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  • Do programmers use Mac or PC?
    Common Questions

    Do Programmers Use Mac or PC?

    June 19, 2020 /

    In this post, we tackle a question that troubles many an aspiring programmer: Do programmers use Mac or PC? The question does have a short, straightforward answer. Here it goes: Some programmers use Mac, while others favor PCs running Microsoft Windows. Still others prefer to use one of the many Linux distributions. Last but not least, some use some combination of the options above. Are you satisfied with this answer? I wouldn’t be. As it often happens, the short answer turns out to be too short. Despite being technically correct, it doesn’t tell the whole story. I bet there are more things you want to know about this Mac vs.…

    Read More
    Carlos Schults

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    Lessons From a Veteran: From Economics to Software Engineering With Andrew Bryant

    July 16, 2021
    What non-programming skills do programmers need?

    What Non-Programming Skills Do Programmers Need?

    July 10, 2020
    A set of keys for home

    Do Programmers Work From Home?

    January 19, 2019
  • Do programmers need a degree?
    Common Questions

    Do Programmers Need a Degree?

    June 5, 2020 /

    In today’s job market, many of you look for ways to improve your employability and earnings potential. And you may have noticed articles pointing out the apparent shortage of programmers, along with information on the amazing salaries and benefits they receive. Combining all these things, you may be one of the many people who are now trying to break into programming. And for those of you who are trying to break in, one of the most popular questions revolves around degree requirements. Mainly, you want to know if degrees are required. And you want to know if the degree has to be in a specific field of study. Today we’ll…

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    Sylvia Fronczak

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    Lessons From a Veteran: Hard-Nosed Advice From a Softie

    May 15, 2020
    Full stack of cards

    What Is a Full Stack Developer, Anyway?

    November 2, 2018
    Software Engineers laughing

    Are Software Engineers Happy? Yes, They Are, and Here’s Why

    April 3, 2019
  • Should programmers learn linux?
    Common Questions

    Should Programmers Learn Linux?

    May 22, 2020 /

    Stop me if you’ve heard this one: “Programmers only use Linux. PCs and Macs are for noobs!” Yeah, no. Linux is a tool. Windows is a tool. MacOS is also a tool. Each is an operating system (OS) that you need in order to make a computer useful, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The problem is that, just like many other tools, these popular OSs have tribes. If Windows is DC Comics and macOS is Marvel, then Linux is Dark Horse. Uh, What Is Linux, Anyway? Let’s start at the beginning. (It’s one of my favorite places to start.) If you’re asking whether you should learn Linux, you…

    Read More
    Eric Goebelbecker

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    Should Programmers Learn HTML?

    December 14, 2018
    100 Days of Code Success Stories Make Me a Programmer

    100 Days of Code: Nabendu Biswas on Motivating Students—and Himself

    January 9, 2022
    How long does it take to learn Python?

    How Long Does It Take to Learn Python?

    December 3, 2020
  • What is the best programming book for beginners?
    Common Questions

    What Is the Best Programming Book for Beginners?

    November 20, 2019 /

    I know, I know. You’re here looking for the best programming book for beginners (if you came here from Google). The one book to rule them all, as it were. I wish I could give you that. I wish anyone could. But here’s the thing. Programming is so involved—so complex—that anyone offering a book like that is selling you snake oil. There are bootcamps and four-year CS degrees dedicated to preparing you for a programming career.  No one book is going to stand in for that. And that applies even if you’re looking for a hobby, rather than a career. So, what I’ll do in this post is make some…

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    Erik Dietrich

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    100 Days of Code Success Stories Make Me a Programmer

    100 Days of Code: From Ambulance Driver to Dev With the Coding Paramedic

    July 23, 2021
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    What Makes a Good Software Engineer?

    March 21, 2019
    Best way to learn Python

    Best Way to Learn Python: Resources and a Brief How-To

    October 29, 2021
  • Languages on boards
    Common Questions

    Why Are There So Many Programming Languages?

    June 19, 2019 /

    Recently, an outsider to the programming world offhandedly asked me a question: “why are there so many programming languages?” This gave me pause for a moment.  When you’re steeped in the programming world, you just kind of take this for granted.  In that sense, it’s like me asking you right now, “why are there so many spoken languages on Earth?” But I reflected a little further on it.  And I decided it would make good fodder for this blog—one that answers questions asked by newbie and aspiring programmers.  We answer questions about whether software engineers are happy and whether programmers should blog.  Why not this question? So let’s look at…

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    Erik Dietrich

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    Magento performance concerns

    Magento Performance Concerns and How to Boost It

    May 28, 2021
    100 Days of Code Success Stories Make Me a Programmer

    100 Days of Code: Disney Web Producer Katie Reynolds on Self-Reliance

    September 3, 2021
    What non-programming skills do programmers need?

    What Non-Programming Skills Do Programmers Need?

    July 10, 2020
  • Common Questions,  Get Started Programming

    What Is the Best Way to Learn C#? A Complete Introduction

    May 28, 2019 /

    Let’s talk about learning today.  Specifically, let’s talk about learning a programming language.  What’s the best way to learn C#? For the most part on this blog, we’ve answered questions that non-programmers might have about the world of programming when they’re thinking of breaking in.  And while I suppose learning a programming language could fall into this category, it’s a little more specific. But I wanted to examine this topic with a blog post for a specific reason.  I happened to Google “best way to learn C#” and find that something was consistently missing from the results. Don’t get me wrong. The results are helpful.  It’s just that they seem to focus…

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    Erik Dietrich

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    Software engineer or software programmer

    Is a Software Engineer the Same As a Software Developer?

    October 24, 2018
    Lessons from a veteran developer

    Lessons From a Veteran: Gabriel Aizcorbe on Unexpected Lessons

    July 24, 2020
    Students graduating after obtaining education

    What Education Is Needed to Become a Programmer?

    October 18, 2018
  • Software Engineers laughing
    Common Questions

    Are Software Engineers Happy? Yes, They Are, and Here’s Why

    April 3, 2019 /

    On this blog, we’ve taken on some questions that seem as though they’d be too general to answer.  For instance, we looked at what programmers wear to work and whether programming is hard.  And now, in that same vein, I’ll answer the question, “are software engineers happy?” Of course, you must understand that this involves painting with a broad brush.  How could it not? So the idea here isn’t to peg every software engineer on the planet, nor to speak in absolutes.  Rather, it’s about taking a look at the most common case for those of us in the field. I’ll give you a short, quick answer.  Then I’ll list…

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    Erik Dietrich

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    Can you use Git without GitHub?

    Can You Use Git Without GitHub?

    January 8, 2021
    Lessons from a veteran developer

    Lessons From a Veteran: Approaching Things From a Different Direction

    June 12, 2020
    Students graduating after obtaining education

    What Education Is Needed to Become a Programmer?

    October 18, 2018
  • Software Engineers
    Common Questions

    What Makes a Good Software Engineer?

    March 21, 2019 /

    On this blog, we cover a lot of topics about how to break into programming.  So that practically begs us to answer the question, “what makes a good software engineer?” Well, let’s answer that question today. What Makes a Good Software Engineer: The Short Answer In fact, let’s answer it briefly, right out of the gate.  This will set the stage for the more detailed answer below, where I’ll offer 13 different traits that will help you become a good engineer. A good software engineer is someone who is not only competent at writing code, but also competent in everything else required to build, deliver, and ship valuable software.  A…

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    Erik Dietrich

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    Lessons from a veteran developer

    Lessons From a Veteran: Turning a Hobby Into a Fulfilling Career

    August 14, 2020
    Lessons from a veteran developer

    Lessons From a Veteran: Hard-Nosed Advice From a Softie

    May 15, 2020
    7 Tips for Beginner Programmers

    7 Tips for Beginner Programmers

    September 29, 2020
  • Someone worried about programming being hard
    Common Questions

    Is Programming Hard? Here’s What You Need to Know

    February 5, 2019 /

    Is programming hard? This is a question many non-programmers ask me.  This makes it rank up there with questions like, “do programmers work from home” and “what kind of education do you need to be a programmer?”  Inquiring minds want to know. But unlike some of those questions, this one is actually pretty tough.  It’s a simple question, but the answer is very nuanced. So let’s dive into it, in detail, and help you understand whether programming is difficult or not. Is Programming Hard?  The Short Answer So first off, let’s tackle the question with a short and direct answer.  This will set the stage for the remainder of the…

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    Erik Dietrich

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    Students graduating after obtaining education

    What Education Is Needed to Become a Programmer?

    October 18, 2018
    Lessons from a veteran developer

    Lessons From a Veteran: When You’re Not Sure If This Career Is For You

    May 8, 2020
    100 Days of Code Success Stories Make Me a Programmer

    100 Days of Code: Nabendu Biswas on Motivating Students—and Himself

    January 9, 2022
  • A set of keys for home
    Common Questions

    Do Programmers Work From Home?

    January 19, 2019 /

    In this post, I’ll answer the question “do programmers work from home?” This is a burning question in the minds of many. And it goes beyond programming and beyond IT. There are a few ways to answer this question so I’ll go through each. You’ll learn more about how programmers and anyone can work from home. I’ve been on all ends of that spectrum in my eight years of working in software development. In the first segment, I’ll share my experiences. Later, we’ll look at how to find these opportunities. Finally, I’ll wrap up with other models besides full-time employment. Let’s get started with the first case…

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    Phil Vuollet

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    Lessons From a Veteran: Dawid Ziolkowski on Trusting and Taking the Plunge

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    Should Programmers Learn HTML?

    December 14, 2018
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    100 Days of Code: Disney Web Producer Katie Reynolds on Self-Reliance

    September 3, 2021
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