“I want to become a Software Developer, but I have never written code… Where do I start?”
This is a question that I was asked today again. It is not the first time that I was approached by a friend with this doubt, nor do I think it will be the last. Software development is a discipline in high demand in the day of today and it seems that it will continue its hype for years to come.
If you are reading this, like some of my friends, you too are probably curious about coding. Perhaps you want to make a full career switch or develop and maintain your own website and services for a business. Or you recently started working on software and are looking for a step by step guide that helps you to set the ground for a successful career. Whatever your motivation may be, you will need to learn the basics of software programming and master the fundamentals of the full stack.
There is no magical pill to learn how to read and write code. I want to emphasize that before going any further. But if you are truly passionate about learning to code and you are keen to dedicate the time that it requires, the sky is the limit.
Do not let any stereotype intimidate you or hold you back. The belief that software engineering is a difficult discipline that only a few people can get into is a misconception. Coding is something that everyone has the ability to learn. If I could do it, you can do it too.
“But do I need to study software at university to learn to code or work in the industry?” Not necessarily, while a computer science or software engineering degree is ideal to set the pillars to build your career in software, there are as many routes as you can possibly imagine.
Let me briefly introduce you to my own path. I have worked in software engineering for roughly two years now and I do not have a degree in CS or SE. I came from a background in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. After working four years in design, production, and manufacturing, I became interested in a career change. I started to research coding, wrote my first lines of code, and developed my first personal projects. I then applied and interviewed for several software academies. After successfully passing all the interviews, I was able to pick my coding bootcamp of preference.
Bootcamps and university degrees are some of the most recommendable paths to become a successful software developer, but far from being the only options. The high demand and large shortage of software engineers allow flexibility in following the path that best adapts to your circumstances. One personal recommendation is that you should test the waters to see how keen and passionate you are.
Everyone has to start somewhere. For you and for all the friends that asked me before, I am putting together this weekly series of posts to initiate you into coding. If you want to learn the basics of programming languages, build projects, discover frameworks, play with databases, learn best structural practices, and more… Stick around and do not miss the weekly posts.
