Now it's 2016 and hardly a week goes by without a new headline detailing the latest massive hack. Apple, Google, and Microsoft keynotes announcing new electronic devices, operating systems, and apps dominate the water cooler conversation. Software and computer science are at the center of our progression as a human race. There have never been more resources for us to learn the craft.
My name is Ryan Johns. I am 26 years old and I live in Utah. I graduated last year from Brigham Young University with a BS in Exercise Science. BS is an accurate description of my experience at BYU....but I probably don't need to get into that. When I graduated I had plans to apply to physician assistant programs across the county. I worked in a rural hospital for nearly a year before sending out applications. Over the course of that year, with the intention of cultivating Plan B in case I didn't get accepted to PA school, I began to grow interested in working as a software engineer.
I experienced an awakening like no other over this past year. Instead of dragging my feet towards a career in medicine, I discovered a passion for turning an idea into reality through coding. PA isn't on my radar anymore. Becoming a kickass developer is.
Two months ago my son was born. Our first kid. He is my inspiration and my motivation to get this career on track.
So what have I done? And what am I planning to do? In my spare time I have learned C# and Python programming languages. I landed a job as a QA & Testing Analyst at an insurance software company called Xactware. Currently I'm just a monkey manual tester..... but not for long. I'm training to take the role of Test Automation Engineer. It will be a solid step in my journey towards developer. Then next year, starting January 17th, I'll start a 9 month web developer course + 6 week externship through the MATC, a local technical college in Lehi. The best part is that it is paid for by Xactware. I think that will be exactly what I need to put me over the edge towards developer badassery. To sum things up:
INSPIRATION:
- My Developing Journey Blog - Brian Douglas' story and blog are the direct inspiration for this website.
- Code Newbie Podcast - Excellent podcast that focuses on transitioning into a coding career without a computer science background
- What is Code? - Wonderfully crafted issue of Businessweek written by Paul Ford that covers everything from coder culture to basic understanding and the syntax and structure of code
- AlphaGo and Move 37 - Machine learning went to the next level this year when Google's go playing algorithm beat the sitting world champion, Lee Sedol
- Elon Musk - Tesla, SpaceX, and OpenAI will change the world forever
GOALS:
- Lock down Automation Engineer promotion by the beginning of 2017
- Code for 3 hours every day
- Fill in GitHub repository with diverse side projects
- Complete MATCH Web Developer course in 2017
- Accept offer for full time developer position end of 2017/beginning of 2018
- Hack the planet
RESOURCES
--Finished--
- Python Course on Codecademy - I thought it was meh. Whenever I got to the practice problems I felt pretty lost. Not sure if that was on me or the material
- Automate the Boring Stuff with Python - Fantastic book, great application of the principles and very beginner friendly. The PDF is free online!
- The C# Player's Guide - Extremely beginner-friendly book that is not only great for C# but also great for anyone trying to understand the principles of object-oriented programming
- Lynda.com Git tutorial- excellent tutorial on the basics of git and version control
--On deck--
- Selenium and automation framework tutorials on Pluralsight
- MATC Web Developer Program
- Not to mention the ugly red book that won't fit on a shelf
Don't be mistaken. I'm still a novice. But I want to be accountable and I hope that this blog will be helpful to mark my progress to the internets.
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