Becoming a software engineer / programmer

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D3x!

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Hey All,

So I have had many similar threads before asking for advice etc but am now at the point to get going yesterday.

I want to be a software engineer / programmer. I am currently working so any studies will have to be part time / night classes etc.

I would like the ability to go to a classroom/lecturer etc if possible but if not will do what I have to.

Ultimately I would like to do a BSC IT (for marketability, accomplishment, all round skills etc) so my question now stands do I start that now or do I first do a smaller perhaps more focused course?

I.e do I go do a 1 year Software development course or do i go do courses through oracle on java or do I go straight into the BSC.

So can you guys give advice to:

1.) Where to go to study (unisa, cti, oracle etc) (I live in JHB, east rand to be exact)
2.) The type of course I should do

More might be added later.

Thanks.
 
D3x! said:
Ultimately I would like to do a BSC IT (for marketability, accomplishment, all round skills etc) so my question now stands do I start that now or do I first do a smaller perhaps more focused course?
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Just dive in, otherwise you'll end up delaying it further. Forget about learning any particular languages for now, just focus on the right way of doing things. During the course of your degree, things will become clearer anyway and you'll take an interest to things that suit you. Don't over-analyse dude, just go for it :)
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Just dive in, otherwise you'll end up delaying it further. Forget about learning any particular languages for now, just focus on the right way of doing things. During the course of your degree, things will become clearer anyway and you'll take an interest to things that suit you. Don't over-analyse dude, just go for it :)
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Well that is what I want to do but I am also trying to look at it realistically whereby a part time degree will take 3 years plus, so i.e I would only be able to get into what I want after I am done. Or do you think I would have a good chance of getting into what I want after say completing 1/2 of the degree?

Yes I overthink everything, imagine my poor girlfriend
 
Well you get good at it and you are guaranteed a well paying job. I'm self taught, its not that hard. Just gotta keep focused but I would understand why you would want a certificate to prove it.
 
D3x! said:
Hey All,

So I have had many similar threads before asking for advice etc but am now at the point to get going yesterday.

I want to be a software engineer / programmer. I am currently working so any studies will have to be part time / night classes etc.

I would like the ability to go to a classroom/lecturer etc if possible but if not will do what I have to.

Ultimately I would like to do a BSC IT (for marketability, accomplishment, all round skills etc) so my question now stands do I start that now or do I first do a smaller perhaps more focused course?

I.e do I go do a 1 year Software development course or do i go do courses through oracle on java or do I go straight into the BSC.

So can you guys give advice to:

1.) Where to go to study (unisa, cti, oracle etc) (I live in JHB, east rand to be exact)
2.) The type of course I should do

More might be added later.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Courses are almost useless. To the point where we look at people with them on their CV in a bad light.
Just do the degree. They will teach you what you need to know, in the correct manner, in the correct order
 
I also see Unisa offer 2 BSC IT degree's currently:

BSC informatics
BSC computing

What is more suited to what i want / advantages and disadvantages of each?
 
D3x! said:
I also see Unisa offer 2 BSC IT degree's currently:

BSC informatics
BSC computing

What is more suited to what i want / advantages and disadvantages of each?
Click to expand...

Depends on what you want to end up doing. Read through the two courses and decide which is best for you :)
 
In both the BSC Informatics and Computing stream you will do some of the computer science and information system modules, but in the computing stream, you will do additional computer science modules, whereas the informatics will focus more on information systems modules. So you really need to think hard about what you want to do. The Computing stream will have modules that you cannot really use in your day to day working environment, but the amount of problem solving and thinking skills developed through them are very valuable. On the other hand, the informatics stream will have more things on human computer interaction, database design etc.
 
EDIT : DISCLAIMER! Rant below is semi-satirical :-)

dude, please take my advice. don't do it. take it from a man who has a decade of experience in the industry. its a thankless job. consider something like medicine or engineering, for example. the fundamental laws of physics or anatomy of the human body will not change. what you are taught in campus would remain relevant and useful for your entire career (baring something of world-changing impact being discovered)

you could go to any country in the world and say "I am a doctor" or "i am an engineer" and you you would have a good chance of getting employed. actually, if you are a doctor you could set yourself up with a nice little practice :-)

im not saying those 2 above are your only options, i am merely illustrating a point. with an IT job, no matter what you choose to study, it will be rendered obsolete and irrelevant within a year or two. no matter how much skill or expertise you have in a specific language, new versions/upgrades will mean you are behind the curve of youngsters who started AFTER you. that sort of situation is not as common in other careers.

you probably enjoy tinkering with computers right now and figure it would be a cool way to go. don't fall for the trap. working for a big corporate, you will realise that you need to know the business better than the business people themselves. why not do Economics or Business studies?

my parting words of advice. do NOT get into IT. use it, don't use it.
 
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I would jump into the BSc Computing. Seems more down to earth programming. But they are damn similar.
 
I;ve been in the custom Dev environment for about 12 years now , and in my opinion if you have a raw talent for development to can go for a short course to understand the basics and then tech yourself from there and keep at it , that it the only way you gonoing to be good at it.

In interviews if you technically know what you are talking about , you can get a dev job really quickly and move upto a senior dev position in a few years. Also note a Senior developer isn;t someone who has 10 or more years experience (or similar) , its all about what you know and how technical you are
 
Hiro ZA said:
dude, please take my advice. don't do it. take it from a man who has a decade of experience in the industry. its a thankless job. consider something like medicine or engineering, for example. the fundamental laws of physics or anatomy of the human body will not change. what you are taught in campus would remain relevant and useful for your entire career (baring something of world-changing impact being discovered)

you could go to any country in the world and say "I am a doctor" or "i am an engineer" and you you would have a good chance of getting employed. actually, if you are a doctor you could set yourself up with a nice little practice :-)

im not saying those 2 above are your only options, i am merely illustrating a point. with an IT job, no matter what you choose to study, it will be rendered obsolete and irrelevant within a year or two. no matter how much skill or expertise you have in a specific language, new versions/upgrades will mean you are behind the curve of youngsters who started AFTER you. that sort of situation is not as common in other careers.

you probably enjoy tinkering with computers right now and figure it would be a cool way to go. don't fall for the trap. working for a big corporate, you will realise that you need to know the business better than the business people themselves. why not do Economics or Business studies?

my parting words of advice. do NOT get into IT. use it, don't use it.
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^^ Don't listen to this guy. This is exactly why a degree is better than some arb qualification. It's not so much what you learn in your degree, but the manner in which you're taught to do things. As one of my maths lecturers used to say - "I prefer teaching people who know nothing, rather than people who think they know everything, because then I can teach them the proper way from the beginning".

@Hiro ZA: The fundamental principles of maths and computer science don't change either btw.
 
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Hiro ZA said:
with an IT job, no matter what you choose to study, it will be rendered obsolete and irrelevant within a year or two. no matter how much skill or expertise you have in a specific language, new versions/upgrades will mean you are behind the curve of youngsters who started AFTER you. that sort of situation is not as common in other careers.
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WTF, uhm, no.
 
Guys I am trying to see but it looks like applications to unisa are closed now, hopefully there is still a way but barring that what other options does anyone know of? I do not mind if more expensive (to a degree) provided that there is extra support like classes (some structure etc)
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
^^ Don't listen to this guy. This is exactly why a degree is better than some arb qualification. It's not so much what you learn in your degree, but the manner in which you're taught to do things. As one of my maths lecturers used to say - "I prefer teaching people who know nothing, rather than people who think they know everything, because then I can teach them the proper way from the beginning".

@Hiro ZA: The fundamental principles of maths and computer science don't change either btw.
Click to expand...

Mike is correct. Degree's don't teach technologies or programming languages. They teach fundamentals, which haven't changed in 30 years (Hell, one of the best books for developers, Design Patterns by the Gang of Four, was written in the 80's).
I can, and have, gotten jobs all over the world, with utter ease. And it pays just as nicely as a GP.

Courses and diplioma's on the other hand are useless
 
If you already have a student number then you can register at UNISA when registrations open for the second semeter which is on 18 June 2012.

Coming back to the BSC Computing, if you are comfortable with mathematics and computer science, apart from programming, then it is the stream to go for. If you rather do the minimum mathematics go for the BSC Informatics. In both streams you are going to do the same programming modules, so do not let the programming modules be the thing you base you choice on.

Coming to the importance of obtaining a degree versus doing a short course. In your BSC degree, you are going to be taught how to think hard, and solve complex problems, which you are not going to be taught in a short course, ask anyone that has done Artificial Intelligence in their third year. You might not use the module in your working life, but you are going to appreciate the problem solving skills developed doing it.
 
Hiro ZA said:
EDIT : DISCLAIMER! Rant below is semi-satirical :-)

dude, please take my advice. don't do it. take it from a man who has a decade of experience in the industry. its a thankless job. consider something like medicine or engineering, for example. the fundamental laws of physics or anatomy of the human body will not change. what you are taught in campus would remain relevant and useful for your entire career (baring something of world-changing impact being discovered)

you could go to any country in the world and say "I am a doctor" or "i am an engineer" and you you would have a good chance of getting employed. actually, if you are a doctor you could set yourself up with a nice little practice :-)

im not saying those 2 above are your only options, i am merely illustrating a point. with an IT job, no matter what you choose to study, it will be rendered obsolete and irrelevant within a year or two. no matter how much skill or expertise you have in a specific language, new versions/upgrades will mean you are behind the curve of youngsters who started AFTER you. that sort of situation is not as common in other careers.

you probably enjoy tinkering with computers right now and figure it would be a cool way to go. don't fall for the trap. working for a big corporate, you will realise that you need to know the business better than the business people themselves. why not do Economics or Business studies?

my parting words of advice. do NOT get into IT. use it, don't use it.
Click to expand...

OMFG :eek: What end of IT are you in that you view it this way?
I have been in the industry for 2.5 decades and love it to bits. I make good cash and am kept busy 14 to 16 hours a day (my choice).
The constantly changing technologies and the need to keep learning keeps me hooked.

Seems like you either got the raw end of the stick or you just don't enjoy it enough to keep up.

My wife always tells people I don't work. I have a hobby that I really enjoy and it earns me income.

Please don't put people off that want to get into this arena because you have been shafted somewhere. We need them. It is a fantastic career choice if you have the aptitude for it and enjoy it.
 
D3x! said:
I do not have a student number.
Click to expand...

The application process is divided into two steps, the first step is applying for a course which took place earlier this year. During this step you receive your student number after submitting all the documentation, the second phase which starts on the 18th of June is the registration for all the modules you'll need for you degree.

The next application window should be during September of this if I'm not mistaken.
 
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