reason most of us give up on a goal is because we don’t see results. By focusing on the things that matter, it makes learning fun. But it doesn’t end here. Learning never stops, and your goal was to get employed as soon as possible so that from that point on, everyday you are receiving a salary to learn.

Coding gets more and more fun with each passing day and it’s even better when you are getting paid every day to solve problems and develop your skills. The real growth happens when you start working on real projects with real teams. That’s why I strongly believe that you want your ‘study’ period to be as short as possible, in order to avoid debt, and increase your time in the best environment for learning: working in teams. I wouldn’t even recommend freelancing to start off. You want to surround yourself in an environment where everybody is smarter than you and you are working everyday with them. From there, be a sponge and absorb all of the information.

We’re building that trunk. When that trunk gets big and strong, and the roots are all put into place, your rate of learning new things will be exponential. You’ll form leaves of knowledge faster and faster with each passing day.

Make 2018 the year that you took a risk, you learned a highly in demand skill, you were terrified, you had new experiences, and you received new opportunities. Give it a try.

One last thing…

I created an online course: The Complete Web Developer in 2018 where I walk you through the entire steps I mentioned above if you want everything in one place, extra help or you want to support my work. It’s over 100 HD videos and 20+ hours of content. It took an insane # of hours to make. But I’m really proud of how everything turned out. I’m releasing it to the world today, and since it’s the holiday season, you can use coupon code KHDKA7166.

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 where I go over some advanced topics and what to do after the first 5 months.

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Thank you for reading this far. Sorry for the long post, but if you enjoyed this post, please share and comment. . .Maybe it will inspire someone to make the jump into a new career.

Follow me on Twitter if you’re interested in more in-depth and informative write-ups like these in the future!

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You can view my online course here: The Complete Web Developer in 2018