Should I Become A Programmer

[ArmatageShanks]

Howzit Guys

I Currently work as a mechanical engineer and CNC Programmer and setter.

I have never thought about programming apart from NC programming in my current job that I find rather boring and simple.

Say I wanted to do some distance learning to get my feet wet and have a idea of what it would be like,
what course can I attend that is not to lengthy and heavy on the pocket in the web and or software developing direction?

Thanks guys

 

[tmamoojee]

Howzit Guys

I Currently work as a mechanical engineer and CNC Programmer and setter.

I have never thought about programming apart from NC programming in my current job that I find rather boring and simple.

Say I wanted to do some distance learning to get my feet wet and have a idea of what it would be like,
what course can I attend that is not to lengthy and heavy on the pocket in the web and or software developing direction?

Thanks guys

Hi
You could try Udemy courses, they are online tutorials and most of them are free.
You could even download the IOS/Android app and continue @ your own pace.
Possibly even try out Coursera, loads of courses available online.

Hope that helps

 

[halfmoonforever]

Quick answer? "No, you should not become a programmer". Mostly cause everyone blames you for the tiniest BS ever and the frustration of interacting with users will push you into dentist-mode (or postal-mode)

Long answer? If you're passionate about it, then by all means go for it. There's a literal ton of info out there which you can start sifting through. All you would need to invest is time.

Google (and many sites) make it soooo easy for people to learn programming (or anything really). +1 for Udemy. Also try some pirate sites for PDF books or Linda tutorials. Or pay for access to Linda and she will give you long-time education love.

 

[saor]

Khan Academy - free online intro to programming course. Also Coursera and Code Academy.

 

[shauntir]

Quick answer? "No, you should not become a programmer". Mostly cause everyone blames you for the tiniest BS ever and the frustration of interacting with users will push you into dentist-mode (or postal-mode)

Long answer? If you're passionate about it, then by all means go for it. There's a literal ton of info out there which you can start sifting through. All you would need to invest is time.

Google (and many sites) make it soooo easy for people to learn programming (or anything really). +1 for Udemy. Also try some pirate sites for PDF books or Linda tutorials. Or pay for access to Linda and she will give you long-time education love.

+1 Good answer

 

[Chevron]

Should I Become A Programmer

the fact you even need to ask that question generally means the answer is no.

Otherwise you'd already be coding in your spare time for fun.

 

[ArmatageShanks]

the fact you even need to ask that question generally means the answer is no.

Otherwise you'd already be coding in your spare time for fun.

I am and I do and its part of my job but my knowledge as to what will be a good direction to follow as a career path is limited hence the question.

 

[Beachless]

the fact you even need to ask that question generally means the answer is no.

Otherwise you'd already be coding in your spare time for fun.

Fun? Only a masochist would call it fun.
But seriously like the others have said people that code 9-5 rarely make it to the great paying jobs or enjoy their work.

My suggestion is to just start coding, think of an idea be it a web site or an arduino project or whatever and then start working towards completing it. There are so many examples out there on Youtube, programming sites/forums etc that you should have no problems.
If you are stuck then post your code and ask questions.

 

[Beachless]

I am and I do and its part of my job but my knowledge as to what will be a good direction to follow as a career path is limited hence the question.

So are you rather asking which certification\degrees to do in order to get into a programming career?

 

[ArmatageShanks]

So are you rather asking which certification\degrees to do in order to get into a programming career?

Yes, some course or so that I can attend while still working so I may find some perspective on it

 

[Beachless]

Yes, some course or so that I can attend while still working so I may find some perspective on it

UNISA have quite a few and they will be good on a CV I dont recommend the other college types unless you can confirm they are registered in SA and you can get credit for them at an university.

You can start here:
http://brochure.unisa.ac.za/slp/showlist.aspx?d=d_730

Otherwise you can do a informatics degree, often if you make it half way you can use it to get a job.

Then there are the MCSD types of certification which will also help.

 

[Spacerat]

Fun? Only a masochist would call it fun.
But seriously like the others have said people that code 9-5 rarely make it to the great paying jobs or enjoy their work.

You either don't code or can't code. If it's your passion, it's fun.
I code to relax. And I code to make money. I make decent money and I enjoy it.

 

[iAmThePope]

You either don't code or can't code. If it's your passion, it's fun.
I code to relax. And I code to make money. I make decent money and I enjoy it.

^This, if you can see yourself coding for fun and just to relax, then it might be for you. I spend many nights forgetting the time while playing around with new ideas and projects. Be prepared to get frustrated a LOT if you cannot figure something out, sometimes going a bit crazy for a while and speaking in nonsensical terms.. But when you do, and sometimes it hits you 4AM in your sleep and you get up because you know what the resolution is, and it needs to be implemented NOW, and it works, that's probably one of the best feeling ever.

And you get to talk to machines.. How can you not want to do that? Telling a machine what to do, and seeing it do it, in the way you told it to when you told it to, and respond to things happening, and doing things when those things happen hmmmm... (goes off on random tangent)

 

[Cam]

Khan Academy - free online intro to programming course. Also Coursera and Code Academy.

Yep, do this. Then create something like a portfolio site that you can show to your family etc.

If you enjoyed creating the above then yeah sure, give programming a go.

 

[shadow_man]

Howzit Guys

I Currently work as a mechanical engineer and CNC Programmer and setter.

I have never thought about programming apart from NC programming in my current job that I find rather boring and simple.

Say I wanted to do some distance learning to get my feet wet and have a idea of what it would be like,
what course can I attend that is not to lengthy and heavy on the pocket in the web and or software developing direction?

Thanks guys

Possibly look at PLC programming? I believe there's a big demand for this in the mechanical engineering industry. Alternatively something like Arduino may also be fun to play with.