All you programmers out there, please chime in.

cguy said:
I think you’re confused. I don’t think anyone needs a degree, and neither does Elon. This is not mutually exclusive to “but it would really help a lot”.
Click to expand...
I mean to get to the bones of it (pun intended), you only need a saw to amputate your leg but you sure as hell would prefer a doctor.
 
umamankandla said:
you learnt how to switch on a pc in the 1900's and see that as fundamentals?
Click to expand...
In my day, they were these big red switches that would make a metallic snapping sound when you turned them on and off.

Over time, they have slowly evolved into these things the new kids call “buttons”, but the principle is the same. No longer as satisfying, but at least it doesn’t make my cat jump.
 
cguy said:
In my day, they were these big red switches that would make a metallic snapping sound when you turned them on and off.

Over time, they have slowly evolved into these things the new kids call “buttons”, but the principle is the same. No longer as satisfying, but at least it doesn’t make my cat jump.
Click to expand...
how is this giving advice to op? u ok?
 
cguy said:
In my day, they were these big red switches that would make a metallic snapping sound when you turned them on and off.

Over time, they have slowly evolved into these things the new kids call “buttons”, but the principle is the same. No longer as satisfying, but at least it doesn’t make my cat jump.
Click to expand...

Or when you needed two hands to carry one disk drive, 10MB in size
 
dontcryforme said:
Have you ever worked outside of IT?
Click to expand...

I've always worked outside of traditional IT. Closest experience I have to systems networks and that stuff is working as a tech for events houses, where the lighting system and desk operated as nodes and switches via CAT5/CAT6, DMX512, Art_Net, those protocols.
 
cguy said:
For a bottom level role, with less than optimal career prospects,
Click to expand...

This is where I imagine anyone would get stuck with deciding to take a chance later in life with a coding career move, and having no prior programming experience. I have a BSc, not CS as I said, but what reasonable growth prospects does a person have in this position. I'm sure nobody wants to invest their time in something like this only to find out two years in (in their 50s) that they'll never move beyond spending their days debugging stuff (which is a large part of programming) and nothing else.
 
Last edited:
CW67 said:
This is where I imagine anyone would get stuck with deciding to take a chance later in life with a coding career move, and having no prior programming experience. I have a BSc, not CS as I said, but what reasonable growth prospects does a person have in this position. I'm sure nobody wants to invest their time in something like this only to find out two years in (in their 50s) that they'll never move beyond spending their days debugging stuff.
Click to expand...
What is your BSc in?

A lot depends on where you are now financially, and what your expectations are. If R25k/m (optimistic starting salary if you can’t leverage other skills) is a huge hit, that could be problematic, but if you persevere, something like R50/m after a couple years, and eventually R70-90k/m, would be likely. Maybe you could eventually freelance for R1000+/h if you’re successful at that.

The benefits of a degree are that it makes things like going to work overseas in big tech and making R15m/y a viable path, but obviously in SA very few developers manage to do that, and still make a very good living.

I am curious about your BSc, since even a non-CS BSc can make you a lot more attractive for certain software centric roles.
 
CW67 said:
BSc hons geography, with environmental science. Studied as a mature student in 2000s for personal development more than a career move.
Click to expand...
Nice. That can definitely work in your favor. Did you do any maths courses with that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X